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The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Nintendo EAD |
Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
Release date | June 6, 1993 August 1993 Late 1993 |
Genre(s) | Action-adventure |
Console(s) | Game Boy |
Mode(s) | Single player |
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The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is the fourth installment of The Legend of Zelda series and the first handheld title in the series. It was released for the Game Boy in 1993. The game was later ported to the Game Boy Color in 1998 with the title The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX, which was released on a dual-format black cartridge allowing it to also be playable on original Game Boy units like the original version. A two-volume manga based on the game was released in Japan in 1994.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a departure from the main storyline involving Princess Zelda, Ganon, and the Triforce. It takes place after the events of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Instead of taking place in Hyrule, the game is set on Koholint Island, where Link is stranded on. To leave the island, Link goes on an adventure to retrieve the Instruments of the Sirens and awaken the Wind Fish.
In February 2019, a Nintendo Direct revealed that a remake of Link's Awakening is under development for the Nintendo Switch. It is scheduled for a worldwide release on September 20, 2019.
Plot
After Link's defeat of Ganon in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, peace was restored in Hyrule, though many were precarious and wondered of potential threats arising from Ganon's ashes. In response, Link left Hyrule and journeyed to foreign lands to strengthen his skills and wits in case a possible threat would occur. After months of training, Link felt ready to return to Hyrule, so he got on a small boat and traveled back.[1][2]
As Link goes seafaring in the Great Hyrulean Sea, he gets caught in a big sea storm. A bolt of lightning strikes the boat, causing it to break and sink underwater. Link unconsciously drifts away at the sea, and washes up onto the shore of Koholint Island along with the ship wreckage. Link is found by a young woman, who struggles to wake him up, so she takes him to her home to recover.
Link wakes up on a bed inside her house, located in Mabe Village. From the young woman's voice, he mistakenly believes her to be Princess Zelda, so the young woman, named Marin, introduces herself and tells Link that he is on Koholint Island. She states that many monsters have appeared on Koholint Island where he was washed ashore. Link goes to talk to her father, Tarin, who gives him back his Shield that he found.
Following Marin's instruction, Link goes to the beach, named Toronbo Shores, and finds his sword stuck in a beach. Just before obtaining his sword, Link is encountered by an owl, who tells him that he cannot leave the island unless he awakens the Wind Fish. The owl mentions that the monsters are more violent for this reason. The owl flies off to the Mysterious Forest and waits there for Link.
Upon entering the Mysterious Forest, Link is greeted again by the owl, who instructs him to retrieve the key to unlock the first dungeon, Tail Cave. Link manages to obtain the key, and he enters the Tail Cave. At the end of the cave, Link gets in a boss fight with Moldorm. After defeating the boss, Link goes into the room above and obtains the Full Moon Cello, the first of the Instrument of the Sirens. The owl appears again and explains to Link that the cello and the seven other Instruments of the Sirens are required to awaken the Wind Fish.
Later, during his search for the sixth instrument, Link enters the Ancient Ruins, which has a mural stating that Koholint Island is a dream world created by the Wind Fish, and that the island would permanently disappear if he woke up. After reading it, Link encounters the owl another time, who tells Link that the mural is only a rumor and that only the Wind Fish knows whether it is true. Throughout Koholint Island, the nightmares attempt to take control of the Wind Fish's dream world, and try to stop Link from waking up the Wind Fish.
After a long journey, Link obtains the eighth and final instrument, the Thunder Drum, in Turtle Rock. He returns to the Wind Fish's Egg, located in the center of Tal Tal Mountain range, and plays the Ballad of the Wind Fish with his Ocarina and the eight Instruments of the Sirens. By doing so, a hole cracks open in the Wind Fish's Egg, and Link enters inside. After traveling through a maze, Link falls into an enclosed chamber. Here he engages in a final battle against the Shadows and their six forms, most of whom are bosses from earlier The Legend of Zelda titles. Its final form is DethI, a one-eyed, two-tentacled creature.
Link manages to defeat the Shadows, causing a long ladder to appear before him. Link climbs to the top and stands on a platform overseeing a starry, black sky. The owl appears to him one last time, revealing himself as part of the Wind Fish's spirit and the guardian of the dream world. He congratulates Link for defeating the nightmares and his courage in overcoming them. The owl flies away and the Wind Fish appears to Link, and confirms that they are in a dream world. Link plays the Ballad of the Wind Fish a last time, causing him and the Wind Fish to wake up, and the entire Koholint Island to vanish. The dream ends with Link being taken outside by an upward stream of water.
Link wakes up in the middle of the sea, holding on driftwood from the shipwreck. Link hears the Wind Fish's wail and smiles as he watches the Wind Fish slowly moving overhead in the skies. Link's adventure ends with him sitting on driftwood and gazing at the sky.
The game has a perfect ending if Link does not lose a life. After the end credits, a short scene shows Marin, with her acquired wings, flying around the "The End" text. It is unknown if she managed to escape from the Wind Fish's dream.
Characters
Playable character
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Link | Link is the main protagonist, and he goes on an adventure to awaken the Wind Fish. |
Supporting characters
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
BowWow | ||
Flying Rooster | ||
Marin | ||
Owl | ||
Tarin | ||
Wind Fish |
Other characters
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Bear | An Animal Village resident and chef, who gives Link a pineapple for a honeycomb. | |
Christine | A goat from Animal Village and pen pal of Mr. Write. | |
Crazy Tracy | A reclusive woman who makes special life-giving medicine. | |
Cucco keeper | A man who lives in Tal Tal Heights and wishes to see the Flying Rooster. | |
Fisherman | Runs a fishing minigame in Mabe Village, and either he or an identical character fishes up Martha's necklace after being given a fishing hook. | |
Ghost | A spirit who wishes to return to his old house one last time before moving on. | |
Grandma Yahoo | The sweeping-obsessed wife of Grandpa Ulrira. | |
Goriya | A reclusive friendly monster who lives on Toronbo Shores and lends Link his boomerang. | |
Great Fairies | Life-restoring large fairies who live in fountains. | |
Hippo | A female hippo of Animal Village who is posing for Schule's painting. | |
Kiki | A monkey who will help build a bridge for Link if given bananas. | |
Madam MeowMeow | A BowWow-owning woman in Mabe Village. | |
Mamasha | A mother of at least five children in Mabe Village. | |
Mamu | The leader of a popular frog band who teach Link the Frog's Song of Soul. | |
Manbo | A large Ocean Sunfish who teaches Link Manbo's Mambo. | |
Martha | A mermaid who has lost her necklace (or bikini top in the Japanese version) and gives Link one of her scales if he returns it. | |
Mr. Write | A letter-writing enthusiast who becomes pen pals with Christine. | |
Old Man Ulrira | An old man who gives Link hints via telephone. | |
Papahl | The father of at least five children in Mabe Village, who gets lost in Tal Tal Heights. | |
Quadruplets | Four (or five) children who live in Mabe Village and give Link advice they are too young to understand. | |
Raccoon | A character who causes Link to get lost in the Mysterious Forest. He is later revealed to be Tarin under a spell. | |
Richard | The owner of Kanalet Castle who was evicted by his Darknut guards. | |
Sale | A banana-selling crocodile who loves canned meat. | |
Schule Donavitch | An artist crocodile who made the mermaid statue. | |
Shopkeeper | The owner of the Town Tool Shop, who kills Link with magic if he steals anything and then returns. | |
Trendy Gamester | The owner of the Trendy Game. An identical character (or the same person) operates Rapids Ride. | |
Walrus | A sleepy resident of Animal Village who can block paths with his girth. | |
Witch | A potion-brewer who can make Magic Powder from the Sleepy Toadstool. | |
File:YipYip LA sprite.png | YipYip | A Chain Chomp with an obsession for jewelry. |
Species
Sprite | Name |
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Bee | |
Chain Chomp | |
Chicken | |
Fairy | |
Fish | |
Frog | |
Monkey | |
Mutt | |
Pigeon | |
Rabbit | |
Rat | |
Seagull |
Enemies
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Angler Fry | Assists the Angler Fish in battle by swimming at Link. | |
Anti-Kirby | Attempts to inhale Link. Found in Eagle's Tower. | |
Arm-Mimic | Copies Link's movements and deals a fairly large amount of damage. | |
Armos Statue | Starts moving when Link touches it. Found outside the Southern Face Shrine. | |
Beetle | Endlessly spawn from a single hole in Ukuku Prairie, after which they simply walk around. | |
Bloober | Swim after Link in side-scrolling areas in a bobbing pattern. | |
Bomber | Fly around and drop bombs with a large blast radius. | |
Bombite | After being hit, they will either ricochet around or follow Link, after which they will explode. Found in Key Cavern. | |
Boo Buddy | Follow Link invincibly in dark rooms, but will flee vulnerably when the room is brightened. Found in Bottle Grotto. | |
Buzz Blob | Zaps Link if attacked with a sword, unless stunned. Using Magic Powder on one turns it into a Cukeman. | |
Cheep-Sheep | Swims back-and-forth or up-and-down in a simple pattern in side-scrolling areas. | |
Crow | Takes off and swoops down at Link. One at Kanalet Castle instead attempts to flee with a Golden Leaf. | |
Cukeman | Says various non sequiturs to Link if spoken to; is created by sprinkling Magic Powder on a Buzz Blob, which it otherwise acts like. | |
Firebat | Swoops after Link after being spawned by the Shadow of Ganon. | |
Fish | Swims around Goponga Swamp with its dorsal fin visible, leaping when Link gets close. | |
Flying Octorok | Acts like a normal Octorok, but uses its wings to avoid his attacks by jumping away. | |
Gel | Parasitically attaches to Link, slowing him. Can be found simply on the field or by hitting certain Zols with weak weapons. | |
Ghini | Flies around the cemetery erratically after Link. Extra will spawn if he touches the gravestones. | |
Giant Ghini | Spawns from one of the gravestones in the cemetery, and takes more hits than a normal Ghini, but releases a fairy when defeated. | |
Gibdo | Does not flinch after Link hits it. Burning it reveals a Stalfos. Found in Eagle's Tower. | |
Giant Goponga Flower | A large, resilient swamp flower that can shoot fireballs. | |
Goomba | A simple enemy most often found in side-scrolling areas. Squishing it gives Link a Recovery Heart. | |
Goponga Flower | A swamp flower resilient to most attacks. Native to Goponga Swamp. | |
Hardhat Beetle | Bumps Link around, and cannot be defeated with most weapons, unless bumped into a pit. | |
Iron Mask | Wander around with a mask negating damage, though it can be removed with the Hookshot. | |
Keese | Bats that fly around erratically, attempting to hit Link. | |
Leever | Burrow and spin around in sandy areas after Link. | |
Like Like | Attempt to eat Link's shield, but cannot eat the Mirror Shield. | |
Mad Bomber | A specific Soldier that hides in pits and throws bombs at Link, and carries a Golden Leaf. | |
Mask-Mimic | Masked creatures that mirror Link's movements. Their masks negate damage from the sword. | |
Mini Moldorm | Crawl around in erratic looping patterns, often bumping into walls. | |
Moblin | Wander around slowly and throw spears. Found in the Mysterious Woods and Moblin's Cave. They also steal the BowWow from Madam MeowMeow. | |
Monkey | Throws coconuts at Link from a tree on Toronbo Shores. It can be knocked out with the Pegasus Boots. | |
Octorok | Wander around slowly and spit rocks. | |
Pairodd | Appear in pairs and warp around while shooting projectiles whenever Link approaches. Found in Key Cavern. | |
Peahat | Flies around and lands with its flower propeller. While airborne, it is invincible. | |
Pig Warrior | Acts exactly like the related Moblins, but appears in mountainous and riverside regions and has somewhat more health. | |
Pincer | Lunges at Link when he approaches their holes. | |
Piranha Plant | Pops up from columns in side-scrolling areas. | |
Pokey | Wanders around Yarna Desert. The lower segments must be dealt with first. | |
Pols Voice | Jumps around simply, but can only be defeated with specific things, like thrown bottles. | |
Raven | Acts like crows, but are stronger and tougher. Appear outside of Turtle Rock. | |
Rope | Charge at Link while on the same x- or y-coordinate as them. Appear in Turtle Rock. | |
Sand Crab | Move slowly up or down, but very fast to the side. Appear on Toronbo Shores. | |
Sea Urchin | Sits in place. It can be pushed with the shield and defeated with most other items. | |
Shrouded Stalfos | Acts exactly like a Moblin, but is found in dungeons and the western mountains. | |
Soldier | Acts the same as Moblins, but are found in Kanalet Castle and are much stronger. They were formerly Richard's servants. | |
Spark | Travels along the sides of blocks and walls, and is impervious to most weapons. | |
Spiked Beetle | Charges at Link when they see him, but can be flipped onto their backsides with the shield, leaving them helpless and vulnerable. | |
Spiny Beetle | Hides under grass, rocks, or skulls, and runs into Link if he approaches. | |
Stalfos | Leap away when Link tries to attack with his sword. Additionally, some will attempt to stomp him and some will retaliate with a thrown bone. | |
Star | Slide diagonally along dungeons floors extremely fast while spinning slowly. | |
Sword Moblin | Charge at Link when he approaches, and can parry his sword blows. Found in the same places as normal Moblins. | |
Sword Stalfos | Act exactly like sword Moblins, but found in dungeons. | |
Tektite | Leap around the screen. Found around the eastern side of Tal Tal Heights. | |
Three-of-a-Kind | Can only be defeated when all three are stopped on the same symbol. | |
Vacuum Mouth | Attempts to suck Link inside of it or blow him away while it flashes. If he is sucked inside, he will be returned to the dungeon entrance. | |
Vire | Swoops down at Link and shoots fireballs. When defeated, it splits into two skull-headed Keese. Appears in Turtle Rock. | |
Water Tektite | Glides across the surface of the water. | |
Wizzrobe | Appears and disappears within its hat while shooting magic, and is immune to sword attacks. Appears in Eagle's Tower. | |
Zol | Can appear on the field, in which case a weak attack will split it into two Gels, or can appear from the ground, falling from the ceiling, or within chests, in which case one hit will immediately defeat them. | |
Zola | Appears from under the water to shoot a fireball at Link. | |
Zombie | Digs from under the ground in endless amounts near the graveyard. |
Traps and obstacles
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Anti-Faery | Flies around the room diagonally to hit Link. They burn when touched by Magic Powder | |
Blade Trap | Charges at Link when he crosses its x- or y-axis. | |
Boulder | Falls from above the mountains on the western side of Tal Tal Heights. | |
Eye Guard | Shoots fireballs at Link from its eye, looking like the various harmless Eyegore statues. | |
Face Lamp | Shoots fireballs at Link, looking like the various harmless torches. | |
Flame Fountain | Shoots an endless stream of flames, preventing Link from accessing Turtle Rock without the Mirror Shield. | |
Flying Tile | Flies up one-by-one in large groups from the floor before flinging themselves at Link. | |
Giant Bubble | Acts like a normal Anti-Faery, but appears only in side-scrolling areas, and is much larger. | |
Laser | An obstacle with a slowly-rotating eye. It shoots a beam at Link if it spots him. | |
Lava | Hurts Link if he falls in, and forces him to reset to where he fell in from. Appears in Turtle Rock. | |
Mega Thwomp | Must be knocked down with the Pegasus Boots by hitting its side, and then can be used as a platform. | |
Podoboo | Jumps out of lava in side-scrolling areas in Turtle Rock. | |
Quicksand | Appears in Yarna Desert, and pulls Link around, potentially into holes. | |
Spiked Thwomp | Attempts to fall on Link when he approaches, though their spikeless heads can be jumped upon. | |
Stone Elevator | Does not lower unless the weight put upon them is significantly higher than Link's own, necessitating a held bottle. Appears in Bottle Grotto. | |
Thwomp | Attempts to fall on Link in he approaches. They are very fast and appear in groups. |
Guardians
There are 14 guardians in the game, which act as the game's minibosses.
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Armos Knight | ||
Blaino | ||
Cue Ball | ||
Desert Lanmola | ||
Dodongo Snake | ||
Gohma | ||
Grim Creeper and the Battle Bats | ||
Hinox | ||
King Moblin | ||
Knight | ||
Master Stalfos | ||
Rolling Bones | ||
Smasher | ||
Turtle Rock |
Nightmares
The nine Nightmares are the game's main bosses.
Dungeon bosses
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Moldorm | ||
Genie | ||
Slime Eye | ||
Angler Fish | ||
Slime Eel | ||
Facade | ||
Evil Eagle | ||
Hot Head |
The Shadow Nightmares
The final boss is a sequential fight against the Shadow Nightmares, who take a variety of forms, most of them based on foes fought by Link in the game and the previous title, A Link to the Past.
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Giant Zol | ||
Agahnim | ||
Moldorm | ||
Ganon | ||
Lanmola | ||
DethI |
Items
Equipment
The equipment consists of items that the player can equip to the or buttons for Link to use.
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Bomb | ||
Boomerang | ||
Bow and Arrows | ||
Hookshot | ||
Magic Powder | ||
Magic Rod | ||
Ocarina | ||
Pegasus Boots | ||
Power Bracelet | ||
Roc's Feather | ||
Shield (Mirror Shield) | ||
Sword | ||
Toadstool |
Keys
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Small Key | ||
Nightmare Key | ||
Tail Key | ||
Slime Key | ||
Angler Key | ||
Face Key | ||
Bird Key |
Instruments of the Sirens
There are eight Instruments of the Sirens, each one located in a dungeon. Link must obtain all eight in order to awaken the Wind Fish.
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Full Moon Cello | ||
Conch Horn | ||
Sea Lily's Bell | ||
Surf Harp | ||
Wind Marimba | ||
Coral Triangle | ||
Organ of Evening Calm | ||
Thunder Drum |
Trading sequence
Sprite | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
Yoshi doll | ||
Ribbon | ||
Canned food | ||
Bananas | ||
Stick | ||
Honeycomb | ||
Pineapple | ||
Hibiscus | ||
Letter | ||
Broom | ||
Fishing hook | ||
Necklace (North America) Bra (Japan & Europe) |
||
Scale |
Objects
Locations
All of the locations take place in Koholint Island, which is divided into numerous regions and a few towns:
- Animal Village
- Cemetery
- East of the Bay
- Face Shrine
- Goponga Swamp
- Koholint Prairie
- Mabe Village
- Martha's Bay
- Mt. Tamaranch
- Mysterious Woods
- Pothole Field
- Rapids Ride
- Signpost Maze
- South of the Village
- Tabahl Wasteland
- Tal Tal Heights
- Tal Tal Mountain Range
- Toronbo Shores
- Ukuku Prairie
- Yarna Desert
Minor locations
There are minor locations that appear within one of the greater regions or towns.
- Crazy Tracy's Health Spa
- Fishing Pond
- Great Fairy Fountain
- House by the Bay
- Mabe Village Library
- Manbo's Pond
- Marin and Tarin's House
- Mermaid Statue
- Raft Shop
- Richard's Villa
- Sale's House O' Bananas
- Seashell Mansion
- Telephone Booth
- Town Tool Shop
- Trendy Game Shop
- Under the Bridge
- Warp Hole
- Weathercock
- Witch's Hut
Dungeons
There are nine main dungeons:
- Level 1-- Tail Cave
- Level 2-- Bottle Grotto
- Level 3-- Key Cavern
- Level 4-- Angler's Tunnel
- Level 5-- Catfish's Maw
- Level 6-- Face Shrine
- Level 7-- Eagle's Tower
- Level 8-- Turtle Rock
- Wind Fish's Egg
There are a few smaller dungeons known as mini-dungeons:
Gallery
- Main article: Gallery:The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Names in other languages
Language | Name | Meaning |
---|---|---|
Japanese | ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島 Zeruda no Densetsu Yume o Miru Shima |
The Legend of Zelda: The Dreaming Island |