The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

The 2019 Switch version of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a remastered/re-rendered version of the 1993 Game Boy version using partial elements from the 1998 Game Boy Color (DX) version.

The general consensus of the story and it’s plot-line still remain true to the original and have been slightly changed in some places with additions/removals of various non-significant elements which don’t hold up in the Switch version, when compared to the originals.

Besides the complete graphical and sound/music overhaul to represent a "clay-like motion" feel to the game, it's gameplay controls have been changed to incorporate the additional buttons the Switch holds as opposed to the 2-button choice of the Game Boy. In the original, Link had to change his equipment depending his situation, setting them to the A and B buttons on the fly. The Switch version automatically assigns the Sword and Shield to pre-allocated buttons, whilst the other buttons can be designated to the other in-game items at the user’s preferences.

The graphical limitation of the original meant the areas loaded and shifted whilst Link was traversing from one screen area to another. The Switch version area traversal progression overlaps when Link runs from one to another. The overworld map is far more detailed and can be zoomed in to distinguish individual rocks and trees and suspicious locations can now be marked to be returned to on a later occasion.

The mini-game shop in Mabe Village, which plays a part in the trading item quest has new decorative items as prizes, which can be set at different locations all over Koholint Island. Additional heart-pieces can also be won extending the heart meter to a total of 20 instead of the 14 hearts of the original. Other new items include Fairy Bottles in which Link can now catch fairies to hold for a later time.

The original quest of finding hidden seashells, which resulted in obtaining the best sword in the original, has now been made easier with the addition of the Seashell Sensor, obtained at gathering 20 shells. When equipped a ping is sent out when in the proximity of a hidden shell. The total amount of hidden seashells has been increased when compared to the ones available in the original.

One other place to gather additional heart pieces is at Dampe's stone shack, located on the former place of Photographer's House from Link’s Awakening DX. Dampé hosts the newly added "Chamber Dungeons" in which the player can create his/her own dungeon using the pieces from dungeons one has completed already. An accompanying new released Link amiibo allows the player to save newly created dungeons to show at other people's game. When scanning this amiibo, one can also encounter "Dark Link" in the player's made-up dungeons.