The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

About The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX (Game Boy Color)

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo and released for the Game Boy Color in 1998. It is a color remake of the 1993 Game Boy classic Link’s Awakening, enhanced with full color, a new Color Dungeon, and compatibility with the Game Boy Printer. When you play Link’s Awakening DX online, you experience one of the most unusual and beloved entries in the entire Zelda series.

Unlike most Zelda games, this adventure does not take place in Hyrule and features neither Princess Zelda as a central character nor Ganon. After a storm destroys his ship, Link washes ashore on the mysterious Koholint Island beneath the giant egg on Mt. Tamaranch. Guided by Marin, Tarin, and a wise Owl, Link learns he can only leave by collecting the eight Instruments of the Sirens and waking the Wind Fish - even though waking it may make the island disappear.

Detailed Gameplay

Link’s Awakening DX blends top-down exploration, real-time sword combat, and puzzle-filled dungeons. Koholint is compact but dense, packed with secrets, mini-games, and memorable characters at every turn.

Exploration and Dungeons

You explore beaches, forests, swamps, mountains, and deserts to find eight main dungeons, from Tail Cave to Turtle Rock. Each dungeon introduces an item such as Roc’s Feather for jumping, the Power Bracelet for lifting, the Hookshot, and the Pegasus Boots for dashing. Those items open new paths across the island, in classic Zelda fashion. Side-scrolling sections, inspired by Mario, even feature Goombas and Piranha Plants.

Puzzles, Trading, and Secrets

Combat is only half the game. You will push blocks, light torches, bomb cracked walls, and solve clever switch puzzles. A long trading sequence runs through the whole adventure, swapping items like the Yoshi Doll and the Ribbon between islanders for an eventual great reward. Collecting Secret Seashells unlocks the powerful Level-2 Sword, while the DX version adds the exclusive Color Dungeon and its choice of a Red or Blue Tunic for extra attack or defense.

Game Highlights

• A Moving, Unusual Story: The question of whether Koholint is real gives the ending real emotional weight.
• Eight Excellent Dungeons: Varied puzzles, bosses like Moldorm and Gohma, and a brilliant final sequence.
• DX-Exclusive Content: Full color graphics and the Color Dungeon with its attack or defense tunic reward.
• Charming World and Music: Marin’s Ballad of the Wind Fish and a lively cast make Koholint unforgettable.

Controls

The Game Boy Color controls are perfectly suited to this adventure and map cleanly to keyboard or touch in the browser.

• D-Pad: Move Link in eight directions and navigate menus.
• A Button and B Button: Assign items freely - set your Sword, Shield, Bow, Bombs, or Roc’s Feather to either button.
• Start: Open the inventory to equip items, check the map, and save options.
• Select: View the island map and dungeon maps where available.

Tips and Strategies to Win

Exploration rewards you more than rushing from dungeon to dungeon.

• Collect Secret Seashells: Gather at least 20 to earn the Level-2 Sword at the Seashell Mansion, doubling your attack power.
• Complete the Trading Sequence: Keep swapping whenever an islander asks - the final reward makes the late bosses far easier.
• Choose the Blue Tunic in the Color Dungeon: Halving damage helps more for most players than the Red Tunic’s extra attack.
• Buy the Bow Early if You Can: Save Rupees from the Trendy Game and caves; the 980-Rupee Bow is expensive but essential later.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do I need to have played other Zelda games first? A: No. Link’s Awakening DX is a completely standalone story on Koholint Island, so it is a perfect first Zelda game as well as a favorite for longtime fans.

Q: What is new in the DX version compared to the original? A: The DX version adds full color, the Color Dungeon with Red and Blue Tunics, extra photo opportunities for the Game Boy Printer, and small fixes and additions throughout.

Q: Can I play The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX online for free? A: Yes, you can play The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX online for free in your browser on RiveGame with no downloads or installation required.