Zelda: Link’s Awakening review round-up: Critics praise ‘dream’ remake
Switch title is out September 20 alongside Switch Lite
The first Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening reviews have been published ahead of the game’s release for Nintendo Switch.
In VGC’s Link’s Awakening Switch review, our reviewer calls the remake “A charming reimagining of a classic 2D Zelda adventure, with gameplay that can’t quite match its striking presentation.”
Read on for all of the scores from the major games press outlets.
- US Gamer (5/5) – “Its shiny new coat of paint suits it well, even if slowdown issues pop up from time to time. A few hours of play is all it takes to remind you why Zelda fans love Link’s Awakening so very much.”
- Nintendo Life (9/10) – “It adds modern conveniences, a dungeon creator, amiibo support and lots of little quality of life improvements whilst infusing every single square inch of Koholint with a level of detail and depth that totally reinvigorates both its timeless story and classic Zelda gameplay for a whole new generation of gamers.”
- VG247 (4/5) – “Let down only by the lackluster dungeon creator and some uneven performance, the design of Link’s Awakening nevertheless holds up brilliantly, which in turn makes the slavishly accurate recreation worthwhile.”
- Eurogamer (Essential) – “Some frame-rate issues on the overworld at launch aside – more an annoyance than anything else – this version surpasses the hopes I had for another visit to its world.”
- Kotaku (No score) – “Link’s Awakening is a beautiful recreation of a legendary game, but it doesn’t have much to offer to players who already know the ins and outs of Koholint Island.”
- IGN (9.4) – “Updating the look but never losing the feel of the original, Link’s Awakening is a masterclass in remaking a classic.”
- Game Informer (9/10) – “Beautifully captures the essence of the Game Boy original while adding some quality-of-life upgrades to bring it up to contemporary standards.”
- Hollywood Reporter (No score) – “Whether you’re a newcomer to the Zelda series or simply looking to dive in nearly 30 years after the game first hit handhelds, you’re going to be in for a real treat.”
- Daily Star (5/5) – “It is a must-have for any Zelda fan, and so should take its place as a console seller for the Nintendo Switch.”
- Gamespot (4/5) – “Though the remake has a couple of blemishes, it’s still an easy game to recommend. People speak of Link’s Awakening as the secret best Zelda game. That’s a tough call to make, but it’s definitely one of the best.”
- The Sixth Axis (8/10) – “With a quirkiness to it that stands out from the rest of the series, Link’s Awakening still holds up beautifully well as a modern 2D Zelda game. Outside of some nagging performance issues, Link’s Awakening is a wonderful remake of a Game Boy classic.”
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