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The Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening Remastered on Nintendo Switch

by John Rairdin - February 13, 2019, 2:49 pm EST
Total comments: 29 Source: Nintendo Direct

This Wind Fish 'bout to get woke!

Nintendo loves to throw a good "one more thing" at the end of their Directs and today was no different. Capping off today's reveals was a full remake of the GameBoy classic, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

Sporting all new 3D visuals in a similar style to Link Between Worlds and what appears to be an anime-inspired opening cutscene, Nintendo seems to be sparing no expense to bring the 8-bit classic into HD. This will be the first 2D Zelda game to release on a home console since The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures released on Gamecube in 2004.

No specific release date was given beyond 2019.

Talkback

Ian SaneFebruary 13, 2019

The cutscene looks great, was getting me pumped, and then it switches to this super deformed midget style that I don't dig at all.  The contrast between the cut scene and the gameplay is so bizarre.  Why offer another graphics style in the game to provide a comparison?  All I'm going to think is "why can't this game look like the cutscene?"  Link's Awakening is my favourite game but I'll stick with the GBC DX version.  I'm a hard sell for converting sprites to polygons to begin with so you have to really knock we dead with the new visuals.  This has too much of that NSMB plastic look that I can't stand.

steveyFebruary 13, 2019

Intro looked amazing. I'm not so hot for the plasticky appearance of the models though. It made everything seem too lifeless.

KhushrenadaFebruary 13, 2019

Really? I had the opposite reaction. Didn't care for the intro but was way more impressed with the look of the actual game when revealed.

SorenFebruary 13, 2019

The art style looks really good. It's going to be fun coming back to this game.

ThePermFebruary 13, 2019

I'm on the same page with Khush. Though I still thought it was jarring they just switch styles. Though that is how the old game was.  I like the in game style better.

Bman87301February 13, 2019

Quote from: Ian

The cutscene looks great, was getting me pumped, and then it switches to this super deformed midget style that I don't dig at all.  The contrast between the cut scene and the gameplay is so bizarre.  Why offer another graphics style in the game to provide a comparison?  All I'm going to think is "why can't this game look like the cutscene?"  Link's Awakening is my favourite game but I'll stick with the GBC DX version.  I'm a hard sell for converting sprites to polygons to begin with so you have to really knock we dead with the new visuals.  This has too much of that NSMB plastic look that I can't stand.

You totally nailed it. I picked up almost immediately that it was Link's Awakening, and was totally psyched by that initial cut scene that led me to believe it was using anime-style cel-shading. I was then immediately crushed my the actual game footage. I wouldn't mind at all if Nintendo pushed this game back another year to rework the style. If they don't, I'll probably end up passing on this one.

AdrockFebruary 13, 2019

I love Link’s Awakening. Not for $60. I’ll wait to see what the final price is before determining when I get this.

Ian SaneFebruary 13, 2019

Quote from: ThePerm

I'm on the same page with Khush. Though I still thought it was jarring they just switch styles. Though that is how the old game was.  I like the in game style better.

I liken the switch in styles in the old game more to the technical limitations of the time.  It was normal in those days for the manual, cutscenes and gameplay to look different.  But as a kid I just assumed that everything was supposed to be the same, they just couldn't pull it off with the hardware.

This link shows a pic from the manual (or Japanese box art maybe) that's what I would think of as what the original game was "supposed" to look like: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening

Though for those that like the gameplay look and don't like the cutscenes I'm imaging a funny situation where you're playing the game and every time it goes to a cutscene you're like "arrgh!  I hate the way this looks!" and turning the game off in the middle of the ending or something like that.

ShyGuyFebruary 13, 2019

I think it all looks good!

nickmitchFebruary 13, 2019

I'm with ShyGuy.  I thought the anime look was great and the ingame artstyle/graphics looked awesome.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorFebruary 13, 2019

Quote from: Adrock

I love Link’s Awakening. Not for $60. I’ll wait to see what the final price is before determining when I get this.

I'll pay $100 and I haven't seen the video.

Luigi DudeFebruary 14, 2019

The game looks amazing, it's like miniature toys come to life.  It'll also be nice to be able to play Link Awakening with more then 2 buttons so it'll greatly reduce the amount of times I need to pause to switch items.

I'm interested in what kind of new content they'll be adding.  I imagine they'll add a real final dungeon to the game instead of the maze at the end to help lengthen it.  I also wouldn't be surprised if they remake all the boss fights since the ones in the original are all pretty simple and basic because of GB limitations which the Switch wont have.

I'm on team all-in for this port.  I never got into the original, thought the intro animation was impressive, and was delighted at where they took the visuals for it.  Maybe since I don't have much association with the original it lets me take it for what it is without resistance.  I'm ready for a new (to me) 2D Zelda in my life.

AdrockFebruary 14, 2019

The new graphics and art style are rather charming. However, I like the cutscene art more because it’s reminiscent of a storybook which to me, would be appropriate for Link’s Awakening. It makes me wish these were two separate games.

Quote from: UncleBob

I'll pay $100 and I haven't seen the video.

Easy now, moneybags.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorFebruary 14, 2019

Money is no object when it comes to the love I have for this game.

Anyone at Nintendo need a kidney?

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterFebruary 14, 2019

That artstyle looks absolutely incredible and anyone who doesn't think it fits Link's Awakening is an ignoramus.

To be clear I can certainly understand not liking the artstyle but it's just a really good fit for the game.

Bman87301February 14, 2019

Quote from: pokepal148

That artstyle looks absolutely incredible and anyone who doesn't think it fits Link's Awakening is an ignoramus.

Wow, what an articulate stance.  :rolleyes: You can usually tell you're on the right side, when the other side has to resort to name calling.

Bman87301February 14, 2019

Quote from: Luigi

The game looks amazing, it's like miniature toys come to life.  It'll also be nice to be able to play Link Awakening with more then 2 buttons so it'll greatly reduce the amount of times I need to pause to switch items.

I'm interested in what kind of new content they'll be adding.  I imagine they'll add a real final dungeon to the game instead of the maze at the end to help lengthen it.  I also wouldn't be surprised if they remake all the boss fights since the ones in the original are all pretty simple and basic because of GB limitations which the Switch wont have.

I wouldn't get too excited for a lot of changes as all the footage so far indicates a direct port.

ejamerFebruary 14, 2019

I like the art style, although it feels like Link moves quite slowly in the trailer.

Link's Awakening is a really good game. I wouldn't pay full price for a remastered version, but couldn't fault anyone who did.

Order.RSSFebruary 14, 2019

Never played this on Gameboy, but the game's style is really cute. It's not the same obviously, but kinda gave me that Kirby Wii U vibe haha. Also dug the animated opening, at first I thought it'd be some kind of Wind Waker sequel when the cinematic played.

Luigi DudeFebruary 14, 2019

Quote from: Bman87301

I wouldn't get too excited for a lot of changes as all the footage so far indicates a direct port.

The trailer literally shows only 30 seconds of gameplay footage.  The DX version on the GBC added a brand new dungeon and that was only 5 years after the original release.  You're telling me a remake that's now coming 25 years after the original isn't going to do anything new at all?  Even the Link to the Past GBA port added the whole Four Swords multiplayer game and a brand new dungeon to the base game as a reward for beating the Four Swords game, which gave a new ending to the base game.  This is something that added more hours to that game and Link to the Past was already a longer game then Links Awakening in the first place.

Yeah I'm not expecting Zero Mission or Samus Returns level changes since Links Awakening has always been considered a masterpiece anyway, but I don't see how anyone can think this is going to be a direct port.  Especially when every Zelda re-release has added something new to the game.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorFebruary 14, 2019

Quote from: Bman87301

Quote from: pokepal148

That artstyle looks absolutely incredible and anyone who doesn't think it fits Link's Awakening is an ignoramus.

Wow, what an articulate stance.  :rolleyes: You can usually tell you're on the right side, when the other side has to resort to name calling.

The artstyle absolutely fits what was intended for the game from the beginning.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Trl0cvBFgCk

Spak-SpangFebruary 15, 2019

When I first saw the graphics I thought it looked kinda like plastic too.  Then I noticed the Macro-filter effects and how everything looked like a miniature world and I loved the effect.  It is quite striking and I really love the effect.  The characters and animation aren't perfect but the world's design is amazing.

AdrockFebruary 15, 2019

Quote from: UncleBob

The artstyle absolutely fits what was intended for the game from the beginning.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Trl0cvBFgCk

While I agree the remake’s new art direction fits (albeit not as much as the cutscene’s art), using the original’s commercial doesn’t help your case considering this is A Link to the Past’s Japanese ad:
http://youtu.be/cjpHzLYHkwA

ShyGuyFebruary 15, 2019

Quote from: Adrock

Quote from: UncleBob

The artstyle absolutely fits what was intended for the game from the beginning.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Trl0cvBFgCk

While I agree the remake’s new art direction fits (albeit not as much as the cutscene’s art), using the original’s commercial doesn’t help your case considering this is A Link to the Past’s Japanese ad:
http://youtu.be/cjpHzLYHkwA

that looks pixel perfect to me.

Spak-SpangFebruary 15, 2019

Nintendo needs to make a Nintendo All-Star's dance/game.

KhushrenadaFebruary 15, 2019

Quote from: Adrock

Quote from: UncleBob

The artstyle absolutely fits what was intended for the game from the beginning.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Trl0cvBFgCk

While I agree the remake’s new art direction fits (albeit not as much as the cutscene’s art), using the original’s commercial doesn’t help your case considering this is A Link to the Past’s Japanese ad:
http://youtu.be/cjpHzLYHkwA

I also think that's a girl Link. When is Nintendo finally going to make a proper Link to the Past with the proper Link intended from the beginning?

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorFebruary 15, 2019

Quote from: Adrock

Quote from: UncleBob

The artstyle absolutely fits what was intended for the game from the beginning.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Trl0cvBFgCk

While I agree the remake’s new art direction fits (albeit not as much as the cutscene’s art), using the original’s commercial doesn’t help your case considering this is A Link to the Past’s Japanese ad:
http://youtu.be/cjpHzLYHkwA

That is exactly how LttP looked in my head many years ago.

broodwarsFebruary 15, 2019

I only ever got a few dungeons into the original game, so I'm all for giving this remake a play. I really don't care for the art style, though, and the footage I was seeing passed around online looked kind of frame-y.

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