The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX Game by Nintendo Reviewed by Adrock gbcam@hotmail.com Size: 8 MB Save: Battery, 3 slots Released: 1998 Works with: Any Game Boy. **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Adrock: "Hey, it's Zelda DX!" Billy Bob: "Whoa, cool! Degeneration X is in it now? Kick arse!" Adrock: "No, you dumb crap! The DX doesn't stand for Degeneration X, it means "Deluxe." Billy Bob: "Deluxe?" Adrock: "Yeah. It's in full color, works with Game Boy Printer, and has a new dungeon!" Billy Bob: "So there's no Shawn Micheals or anything?" Adrock: "No." Billy Bob: "No rowdy foulplay?" Adrock: "No." Billy Bob: "No Suck It?" Adrock: "No." Billy Bob: "Not even Link and Zelda say Suck It?" Adrock: "No. No ''Suck It'' or references to ''Suck It'' in the game." Billy Bob: "Really? Not even Stone Cold?" Adrock: "No." Billy Bob: "No WWF?" Adrock: "No. No wrestling or wrestling propaganda of any kind." Billy Bob: "That sux! It's Monday, so I'm going home to watch TV. Screw you and your game!"*Billy Bob walks away.* Adrock *under breath*: "I can bet on what he's going to watch. And it's not Monday Nitro." **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: First of all, if you haven't got it yet, this game does not feature Degeneration X. The DX just means "Deluxe." OK, just establishing that. :) If you have ever played Link's Awakening, this game is about the same. But it now has enhanced color palettes. Game Boy Printer compatability. And a NEW dungeon. The dungeon is secretly hidden somewhere in the game. I will give you a hint: It is in a place with many ghosts and bones, as well as a lot of dirt. The dungeon uses the Color Game Boy to it's full advantage by making the puzzles involve color. At the end of the castle you will find new suits for Link to wear, a Red suit (for added offense) and a Blue suit (for added defense.) This game also uses the Game Boy Printer. There are 12 different "pictures" that will be taken from time to time when you trigger certain effects in the game. One such event is meeting Bow-Wow for the first time. The printer shop is in a secluded area, where there was originally nothing there in the regular version. Mostly an excuse for using the printer, you probably won't need this feature in the game. But it does add an element of fun and some more replay value to an already easy to replay game. You start in Marin's bed. Marin, a girl Link mistakes for Zelda, tells him about his arrival at Koholint. As you play, you will find some of your cool weapons from the previous games, and some new ones as well. There's lots of secret things for you to find. For example, finding 20 seashells will get you a new secret weapon upgrade... Liked: It was already awesome. And now it's got a new dungeon, Game Boy Printer compatable, and Color. Even better! Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: The color choice and the palette is GREAT! They have also managed to leave a similar look that is remiscent to the original. And the original looked excellent to begin with. Plus, there is a new fading effect in the game... whenever you walk out of buildings and stuff in the original, the screen would only flash, then show where you're at now. In the DX version, it slowly fades out, then into your new surroundings. Cool. Liked: Looks totally awesome on a Game Boy or a Color Game Boy! Cool new Koholint SGB frame! Hated: Map screen is still something to complain about... **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Pleasing to your ears. It's really hard to turn it down. I think the game could of used some more dramatic tunes, sad tunes (exp. Final Fantasy). Uh-oh! It's that low energy sound again! Liked: Sounds very good. Hated: Make me cry. And stop beeping! **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Two buttons... It's pretty hard to keep your weapons in rotation. You might find you press the start button the most. But, you can't help that, and the controls are really fluid and reponsive. A new feature has been added to the status screen, just hold select and you can see what kind of clothing you have on, how many pictures you have waiting at the Print Shop, and how many heart pieces you have currently remaining to get your next new heart piece. (my favorite.) Liked: It's smooth and responsive. The new status bar feature with select is cool. Hated: Switching weapons happens a lot, due to all of the puzzles that demand them. **************************************************************************** Improve: What else could there be to improve? RIYL: Final Fantasy Adventure, The original Zelda IV. **************************************************************************** Final Words: Is it really worth it for the color update? Yes. This game has lots of similarities, but also lots of differences, from it's 1993 counterpart. GO BUY IT. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: ***** Graphics: ***** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ***** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 25 out 25 Final Score: %100 **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: The screen warp code from the first game DOES NOT work in any version of this game. Chicken pickin': Like Link to the Past before you can harrass chickens and get attacked by a huge flock of them. You can kill chickens with magic powder or the Fire Rod. Change the music: Enter "ZELDA" as your name. (In all capital letters.) Missiles: Get the Bombs and the Bow. Place the Bow in one button; and the Bombs in the other. (Make sure you have at least one arrow and bomb.) Push both buttons at once to throw a missile. Have fun with Marin: If you take Marin to different places like the Trendy Game or a dungeon. She has different things she says and some of the stuff she does is quite funny. You can also ONLY get a few of the pictures when Marin is following you. Steal: Go into the store and grab an item. Walk around the cashier and when he isn't looking at you; run out the door. If you get out; you get to keep the item; but then everyone calls you thief and the guy in the store will kill you if you ever come back in the store. :( One-Hit KO Last Boss: If you have the Boomerang; fling it just right at the final form of the last boss to kill it with one hit. More: Beat the game without dying to see a slightly different "TheEnd" screen. Even more: The seemly invincible sun-like creatures can be beaten with the boomerang. Play the "Ballad of the Windfish" to kill Pols Voices without your arrow or throwing things at them.