Genuinely one of the most fun and charming games i have ever played. The overworld is fantastic, with a bunch of interesting areas and characters in a way that both makes it a joy to explore, but also makes you feel at home in a number of the areas. Mabe Village is of course the highlight here, but there's also Animal Village and a handful of other fun and charming characters throughout the island. This is of course crucial to the story since the island is a dream, a dream that you must end. This completely different angle on the traditional quest is really interesting and gives the story, particularly the ending a really beautiful and melancholic tone. I also think that the game is able to do this because it was a handheld game, coming out only 2 years after a Link to the Past it would be pretty boring to just rehash the same story in the same setting. The quote from director Takashi Tezuka that it was like they were making a parody of Zelda. On top of all that, this game actually features some of the most creative design in the series. There are only 8 dungeons here which is on the short side compared to the in A Link to the Past, but I actually think that's beneficial, since Link's awakening really doesn't outstay its welcome with it's shorter length, making for a more impactful finale. It also makes you much less likely to be burnt out as you get to the last two, much more complicated dungeons as well.

Reviewed on Aug 10, 2022


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