The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX (Nintendo Game Boy Color, 1998)

What's not to love about 'Link's Awakening (DX)'? Being the first 'Legend of Zelda' game to ever grace handheld consoles, it combines everything fans of the original NES games loved with a fascinating new quest even the newest players can get enthralled in and the ease of portability. And need I even mention the amazing in-game soundtrack...? Yes. Yes, I do. Once again, you fill the role of Link, who awakens to find himself on the mysterious isle of Koholint. While there, he is tasked with going from dungeon to dungeon, collecting the Eight Instruments and awaken the mysterious being known as the 'Wind Fish'.

What sets this game apart from other 'Legend of Zelda' games? That's a good question. Technically, it's not what separates it from other games that makes it good, but what tried and true formulas make the LoZ line fun; a memorable silent protagonist, unique and interesting tools and weaponry in every game, and simple gameplay combined with seemingly difficult puzzles and bosses. What does make it unique is the music; of course, you have your typical songs like the 'Overworld' theme, the dungeon boss music and a remix of the original title theme, but just one earful of the game's signature piece - the 'Ballad of the Wind Fish' - is enough to make you want to play the game through to the end just to hear it in its entirety.

If you're either a hardcore 'Legend of Zelda' fan or just a long-time supporter of all things inspired by Nintendo and/or gaming pioneer Shigeru Miyamoto, this is one game that absolutely must be in your collection no matter what.

Although there is but one mode in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, there's certainly not a shortage of places to go, people to meet, or things to do. Oh no, there's a much different tune to be sung the second after you wrap your thumbs around the buttons of your Game Boy with this sucker in the slot. The moment you enter the solitary island of Koholint, you'll come to grips with just how humongous this portable adventure really is, and with dozens of characters and places to interact with, Zelda DX has a lot to boast.

A long story short, you're the notorious hero Link who has set off on a personal voyage far away from home. During a dark storm, your ship is destroyed by a blast of lightning, and you fall unconscious -- until you wake up under the care of Marin and Tarin, who point you in the right direction to begin what may be the most engrossing adventure yet! Full of dark enemies, musical instruments, mysterious motives, and a sleeping fish, Zelda DX is gaming at its best, and is liable to keep you addicted until you answer the Wind Fish's ultimate riddle.

Everything from the original version is here -- there's neither a place nor object missing. In fact, the new DX edition has a bit more added. In addition to the normal amount of dungeons, you'll be able to seek out and enter a special hidden one which, although short, gives veteran players seeking a new experience somewhat of what they're asking for. And since it's tailored specifically for the Game Boy Color and its newer hardware (it cannot be accessed without it), it definitely adds a bit more value to an old classic, especially since you receive a set of blue or red armor upon the dungeon's completion.

The newly revamped Game Boy Color mode fits the restraints well, and bring to life what once dwelled in the realm of black and white. Throughout the color-enhanced version of Zelda DX, it can easily be inferred that Nintendo has reworked its magic to fit new standards. Now that it looks much more like its original NES counterpart than ever before, Miyamoto's masterpiece holds water on an all-new ground, and it certainly shows. A splash of color goes a long way, and there's little to be said otherwise.

As for the other extras in the fourth Legend of Zelda, there are several. The most noticeable of the bunch would have to be the Game Boy Printer compatibility, which is certainly an interesting addition. During many parts of the adventure, which aren't always easy to discover, your picture will be taken and stored in the Koholint photo shop, where you can drop by whenever you wish to view your picture collection. And if you've got the compatible printer, you can make stickers from whatever photographs have been taken. The true challenge of this, however, is to find all the places where you get your picture taken. If you can find every single last one of them without aid from a player's guide, you'll be a true Zelda Master indeed.

Link's Awakening is the colourised 1998 version of the 1993 original and it includes a new colour-oriented dungeon and Game Boy Printer support.

With eight huge dungeons, cool new weapons and items and generally a whole lot to do, you won't be disappointed even if you're new to the Zelda games.

The game involves a completely new storyline on the island of Koholint and it has omitted some of the classic characteristics of the series. The absence of the classic main villain, Ganon from the earlier installments, the absence of the mythical Triforce and the absence of the land of Hyrule make this Zelda title a fresh take on the storyline.

The game begins with the main character, Link setting sail after the previous game, A Link to the Past and getting stranded on Koholint island where he must find

The gameplay is classic and solid with responsive controls (remember that Game Boy games only use the D-pad and the A and B buttons, so there can't be much to gripe about). The menus are clear and easily navigated Naturally, the graphics of a Game Boy Color game are not realistic but they look great and a splash of colour really makes a difference. The enemies vary and the bosses are fun albeit fairly easy to fight.

If you own a Game Boy Color or a Game Boy SP and you haven't played this game before, go get it. You won't regret it. If you have the original Game Boy, get the monochrome version of The Legend of Zelda: Links awakening.

A classic Zelda game unhindered by the limitations of handheld gaming!

10/10

As a Zelda fan I could not go wrong by purchasing this game. Great puzzles and missions, great variety of hard missions and simple ones, all make you think and use that resourceful side of ourselves we don't usually get to play with.

One of the most known games on game boy color.

The Legend of Zelda is a high fantasy action-adventure video game published by Nintendo

The gameplay consists of a mixture of action, adventure, puzzle solving, and role-playing.

Features

* Fully colorized version of 1993 classic.
* Three battery-backed save slots.
* Includes new GBC-only dungeon.
* Game Boy Printer Support.
* For Game Boy and Game Boy Color.

pros:

* Excellent game play
* Beautiful environment
* Long time scenario
* Nice background music
* Low price

cons:

* None ( i can't find any :P )

MUST HAVE for all old gamers