Link's Remakening | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Review

Link's Awakening is a great game, but is the Switch version a good remake? I dunno, you tell me.
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/ arlostuff
TWOOTER: @ArloStuff
BOOKFACE: ArloStuff
This video was edited by the lovely Kane!
/ farfetchdreviews
Additional footage provided by: ZackScottGames, Zebra Gamer, and Vincesauce!
"Reloaded Installer #11" by LHS.
/ @lhschiptunes

[@Protendo]

Arlo accidentally let 2% of his power escape during the intro.

[@Mr_Mimestamp]

Arlo but with the Infinity Gauntlet

[@BubblesZap]

You can see even more power escape on his twitter

[@696Hellx]

@@BubblesZap rofl

[@bizar0]

Stop being everywhere, Professor Pro

[@Protendo]

Andrew Kostlan If you see me everywhere, doesn’t that mean that you are *also* everywhere?

[@Dai_Tallsian]

One thing you didn't bring up which I feel deserves praise is the sound design. Especially Link's vocalizations. I was almost sad to pick up of the Zora Flippers because it meant that I would never hear the amazing sound effect of Link drowning again. His sounds when being electrocuted, burned or falling down a hole are also consistently amazing and adorable in their own, weird, sadistic way. Also Marin never sounded better singing the Ballad of the Wind Fish. The overhaul and updates to the soundtrack in general are stellar.

[@RoninCatholic]

With one Achilles heel: the forest theme no longer conveying the same sense of mystery and menace from the original.

[@tristanneal9552]

GLUB Glub glub glub....

[@tylerpodrybau7617]

That is such an intense thing to say lol "Man I wish I could keep listening to Link DROWN"

[@supersnackbros2423]

There are lots of stock sound effects though.

[@shadowmariogalaxy64]

Angler's Tunnel. I'm sorry, I didn't like that at all.

[@AD-zp4pd]

Definitely respect Arlo’s opinion but I and so many others just love the art style.

[@cheese8554]

Thanks for being civil

[@claudiolluberes111]

100% love it, not every game has to look realistic and I haven't seen a lot of non-indie games with toy aesthetics. I do agree with the gameplay limitations though, don't like them, like not being able to run diagonally and not being able to re-bind the buttons.

[@DJdeliverance]

Agreed I love the graphics the best version idk maybe cuz I grew up with these games and the originals I lived so it's nostalgia wit all quality of life stuff it's great I never beat it cuz I always get stuck in these lol.

[@minhphuongnguyen9160]

The art and how endearing the game is, are reasons why I absolutely love this game!

[@mbii7667]

Yeah idk what he's on

[@DevinGauthier]

I actually thought the toy feel and weird shine on trees added to the dream atmosphere, I often find things in dreams that don’t make sense. Great vid though.

[@charizard1802]

This remake came out at the perfect time for me... The day this game came out my girlfriend sadly passed away from her recovery from cancer. The theming of facing through nightmares to wake up from a dream... The lyrical version of the ballad of the wind fish? It helped me get through some bad times. Then as i saw marin fade in and out then fly away as the seagull i couldn't help but think my girlfriend was flying away from her pain. My dream of being together with her is now gone and all i have is the memories. But at least she is flying free... RIP my love. May me meet again in the next life...

[@BlindMelonLord]

Charizard180 sorry for your loss dude. The important thing is, you’re looking on the bright side of life. It’s the best thing you can do after an event like that. Edit: I forgot to add that I also know what it feels like to lose someone. I lost my grandfather to cancer. My mom went over to his house to see if he was all right. At night he was doing just fine. My mom goes to check on him the next morning, he ended up dying in his sleep. I’m not saying this to gain sympathy myself, because this happened a long time ago, and I’m already over it. But… My point is, I do know the feeling of losing someone close to you.

[@thebestofthebest5724]

Charizard180 I'm sorry for your loss mate.

[@JeremySheer]

sorry you went through this. my aunt and uncle died on swiss air flight 111 1998 months before Ocarina of time. I got really close to Link to the past. that game means a lot to me

[@JeremySheer]

@Bart Bijleveld i believe in god and healing let people live their life @MR JOJO youre in the wrong place bud leave.

[@cashbag]

I would’ve believed you until I saw Mega Charizard Y

[@trojanhorsegaming7586]

"random mumbling" - Arlo's intro, 2019

[@AHAD1101]

check his twitter, he explains it there

[@joriskemp9982]

As a youngling who hasn’t played the original, i adored this game and its style. And therefore accuracy didnt bother me either. So i could say the game is better when you haven’t played the original, but that would be unfair of me to say

[@warriorseamonkey1693]

same

[@novamarpo3]

I saw him... killing younglings...

[@ty_-je8wf]

That's crazy, I was thinking people that never played the original would be asking the same questions Arlo is, like why is the game on a grid like a 1996 Pokemon game. But it's cool to hear people not just had some fun but really loved it

[@TylrSolvein]

When you consider the Spyro and Crash trilogy remakes are priced at $40, but this game is $60, it actually makes little sense.

[@kylecampbell565]

Not as bad as Final Fantasy 7 being sold as god knows how many $60 games

[@morriganrenfield8240]

@@kylecampbell565 so should all of the final fantasy 13 trilogy not been full priced games? Regardless if you liked them or not. That's how much sense it makes that they charge less

[@talkingtechnically]

Tyr Solven, I agree. This is just a remake. Spyro and Crash are both 40 dollars plus include 3 games. Spyro and Crash took a lot more work to make. Yet, this game didn't take as much work and only includes one game and is, according to Nintendo, the same 60 dollar value as Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey

[@Aaravosisawesome]

5MinuteTEK Shh don’t make nintendo raise odyssey or BoTW to 80$

[@morriganrenfield8240]

@@Aaravosisawesome botw might be worth it but Mario is just Mario. Haven't bothered with the series since sunshine.

[@ChristopherMoom]

The deep voice at the beginning isn't an edit, that's just Arlo's IRL Non-puppet voice

[@daffyfable1983]

Christopher Moon I see you changed your profile picture.

[@Mr_Mimestamp]

No, it’s Link’s real voice

[@ozozznozzy]

Hijacking for those who don't know, Arlo's video editing software messed up his voice in the intro without him even touching it. He thought it was funny and decided to keep it.

[@saltyhistorian2261]

Arlo is a puppet! WHAAAAT!!!😏

[@dumpsterch1cken]

But Arlo isn't a puppet, he's just Arlo

[@Zucchinna]

the art style is exactly what I was hoping for before they even announced the remake. i've always wanted to see the old game sprites and tiles brought to life without trying to go for a more "real" approach. this game was exactly what i wanted :D

[@JoeyPaone]

Same. Too each their own I suppose

[@kevinrutledge9602]

I agree. My desire was not for realism.

[@harrylane4]

I wanted a hand-drawn style, like they did with Wario Land: Shake It! I just think 2d has an interesting feel that doesn't get utilized enough

[@doclouis4236]

Shame the game doesn't add much in terms of content. Compared to games like Breath of the Wild, only Nintendo could get away with charging $60 dollars for an HD gameboy game.

[@adamrivera8027]

If you have a ps3 see if you can track down a copy of 3D dot game heroes. Its similar but retains the blockyness

[@blockyoxwinkle5829]

This game would have been 40$ on 3DS. It feels like they only charged 60$ since it's on Switch

[@faze_thanos6098]

40 is still to much for it, it was 4 bucks on the 3ds virtual console so it should be 20-30$ on switch

[@theonyx_tigress7427]

@@faze_thanos6098 wow

[@faze_thanos6098]

@@MrDude-yk8vy wow after hearing this, it makes me feel like a baby for complaining

[@creoa3911]

@@MrDude-yk8vy Ikr you live in Canada right?

[@creoa3911]

@@MrDude-yk8vy Yeah Canada expensive for games, it's kinda sad, but not everything that packs a punch of entertainment ain't cheap.

[@bulbasmoker]

The opening scene is link’s “real world” the game itself is his toylike dream.

[@Pause4011]

that's how I took it. That they really wanted to play on the difference between 'reality' and 'dream'.

[@happycamperds9917]

I assumed that Wart was a dream demon who had to be defeated as he sucked the dream energy out of Nintendo Heroes to grow his own powers. But I’m a strange man.

[@sakken95]

They could have used a better style to simulate a dream world though. I don't dream of cheap looking plastic or clay. The world lacks soul and character for me.

[@bulbasmoker]

They could have done it differently yes. They will say that when his ship got hit by lightning he got knocked out, had a dream where he was a toy/ clay figure on an adventure. Then wakes up floating on a plank from his boat after the lightning strike.

[@netweed09]

It's silly. I mean, yeah right - like Link really imagined his World like a Lego identikit. Where was the plush, handstroke-drawn artwork of the trailer, and like all of the lore and Official artwork / fan-art before that? I thought that was the engine!! Lazy!

[@littlestrike6811]

Can’t believe Arlo used a high pitch voice changer during the entire review

[@basedaudio1]

No

[@howedaddy6122]

@SquidBag the intro

[@PsychoDiesel48]

On twitter he shared that his intro got corrupted just on file transfer to make him sound like a demon of some description. He used a tiny clip of it for his "Arlo click" at the beginning

[@josh-hh9dh]

SquidBag two months late but I honestly wish it was

[@caydenzmyers]

I just love how 5 years later you keep consistent in how you open up reviews. Never change it!

[@FelixBoltwood]

I've had my fingers crossed for Oracle remakes ever since hearing this was being remade lol

[@sakken95]

Hopefully it's done in a different art-style.

[@mandatorial]

It's bound to happen. The question is whether it will be the exact same toy artstyle or something else (like something more true to the artwork).

[@netweed09]

@@sakken95 I want it actually modeled in the Trailer artwork they showed here. Or a modified Breath engine. Please,, no more Lego and plastic toy garbage, please Nintendo!!

[@deshawncross4003]

Oracles of Ages/Seasons remake is my BIGGEST dream!!!

[@orotewilderness2913]

YES! THOSE GAMES ARE AMAZING! SO UNDERRATED! SO MICH CONTENT!

[@Scapemaster00]

I'm someone who played the original back when i was a small child. It was hard, frustrating, but very fun! Playing it again 20 years later, I think its almost a perfect remake. I love love how exact the tiling is in the game. The grass squares, the jerky movement, its all perfectly adapted from the Gameboy version. The game was pretty short if you know where to go and what to do (I can't believe I still had so much of that my memory after so long), and the lack of screen transitions makes every so much faster. I loved the game, and while the art style might have been a little strange, I think it fit the Dreamy style of the game. I think the way they adapted the 8-bit 2d game to HD 3d was perfect; and I would LOVE to see the rest of Gameboy games adapted to the switch (Oracle games!)

[@ahouyearno]

I haven't played Link's Awakening before and for me, this was a blast. Easily worth the price, my favorite zelda yet. And I"m loving the artstyle. To each their own.

[@Cryptorocker2000]

i loved a link to the past and a link between worlds. do you think this will be to my liking?

[@ahouyearno]

@@Cryptorocker2000 Probably. This game is great and was originally conceived as a gameboy copy of LTTP so there's a lot of similar mechanics.

[@BMW-sd6nn]

I love arlo but I couldnt disagree more, this is my favorite game if all time and this in my mind was the best way to remake this game, it's a love letter to fans of the original in every way and I love that.

[@luiss428]

"I feel like a remake should explore the idea of how a game might've looked if the technology had permitted them at the time" This.

[@Sharpteeth32]

Like Final Fantasy VII Remake. That's how you do it.

[@bearlyismyname]

@@Sharpteeth32 Except the FF7 remake is totally changing the gameplay...

[@saricubra2867]

I think about Twilight Princess everyday, not that lazy remaster that we got. We can get: 1. Real Orchestra (this game needs it). 2. A richer overworld with more towns, even sidequests with little stories to add fun to the exploration. 3. All the plus that the original game has over Breath of the Wild (way better story, good dungeons, the double clawshots). 4. The twilight bloom effect back to the game, it's the artstyle, the current hd remaster has some bland lighting without that characteristic yellow/orange (fortunately, there is no big changes like the excesive bloom in The Wind Waker HD). 5. Increased polygon count, bump mapping, raytraced lighting.

[@Sharpteeth32]

@@bearlyismyname So? That's absolutely a good thing. It's not trying to be the original, that's the point.

[@weston407]

Star masterc if they ditched the lame werewolf parts i’d consider playing a TP remake

[@Rathdrgnknight]

I'm glad I'm seeing a lot of people also hoping for Oracle remakes.

[@nanoff815]

They deserve it. The gameplay holds up great but the soundtrack can be one of the best ever if orchestrated.

[@anna1967]

unrelated but i love your pfp

[@JohnnyRamirez86]

I would love that. The oracle games are amazing.

[@WhoWatchesVideos]

While I haven't played the remake and don't remember the story or the tone of the game, I do know that a cutesy art style _can_ fit a game with a somber tone - the Earthbound/Mother series has a bright, cute and colorful art style but tackles some really heavy subjects and dips into _Babby's First Psychological Horror_ every now and then to great effect. If the visual presentation and storytelling tone don't fit, it's probably the writing's fault.

[@JeremySheer]

what are you waiting for

[@WhoWatchesVideos]

@@JeremySheer I'm cheap

[@mcihay246]

Good thing the Art Style actually fits the tone of the game in a meta sense. Why? Because of spoilers.

[@mcihay246]

@@merchalternative8338 I think what they're intending to mean is that it's a weird and quirky series. Honestly, Koholint Island with Marin in the Crane game and Anthropomorphic animals. Isn't that in itself quirky aswell?

[@WhoWatchesVideos]

@@merchalternative8338 Ehhh, while it's pretty limited visually, there are things meant to be cute for sure - I can't call Magicant anything but cute from what I've seen lol. Plus, the characters in your party (other than the bug guy) are meant to be cute - if you can't see it in the sprites, look at their concept art. (edited because I checked my comment again carefully and yeah, I said the art style is cutesy)

[@Mr_Mimestamp]

Should have kept the deepened audio change for the entire video

[@trickytreyperfected1482]

What was that exactly?

[@PsychoDiesel48]

@@trickytreyperfected1482 On twitter he shared that his intro got corrupted just on file transfer to make him sound like a demon of some description. He used a tiny clip of it for his "Arlo click" at the beginning

[@wolfsk1n]

"There's no ganon here..." That is, unless you named Link Ganon when starting the game, as I did

[@trennbrown3160]

Technically one of the forms of the final boss is Ganon from Link to the Past.

[@SkepticalCaveman]

@@trennbrown3160 Yes, the nightmares comes from Link, so they manifest as bosses he fought previously.

[@sambenson7797]

@@SkepticalCaveman I just beat the game and didn’t notice that, that’s a really nice touch

[@HealyHQ]

If they do such a thing as remake the "Oracle Of" games, I hope they make the third version that ultimately got cut for budget reasons back in the day. "Ages" and "Seasons" were two parts of what was originally supposed to be a *trilogy* of games, each representing a different goddess within the Zelda universe. We got Nayru, goddess of Wisdom, in "Ages" (hence why Ages was very heavy on puzzles). We got Din, goddess of Power, in "Seasons" (hence why Seasons was very heavy on combat). But we're missing Farore's dedicated game. As the goddess of Courage, I've always been interested in what *her* game would've been like...

[@casualtie5331]

I refuse to watch a Zelda review that doesn't last 3 hours 😤

[@kylecampbell565]

well that vudeo was an exception to his usual style so you should find a different channel

[@ascogeno5260]

@@kylecampbell565 Do... Do you not know that that was a joke?

[@ukjamaican4488]

Kyle Campbell “Woosh” was the sound of the joke flying directly over your head. You’re welcome 😊

[@kylecampbell565]

@@ascogeno5260 well I saw someone else in the comments who was seriously upset by the review

[@knate44]

Just watch 4 times on half speed.

[@TheLonelyGoomba]

Massive fan of the original, which is probably why I'll wait for a pricedrop. A lot of the play time of this game relies on not knowing where to go. Being familiar with the game, you can blast through it pretty quickly which really makes it hard to justify the price even more. Hoping for an update to fix the framerate also.

[@jacobmonks3722]

Why should a game's runtime need to be long to justify its price? Does it really matter as long as you thoroughly enjoy your time and would want to play it again? If runtime was used to translate to price, you realize games like Elder Scrolls and Breath of the Wild would reach the hundreds, right?

[@hikaru9624]

I think I see what you mean, I've played oot plenty of times and have four versions of the game so buying yet another version (at full price) of oot would be hard to justify despite knowing I'll enjoy it. That said I have never played Link's awakening so paying full price will be an easy pill to swallow, but I have noticed that the game play does seem similar to the Oracle games (more the other way around but still) so maybe paying full price isn't so easy to swallow after all? Either way it's a good game to have and worth looking into at the very least.

[@DDDDDDann]

Nerdy George Washington It’s not the only thing that matter obviously. The price is about how much utility you get from a game. A shorter time playing it means less utility

[@elisehermann6094]

Nerdy George Washington I paid full price for the game, and while I don’t regret it, I also thinks it’s a bit high for the game. However, given the hype, nostalgia and popularity of Zelda, Nintendo can totally get away with it. Obviously, I ran out and bought it on its release date and beat it in 3 days. 😅 Run time aside, I would be curious the amount of resources, time and effort that went into its development versus say BOTW, a game that also costs $60. It really makes me wonder what really determines the cost of a game. For example, should a game that takes 6 months and a 10 person team cost the same as a game that took 2 years and 75 people? These numbers are arbitrary just for sake of example. Just interesting to think about!

[@jacobmonks3722]

@@DDDDDDann But if a game gives you enough reason to replay it, you get all the utility multipled by some factor, possibly even greater depending on the game. Sonic games for example are monumentally more fun on repeat playthroughs since you're more familiar with the mechanics and flow of his movement. Most Mario games give you a great amount of choice in how you go about completing the game, allowing you to skip certain stages. This obviously makes each playthrough quite different. Zelda and Metroid allow you to create your own difficulty by giving you the choice of what items to grab and what ones to ignore. There is a reason 3-Heart runs of Zelda games and Low% runs of Metroid games are popular. These options that games give you mean they don't need to be long to be worth their price, since repeats are just as rewarding if not more so than the first.

[@romano-britishmedli7407]

KingK, 2017: Majora's Mask is weird. Arlo, 2019: Link's Awakening is weird. Maybe Nintendo should do more Zelda games without Zelda, Hyrule, Ganon(dorf) and all that jazz...

[@SystemBD]

Yes. And call it Pikmin 4. Or Metroid 4. Or both.

[@vesabasha1436]

The thing is, is this game really worth the same amount of money as breath of the wild nintendo??

[@poodoodrilldick7757]

Especially if its a remake that doesnt go too much out of its way to make itself stand out from its og with its own design? So many things just felt like the creators went "It was like that before so lets keep it like that"

[@vesabasha1436]

@@poodoodrilldick7757 I still feel like we shouldn't be angry at nintendo. They're alowed to make trash filler games untill the awesome ones come out. They need the money, and we still buy so

[@poodoodrilldick7757]

@@vesabasha1436 I dont like spending 60 dollars for a "trash filler" It just seems like were allowing a couple of mistakes with an untold promise of something better in the future. Giving Botw2 all that hype and expectations might make it fall on its face.

[@vesabasha1436]

@@poodoodrilldick7757 That's what I was trying to say lmao, also I don't buy those games I just wait for the big ones (luigis mansion 👀👀👀)

[@poodoodrilldick7757]

@@vesabasha1436 Luigis mansion gives promise in its quality and improvements. Im hyped Pokemon makes me worrired how lacking in quality or effott or inprovements it has. Hype and presentation really does help sell a game good

[@Mr_Mimestamp]

This game isn’t the only game that needs a remaster very soon. #RemasterThousandYearDoor

[@milboxr9772]

They can't really improve the graphics of the game that much due to the artstyle, might as well make a sequel

[@turtleanton6539]

@@milboxr9772 👍

[@slenderfoxx3797]

Nathan L I hope they don't make it look like colour splash though lol...it's way too over the top...I get it it's Paper...but I always prefer the less in your face Paper art style...since it's not an actual paper made world...it's a real world we're just experiencing it through a history book.

[@mushroomyploom]

Ttyd has aged WAY better than Link's Awakening. A remaster is absolutely not necessary, apart from just getting the game on switch.

[@SystemBD]

They can also do a remake of Pikmin 1,2 and 3. In preparation for the forth installment of the series, of course.

[@the__L]

I like the fact that you didn't give it a score, you just voiced your opinion, as a review should.

[@ArchJJanes]

I appreciate how open and honest you were in this review -- I'm still on the fence about this game, I enjoyed the original but it's hard to justify the price.

[@CaveMonster]

This game is a great looking remake that is $30 more than it probably should be

[@justinsanford8936]

Yup

[@nanoff815]

I'd say 20 more than it should be.

[@horseeatsdogfood5721]

Can confirm. Got the expensive ass game and the price to gameplay to new stuff is not worth it

[@rolandodr9834]

NANO HUNTER Ff Definitely feel it’s worth $40.

[@edvinek1031]

In which way is this relevant if you’re not a collector? No matter if a games value is $5 or $50, buying and selling second-hand should only lead to a minor cost.

[@ColesWorks]

I really hope we get a Dragon Quest 11S review on this channel. I get this feeling that Arlo would love DQ, since it has that zany comedy and charm that much of his content strives for. Plus, its just an amazing game, so I'd love to see a review, if only to introduce him to the games.

[@kylecampbell565]

doubtful he doesnt like RPG or anime

[@harrylane4]

@@kylecampbell565: Arlo doesn't like RPGs Arlo: #remasterthousandyeardoor

[@TheDCmatrix]

Dammit, you shoulda kept the glitched version

[@Brain_With_Glasses]

You mean the voice in the intro or a glitched version of this game?

[@user-jl7cz2pe6d]

Someone needs to reupload it.

[@SuiteLifeofDioBrando]

Lol

[@SkeleGumz]

No-Brainer the voice in the intro used to go for longer, but he just used a bit of it.

[@EDILYshiro]

@@user-jl7cz2pe6d He left it on purpose

[@PsychOsmosis]

I couldn't disagree with you more about the art style. It's so beautiful, I love it! And it allows me to play the game together with my two year-old as my copilot, and he loves it! Although I have to admit it's a bit painful to have to wait for him to play, considering I would probably play 6 hours a day if I wasn't playing the game with him. But I still wouldn't trade this experience for anything else! And I'm so happy I can play in Hero mode for my first (and only) playthrough!

[@PaleoSteno]

I'm crossing my fingers for oracle remakes too, I never finished them as a kid.

[@nanoff815]

Was it the goron dancing game?

[@bottomlesskitchens4676]

I let my friend borrow it too soon an his little sister deleted my file with still one more open slot to make things worse.

[@deshawncross4003]

Imagine seeing Ricky, Moosh, & dimitri in that remake style. I’d love it!

[@supahsonic96]

Honestly, if it weren’t for the $60 price tag and the fact that tons of other games that i haven’t finished yet came out in these past couple months, i probably would have picked this game up. Hoping for a price drop down the line.

[@loscoz]

not sure if it is still a thing, but my local Walmart had the game at 10$ off since launch. not sure what price you think is a good thing but i have invested 15 hours in the game already completing everything heart peices, shells and dungeon stones and i going to replay it again to get the no death run.

[@trickytreyperfected1482]

@@loscoz honestly, I think it's worth the $60 price tag. It's best to base price tags off how long you played the game and how much you enjoyed it. Usually $60 is actually lower than what things like this should cost. $60 is what games cost 10 years ago and they still haven't changed. We're actually lucky they haven't upped the price on everything. Anyway, tangent over: $60 is definitely a great price for this game.

[@VoidReplicant]

Fucking tight ass cheap skate

[@MasterChief0522]

@@trickytreyperfected1482 Enjoyment is subjective. By that metric, the same game may be worth $100 to you, but $5 to me. Time invested is a better metric, but still not a great one. Depending on how you play Zelda games, Link's Awakening may take you less than 8 hours or over 20. When considering that game has that blurred effect around the borders and drops frames quite visibly fairly often to the point where it looks bad, just terrible, there's no reason that consumers should be expected to pay full price. This is also a remake, and that's important to note because although this is technically a new game, not much that is in it hasn't been seen before. You're effectively paying for a few quality of life upgrades for the original, some of which actually made the game worse. All-in-all, I think a price tag around $40-$45 would have been more appropriate, but if it were $30, I'd consider it to be definite good buy for anyone who hadn't played the original or wanted to play it again.

[@loscoz]

this is my 4 time buying the game, i own a copy on GB, GBC, 3DS and now my Switch, i feel the game is well worth the money but if you are hard up for cash 10$ off is 10 off. the price to me is not an issue i feal the price of 60$ is valid as the game was built from the ground up. i also bought it new as that means more then the price you pay. my point to the comment was to point that there are good deals out there if 60$ is your hang up and another 15 hours to a game i have been playing and replaying since it was released in my childhood. i have easily sunk 5000 hours into this title and will most likely sink another couple hundred its that good of a game.

[@seal6015]

Chain Chomps: Bark Bark That one Chain Chomp that gives you a bow: I can talk now idiots and I say LET US RULE THIS ISLAND!

[@a-lien]

it gives you canned food

[@lrc4263]

I’m gonna repeat what I said on a video defending the price. Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora’s Mask 3D both recieved MASSIVE overhauls. New graphics, new textures, quality of life improvements... Ocarina even got Master Quest included and BOTH got 3D functionality added. These games were still only $40 and were MUCH larger more substantial games to begin with. While I ADORE this remake of Link’s Awakening, Nintendo is literally charging us a premium just for the DEVICE on which we play the game rather than the game itself. It should in no way have been more than $40. EDIT: Twilight Princess HD was a waste of a “remake.” I guess in 20+ years we might find out what a REAL remake should be. Wind Waker HD was GREAT, but still should’ve been $40. MAYBE $50.

[@9CrystalDragon2]

I'm loving the game, love the art style (minus the blurred edges) and the grass looks fine being a toy style and reminds me of Lego grass put on one of those green plates. Bosses can be easy but fun.

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

This game is a childhood dream coming to life

[@seabassthegamer6644]

*ba-dum tshhhh*

[@SmashGuyROA]

I want Super Mario RPG: LOTSS to get this treatment. It is literally perfect for that game!

[@Rex67Diego9]

It May appear in the snes online

[@kylecampbell565]

that game holds up fine and is relreased often it would have no reason to exist beyond making a quick profit

[@FirstNameLastName-oz5ij]

Yes please! Also Geno for Smash

[@kylecampbell565]

@@FirstNameLastName-oz5ij i'd prefer Mallow he would have a more creative movest and he has an actual character arc

[@quinnsinclair7028]

Kyle Campbell I’m pretty sure Nintendo and Square Enix would have to come to some agreement to make that happen which sounds like a lot more work than Nintendo usually puts into its remakes.

[@TheAlex010]

Hey Arlo, great video! After watching your review, it made me want to get the game. I'm a bit of a young one so I never got to play the original and I think that's what this game was made for, kids like me who have heard about the original but never got to enjoy it.

[@bbeltjr218]

I played the game when it came out, and the thing that made the price tag worth it for me, at least, is being able to play the game with the new soundtrack. The live instrumentation really brings the game to a whole new experience, especially with the small amounts of voice acting they use now. All in all, I've had a lot of fun!

[@jackawatkins87]

I love your reviews Arlo. Shit, I love your channel in general. Above all else, your focus is "was it fun?" That's all I care about!!!! Thanks Arlo

[@Ubritoons96]

GASP!! HE REFERENCED THE AUDIO MISTAKE!!!🤣

[@Cretaal]

Guess I didn't catch it, darn.

[@Cretaal]

Or is the audio mistake from a different video and the intro was the reference to it?

[@blazewhale-aria]

Cretaal it was a recording error, he posted it on his twitter and it was hilarious

[@Cretaal]

​@@blazewhale-aria OMFG XD Call a doctor, I'm dying. I can't... I just... The edit that came after the error killed me So nevermind, call the coroner

[@WeeklyMusicalShitposts]

Arlo's twitter post: twitter.com/ArloStuff/status/1177707912258408451

[@infinitegalaxy2079]

I always appreciate your honesty in your reviews.

[@jhlc1235]

You can't use the Pegasus boots diagonally to avoid sequence breaks.

[@trickytreyperfected1482]

I'm sure this is a reference.

[@ZeldaLore]

2:13 actually this was retconned in hyrule encyclopedia and Links awakening takes place after A Link to the past, the oracle games happening after. Its still the same Link for all 3 games though.

[@bluethan806]

I think he was mostly referring to the games in order of release. As in, "This game is weird cuz you would have just came out of playing these other games and thus one is very different".

[@BrotherYusuf]

Pleased I traded this in I really didn't enjoy it but im loving fire emblem and astral chain

[@Chaoruge91]

Hyrule Encyclopedia is a lot of bull and should be treated as fanfic, they even said it "The timeline can be interpreted in a number of ways, and may change depending on new discoveries that have come to light and on the PLAYER'S imaginations." And that's not just about the timeline, their take on Majora's mask is totally wrong and dismissed by the GAME. Seriously, don't credit that thing as canon, for the good of our community,

[@ZeldaLore]

@@Chaoruge91 oh I know that, trust me. There are MANY inconsistencies with Hyrule Encyclopedia. I mainly use it as a guide for the lore, and dive deep into the games to see if it's true or not. The whole "Termina is a dream world created by Majora using the sorrow of the Skull Kid" is complete BS, as we see the skull Kid in Termina prior to obtaining the Mask in a flashback, where he meets Tatl and Tael. Termina is a paralel world, not a dream world. Hyrule Encyclopedia is more of a guideline, than actual Canon. There are manybthings that are correct, but others that are plain wrong. You just have to take what you can out of it and know what is true and what isn't. Hopefully with my channel I can clear things up regarding the lore

[@Chaoruge91]

​ Zelda Lore The thing with they changing the order and even saying it's a whole new link is that it doesn't stay in place between the between worlds. It makes the oracles series so much more of a spin off as it already was and creates a Link, a new hero of oracles with little to no importance to the land of Hyrule, besides, he was summoned by the Triforce that was "free" in the world, we would need a history of who is guarding it between the end of A link to the past and the Oracles. But the Link hero from legend already fill that gap without the need of explaining such an history. It's a given he would be guarding it and attending to it's call after the end of Alttp and the beggining of the oracles series. I would like to point two of the biggest if not the only ones people use to disregard the HH timeline for HE. First, the boat have a different number of sails. In the beggining of Link's awakening is shown that Link is facing a big storm. It's not hard to imagine that that may have happened before, and he could have lost sails, but it may be an art choice too by capcom, that doesn't invalidate it beeing the same ship. And second and biggest of the arguments used. The Zelda encounter dialogue. In both she says "My name is Zelda. You must be Link, right?" I know it sounds strange, if they already knew each other why talking like that? Well, she shows that she knew soon after "I knew it at first glance", in other words, she does recognize him, but ( a little stretchy) being in a totally different land she wants to make sure it's the same link she knew. However, here is the real prove, in oracle of seasons after you save Zelda and she says the same as Ages, here she explains to Impa why she had come to such a dangerous place "Link was attacked by a great shadow... I had to do something..." Why a princess from another land, so far away from the land they are now, Holodrum, would go to such lengths for someone she doesn't knew? And more, being like this it makes the Hero from the legend the most experienced link from existence and the Old Man Link theory even more tasty.

[@calmingwaves3134]

This is--to me--a really well thought out review.

[@BlueDavrial]

That explanation of why Arlo doesnt care for the art style is *exactly* why I absolutely hate the ingame art of the Friends of Mineral Town remake. It's being "faithful" to the graphics of a system that was simply *too limited* to have *better* graphics, instead of being faithful to the *art* of the game

[@diatribe114]

From someone who’s played it since they where a kid when it came out and still owns a GBC just to play the game today, my reservations are the FPS and depth of field . I can gloss over the plastic looking trees , but I have the game pretty much memorized, having it stutter while going across the map bugs the hell out of me . Still happy with it though , not enough to give up the DX version though .

[@kylecampbell565]

Dont forget to review Ori and the Blind Forest!

[@peterhaywood1780]

Personally, I love the original so much that a safe remake is fine to me. I understand the sentiment of wanting more, but that’s just not how I feel. The only major issue is the only having two buttons to map items to, which is significantly better than the original but still a big pain in the ass. Otherwise, I still absolutely loved the game all the way through.

[@nathanbohlig6931]

Just finished it today. I had a couple gripes in common with you, while others went completely unnoticed by me. Overall, I thought it was good enough to be a definitive version, but not quite good enough to justify $60. $45-50 would have been about right, imo. Still though, don't regret purchasing it.

[@horseeatsdogfood5721]

This here! I completely agree

[@danielmales123]

When i saw the first cinematic of link stuck at sea that looked like the perfect art style or something simmiliar but this look is also very charming

[@slenderfoxx3797]

One obvious answer as to why this isn't worth $90 (full price games here) is that games like Zelda BOTW, Doom, and Super smash bros are the exact same price...as a much shorter Old Zelda remake... That isn't right.

[@kylecampbell565]

It’s 60 not 90

[@Protendo]

Kyle Campbell Ah yes, because the United States of America is the only place in existence.

[@juicyjumbler]

@@Protendo it should be

[@slenderfoxx3797]

juicyjumbler lol. Imagine that. If you're serious though. Uhhhh

[@willharris13]

I loved the original game, and looking at this remake through that lens, I have been blown away. Clearly, the development team decided early on to preserve as much of the original world design & gameplay as possible, and they succeeded with flying colours. Even a few of the original unintended gameplay quirks have been preserved. No, they didn't have to do this. They could have retained the story and rebuilt the rest from the ground up, and that would have been fine. Still, for the direction they chose, I couldn't be more pleased (framterate issues aside). The art style works for me, and having the original soundtrack lovingly orchestrated here is truly beautiful.

[@affinityforanime]

I agree with you Arlo. I wish they had used an art style based on the official art for the game instead of the plastic toy style.

[@antoniopanzetta4778]

I personally LOVE the art style and would love to see the Hero of Legend's other titles remade in a similar way. Or at least the Oracle games. ALttP might prove a bit more difficult, but I'd still enjoy it. Or maybe they could try for the "A Link Between Worlds" art style for that. That could work exceedingly well.

[@liamlopez2698]

I love this game my dad got it for me cause my birthday was yesterday

[@oinkers4651]

Iggy Koopa Gordon Happy Late Birthday!

[@liamlopez2698]

Mr. Goggles thank you 😊

[@hps362]

28/09 is truly the best day of the year, simultaneously the squares of 17 and 53. The product of 28 and 9 is also one tenth of the smallest number with factors 1 through 10. It's also palindromic.

[@rafibellamyplaice1767]

Awesome!

[@_Conzo_]

This is very wholesome. :) Happy belated birthday!

[@reagandow850]

I have to say Arlo sir. This was one incredibly well written and spoken review. I only wish I Could write this well. Great job sir!

[@paulryan220]

I think the art style makes perfect sense for the themes the game is attempting to convey. Like you said, the odd toy-like style matches the strange, quirky atmosphere of the game. But even more than that, the art style makes sense from a storytelling perspective as well, since (SPOILERS!!!) Koholint island is merely an illusion and not quite real. Looking at the art style with this in mind, it makes Koholint Island seem like a diorama, with the toy-like style reflecting how what you're seeing isn't real and merely an imitation of reality. Plus, while the shortcuts the developers made are still visible, I think the style just looks great regardless. It's incredibly polished and very pleasant to look at and furthermore, the presentation is just very cute and unique, which is fitting for a game as weird and memorable as Link's Awakening.

[@batatinhacomics]

I really like the art style, the toy-ish look is cute and gives it a unique look to the game. The depth of field effect also reminds me of that Sim City game where it looked like everything was miniaturized.

[@toonsguy9782]

I like the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Thank You, Arlo. 😄

[@turtleanton6539]

Metoo

[@KeroKaminaX]

11:38 counter arguement to the artstyle clashing with the darker elements of the game: Kirby

[@PassTheSnails]

Nice pic my guy

[@persoonophetweb2891]

How is that an argument?

[@floopflop]

Link's Awakening DX was my first Zelda gave I ever played. I bought it on the Nintendo Eshop for my 2DS back in 2017. I absolutely had a blast with the game! The experience was so fresh and new for me! At times I found myself about to cry at some over the conversations that Link and Marwin have. I almost didn't want Link to wake the Windfish and leave all of the characters on the island. Overall, the game is such a great title and I definitely recommend it for anyone, even if you haven't played any games like it! Listening to some of the music in the remake almost had me in tears! It truly is a great game.

[@Guitarpiper]

I absolutely LOVE the depth of field and the jerky 8-direction motion. It's perfect. Also, I'm almost finished, and I've never actually noticed any frame rate drops. Might be just me.

[@jesusisscaredofme1866]

I knew I wasn't the only one who wanted oracle remakes!

[@nanoff815]

I'm praying for them.

[@elliotj.alvarez6399]

"Unambitious" is how I'd describe this remake. When I pictured a modern interpretation of Link's Awakening, I wanted them to explore the heavy implications and tough decisions of Link's quest to wake the Wind Fish. The remake though, like Arlo says, is only concerned with translating the final product of the Game Boy original and not exploring the IDEAS behind it. If I didn't have a $50 gift card for it, I wouldn't have bought it at $60.

[@ThePoltergust5000]

When BOTW was still new I had ideas for a prequel of sorts, where Link had a dream while he was asleep and it was basically a 3D reimagining of Link's Awakening, but maybe with some references to BOTW, like instead of Marin there could be some confused, halfway between BOTW Zelda and Mipha character to serve the same purpose, and instead of turning into a seagull, she would become a mermaid. Or something. I wish we'd gotten that game instead.

[@FirstNameLastName-oz5ij]

I also must say that although I agree that the art style of this game is good but not perfect, I feel like this kind of art style would fit perfectly for an Earthbound remake.

[@Prince_Sidon]

Hey Arlo i just got my switch yesterday and decided to play Link's Awakening first before BOTW. This review helped alot. Thanks !

[@GundamWarrior1]

Legend of Zelda: Nitpick Awaiting. I personally see this as a placeholder until we get Breath of the Wild 2. That is fine.

[@YouNeverComeCloser]

oh, c'mon, the next big highlight is Luigi's Mansion 3!

[@JeremySheer]

pokemon does it all the time. who cares.

[@showsjohn]

@@jj2059 Doubt it. Most of the ground work is already set. Since it was already revealed and the next 3D Mario hasnt been, I expect BotW2 to release holiday 2020 and Odyssey 2 holiday 2021. Metroid 4 will be holiday 2022 with the Switch 2.0

[@sailplanepilot1562]

I love the game to death! When I was pretty young I played the DX version so Its extremely nostalgic to me. The funny thing is I spent my first couple hours of Link's awakening running around koholint on a nostalgia trip, collecting as many rupees as possible for that shovel and Bow.

[@Rylemeteph]

I hate when people totally ignore the masterful musical work of this remake...

[@samvimes9510]

Everyone keeps saying the visual style reminds them of toys, but it reminds me more of those old Christmas stop-motion films like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

[@kevincruz7958]

Some guy was remaking Link's Awakening with the Ocarina of Time engine. He made it with passion and a lot of understanding for the source material and the expansions he made had a lot of sense to them. I hope he's out there working on it in secret.

[@anactualmotherbear]

Link's Awakening is my favorite Zelda game. The remake nails the feeling of it, and that's what a remake should do.

[@aavventurato]

"The feeling that it could be so much more" this conception of the game art is sooooo debatable...

[@DJTMANE]

Okay? Go on?

[@p-nut2642]

^^^

[@horseeatsdogfood5721]

Would you mind explaining?

[@orions2908]

"this conception of the game art is sooooo debatable..." Proceeds to not dabate at all.

[@IndecisiveStoner]

Super appreciate the honesty in this review. Still gonna rent it because I never beat the original as a kid, but gave me some great perspective.

[@kidsathoem8091]

Oh phew, I'm not the only one who wants oracle remakes, Great Review Arlo.

[@xKHAOSx13]

Just my two cents. I love this game. It was the first Zelda game I ever owned. It’s weird but that’s what I like about it. As far as the visuals go, I like them just the way they are. I don’t need my top down Zelda game with expressive faces and ultra details. I’d rather see that in BOTW 2 and beyond. I agree that the frame rate issue sucks but it should be improved with a future patch ( I hope). Yes the QoL improvements could have been expanded further but there was rarely a time where I was cycling through many different items in a short amount of time. I agree that the stopping the game for the power items every time is annoying ( even on the original) FYI, you can use the dpad in the crane game. For me it made the controls much easier. But I never felt like I wanted to use the dpad during the main game. Overall I’m very happy with the remake. I hope a future patch will fix the frame rate issue and fingers crossed remove the power items text. Though I’m a huge Links Awakening fan I can’t say this game is worth the $60 price tag. But I would happily pay $40. I hope they do a similar remake where they combine both Oracle games into one.

[@JoeyPaone]

If they keep the same engine, then they don’t have to build it from the ground up and probably could way easier charge 60 for both oracles... but will they.. is the question

[@xKHAOSx13]

Joey Paone I think judging by the success of this game they would want to cycle in a “quick” top down Zelda in between the larger 3D titles. Now whether it’s the Oracle series or Link to the Past, or as the video says “a completely new game”, I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

[@AuntyMabele]

One of the most well-explained reviews I've ever heard. Bravo.

[@dylanlevine6745]

Well really has such eloquently thought out reviews. He’s really good at formulating his thoughts. Even if sometimes he has out there opinions, I still love listening and he has some of the best reviews out there! Keep it up Arli!!

[@blakehutchison3325]

I loooove the jerky turns link does, idk for me it’s so aesthetically pleasing and is kinda a throwback to how link used to move!

[@ravenpotter3]

I just got Links Awakening on my TI 84 CE calculator. Also I have Pokémon red on it too XD (there are tutorials online on how to get game boy games on calculators)

[@BourbonnaisParkour]

Right there with you, Arlo! Crossing my fingers for Oracle remakes. How cool would it be if they also made the third, planned but unreleased game too?!

[@TurtleGlow]

Thanks for the review, just saw it. I really enjoyed watching your gameplay and I cannot wait to play this adorable new art style game! I am a fan of the Zelda games and have played many versions. This is a new and refreshing take on the game and I honestly have no qualms paying the higher price for it. I hate graphics that strive for fidelity and end up just looking busy and cluttered. If something is going to catch my eye, it sure as heck be pretty to look at, else just keep it subdued/simple, yet polished. I think the price difference is worth it! I hope they make more games with this art style!

[@yamiookami]

It's really good. I just think full price wasn't the best idea.

[@mq8858]

If it was $40, I would've bought in an instant. Not enough content for a full price game imo

[@RedDragonShard]

I never notice the lack of turning animation until you mentioned it, and now I can’t unsee it

[@directrix1]

I'm a cold old fogey that absolutely adored the old version and this version. I thought the graphical style was perfectly thematic, and the music in this new version was incredible. I loved it. I just wish I could have played with the d-pad.

[@ozjthomas]

I have mixed feelings on the game as well. It's a great, fun, well designed game that for the most part benefits from nicer graphics and more buttons the switch has, but at its core it's still a remake of a short old Gameboy game. I rented it and had fun but 60 is just way too much for such a short game for me.

[@zacziggarot]

Link's Awakening for $60 or Link's Awakening AND the Oracle games for $18 Gee, I wonder which I should get...

[@josephbrice4907]

Watching this view genuinely caused me to feel stressed out over a game I have no issue giving a score. 9/10. “While a bit underwhelming in some aspects, it’s still charming, challenging, and intriguing enough to keep many Zelda fans invested.” There. A relatively satisfying conclusion to summarize your perspective without the crippling anxiety expressed in the video. And I’m not trying to bash you for being anxious. I’m anxious, too. But damn, dude. Video games shouldn’t be as stressful as expressed throughout this review.

[@MrEPIC0CITY]

Thank you, my muppet brother. I’m a lifelong Zelda fan, played the original and loved it, but just had a weird vibe on this game. I figure I’ll be in the same boat so it’s nice to see a more moderate review among all the fanfare. Still going to give it a shot if price goes down but went with Dragon Quest 11 S instead and that feels like the right decision.

[@GAPSYO3O1]

After getting this game at a local small store for 30$, this game is actually really fun and cute. I was a little bent on spending any money on this remake from all the videos I watched but this game is actually a really nice way to play the original without having to deal with outdated controls. Even though the controls aren’t that much to brag about lol. I never even played the original but I have to say the art style is really enjoyable, the first time I ever heard link drown made me laugh literally nonstop! There’s so many little things you notice after picking it up again and again! Once it gets you sucked in, you are SUCKED in. The best part too is that my little nephew absolutely adores playing it too, so I think it’s a nice alternative to the original! The feeling of progression from 3 hearts and getting pushed around to just destroying everything in your path is so enjoyable. I was absolutely shocked when I went to Turtle Rock and beat all 4 mini bosses with a few hits!! Working hard and getting the crazy upgrades of both the koholint sword and the strength of the red tunic from the colors dungeon is just so satisfying. Made me wish I could play the game even more!

[@haydens.2755]

SPOILERS, this is my response to Arlo's end question. Alright, I was initially pretty worried about how the remake was going to handle the tone of the original. Truth be told there are still a lot of details that I think the remaster (which is, in my opinion, a more correct title than remake) gets wrong. I don't like how after you defeat nightmares in the late game and they describe the oncoming destruction of the island, the happy little victory jingle still plays. I don't like how in the beginning when you get your sword back, your first swing doesn't sync up to the music. I don't think the new title screen is nearly as epic as the original because of the instrumentation choices for the main theme. I don't like how sometimes the instrument choices in general get in the way of what should have been more creepy, surreal, or somber moments. Etc etc. There are a lot of little touches that I believe the original still does better, which is definitely a shame. However, I was surprised by just how much of the original feel was maintained, even with the cute art style. When I got the first instrument, and I heard the Ballad of the Windfish come from that cello as light began to encompass the screen, all before text ominously tells you your next destination, I got chills. Yes, the remaster perhaps fills in too many details in my imagination, but ultimately I still felt the full weight of the story. When it was revealed that Marin actually tried to erase the island herself around the seventh dungeon, I was shocked. I had forgotten about that plot point and I found something incredibly dark in it. It's still one of the most intriguing, surreal, and saddening games I've ever played in the series, and Marin telling me to never forget her still tugs at my heartstrings. In my opinion, that's really all this game needed to do. It needed to keep that intact. It especially helps that there is such a sharp contrast between the dream world (the toy-like Koholint) and the "real" world (the anime cutscenes), a choice I actually really admire. If you go into this game expecting a graphical remaster with some much needed quality of life improvements, a new dungeon randomizer (not maker), and some new content, I don't think fans of the original will be let down. I should know, I'm one of them.

[@HylianCucco]

Great comment, this is exactly how I feel about the game.

[@SamGarrett]

I feel the exact same way about the art style, but at the same time I absolutely adore it. I simultaneously wish they would've done what they did with the OoT and MM remakes (going off of the original concept art) and am perfectly happy with how adorable and charming the toy-like art style is. And the amiibo matches! So... yeah. Totally get where you're coming from.

[@19markgreen67]

Im a forger of two and this was my first Zelda game. I love everything about this game and my 4 year old love it too. In fact he wants to be link for Halloween and not Spider-Man. And yeah he loves Spider-Man. Great video Arlo keep up the good work.