The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
System Game Boy
Developer Nintendo
Genre Action / Adventure
Series The Legend of Zelda Series

Link leaves Hyrule on a boat so he can train to be a worthy hero to Hyrule. However, his ship is caught in a violent storm, and he washes ashore on Koholint Island. He is nursed back to health by a girl named Marin and discovers he is trapped on the island so long as the Wind Fish sleeps.

Equipped with his shield and sword, Link must defeat the Nightmares that live in the dungeons and find the Instruments of the Sirens in order to wake the Wind Fish and escape the island.

As well as the main quests, there are many sub-quests to complete. Helping people out and exploring will yield rewards such as extra health, weapon upgrades, items and more.

Release Information

Region Name Release
Japan ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島 Zelda no Densetsu: Yume o Miru Shima 06 Jun 1993
US The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening Aug 1993
Europe The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening 1993

Ports & Remakes:

Game Boy Color The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

Cameos

Tarin

Tarin

At the start of the game you meet Tarin, the mushroom-collecting father of Marin. He later appears transformed into a raccoon.

Tarin's appearance is intentionally based on Mario.

Submitted by Fryguy64

Bow-Wow

Bow-Wow

While walking through Mabe Village you meet Madame Meowmeow's menacing (yet harmless) pet, Bow-Wow. It is based on the Chain Chomp enemy from the Mario series.

The Japanese name of Chain Chomp is "Wanwan", which is the Japanese onomatopeia for a dog's barking.

Madame Meowmeow keeps two smaller Bow-Wows as well, one in her house and one in her shed.

Submitted by Fryguy64

Yoshi Doll

Yoshi Doll

The first item in the trading sequence is the Yoshi Doll, which can be won from the Crazy Game in Mabe Village. It is based on Yoshi from the Mario series. The item's description says:

"You got the Yoshi Doll! Recently, he seems to be showing up in many games!"

Submitted by Fryguy64

Mr. Write

Mr. Write

During the trading sequence sidequest you meet Mr. Write, who likes to write letters. Mr. Write is based on Dr. Wright, the mayor's assistant in the SNES Sim City.

The music in his house is also a remix of Dr. Wright's theme from Sim City.

Submitted by Fryguy64

Prince Richard

Prince Richard

While looking for the Slime Key, you meet a prince called Richard who was kicked out of his castle by monsters. Richard (and the frogs in his villa) originally appeared in Japan only Game Boy game For The Frog The Bell Tolls. Richard was your character's rival in the game.

The music in Richard's Villa is a remixed version of the main overworld theme from For The Frog The Bell Tolls.

Submitted by Fryguy64

Christine

Christine

When you arrive in Animal Village, you meet a goat named Christine who has Dr. Wright's Sim City music in her house. She will give you a letter to take to Mr. Write.

After delivering the letter, Mr. Write shows you the photo that was inside. Instead of a goat, the photo is of Princess Peach from the Mario series.

Submitted by Fryguy64

Mamu

Mamu

After you successfully navigate the Signpost Maze, you uncover a stairway to a giant, singing frog named Mamu. Mamu is based on Wart, the final boss of Super Mario Bros. 2 and the game it was based on, Dream Factory: Dokidoki Panic.

Submitted by Kohta, Kishi, TV Eye

Cucco Keeper

Cucco Keeper

Later in the game, while exploring Tal Tal Heights, you meet the Cucco Keeper who tells you the legend of a flying Cucco.

The Cucco Keeper is based on Luigi from the Mario series.

Submitted by Fryguy64

Kazumi Totaka's Song

Kazumi Totaka's Song is a secret music track hidden in nearly every game composed by Kazumi Totaka. Link's Awakening contains no less than three different versions of the song. See the Kazumi Totaka's Song Guide for more appearances of the song in other games.


Kazumi Totaka's Song in Richard's Villa

Richard's Villa

In Richard's Villa, wait for the music to loop several times and Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.

In the Link's Awakening DX version, Richard's theme also plays when you are having your photo taken outside Kanalet Castle. You can also hear Kazumi Totaka's Song at this point in the game.


Kazumi Totaka's Song on the Japanese File Select screen

File Select Screen

In the Japanese version, enter your filename as "Totakeke" in hiragana. The File Select screen music changes to an upbeat remix of Kazumi Totaka's Song.

In the German version of Link's Awakening DX, you can also hear this secret track by entering your file name as "MOYSE", after the German language localiser for the game. It is unknown if the same is possible in other languages or regions.


Screenshot Required

Unknown Third Version

A third instance of Kazumi Totaka's Song has been found on the game's soundtrack dump, but so far has not been found in the game. It sounds like it is played on one of the Instruments of the Sirens.

Submitted by Fryguy64, Chris Olson

Anti-Kirby

Anti-Kirby

One of the enemies in Eagle Tower is called Anti-Kirby. He is a cute pink ball with a face who hops around trying to suck you into its mouth. This enemy is based on Kirby.

Submitted by Fryguy64

Mario Enemy Lineup

Anti-Kirby

Link's Awakening features monsters based on some familiar enemies from the Mario series. Many of them appear in the side-scrolling sections, while others are standard dungeon enemies.

Additionally, statues in the shape of Bowser's head appear in some of the underground sections.

Submitted by Fryguy64, TV Eye, nensondubois

Are we missing any cameo appearances for this game? Please contact NinDB with the details.