Editing The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

{{Game
| name=Link's Awakening
| image=[[Image:Linksawakeningdx.jpg|150px]]
| bgcolor=silver
| fgcolor=black
| developer=[[Nintendo EAD]]<br/>[[Nintendo R&D1]] (''DX'')
| publisher=[[Nintendo]]
| genre=[[Adventure]]
| system=[[Game Boy]], [[Game Boy Color]], [[3DS Virtual Console]]
|release='''Game Boy'''<br />JP June 6, 1993<br />US August 1993<br />EU November 18, 1993<br />'''Game Boy Color'''<br />JP December 12, 1998<br />US December 31, 1998<br />EU February 11, 1999<br />'''3DS Virtual Console''' (GBC)<br />US June 7, 2011<br />JP June 8, 2011<br />EU June 8, 2011<br />SK March 2, 2016
| gallery=[http://www.gamehiker.com/gallery/index.php?cat=15 GH Gallery]
| rating= ESRB: E
|}}

'''The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening''' is the fourth game in the [[Portal: Legend of Zelda|Zelda series]] and the first one to be released for a handheld system (not counting [[Zelda Game & Watch|the Game & Watch game]]).

=Story=

[[Link]] has gone on his own journey after defeating [[Ganon]]. However, a storm at sea leaves Link shipwrecked on the mysterious [[Koholint Island]]. Link discovers that he needs to gather seven instruments and use the to awaken the sleeping [[Wind Fish]] before he can leave the island. But there are deeper and darker secrets hidden within the island.

=Gameplay=

The gameplay style is similar to the previous game, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]]''. Many items and enemies from the game appear throughout ''Link's Awakening''. However, some areas of the game also incorporated sidescrolling elements. The sidescrolling areas were more similar to the brief sidescrolling areas of ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' rather than ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]''.

Curiously, this game is known for the various references to other [[Nintendo]] games, especially [[Portal: Mario Brothers|Mario]] references. The character of [[Tarin]] is physically based on [[Mario]] and has some strange experiences involving mushrooms and [[Tanooki Suit|transforming into a raccoon]]. A doll of [[Yoshi]] and a photo of [[Princess Peach]] appear, and the long-missing [[Wart]] from ''[[Doki Doki Panic]]'' and ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' makes a surprise cameo appearance. Additionally, various Mario enemies are found in the games, and several [[Chain Chomp|Chain Chomps]] appear as tamed pets.

There are also references to other games aside from the Mario series. The game contains an enemy based on [[Kirby]], a character named Mr. Write (based on [[Dr. Wright]] of ''[[SimCity]]'' fame) and a random guest appearance by Richard, star of the Japan-only game ''[[Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru]]''.

=Continuity Notes=

*The official timeline of the [[Hyrule Historia]] initially established that ''Link's Awakening'' takes place after the linked ending of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|Oracle of Seasons]]''/''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages|Ages]]'', which does depict Link sailing away with what appears to be a storm in the distance. Nintendo has since revised the timeline's order so that ''Link's Awakening'' is now considered to take place before the ''Oracle'' games. All three games follow ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'' and feature the same Link, and they are set on the branch of the timeline which follows a hypothetical alternate version of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'' in which Link failed to defeat Ganon.
*The instruction manual story mentions Link's defeat of Ganon, which seemed to be referring to the preceding game ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]''. Link also has the same official art as in ''A Link to the Past''. However, the game's premise was still vague enough to theoretically place it after nearly any ''Zelda'' game where Link defeated Ganon.

=Legacy=

''Link's Awakening'' seems to be the most well-known and popular of the handheld Zelda games. The later handheld games - particularly ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|Oracle of Seasons]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages|Oracle of Ages]]'' - were also inspired by ''Link's Awakening''.

==Sequels==

''Link's Awakening'' had no direct sequels, although it was spiritually succeeded by the ''Oracle'' games. ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'' was the next Zelda game to be released.

==Ports and Remakes==

*In 1998, a colorized version known as ''Link's Awakening DX'' was released for the [[Game Boy Color]]. Aside from modifying the graphics to take advantage of the Game Boy Color's advanced palette, ''Link's Awakening DX'' also added a new dungeon.
*In Japan, ''Link's Awakening DX'' was later released as part of the [[Nintendo Power system]].
*In 2011, ''Link's Awakening DX'' was released for download via the [[3DS]]'s eShop as part of the [[3DS Virtual Console]]. It was the first Game Boy Color game to be available.
*In 2019, it received [[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)|a full remake]] for the [[Nintendo Switch]]. In addition to updating the graphics and gamplay, it added a new dungeon maker mode. It also retained some of the DX version's changes, such as the Color Dungeon.

=See Also=

*[[Enemies in Link's Awakening]]

{{Zelda Series}}

[[Category: Video Games]] [[Category: Game Boy Games]] [[Category:Game Boy Color Games]] [[Category: Zelda Games]] [[Category: 3DS Virtual Console Games]] [[Category: Player's Choice]]