The DX port of Link’s Awakening contains a couple of bonuses. Link’s Awakening DX has one extra dungeon. The color dungeon is exclusive to the DX version. In order to reach it, players must obtain a book from the library. The book instructs the players the correct order to push the gravestones. The dungeon is short and is optional. A remix of The Legend of Zelda dungeon theme plays in the background. The goal is to solve color based puzzles. The reward for completing the dungeon is the choice between the red or blue tunic from the Great Fairy. The red tunic increases Link’s offense while the blue tunic increases Link’s defense. It will also change Link’s sprite color. There is no right or wrong choice. The other bonus is the photographs. In certain situations, Link will have his photograph taken. By going to the camera shop, the photos can be printed off with a Game Boy Printer. Since I don’t have a Game Boy Printer, this feature is not too useful nowadays.
The quality of the music is great for the Game Boy. While not every track is memorable, Ballad of the Wind Fish and Tai Tai Heights were my two favorite musical tracks in the game. Ballad of the Wind Fish stands out when Link uses the eight instruments. During the second half of the adventure, Link finds out something else is going on. The Nightmares do not want Link to awaken the Wind Fish because they will lose their home. In a last desperate attempt, the leader of the Nightmares fights Link in four different forms. One of those forms takes the shape of Ganon. This moment is symbolic, as Link has to overcome his own nightmares to awaken his true self.
Link’s Awakening DX is a fun adventure on the Game Boy. It was able to successfully showcase the iconic series on the go. It took some risks at the time by not sticking with the familiar landscape of its older brothers. Having to bring up the menu to switch out your equipment can be tedious and the backtracking to complete quests and find items happens too often, but there aren’t many issues with the game. It’s easy to pick it up for the Game Boy Color or go on ahead and download it from the 3DS Virtual Console. Experience the awakening of a true hero.
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This game was supplied by the author. He never stole a single item and was never renamed Thief. The game took approximately 4 to 6 hours to complete.
This review is based on the Game Boy Color version of the game
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX is available on Amazon:
