Legend of Zelda 4: Link's Awakening
Game by Nintendo
Reviewed by The Avardancer
Size: 4 Megabits
Save: Battery, 3 slots
Released: 1993
Works with: Any Version of Gameboy

Opening Snide Remarks: This is the fourth game in the Legend of Zelda series.
(4th official game, anyways.) This one says in the manual that it takes place
after Legend of Zelda 3: "A Link to the Past". The story explains that the
people of Hyrule begin to grow restless and are afraid that something else
may threaten the land. Link, the Hero of Legend, travels across the ocean to
far away places to gain more wisedom, learn new attacks, study, and become
stronger. On his journey home to Hyrule; Link's one-man craft is beset upon
by a violent storm. The waves toss the boat around as Link tries to maintain
the ships balance. Then, in a blinding flash of light, Link's ship is torn
apart by a lighting bolt. The deafening crack of thunder is the last thing
that Link hears as he slips out of consciousness.

In the darkness, Link feels his body being violently tossed by the waves and
eventually he stops drifting in the ocean. Suddenly, Link hears what sounds
like Princess Zelda calling him. Link regains consciousness in a warm bed.
The lady who had been tending to him explains that her name is Marin and
that she found him washed up on the beach of Koholint Island where she lives.
Marin bears a striking resemblance to Princess Zelda. Link soon discovers
that Marin's father has his shield and that more of Link's equipment washed
ashore on the beach. Link goes south from the town and finds his sword
partily buried in the sand. As Link retrieves his sword, a strange owl
appears and tells Link that the only way to leave the island and get home is
to awaken the Wind Fish. The Wind Fish sleeps high upon a mountain in an egg.

Thus begins one of Link's most mysterious quests, a quest for Awakening. For
those who want to know, this game is called: "Dreaming Island" in Japan. In
the US and Europe, it is refered to as "Link's Awakening". This is the first
Gameboy Legend of Zelda game. Some people may scoff at the thought of a
Gameboy Legend of Zelda game; but please keep any nay-saying to a dull roar
whilst I review this game. Is this game any good? We shall see. We shall see.

Gameplay: This game plays a bit like "Link to the Past". The only difference
in Gameplay is that the level design in Link's Awakening is a bit more
devious. The puzzles can be fairly challenging, and some of teh enemies can
be a bit tough. You need to use a different strategy for each dungeun. The
game is more plot-driven than the other games in the series. (1 through 3.)
The plot is actually a bit more deep and a bit darker than the previous 3
games. The game employs an unusual sense of humour which is a nice and
refreshing addition. There are references to the other Legend of Zelda games
and even the Mario series.

Some of the puzzles seem illogical at first, but the unpredictability of the
puzzles makes for an unusual reaction in the player. I found myself trying
tons of different things, pondering on ways to get past certain things,
back-tracking, searching, and playing this game almost non-stop. This game
is fairly addicting. You have to think to get past a lot of the puzzles. I
suggest that you DO NOT buy a guide for this game; unless you are completely
stuck. I didn't need a guide to get through the game; but it took me a while
to beat it at first. This game has tons of secrets and little bonuses. There
are also "mini-games" that you can find and play. As well, as secret items
that you do not really need; but should get. There are many things to find
like Heart Pieces, Secret Shells, and more.

The game is plot driven as I said before. The plot sounds simple at first;
but gets strangely more compelling and complex as the text arises many
questions as to what is real. The bosses talk to you and fill your mind with
doubt and hopelessness. For I while, the first time through, I wasn't sure if
I wanted to go on in the game. I was afraid that maybe, just maybe, the game
really was a dream and that Link was part of this dream as well. There is a
bit of character development in the game as well. Not with Link; but with
MArin. She becomes an interesting character. I like her. The Owl shows up and
gives you cryptic clues and hints every now and then. The text in the game
reallys aids the story. The story is fantastic.

Sometimes in the game you can get followed by various characters that can
help you. The game also takes control of itsself for a while to let some
interesting cut-scene or anime inspired cinema scene show up. Very slick.
Very cool. Some of the animated cinema scenes are amazingly detailed and they
move! The opening scene is very cool. The ending? Well, let's just say it
will blow away any doubts about Gameboy's power.

This game is fun; and that is what counts. My neighbor in Germany, (He lived
below us in the apartment complex.) once offered me his Game Gear, and his
four games for my Gameboy and Legend of Zelda. I declined because I had
already beaten his games, (Sonic 1, 2, Chakken, and Columns.) and I wouldn't
be able to play Super Mario Land and Tetris on a Game Gear. This game plays
like a dream. It is a realtime action game from a top-down and occasionally
side-view perspective.

Graphics: The graphics are a little notch below Link to the Past; but
definately above teh first and second game. The graphics are quite clear and
sharp on any version of Gameboy. If you want to pop this game into a Gameboy
Color; I suggest you use the "Left+B" pallette. (Yes, I knows it is black
and white; but the game looks VERY cool in black and white.) Another pallette
that I suggest is "Left+A". The graphics are surprisingly detailed in normal
play sequences. Your items are well designed and the bosses look fairly good
and thankfully, some are quite large.

The game does take a time out every now and then for cut-scense that help
advance the plot. The level of detail is upped in the anime-inspired cartoon
looking cut-scenes. (Mostly close-ups.) The graphics in these scenes are
amazing. I wish Legend of Zelda 3: "A Link to the Past" had some of these. In
this aspect, Legend of Zelda 4 exceeds all it's previous breathren and makes
the SNES version look half-baked.

The animation in the game is fluid, and Link moves fairly quick. I have
noticed a bit of "graphic clipping" and some slowdown when more than 10 items
that move are on the screen at once. But the game's coding is fairly tight
and there's not too much slowdown. In fact you may not even notice it as you
play the game. Every room in each dungeon has a distinct look. Unlike other
Gameboy games in this genre; you do not feel like you are traveling through
the same room all the time. There are also some "blinking sprite" errors in
certain sections of the game. But, again, you have to be looking for it.

Sound: The sound is fairly clear and crisp. The sounds are appropriate for
the on-screen actions. The special "tone" that has been in EVERY Legend of
Zelda game is present when you find a secret. Each of the instruments that
you need to wake the Windfish has a distinct sound and sounds similar to the
actual instrument it is modeled after. The sound also plays an important part
in the gameply. For example: "If you hit a wall with your sword and it sounds
hollow; than you can blow that wall up. Very well done sound.

Music: Distinctively new music and revisions of old favorite music abound in
this game as well as variations of new songs introduced by this game. The
music is moody in places and is appropriate. I love the music. Some of the
music is quite long for a Gameboy game. And it uses the 4-channels that the
Gameboy has for sound processing.

Play Control: Hit detection is accurate and well down. The Play control is
not akward nor confusing. Anyone can pick up and play this game. The various
weapons are easy to use as well. The game doesn't seem to move in "squares"
as most rpgs do. "Moving in squares" is a term for the strange aspect in most
rpgs where you push the control a little and the character advances forward
one complete "block". You can move in all eight directions and you can also
throw your boomerang in eight directins. (If you find the boomerang.)

Final Analysis: Do you own a Gameboy? You need this game. It is a sin not to
own this game. This game is being rereleased for Gameboy Color as a "special"
edition. You should definately pick this game up. Thi sgame is different from
the "DX version" and any true Gameboy Otaku should own the original and the
Deluxe version. Get this game now. Why? Because The Avardancer said so.

Score 
Gameplay: *****
Graphics: *****
Sound: *****
Music: *****
Play Control: *****
Total: 25 out of 25

Final Score: 100%


Currently Known Codes.

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.

The Wierd Warp: Go as close to the edge of the screen as possible; then try
and leave the screen; before the screen shifts; press "select", and you will
end up on the other side of the screen. (It's hard to explain; but once you
do; you'll be able to explore; like never before.!) This code may not work on
some Game Paks.

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.

Zero Shield: This code kinda sucks. Use the Screen Warp to get through the
tricky parts. Start a new game; DO NOT pick up your sword. Use the Screen
Warp trick to get the Tale Key and the magic powder, enter the first level
and get the feather. Use the warp to get into the Face Shrine and get a
Power Bracelet, use the warp to get the Key to the fourth level and use the
warp to get the flippers. You can play the Trendy game until you get the
Bombs and Bow. Once you have most all these items; you should start hunting
for Secret Sea Shells. Once you get twenty, go to the Seashell mansion to
recieve your prize. Get the prize and return to the beach. A shield will be
there instead of your sword. Pick up the shield and it dissappears. You have
the invisible and useless Zero Shield and you can not get your sword to
complete the game. :(

Keep Bow Wow: At the part where Bow Wow follows you; do not return him. Use
the Wierd Warp to get the key to the third level and beat the game normally.

Keep Marin: When Marin follows you, use the screen warp to get past the
Walrus, and use it again later to get past her on the bridge after you beat
the seventh level.

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 "The End"
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.