The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening - now in stop-motion!

I'm now into dungeon 3.  It's amazing how much this game feels like:

• A step between LttP and the later Zeldas, having the dungeons focussed around their items and with some actual characters outside, but still resolutely old-school and broadly quite simple;
  
• A parody of the Zelda series and Nintendo in general, what with Kanalet Castle's prince and all;
  
• A remake of a GB game.  Shock horror, I know, but for all its sheen and QoL improvements it's still a bit... clunky at times.  Not in an endearing way either.

I'm enjoying it though.  I reckon it'll be a middle-ranking Zelda, but I've got a long way to go yet.

I've just been lent a copy of Link's Awakening from Matty, and given him my Astral Chain for a bit.

Think I've hit the three quarter done mark, will probably still take a bit of time until I'm done which I am fine with

Glad you're enjoying it Balla - I agree on those points except thinking it's definitely endearing! The world-in-your-hands feel of a gameboy game is such a lovely one.

I do love the diorama feeling of the game. I've only played on TV so far though!

I did the first dungeon. The pace and simplicity of the game is endearing after the complex stuff I've been playing, and I think I'll enjoy it a lot without it outstaying its welcome. That said, 8-directional movement is weird on an analogue stick in a 3D engine.

I understand why they retained 8-directional movement to not affect the game balance/design, but the lack of d-pad support is baffling (did I say this already? I probably said this already)

OrangeRakoon wrote:

I understand why they retained 8-directional movement to not affect the game balance/design, but the lack of d-pad support is baffling

Yeah, that felt weir when my thumb automatically went there and it did nothing.

OrangeRakoon wrote:

Glad you're enjoying it Balla - I agree on those points except thinking it's definitely endearing! The world-in-your-hands feel of a gameboy game is such a lovely one.

I don't have the same nostalgia for the Game Boy I'm afraid!

This fellow is excellent:

Got really in to this as I would with any Zelda game and actually finished a game within the first couple of weeks of release and not the first couple of years like most of my other games. There is something refreshing about playing a top-down Zelda and I loved the setting and all the little cameos.

Ending spoiler:

I've known the plot for ages, and... no, I'm not okay with that. Especially now I've met Marin. She's a sweetie. (I know, I know...)

The heat haze effect in the desert is really impressive. I could almost feel it!

I just ended up trying to get up the mountains from the wrong side of the map. Now I have to cross over most of the map again, given the existence of only two fast-travel points.

Partly because of things like this, but not solely, I've struggled to get into this Zelda as much as many. It's a good game, but with the general quality of the series, 'good' doesn't really cut it.

Balladeer wrote:

I just ended up trying to get up the mountains from the wrong side of the map.  Now I have to cross over most of the map again, given the existence of only two fast-travel points.

You should have more than two - the last thing I did was get the flippers and I'm sure I've got three or four different fast travel points on the map.

There are way more than 2 fast travel points - the much improved fast travel is one of the best QOL improvements to the game! If the name "Manbo" means nothing to you Balla, I strongly suggest you return to the entrance to Angler's Tunnel (dungeon 4) and have a quick look around.

I think y'all might think I'm further than I am: I'm three dungeons to the good and have just been to the desert.  Thus far I only have the ones outside Mabe and in Animal Village.  Should I have another at this point?

EDIT: Oh, I've just found another two. Now I think I need the flippers and have no idea where to get them.

I've just been dipping in here and there. This game is fun and charming but I feel no great desire to rush through it.

I've been the same up til now, kinda want to get it done before Luigi comes out of his mansion for the third time.

(and kinda get all my Pokemon in order for sword)

Balladeer wrote:

I think y'all might think I'm further than I am: I'm three dungeons to the good and have just been to the desert.  Thus far I only have the ones outside Mabe and in Animal Village.  Should I have another at this point?

EDIT: Oh, I've just found another two. Now I think I need the flippers and have no idea where to get them.

I believe you could have 6 warp points unlocked where you currently are in the game, but life is still going to get a lot easier after the next dungeon.

You don't need the flippers just yet. If you've just been to the desert you should be completely on track!

Ah yes, I've found the fourth dungeon now.  I presume this must be where I get the Flippers, what with... y'know, all the water.

EDIT: I had to look up how to kill the Spinies.

I've basically done this now, but I'm trying to hoover up all of the collectables. I think a few more are hidden behind the last Dampe challenges, which is a bit of a shame, as making so many dungeons with a limited set of rooms is a bit dull. I'm deliberately trying to build things with the simplest designs so I can get through them quickly. This probably needs to be fleshed out a bit. Everything else is good though, and, having looked back through my Total! magazines, comparing their walkthrough of the GameBoy original, I hadn't appreciated how many subtle changes they've made for the better.

The fourth tier of dampe challenges has no reward other than rupees, if that helps

Done it! Was very good.
(feel free to move this insightful review to the Last Game You Finished thread)

I've done the first two dungeons on this and tbh was a little shocked with how linear it all is, also did the owl tell you where to go all the time in the original? As I honestly don't remember him doing that.

The_Jaster wrote:

I've done the first two dungeons on this and tbh was a little shocked with how linear it all is, also did the owl tell you where to go all the time in the original? As I honestly don't remember him doing that.

I think he did - the text might be a bit clearer, but I'd have to say that the original was quite straight-forward.