Retro Game Friday: Link’s Awakening

This week for Retro Game Friday I’m covering one of the first Zelda games I ever played! It’s The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening!

Plot Synopsis:After the events of Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, the hero Link travels abroad to train for further threats. A storm destroys his boat at sea, and he washes ashore on Koholint Island, where he is taken to the house of Tarin and his daughter Marin. She is fascinated by Link and the outside world, and tells Link wistfully that, if she were a seagull, she would leave and travel across the sea. After Link recovers his sword, a mysterious owl tells him that he must wake the Wind Fish, Koholint’s guardian, in order to return home.

Plot: This is one of the few Zelda games that doesn’t take place in Hyrule at all, with Oracle of Ages, Seasons and Majora’s Mask being the ones I can remember off the top of my head. The plot is pretty great as well.

Characters: Marin is the best character and I love her, but there were plenty of other Nintendo series cameos including Goombas and Chomps. It was a fairly odd game. Oh and the Shopkeeper was awesome as well.

Gameplay: The game plays like a lot of other 2D Zelda games, with the player being able to assign items to the A and B buttons and using them to solve various puzzles. This is also one of the only entries in the game where you could actually steal something from the item shop, although doing so would instantly change your name to THIEF.

Art: It’s aged pretty well, and it was revolutionary at the time, especially since it was made for a handheld console.

Music: Pure Zelda.

Overall: If you’ve never played the game, you really need to.

For those who like: Zelda Games, Action, Adventure, Puzzles, Great Gameplay, Fantastic Story, Awesome Characters.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

 

Retro Game Friday: Yoshi’s Story

This week for Retro Game Friday I’m covering a rather unknown Nintendo game from my childhood. It’s Yoshi’s Story!

Plot Synopsis: Living together in harmony at Yoshi’s Island, the Yoshis are able to maintain a perpetual state of joy through the fruit-bearing Super Happy Tree. However, Baby Bowser becomes envious of this happiness and casts a spell to transform the entire island into a pop-up storybook. In addition he also steals the Super Happy Tree, further weakening the Yoshis and making them fall to gloom.

While successful with his wicked deed, six eggs were yet able to survive the trial and hatch. Confused about the dismal state of their world, the baby Yoshis knew that something was amiss. And so, deciding to fight the gloom with cheer, they set out to retrieve the Super Happy Tree and restore happiness to the island.

Plot: Wow looking back at this I can’t believe I ever enjoyed such a crap story. Guess it proves that being a childhood favorite doesn’t mean it’s good.

Gameplay: It was fun, but nothing too difficult even for a 7 year old kid. I did like it at the time, but if I played it now I’d doubtless be bored to tears.

Music: Classic Nintendo fare, mixing Mario with storybook themes.

Art: Decent, but it looks like crap now.

Overall: This is an easily forgettable game that you shouldn’t play unless you are really bored.

For those who like: Platformers, Easy Games, Decent Gameplay.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.