The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)

This article is about the 1993 Game Boy game. For the 1998 Game Boy Color game, see Link's Awakening DX. For the 2019 Switch game, see Link's Awakening.

Link's Awakening

Release
Platform	Date
Game Boy	June 6, 1993 August 1993 December 1993
Game Boy Color (DX)	December 1, 1998 December 12, 1998 January 1, 1999
3DS Virtual Console (DX)	June 7, 2011
Switch (2019 Remake)	🌎 September 20, 2019
Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda	🌎 November 12, 2021
Credits
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Producer	Shigeru Miyamoto
Director	Takashi Tezuka
Guides
Walkthrough	Text Walkthrough (DX) Video Walkthrough (DX)
Bosses Characters Enemies Pieces of Heart Items Secret Seashells Trading Sequence
Media
Gallery	Image Gallery
Music	Midis

In-depth guide: Link's Awakening Walkthrough (DX)

Almost a year and a half after the release of A Link to the Past, Nintendo made a portable adventure for the Game Boy entitled The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. The personality of the game was much more lighthearted compared to the previous games. For example, townspeople will instruct the player on how to control Link, then say that they have no idea what they're talking about. The game also featured several cameo appearances from other Nintendo games, such as enemies from the Mario series.

Link's Awakening begins with Link being shipwrecked on the island of Koholint. He learns that the only way he can depart is by awakening the mystical Wind Fish who is sleeping in a gigantic egg on the top of the mountain. To waken the Wind Fish, Link must collect the Eight Instruments of the Sirens. Throughout Link's journey, the player encounters several items that returned from previous Zelda titles, as well as some items that are unique. One notable example is Roc's Feather, which gives Link the ability to jump, a first for an overhead perspective Zelda game. By also using the Pegasus Boots, another series-first item, Link's jumping distance is increased threefold.

This was the first Zelda game set outside of the land of Hyrule. It also had side-scrolling sections, similar to a Mario platformer and The Adventure of Link. It also had the first Trading Sequence, which became a staple side-quest archetype in later Zelda entries. (However, in Link's Awakening, this was a mandatory quest which needed to be completed at some point to beat the game.) Finally, it was the first Zelda game for a handheld console.

In 1998, the DX version of the game was released for the Game Boy Color, enhancing the game with bright colors as well as adding an optional Color Dungeon, which allowed Link to get one of two special upgrades.

In 2019, an HD remake was released for the Nintendo Switch, which radically changed the graphical style of the game to modern standards while adding a new toy-like aesthetic. It is largely the same gameplay-wise, including most content from the DX version, as well as additional content.

The original version of the game was included in the Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda dedicated handheld in 2021.

Story

Main article: Link's Awakening Story

After defeating Ganon in A Link to the Past, Link decides to go on a journey to prepare himself in case such an evil returns. During this journey, Link's ship falls prey to a storm. Link wakes up on the beach of the mysterious island of Koholint, where he must gather eight instruments in order to wake the Wind Fish sleeping atop Mt. Tamaranch and leave the island.

Timeline Placement

This is a continuation of the tale of the Link incarnation from A Link to the Past, Oracle of Seasons, and Oracle of Ages during the Era of Light and Dark. These four games follow a hypothetical ending of Ocarina of Time in which Ganondorf manages to defeat Link, triggering a chain of events leading to the Imprisoning War, the backstory of A Link to the Past. Link's Awakening is followed a few generations later by A Link Between Worlds and a great time later by The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link.

Other media

• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Manga)

Gallery

Main article: Gallery:Link's Awakening

See also: Gallery:Link's Awakening Bosses, Gallery:Link's Awakening Characters, Gallery:Link's Awakening Enemies, and Gallery:Link's Awakening Mini-Bosses

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  Link, Marin, Tarin, and the Owl

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  Marin finding Link washed up at shore

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  Koholint Island

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  Link

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  Marin

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  Tarin

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  The Owl

Screenshots

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  Title screen

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  Link waking in bed in Marin and Tarin's House at the start of the game.

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  Marin at the Mabe Village weathercock

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  Mabe Village Library

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  Tail Cave

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  Island map

Videos

Japanese Puppet Commercial

American Down with Zelda Commercial

Intro

Playthrough (No commentary)

See also

• Link's Awakening Secrets and Easter Eggs

External links

• Japanese Official Website (for the release in Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda)