The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (2019) - Easy Allies Review

[@latinochico]

I'm just here for the gametrailers nostalgia review voice

[@carldamien1889]

Instablaster

[@Schmidteren]

Reviewer has such an amazing voice for reviews. Always watched Gametrailers back in the day. Now it's Easy Allies.

[@scuppo]

Brandon Jones not reviewer

[@Ahlgreenz]

Yet another review by Brandon. You would think the other Allies would step up, just once a year, but no, Brandon has to do everything.

[@frankhemstra634]

This has got to be sarcasm

[@Ahlgreenz]

@@frankhemstra634 it's an old joke. RIP the joke

[@mrchiefbs]

Haha

[@frankhemstra634]

@@Ahlgreenz i knew something was up 😅

[@charoleawood]

Actually, did you watch the Metal Wolf Chaos review? I think you'll be pleasantly surprised :)

[@tccschreiner]

The price point gives me a lot of pause. I'd love to revisit it, but it's a shorter Zelda game and it's $60.

[@FoodLiquorCool]

Yeah I waited for $40 price point but even then it’s a lot of money

[@scuppo]

@@FoodLiquorCool does it go on sale often?

[@FoodLiquorCool]

@@scuppo not often but especially when there are switch sales it can pay to look. Just got tropical freeze for $40 too. Doesn’t always work out well. Got lugi’s mansion 3 for $40 and totally not worth it.

[@jerrodkilla23]

I wonder if they will remake Minish Cap.

[@haileymatthews1777]

Hope so, I'd be down for that.

[@Meowarco]

I'd imagine Oracle of Ages/Seasons getting a remake first.

[@sategllib2191]

Buy so fast

[@MarkS6789]

Minish Cap great as it is, I wouldn't touch it.

[@chovue2363]

Minish cap for some odd reason is actually my favorite zelda game. 😓

[@sonicstage1]

Ages & Seasons on same engine please.

[@juliobezerra2744]

Ages, Season and the third canceled game please

[@sonicstage1]

@@juliobezerra2744 in a single release. 👍

[@Herf18]

Different engine, PLEASE!

[@lust.and.lunacy]

A Link to the Past too, thank you.

[@TIDbitRETRO]

At $30-40 this would be a no-brainer, but $60? Not enough meat on the bone for that.

[@SlitheringStevePhilips]

I think a game like this is tough to review. It's essentially a graphics overhaul of a twenty-five-year-old game whose goal was to stay very faithful to the original, but dropped the ball in some places between the performance problems and the dungeon Creator basically being single player (lol IRL sharing amiibo). At that point the score is basically how much you liked the original game, to which of course reviewers everywhere are giving it a high score.

[@SheezyBites]

The performance dips aren't graphical, it's a problem with memory allocation... but yeah, it's definitely something worth mentioning so as much as your framing is wrong it's right of you to bring it up so early in the review.

[@kristianhristov3469]

Easy Allies do the best video reviews. Period.

[@greengraciano6846]

That reference at the end though. RIP Game Slueth.

[@novathefallenstarwarrior]

Link's Awakening was my first Zelda game so it holds a very special place in my heart

[@frog_stomp]

Same here. Every major narrative moment pulls on the heart strings quite a bit

[@aher5875]

Is this the voice-over guy from the old Game Trailers website @Easy Allies? A real blast from the past. Subscribed.

[@EasyAllies]

yes, we're all from GT. We started Easy Allies shortly after GameTrailers was shut down. Welcome back! -Bloodworth

[@Glitch.-_-.]

The most emotionally satisifying conclusion in series... WELL SAID!

[@marksammie830]

I'd love to see Oracle Of Seasons/Ages in this style now too..

[@frog_stomp]

We can only hope. And that would be amazing

[@AgentMcQueen]

If I *ever* get a Switch, I'm getting this.

[@Glitch.-_-.]

26 years ago... omfg im getting old

[@EquinoxIV]

Time for a Switch Pro - the hardware has been lackluster since release. I don't even care for mobile, I just want a solid home console to play these wonderful games on my 4K TV.

[@Lukashaaa]

The original game was with me all throughout elementary school. Definitely one of my favourite zelda games. I can’t wait to see what it plays like on the switch

[@TheKavernacle]

Damiani and criticising a Zelda game’s performance - name a more iconic duo 😂

[@MCC805]

The Kavernacle tough love

[@basedtsumugi8706]

I just played it for the first time, due to the fact that I never had a gameboy. This game really affected me, and it’s well worth the price/score!

[@acquiescence5331]

I'm really surprised that Damiani was the one who reviewed this.

You were? I actually expected him to be the reviewer.

[@The_RedVIII]

Why? He reviews every Zelda game for EZA.

[@TheNamekianClown]

Kyle doesn't do reviews, if that's who you were assuming it would be.

[@oddishu]

Damiani Is like the #1 main Nintendo guy out of all the Allies tho.

[@manueldiaz2686]

​@@oddishu I am still waiting for the Mario Maker 2 review. Nice review btw

[@DeffoZappo]

I just woke up from a coma and I beat this game for the first time in the hospital. It was pretty amazing how Link's Awakening matched my situation.

[@quagthias]

5:41 Pop Fiction flashbacks

[@shannonking8298]

I never played the original so I'm lookong forward to playing it.

[@legendofkailia5596]

Played this game again in January thinking they will never re-release it after 26 years. Nintendo loves to prove me wrong

[@weggles]

Every time I watch a review, by the end I'm able to predict the score within 0.5, which is a testament to the quality of the writing

[@KenKenWorldWide]

That's a lot of praise from Damiani for a re-make Zelda title.

[@kambion]

7.8

[@CyclonSilver]

I get that it's difficult justifying giving this game a merely "good" score when the source material is amazing, but I'm really surprised essentially no one is really bashing it for being so largely 1 to 1; it's not an incredibly long game either, I don't think it's unfair to say they could have done more with it. This in no way feels like a must buy from the perspective of someone who knows the original well, and I think this review(and many others) could have emphasized that quite a bit more. Just a heads up, the original DX version is 5.99$ on the 3DS eshop, for anyone who'd be interested.

[@alexanderchilton911]

I get that it probably shouldn't be 60, but I do find this comment completely ridicolous.

[@CyclonSilver]

@@alexanderchilton911 I don't think it's unreasonable to judge a remake in comparison to the original, especially when it comes to a cult classic millions have played. Yet, reviewers aren't really doing it for this game. And that matters because, imo this isn't a 9/10 remake, it just isn't. They could have done so much more to deserve that score.

[@ryannowak6972]

@@CyclonSilverBeing It's a 1-1 remake which is what they were going for, I think they did a great job. But, I see what you mean. If they added more content (storylines/minigames/dungeons) to this game, then it'd be worth $60. It simply is not worth the price compared to a Zelda game that's built from the ground up (like BOTW).

[@davecarsley8773]

It's a remake, bud. A remake.

[@davecarsley8773]

@@ryannowak6972 Yes, because the huge team of people with families who built and programmed all this from the ground up don't deserve to be paid.

[@emberbetz7925]

I like this game alot... it's kinda cool that it features other Nintendo characters such as the yoshi doll you have to win for the lady with the quadruplets

[@Bigcat_Johnson]

Why is no one talking about Totakas song

[@txtasosxt]

Waaaait a moment, isn't this iconic voice from GameTrailers? Man, I've grown with hearing your voice since before my Xbox 1 days! It'd be like 12-15 years now?

[@brianstrike2781]

Will hopefully get this game tomorrow and fall in love with it all over!!

[@davecarsley8773]

It's great. It makes a 34 year old dude like me smile because it's so cute lol

[@somechilldude1215]

Wait. Is that the pop fiction guy!?

[@joshuawiljanen3403]

Yes

[@79Dtrain]

Awesome review but would really know what your playthrough time was

[@flotador7]

LOL. Nice touch ending with Totaka's Song.

[@roynobody]

i guess you shouldn't ... sleep on this game amirite.

[@InnerRise]

Oh britney

[@montengro234]

A classic of another era now defines this one

[@samuelcardwell577]

I just got as far as Prince Richard's room - salt tears streaming down my face.

[@HermanFalckHow]

Would be all over this if it was $20. It's a new world Nintendo. You can't pretend a remake like this is worth as much as the bigger releases

[@BillTrinensTongue]

20 bucks? Everything but story/dialogues was completely re-made...I agree, 59 is too expensive, but 20? Come on! Why not 14.99? It's a new world nintendo. Yeah, sure, probably FFVII will cost 20 bucks too. Or Last of Us remastered at full price at launch...was part of my imagination...or CTR remake at 39.99 across all platforms...Or the today released Ni no Kuni sold at 49 bucks on Switch, PS4 and Xbox. Not defending nintendo, but every single publisher does this.

[@samfincher45]

Did you also tell Capcom it's a new world when they released RE2 remake for $60, 8 months ago? My guess is you didnt.

[@KingKien95]

@@samfincher45 I'm no RE expert here, but I'm assuming that remake was actually a remake that can be seen as a completely new game kinda. This should've been at least 40

[@samfincher45]

@@KingKien95 Because of the change to 3rd person camera? I guess I can see that point, it fundamentally changed the way the game was played. This remake is akin to Crash and Spyro remakes, which were $40 I believe, so charging $40 for LA remake makes sense. $20, like Herman Falck How said, is way too low however.

[@neobutters]

Gotta admit, kinda blows my mind that this game is getting scores like this. It looks like an indie game, and the price is crazy high.

[@The_RedVIII]

I have never played Links Awakening before, but I played every other Zelda game (with the exception of Seasons). Should I play Hero Mode right from the get go, or go for normal mode?

[@meditalisoo7]

I played the first 3 dungeons yesterday and I don't feel it was too easy. If you think the other Zelda Games are too easy (only talking about combat) then go for hero mode.

[@AntiNihilist]

My biggest problem. This story's tone and artstyle always felt way more akin to Twilight Princess in the original, but all the footage I've ever seen makes me think it's like Link to the Past or Skyward Sword.

[@reed1645]

This appeared literally after I purchased the game :). Much love to the EZ allies :)

[@BfDelano]

I see the game still has the necklace “censor”. Eh, oh well. That’s what I’m used to from the original anyways. Although would have been neat to get the original item.

[@alexanderchilton911]

One of The Greats! Great review Damiani. Game looks awesome, and I am so happy I finally get to experience this game.

[@BlackAera]

I can't help it but that jumping animation looks so out of place to me...

[@jcnba28]

It looks just as awkward as the gameboy game was.

[@joshray3855]

What a treat at the end!

[@wolverinescratch]

My first switch (lite) my first switch game

[@joshuawiljanen3403]

Enjoy Mario Odyssey

[@hansjavis5854]

Another great review. Keep it up, my dudes!

[@BMW-sd6nn]

My favorite game of all time

[@jasoncahn8531]

1:05 YOU FOOL!

[@Peter-dy3tf]

This is my first game for switch and I have no regrets.

[@nastyneight3171]

Thank you for doing a great job with this review!!!

[@jackrusso4700]

I enjoy the game but the performance dips are pretty frequent

[@brandonprows]

I was really hoping they'd add some extra scenes with Marin to make the ending an even greater sucker punch. But that's okay. :)

[@pradanakusuma]

Like sex scene maybe 😏

[@InnerRise]

Emotional Deepness? Narrative Richness? I've never heard anyone mention this game having a story. I've never played it. So what is the story, because gameplay alone isnt enough to make me want to get this retro game.

[@azimulhoque1497]

The story is why this is a lot of people's favorite Zelda game.

[@ardendolas]

As a long time Zelda fan from all the way back to the first one, Awakening has a very special spot in my heart, and the story and use of music are a big part of it. Talking too much about the story would give away what’s special about it, and is definitely better experienced without knowing much ahead of playing it. I hope you give the game a chance and enjoy it

[@davecarsley8773]

This isn't a "retro game". It's built entirely from scratch. Unless you think that such a thing exists as a "retro storyline", this is a brand new new game.

[@MyKingdomforAdRevenue]

Subtract 1.5 from whatever score Damiani gives a Zelda game to get its actual score

[@CyclonSilver]

I don't think that's fair. ... though in that case specifically, I have to say... I kind of agree, unfortunately.

[@alexanderchilton911]

This is as close to the metacritic score as possible dude. Stop being a tool.

[@Echo__plex]

Completely agree

[@TheActs2021]

Man, if I could only buy one right now which should it be - Sega Genesis mini classic or Link's Awakening ?

[@PunchPerfectPlayer]

TheActs2021 genesis

[@TheActs2021]

@@dreamerabe how do you rent Switch games ?

[@Larspj3]

i loved the review, but didn't hear how long the game is? does someone know how long it takes to complete?

[@TheFerris96]

apparently around 10-15h depending on your playstyle. (this number will be more precise in a few days) howlongtobeat.com/game.php?id=66255

[@CyclonSilver]

The original was a 10 to 15 hours game, this one is likely very close.

[@MCC805]

If you haven’t played the original 10-15 hours

[@tuliobednarczukpecinemisko5606]

Even though I dont like the design of the characters's eyes,this looks a great remake.

[@Optidorf]

Not a single review is mentioning the annoying blur at the edges of the screen. It's supposed to create a diarama feeling, but all it does is distracting the player.

[@Kyle-ii4fp]

The Amiibo thing sucks. I have no friends 😮.

[@CircusRhapsody]

Loved it on Gameboy when I was young :-)

[@omegagilgamesh]

The dungeons have "unique enemies" while you show us footage of a Thwomp and a Piranha Plant. Edit: And a Chain-Chomp.

[@Art-Sin]

Great game, just ashame I completed Monsterboy and the Cursed Kingdom just before starting this. Monsterboy is better everywhere.

[@looney1023]

Okay but can you still steal items at the expense of being called a thief?

[@ChichiNaka]

is it going to be a 9-10 because its zelda and its that guy

[@KingKien95]

U already know lol.

[@GmanSir]

I mean, the same guy gave Wind Waker a 7.8.

[@alexanderchilton911]

He gave Windwaker a 7 and Breath Of The Wild 4/5 stars, so once again you are factually wrong.

[@ChichiNaka]

@@alexanderchilton911 why change 'so wupti do, tool' to 'so once again you are factually wrong'

[@pooooo52]

Like see all Zelda remake to the switch.

[@Frumlock]

Oh Hello Prince Richard :P

[@PandaJerk007]

why does legend of zelda want to have chain chomps from mario?

[@rdh288]

ENDING SPOILERS The ending of this game depressed me so much (I guess in a good way). I felt like I killed all the inhabitants of the island, including the lovely Marin just so I and the wind fish could move on.

[@theoakty9242]

This feels more like a 8 with all that frame rate problems

[@davecarsley8773]

A person who hasn't played a game correcting the review score of a person who has played the game. Maybe outlets like Kotaku are right about gamers.

[@Vyse195]

They said it dosen't hurt the gameplay which is the biggest factor.

[@gragrofe]

Beautiful review!

[@Erlaxis]

Those frame rate dips suck.

[@gameskyjumper1721]

Totally looking forward to own this game. I am a Zelda fan but in a unique way. I love the simpler designs and dungeons. Minish Cap, Awakening, and Link to the past were my favorites. Don't get me wrong BotW is a good game. But to me Link is just much more lovable when he is small and has simple movesets.

[@ivanhernandez7395]

I mean, this game was kinda confusing for me but yea I haven’t really played Zelda besides this and a link between worlds, i like it thi

[@TheRazor124]

But is it worth $60? I mean this was a game that was $40 26 years ago...

[@davecarsley8773]

This game wasn't $40 26 years ago. This game didn't exist 26 years ago. Games are MUCH harder and take many more people much longer to make. The artists, sound designers, UI designers, programmers, QA testers, Secretaries, Human Resources people, and about 100 other people all deserve to be paid for their hard work. And we should be supporting any developer who isn't shoving loot boxes and microtransactions down our throats and demanding our credit cards.

[@FuzzyDlop]

It's not 60 bucks, it's 50 bucks and actually 40 in some countries. This is a remake, not a remaster and it's not a short game, it's as long as it should be. Resident Evil 2 was definitely overpriced, they copy pasted the original game, just changin the puzzles and they didn't even have the decency of making the two campaigns different from each other. It's a 6 hour remake that turns into an action game after 3 hours, with Mr. X ruining the game, sold at a higher price than Yakuza Kiwami 2 or Yakuza Kiwami, both full remakes with improved features and brand new content and brand new story elements. Still, people defended it as some kind of miracle when instead it was a lazy effort.

[@TheRazor124]

@@davecarsley8773 check your math dude. It came out in 1993. It's now 2019. That's 26 years.

[@TheRazor124]

@@FuzzyDlop then explain to.me why I just paid $64.94 for it after tax at my local Gamestop!

[@treebush]

Its a very pretty game but theres no reason to buy for 60 to 80 cad i was hoping the dungeon creator was on mario maker level but its not and since thats the case i might as well just play the gbc version i got with my leftover nintendo points

[@TheJmack90]

“Remaking this beloved game for Switch isn’t something to take lightly...” Umm it is absolutely something you can take lightly! The Switch Lite released on the same day! 😅😅😅

[@prince_warhero]

Could have been 40$ , 60$ too much for a 26 yr old game's remake

[@jhonrock2386]

Ok, "Zelda Dungeon Maker" would be a more compelling game to me than Mario Maker.

[@hexerin]

I do love Mario Maker for letting me relive my youth with Super Mario World, but I do agree that Zelda Dungeon Maker would be pretty awesome.

[@NaikoArt]

Zelda Maker is probably too good for it to be released anytime soon lol

[@brentdennison176]

Nintendo can’t sustain performance on a game like this? It shouldn’t be framey at all. Gosh, it’s time for a more powerful Switch.

[@Zultzify]

I think its because the devs are not the regular devs, theyve been working on botw 2. The switch could easily run this at 60fps with better optimization, should have delayed it

[@ProphitDesigns]

@@dreamerabe Watch other analysis on this game from Digital Foundry or GameXplain. Seems to be a streaming issue and not really a graphical limitation. Honestly I expect Grezzo to patch this game up at some point in the future.

[@davecarsley8773]

Who cares? It's not exactly an action game, dudes.

[@ricopin]

Open video. Thumbs up. Close video again because I want to avoid spoilers :p

[@davecarsley8773]

Picked up a copy today. Popped the cartridge in and boom, I was playing in seconds. No massive downloads or day one patches. No begging for my credit card. No silly Uplay or Bethesda accounts required. No pushing microtransactions in my face. No game breaking bugs...... *JUST FUN!* I may be a PS4 gamer at heart, but that gold Nintendo seal of approval still means as much now as it did in 1985.

[@Ruko]

There needs to be top-down Zelda games always, as well as 2D Metroid, i just hope they do new ones next instead of remakes.

[@carpcarter6766]

The Frog Prince!

[@Glitch.-_-.]

This is literally the best Zelda Game ever Created!

[@maybetoby]

Now do a remake of A Link to the Past (A Link Between Worlds doesn't count).

[@PunchPerfectPlayer]

maybetoby LttP doesn’t need a remake!

[@maybetoby]

@@PunchPerfectPlayer of course it does. That purple hair looks stupid.

[@PunchPerfectPlayer]

maybetob purple hair is iconic

[@maybetoby]

@@PunchPerfectPlayer right, it's why he's had purple hair in every game and art depiction 😜

[@PunchPerfectPlayer]

Good review

[@mikeymaiku]

Surprise damiani gives a massive score

[@ElizabethAlejandra]

Great Job Easy Allies Crew, especially Damiani

[@Vvonter]

I don't know this story didn't hit me as much. If anything it makes me appreciate what ALBW did by reimagining the same game. I believe a flawed game can benefit more from a remake than one that already was good given the hardware it was made for.

[@SheepShade]

Too expensive for a game I can finish in 7 hours. I'll wait for a sale.

[@ownzuall]

A quick question guys. Would you buy Tetris game on Nintendo Switch if it would cost you 60 USD instead the free price? No? Then why did you buy Link's Awakening? I am just curious.

[@BrittanyMarie27]

Vladimir sorry but that does not make Any sense. You can’t compare ZELDA to TETRIS. Lol

[@MindinViolet]

Why did they make the game easier? The original version of Link's Awakening was far from a difficult game. The new version must be a total cakewalk.

[@alexanderchilton911]

It has a hard mode from the get go which makes it a lot more challenging.

[@chaosmos24]

I never beat the original, but I was admittedly quite young when I played it. I remember getting stuck in one of the dungeons.

[@MrFacepunch33]

5:01 GIVE IT AN 8 MFER I DARE YOU, I DOUBLE DOG- ok phew

[@koopatube9118]

I just got it

[@deykno87]

Definitely should be 39.99! Frame rate issues on this game!! It’s not that intensely unacceptable! They are doing cross platform ghostbusters remastered for all system for only 30! If it wasn’t for breath of the wild 2 Metroid the new shin megami and portables Nintendo would be traded in!

[@davecarsley8773]

This. Is. Not. A. Remaster. It's entirely built from scratch by a team of artists, programmers, audio designers, UI designers, QA testers, Secretaries, and a ton of other people *who all deserve to be paid for their work.* The price of AAA games hasn't increased at all in like 25 years. You people all demand good games, but you don't want to pay the people who make them a fair wage. Stop being cheap. I can't wait to see you people freak out when next generation games go up to $74.99

[@MikeRey785]

I want a breath of the wild remake.

[@inputfunny]

Hopefully they make it good this time.

[@tyler6644]

9? No way. This is a 7.8 at best. Frame drops. Mario levels in a Zelda game is lame, be unique Nintendo. Music isn't that great. Pop figure graphics. Short and incredibly easy. This should be nowhere near the score of a game like Ocarina of Time, Breath of the Wild, Link to the Past. But hey man, that's just my opinion man.

[@FuzzyDlop]

This is easily a 9 and the best game of the year so far. Frame drops before the game is even out and they don't affect the gameplay experience at all. "Mario levels", nope, they're very much Zelda levels that inspired by a Mario design, which makes it awesome. The music is amazing, the graphics are incredibly stylish and sharp, it's not short but it has a proper length that doesn't get dragged on just to make it seem like a better purchase and it's not incredibly easy. In hero mode you keep dying in normal fights, never mind boss fights where you lose hearts like nothing. Finally, this is actually better than A Link to the Past but then again you've clearly haven't played this game, so your opinion doesn't matter.