The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (1993) is like a mini version of the Super Nintendo classic A Link To The Past (1991) – both games share more than just the same DNA. At times Link’s Awakening feels like A Link To The Past without colour. Which is a huge compliment because A Link To The Past is one of the best games ever made. This, too, is among the best Game Boy games of all time.

It might be monochrome, and the resolution may be low, but it is amazing just how much character and detail Nintendo has managed to fit into Link’s Awakening. The whole structure of the game; the feel of the combat (all real time); the balance of light and dark visuals; the dialogue; the ideas – not to mention the sheer deviousness of some of the puzzles… Everything is pretty much perfect.

Re-playing it again recently confirmed to me just how good The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is. And the only games better than it (in its class) are the colour remakes of itself, and the Zelda sequels (Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons) for the Game Boy Color.

More: Link’s Awakening on Wikipedia