I love 3D Zelda. I like 2D Zelda.
This game was weird. Much like Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, it's really odd to play a simple Game Boy game with HD graphics. In an attempt to make a classic game grander, it actually feels more underwhelming.
When you play an old, simple game, the dated graphics are part of the experience. They remind you of the time capsule you've opened, and you're playing the game just as it was meant to be played back in '93. The game design is a product of the hardware's limitations, and it makes sense in that context. But when you leave that gameplay mostly unchanged while giving the visuals a gorgeous overhaul, it creates a disconnect.
There are a few things that this version does much better than the GB original. The biggest is simply having a controller with more buttons. The constant switching of button assignments in the original seems horribly tedious after playing this new version. The visuals are certainly pretty and the music has been arranged very well, but I don't know if those upgrades actually improve the experience.
When it comes down to it, Link's Awakening is a GB classic. But hiding that same old game under a lavish mask only creates a gaming experience that's more forgettable than the original masterpiece.
This game was weird. Much like Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, it's really odd to play a simple Game Boy game with HD graphics. In an attempt to make a classic game grander, it actually feels more underwhelming.
When you play an old, simple game, the dated graphics are part of the experience. They remind you of the time capsule you've opened, and you're playing the game just as it was meant to be played back in '93. The game design is a product of the hardware's limitations, and it makes sense in that context. But when you leave that gameplay mostly unchanged while giving the visuals a gorgeous overhaul, it creates a disconnect.
There are a few things that this version does much better than the GB original. The biggest is simply having a controller with more buttons. The constant switching of button assignments in the original seems horribly tedious after playing this new version. The visuals are certainly pretty and the music has been arranged very well, but I don't know if those upgrades actually improve the experience.
When it comes down to it, Link's Awakening is a GB classic. But hiding that same old game under a lavish mask only creates a gaming experience that's more forgettable than the original masterpiece.