My favorite part of the story was actually something Dunkey didn't mention; how the evil force corrupting the Wind Fish's dream is constantly trying to convince Link that he is, in fact, just a figment of the dream like everyone and everything else, and that all his "memories" of Zelda, Hyrule, etc are fabrications of the dream. It really made the final decision to wake the Wind Fish heavy, cause even as the player you couldn't be totally sure they weren't telling you the truth.
The interesting part that kind of goes without saying is that if you don't wake up and destroy the dream world, everything in the dream world gets destroyed anyway.
To me, the story is a meta commentary on all video games. Games let us visit strange and unique lands, and we get to know and care for interesting characters. But it's all only a temporary visit from our real life to theirs, and the experience is only a memory by the end of the day. Turning off the game is equivalent to us waking up.
"Somtimes in life, the thing you have to do is the last thing you want to do - like waking up and getting out of bed" Beautiful video, beautiful game, love Link's Awakening to death. You are seriously one of the best writers on this platform, and I love how unique this video felt in comparison to the rest of your content. Much like the game in question.
I remember beating this on Gameboy as a kid, and I literally cried at the ending. Everyone I met was gone. It was heavy and although it was just a game, it was hard to process.... But then you get to play it again and see old friends again. Loved the remaster.
This was the first game I ever beat by myself. I obsessed over it, and I’ll never forget the feeling of sadness as I watch the island and people I’ve come to know vanish into nothing. That stillness as link sits on the log at the end broke my 7 year old heart. Years later, watching my 6 year old boot it up in the switch for the first time, I lost it as the game finally looked like I imagined it, but this time it was my son at the controls. It is one of the most special memories in gaming I have.
What is awesome is that the game actually has a "true" ending, if you beat it without dying. Marin always keeps saying that she wanted to be a bird so that she could fly and sing for many people. If you beat the game with 0 deaths, you see an extra scene where Marin has wings and sings while she is flying. It's beautiful, especially if you think that the game came out 30 years ago.
when in the end it only says "more dunkey" with a white screen and the sound of the ocean, you know this is serious and i felt the chills truly an amazing job
When Dunkey stops narrating and the game’s soundtrack gradually increase in volume, while the video is visualizing one of the game’s most important moment, then slowly the video cuts to the end screen with the authentic “more dunkey” sign while an audiovisual of the game is playing in the background, that’s when you know when Dunkey loves a game
man I didn’t even BELIEVE it was gonna happen as a kid. It didn’t make any sense! What do you mean the island will disappear?? I’m saving the island! I’m beating the bad guys! I stared at my little game boy screen in utter shock and dismay after defeating the Nightmares. It CAN’T disappear wtf was the point?!?!!? I’M THE HERO WTF IS THIS. i did not appreciate it until YEARS later when i grew up a little and understood the artistry and beauty that a bittersweet story can have. Link’s Awakening is my favorite video game, and this remake is why I bought a switch, and I definitely squeezed out a few tears at the ending. Again.
"Somtimes in life, the thing you have to do is the last thing you want to do - like waking up and getting out of bed" dunkey makin me cry with this one, if he does a nier a review i will break emotionaly
Link's Awakening is the first video game I beat completely on my own. I was 9 years old and had already been playing it for 2 years straight, getting stuck in the same parts and just running in circles for months. I still remember finally clearing that wall, and I still remember where I was when i finally pulled the plug on the Wind Fish's nightmares once and for all. People harp about nostalgia a lot these days, but even among games I grew up playing and love to this day, this is the one that truly evokes a very specific sense of emotion and atmosphere for me. I have completed it dozens of times between the original, the Gameboy Color version, and the Switch remake, and every single time, I am brought back to an extremely specific time and place in my life. I read the dialogue the same way, I hear the characters voices the same way. I remember the way I felt at every somber turn of the game's otherwise lighthearted presentation. The game may as well be a time machine, the way it bridges the gap between how I perceived and experienced things at 9 and the way I do now. The best part of it all is that it still holds up. And it's a fucking Gameboy game. Masterpiece. Worth mentioning is the motivation of the main villain. The Nightmare. A creation of the same dream you're stuck in. It's fighting for control of the dream, with the intention of keeping the dreamer dreaming. It's not evil or power-hungry. It's just trying to survive. It knows once the Wind Fish wakes up, it's going to die. The further in you get, the bosses begin to sound more and more terrified. Also worth mentioning is all the cute froggies in Prince Richard's house. If you know, you know. Prince Richard and the frogs bridge the narrative gap between Link's Awakening and Wario Land 4 once and for all.
My dad and I played this game to revisit his childhood and I never saw him so happy about something so simple before. It was an absolute joy to see him having so much fun. This game made him feel like a kid again, and for that I am forever grateful.
GOD'S STANDARD FOR HEAVEN IS PERFECTION AND ONLY JESUS (THE SON OF GOD/GOD IN THE FLESH) LIVED THAT PERFECT LIFE! HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE & TOOK THE WRATH OF THE FATHER ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS! GOD IS JUST SO HE MUST PUNISH SIN & HE IS HOLY SO NO SIN CAN ENTER HIS KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST ON JUDGEMENT DAY GOD WILL SEE YOU AS HIS PERFECT SON (SINLESS SINCE YOUR SINS ARE COVERED BY JESUS' OFFERING). YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO REJECT JESUS' GIFT/SACRIFICE & PAY FOR YOUR OWN SIN WITH DEATH (HELL) BUT THAT SEEMS PRETTY FOOLISH! GOD SEES & HEARS EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID & DONE. YOU WONT WIN AN ARGUMENT WITH HIM & YOU CANT DEFEND ANY OF YOUR SINS TO HIM. YOU'RE NOT A GOOD PERSON, I'M NOT A GOOD PERSON... ONLY GOD IS GOOD! WE'RE ALL GUILTY WITHOUT ACCEPTING JESUS' SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS! MUHAMMAD DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, BUDDHA DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, NO PASTOR/NO PRIEST/NO SAINT/NO ANCESTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, MARY DIDN'T, THE POPE DIDN'T EITHER, NO IDOLS OR FALSE gods DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO MUSICIAN OR CELEBRITY DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO INFLUENCER OR CZcams STAR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO SCIENTIST OR POLITICIAN DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO ATHLETE OR ACTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS! STOP IDOLIZING & WORSHIPING THESE PEOPLE! JESUS CHRIST ALONE DIED FOR YOUR SINS & WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE GRAVE! HE IS ALIVE & COMING BACK VERY VERY SOON WITH JUDGEMENT (THESE ARE END TIMES)! PREPARE YOURSELVES, TURN FROM SIN & RUN TO JESUS! HE KNOWS YOUR PAIN & TROUBLES, HE WANTS TO HEAL & RESTORE YOU! TALK TO HIM LIKE A BEST FRIEND! ASK HIM TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU & HELP YOU TO BELIEVE IF YOU DOUBT! DON'T WAIT TO CRY OUT! NO ONE IS PROMISED TOMORROW! HE LONGS FOR YOU TO INVITE HIM IN, HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANY PERSON EVER COULD, HE CREATED YOU! Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."-John 14:6 "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 10:33 “For the wages of sin is death (hell), but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”-Romans 6:23
Unfortunately he will never truly feel like a kid again, and it's all because he had you, sport. Join the fight against rampant childhood today, and you too may save a would-be dad from future agony!
This comment officially makes me feel old. I was a kid when I played this game first on my Gameboy (and then later on Gameboy colour) while on road trips/camping during my childhood. It genuinely was one of the more memorable ones. I hope kids of the 2010+ era have something that has a similar novel and unique experience.
And the “more dunkey”. When this shows up, is because all that he said in this video is true of his heart, without any sense of irony or parody. Only a pair of his videos show that words.
@@blipblop1112 theres the original, on the gameboy. Then the "DX" version on the GBC, which gave it color and added the new color dungeon. Then the 2019 remake on the switch!
This might be my favorite dunkview ever. Just got finished playing through this game for the third time, and got the secret ending finally. Such a great game, and such a great video.
Link's Awakening was the first video game that made me feel melancholy, long before I even knew what that word was. I got it along with my first Gameboy on Christmas. When I say I spent hours, I mean I sat my ass on the couch, ignored all my other presents, and slammed through 4 full batteries. I, also, got horribly stuck in more than a few places, causing days or even weeks of backtracking and confusion. When I finally did beat the game, my excitement was quickly overwhelmed by a profound sadness, even guilt. I had come to know these characters, and my actions caused their world to vanish from existence. It made such an impact on me that I still catch myself thinking about it from time to time. A real masterpiece.
Same. And now, playing the Switch remake, I couldn't bring myself to finish the game. I knew what was coming. And the foreboding inscription in the temple that reveals the nature of the Wind Fish's dream was even more chilling. Great game, but wow, deep.
I have a different take on the situation. The dream was turning into a nightmare and link ends it. The people were just a dream but had a effect on you. Link can think of them and they’ll live on. Maybe the windfish will dream of the island again. That girl became a seagull anyway so at least on person made it out.
In a sea of video essays Dunkey does it best, simple, to the point, explaining why things work without picking them apart with needless exposition, and enough personality and charm to make you want to listen.
You nailed what I've been telling people about Link's Awakening for years. The second video game I ever owned as a kid, the one I was stuck with the longest, and once I finally reached the dream reveal, I refused to beat it for months because I understood what waking up meant. This game was such a masterfully crafted coming of age simulation on so many levels. It really is the best experience the franchise has yet to offer. Warmed my heart to hear such a sweeping and articulate appreciation for everything Link's Awakening is. Well done.
I didnt want to play this game for years because i thought it was game boy crap, and i had the game so that was no issue. I finally did like in 2017 lol, its probably the best game boy game and my second or third favorite zelda!
This was the first video game I ever owned, and my favorite one of all time, to this day. As a kid, I never got past level two because I could barely read and knew maybe 20 words in English. Thanks for such an honest and well balanced review! I really appreciate the Switch version's dialogue and script, it was subtly updated with little rhymes and other poetic flourishes; even in the Spanish localization!
'but sometimes in life, the thing you have to do is the last thing you want to do. like waking up and getting out of bed' legitimately needed that today, this man has a way with words. Brought a tear to my eyes
I remember beating this game as a boy of maybe 8 or 9, without internet or a manual and thinking I was a god! Bought the Switch version on release and realised how much of an achievement that was, I must have gotten stuck 10 times and not having the patience for it these days reverting to CZcams videos to help me beat the game. Defo top 3 Zelda games for me.
Man, Dunkey is so talented in putting into perspective things we feel as we play some games. I loved the part he told about the contrast between good and evil and you winning this time actually means the end of that world. Incredible game indeed.
That's what's so great about Link's Awakening. It's got a lot of moral ambiguity. Its one of the first games where I questioned my ultimate goal. Are the nightmares really bad for just wanting to live or are they gaslighting me? Do I really want to erase the world of Koholint and all the people I met, especially Marin? The big thing is that the NPCs of LA have such great personalities that you kinda grow attached to them despite not a lot of dialogue. Or is it ultimately right to awaken the Wind Fish and end the dream-turned-nightmare freeing him and Link from the evil monster's dominion?
GOD'S STANDARD FOR HEAVEN IS PERFECTION AND ONLY JESUS (THE SON OF GOD/GOD IN THE FLESH) LIVED THAT PERFECT LIFE! HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE & TOOK THE WRATH OF THE FATHER ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS! GOD IS JUST SO HE MUST PUNISH SIN & HE IS HOLY SO NO SIN CAN ENTER HIS KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST ON JUDGEMENT DAY GOD WILL SEE YOU AS HIS PERFECT SON (SINLESS SINCE YOUR SINS ARE COVERED BY JESUS' OFFERING). YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO REJECT JESUS' GIFT/SACRIFICE & PAY FOR YOUR OWN SIN WITH DEATH (HELL) BUT THAT SEEMS PRETTY FOOLISH! GOD SEES & HEARS EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID & DONE. YOU WONT WIN AN ARGUMENT WITH HIM & YOU CANT DEFEND ANY OF YOUR SINS TO HIM. YOU'RE NOT A GOOD PERSON, I'M NOT A GOOD PERSON... ONLY GOD IS GOOD! WE'RE ALL GUILTY WITHOUT ACCEPTING JESUS' SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS! MUHAMMAD DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, BUDDHA DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, NO PASTOR/NO PRIEST/NO SAINT/NO ANCESTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, MARY DIDN'T, THE POPE DIDN'T EITHER, NO IDOLS OR FALSE gods DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO MUSICIAN OR CELEBRITY DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO INFLUENCER OR CZcams STAR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO SCIENTIST OR POLITICIAN DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO ATHLETE OR ACTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS! STOP IDOLIZING & WORSHIPING THESE PEOPLE! JESUS CHRIST ALONE DIED FOR YOUR SINS & WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE GRAVE! HE IS ALIVE & COMING BACK VERY VERY SOON WITH JUDGEMENT (THESE ARE END TIMES)! PREPARE YOURSELVES, TURN FROM SIN & RUN TO JESUS! HE KNOWS YOUR PAIN & TROUBLES, HE WANTS TO HEAL & RESTORE YOU! TALK TO HIM LIKE A BEST FRIEND! ASK HIM TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU & HELP YOU TO BELIEVE IF YOU DOUBT! DON'T WAIT TO CRY OUT! NO ONE IS PROMISED TOMORROW! HE LONGS FOR YOU TO INVITE HIM IN, HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANY PERSON EVER COULD, HE CREATED YOU! Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."-John 14:6 "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 10:33 “For the wages of sin is death (hell), but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”-Romans 6:23
It really is. And it makes me want to stop what I'm doing and go watch it again honestly. Mulholland Drive will always be one of my favorite movies, and was my first experience with David Lynch. It's also the only movie I've ever watched 3 days in a row before, which is exactly how many views it took for me to begin to understand all the puzzle pieces that made up that amazing story lol
@@ninja_tony AHhahhaahhaHAHahahhahAHhahhaaHAH Mul Drive is the worst movie ever created. If it requires a second watch to be good, then it simply isn't good. Watching it the first time is such a dreadful and excruciating experience that at the end of it you start thinking what you did wrong in your life to end up watching this disaster. I don't frankly care about the anonymity and mysteriousness of what the story is supposed to be in the movie. It just isn't appealing to watch.
As a kid, I always had an uneasy feeling finishing the game. I know it was just a game, but it really messed with me. I was deleting the world, but even more than that, I was “unexisting” them! But if I never beat it, I would never go on more adventures and play other games. Such a brilliant game
You weren't, though. The Wind Fish sleeps and wakes on his own. The world is birthed from his dreams and returns to it. This time, when he slept, monsters invaded his dream world and stopped him from awakening, leaving him trapped and weakening, unable to feed or even move as they corrupted and devoured his dream, flooding it with darkness bit by bit and seizing it for themselves. You banish the nightmares and awaken the prisoner. The island is where it always was- in his mind. And when he next sleeps, it will be reborn once more. Preferably without the horrific monsters.
I felt the same finishing it. the realisation that i was about to delete all these people that I had made such beautiful memories and made me feel all kinds of emotions with. That really messed with me as a kid. It was a bittersweet feeling leaving the island and seeing it fade away.
You can always tell if dunkey likes a game because he will choose one heartfelt moment from it and let it play out in silence. He did it with the ending here, and with that rain walk with the little yellow goblin from undertale. it really is magical when he does it, because it doesn't happen often.
Whenever dunkey gets serious in his videos, it's honestly the best. He captures your attention and keeps focus on what he says. These are some of his best work.
Hard agree. I actually think Dunkey's consistency in his serious videos adds to the humor of his funny ones. Not only does it add "suspense" to his jokes (it's hard to tell if they are jokes or serious until the punchline), but it adds legitimacy to them as well. You know when Dunkey is clowning on a game he is clowning on it for good reason, not just for cheap laughs, which makes it feel better to laugh about.
I remember playing it when I was 7 or 8, and it hit me hard. The soundtrack is stuck with me forever, and the sense of wonder and exploration was real.
For me this was also my introduction to the Zelda series. I have very fond memories of sitting in the back of the car playing links awakening on the og Gameboy!
"You take the blue pill and the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, and I show you a funny alligator that eats dog food" - Gexpheus
This is also my favorite Zelda. The story is just so poignant and honestly heartbreaking. I played this as a kid and definitely got stuck for quite a while before I figured it out (chain chomp eats flowers?!) but once I started unravelling the mystery of the island i fell in love. All the characters are just so memorable and lovable and The Ballad of the Wind Fish is easily one of the best pieces of music in the series. Such a melancholy, longing sound that matches the tone of the game perfectly. So glad they remastered it for a new audience as it truly is an underappreciated gem of a game
I don't think Marin wants to be a seagull, I think she actually is one. Her dream makes a lot more sense that way, plus the ending in the Switch version shows two seagulls leaving where the island was. I think that Tarin and Marin got stuck there just before Link did. It also explains why those two in particular were so integral to Link's journey as they were trapped there too. Honestly there's no telling how many of the inhabitants were dreams or various ocean animals. Link may have actually saved a lot of non-human lives.
just wanted to add, Yosiaki Koizumi is the man to thank for creating the entire story of links awakening. he was also co director of Majoras mask, and a big driving force in the story there too. He then left the zelda series behind, and went on to helm the mario series, with sunshine, galaxy, 3d world and odyssey. a Nintendo legend that sadly doesn't get enough credit for contributing some of my favourite aspects of Nintendo.
I wonder if he took inspiration from the Cthulu mythos character Azathoth. According to lore, if Azathoth wakes up the entire universe will be destroyed not unlike Link's dream.
This is tied with Majora’s Mask for my favorite Zelda games which also puts it at favorite games of all time. Links Awakening has so much nostalgia for me but it’s story is something I always feel. It’s as simple as “nothing lasts forever” and that’s always beautiful to me. Face Shrine is the real vibes. And those who know, know.
The original Links Awakening on gameboy was my first video game experience ever and the nostalgia it intense. Makes me remember my grandparents. When I finally beat it decades later I realized it was truly a masterpiece.
Yeeeess! The intro puts into words perfectly what I've been thinking for years. There are so many great games that funnel the player through random bullshit to get to the rest. Besides being frustrating, this thoroughly shatters the illusion that anything in the game world exists for a purpose beyond interacting with the few things the player character can do. You knock over random shit which all turns out to be static dead decoration until you stumble upon the thing that magically isn't.
I've never heard of your channel, but that was a HELL of a CZcams video. Tight writing that summarized everything I loved about this game but didn't know how to say. well done. subscribed!
My man I cannot recommend enough that you check out more of Dunkey's reviews, especially the ones for games he loves like Mario 64 or Odyssey. The rewatch value of his videos is insane
I love when Dunkey puts out videos like this, his voice can be incredibly calming at times and he really does put quite a lot of thought into his scripts.
Actual chills when you finished your monologue and Koholint Island slowly disappears with that perfect music score. That's how you know a game has captivated it's audience.
Holy shit, how I love your videos, Dunkey! The intro with the cuts from the games and the music going on was pure art! And that ending, holy shit. You are amazing, dude!
I'm not sure Dunkey has ever sold me on a game as much he has with this short video. Brilliant video...gorgeous looking game.. I'll be purchasing this immediately.
Perfect. Absolutely nailed it. This game traumatized me as a kid, halfway through the game you learn you're the bad guy, and all the bosses are trying to stop you from destroying the world. Created a dichotomy in my little 8-year-old mind. How could I continue to play and enjoy this game knowing I'm killing all these cherished characters as I do it? Love it.
@@noahbarkelew6093 There's a beautiful ambiguity. Are they not genuinely alive, even if they're part of an elaborate dream? But if you do nothing, if you don't wake the Wind Fish, then the dream will inevitably deteriorate from the Nightmares' influence... the only way to save the world and its joys is to ...wake up.
The whole last 2 minutes is probably one of the most illustrative and humbling I’ve ever heard Dunkey been. I was waiting for his quick switcheroo between serious and sarcastic commentary but there was none. Seeing the “more Dunkey” just slowly fade in was so surreal Thanks Dunkle
Definitely play it I played link to the past on nso and found it very frustrating and was scared links Awakening would do the same but it’s spectacular I’ve played it 3 times and I almost never replay games
I never had a Nintendo growing up so the switch version was my first discovery of link's awakening. Even without any nostalgia, this game was just spectacular. It was just the right difficulty, the vintage soundtrack, the tilt shift miniature effect, man i did not expect this. It definitely holds a place in my favourite games list
It's so funny. The announcement of this remake is why I bought a switch. I was like "well, Link's Awakening isn't out for like 4 months still. Guess I'll pick up this BOTW everyone is talking about to hold me over." When you remake a game like this there's so much possibility to totally lose the charm of the original but they MURDERED it man. It's a perfect remake. I cried all over again when I finished it.
1:51 I find it amusing that this was a point of super high praise for ALttP in Egoraptor/Arin’s Sequelitis, and Dunkey’s just like: “Man, this shit’s annoying” lmao
It’s such a bittersweet ending. As a kid I remember the mixed emotions after figuring out how to get through the final maze and the Nightmare boss gauntlet, only to have everything and everyone I had come to know taken away. It was a good mix of emotions that made me feel like I had just completed something profound, not just a game
"It is almost never referenced in later games" There is one big reference I can think of. The shrine music in Breath of the Wild is a more mystical rendition of the cave music from Link's Awakening
Link’s Awakening is an incredible game because it does so much more with so much less. It was just as revolutionary for the series as both its predecessor AND successor, while still somehow standing out amidst the series, and for that it deserves all the acclaim.
New Dunkey on LA?? Hell yeah. Always loved this game as a kid and really enjoyed the remake. The art style is great. It almost looks like you're playing with little chibi zelda toys.
Great experience back in the 90's, even better for us oldies who just want more Zelda. Also, they went wild with the references of other nintendo IPs on this game, dayum.
Hearing Dunkey citing Twin Peaks in a video about a Switch remake of a GameBoy Zelda game was the best thing that could have happened to me in this monday.
As much as i love your humour dunk, your serious videos like this one really show how well you digest and understand the media you consume. The fact that you are able to present it in such an entertaining way is just the cherry on top. Truly one of the best creators on the platform. Disliked, reported and unsubscribed.
Personally I think this is one of Dunkey’s better planned out and scripted videos, the way he makes you so invested in the game and then ends it with the island disappearing is such a smart editing choice. Some people think that his videos haven’t need food in years while I think that they’ve gotten better and better, especially since Covid. Keep up the good work Dunkey!
Subbed tonight, watched six vids. Loved em all. Most poignantly moved by your appreciation toward this one. Never beat this game but it was a great time
watching a serious dunkview while link just waddles everywhere is oddly calming
Dunkey ASMR when?
Ahmed, dunkey will do asmr when will smith subscribes tk him
Its not even totally serious lol you still have the bits of irony here and there
Is a dunkview ever truly serious?
He still made jokes you r slur.
I really like when dunkey adores a game.
Fancy seeing you here lol
Ayy Raz!
Yo what's up raz
Its mostly nintendo games lol
@@oscargarza3181 well.. Nintendo games are pretty good so I don't blame him
Wish the company was half as good tho..
My favorite part of the story was actually something Dunkey didn't mention; how the evil force corrupting the Wind Fish's dream is constantly trying to convince Link that he is, in fact, just a figment of the dream like everyone and everything else, and that all his "memories" of Zelda, Hyrule, etc are fabrications of the dream. It really made the final decision to wake the Wind Fish heavy, cause even as the player you couldn't be totally sure they weren't telling you the truth.
That is actually creepy
@@The_Non-Onehence why Link's Awakening is considered to be one of the darkest Zelda game
The interesting part that kind of goes without saying is that if you don't wake up and destroy the dream world, everything in the dream world gets destroyed anyway.
@@tydshiin5783 every Zelda is the darkest zelda
To me, the story is a meta commentary on all video games.
Games let us visit strange and unique lands, and we get to know and care for interesting characters. But it's all only a temporary visit from our real life to theirs, and the experience is only a memory by the end of the day.
Turning off the game is equivalent to us waking up.
CZcams should have a folder of “good comments” so I could save yours
Underrated comment for sure. Everyone knows that Minecraft did something similar, but LA did it with CLASS! 👏👏👏
Reading books can be the same way. I guess it can be true for a lot of form of media.
" meta commentary"
zZzZzz
Right before death, it's only memories that matter.
Dying is waking up from life.
You know things got real when Dunkey actually refers to himself as "Dunkey" in the ending card
And the white background?? What could it mean?
@@CaptainEffort turned on light mode by accident
This review really good, actually!
Not biased, so far.
Paulie actually spells dunkeys name right?! Ehwehh?!
@@CaptainEffort it means its time to “wake up”
"Somtimes in life, the thing you have to do is the last thing you want to do - like waking up and getting out of bed" Beautiful video, beautiful game, love Link's Awakening to death. You are seriously one of the best writers on this platform, and I love how unique this video felt in comparison to the rest of your content. Much like the game in question.
It feels strange that he played it straight
Why if it isn’t the pot calling the kettle black (love your vids, Liam!)
Following in the footsteps of Marcus Aurelius, Dunkey is truly one of the great philosophers of our age
LIAM TRIFORCE!!!
Hi Liam!
You know the game is a masterpiece when you hear the emotion of dunkey loving a game so much. His feelings truly are captured on this kind of videos.
You don't even need a score at the end. You know dunkey thinks it's a masterpiece
It really makes you FEEL like Dunkey
@@The_Bliz This is the Dark Souls of Dunkey videos.
I'm not sure what "feelings are captivated" actually means. Do you mean captured?
@@ggdc96 sorry, I'm not a native english speaker. You're correct.
I remember beating this on Gameboy as a kid, and I literally cried at the ending. Everyone I met was gone. It was heavy and although it was just a game, it was hard to process.... But then you get to play it again and see old friends again. Loved the remaster.
I cry every time i beat it, even at 35 haha
It seriously fucked with my head as an 11 year old haha.
My daughter cried once we beat it. It was like a commentary on life itself.
Gameboy isn’t a thing, wit/2.
I'll be honest. I beat it on Gameboy as a kid and didn't even understand the ending lol. I just know it was a fun game
The serious Dunkviews are so good. It’s always so refreshing to hear how deeply he thinks about games and how they impact him. Love this video.
Especially since we always hear him talk in a humorous way, we listen even closer when he says something serious.
Awesome stuff!!!!!!!!
serious dunkey videos in general are just on a different level, any of you watched his ones on The Shining and Playtime? just so good
At first I tought this might be a joke, but by the end of the video I thought ''I MUST play this game''.
okay so why the fuck is his serious TLOU2 review hated so much?!?!?!?!?!?
This was the first game I ever beat by myself. I obsessed over it, and I’ll never forget the feeling of sadness as I watch the island and people I’ve come to know vanish into nothing. That stillness as link sits on the log at the end broke my 7 year old heart.
Years later, watching my 6 year old boot it up in the switch for the first time, I lost it as the game finally looked like I imagined it, but this time it was my son at the controls. It is one of the most special memories in gaming I have.
So wholesome 🥹 I hope to get my future kids into Pokémon and Zelda :)
This is what it's all about folks
Damn, this is a real-ass post. Mad respect, you are living the dream my friend.
Same here
Thanks for sharing your story
What is awesome is that the game actually has a "true" ending, if you beat it without dying. Marin always keeps saying that she wanted to be a bird so that she could fly and sing for many people. If you beat the game with 0 deaths, you see an extra scene where Marin has wings and sings while she is flying. It's beautiful, especially if you think that the game came out 30 years ago.
I don't know which version you're referring to, but in the Gameboy version that happens as well.
@@brozors Yeah, I was referring to the original version. I don't know if they kept it in the remake.
@@Izelor In the remake (and the DX version for gameboy color) Link looks up at a Seagull, and sees a projection of Marin behind it and smiles.
when in the end it only says "more dunkey" with a white screen and the sound of the ocean, you know this is serious and i felt the chills truly an amazing job
When Dunkey stops narrating and the game’s soundtrack gradually increase in volume, while the video is visualizing one of the game’s most important moment, then slowly the video cuts to the end screen with the authentic “more dunkey” sign while an audiovisual of the game is playing in the background, that’s when you know when Dunkey loves a game
lol yea he did it for God of War too
Who's Dunkey?
When I beat this as a kid, I remember tearing up. It was the first Zelda game I ever beat and watching Koholint disappear was like losing a friend.
I shed a few tears in the remake. I got the secret ending and seeing a hand-drawn Marin smiling hit harder.
ok
We all cried, as kids killing this wonderland. Hope kids these days will feel the same enjoying this masterpiece
man I didn’t even BELIEVE it was gonna happen as a kid. It didn’t make any sense! What do you mean the island will disappear?? I’m saving the island! I’m beating the bad guys! I stared at my little game boy screen in utter shock and dismay after defeating the Nightmares. It CAN’T disappear wtf was the point?!?!!? I’M THE HERO WTF IS THIS. i did not appreciate it until YEARS later when i grew up a little and understood the artistry and beauty that a bittersweet story can have. Link’s Awakening is my favorite video game, and this remake is why I bought a switch, and I definitely squeezed out a few tears at the ending. Again.
why is this game so dark
"Somtimes in life, the thing you have to do is the last thing you want to do - like waking up and getting out of bed" dunkey makin me cry with this one, if he does a nier a review i will break emotionaly
You mean cute robot game
Yeah he made one 6 years ago. The title is cute robot game
Link's Awakening is the first video game I beat completely on my own. I was 9 years old and had already been playing it for 2 years straight, getting stuck in the same parts and just running in circles for months. I still remember finally clearing that wall, and I still remember where I was when i finally pulled the plug on the Wind Fish's nightmares once and for all. People harp about nostalgia a lot these days, but even among games I grew up playing and love to this day, this is the one that truly evokes a very specific sense of emotion and atmosphere for me. I have completed it dozens of times between the original, the Gameboy Color version, and the Switch remake, and every single time, I am brought back to an extremely specific time and place in my life. I read the dialogue the same way, I hear the characters voices the same way. I remember the way I felt at every somber turn of the game's otherwise lighthearted presentation. The game may as well be a time machine, the way it bridges the gap between how I perceived and experienced things at 9 and the way I do now. The best part of it all is that it still holds up. And it's a fucking Gameboy game. Masterpiece.
Worth mentioning is the motivation of the main villain. The Nightmare. A creation of the same dream you're stuck in. It's fighting for control of the dream, with the intention of keeping the dreamer dreaming. It's not evil or power-hungry. It's just trying to survive. It knows once the Wind Fish wakes up, it's going to die. The further in you get, the bosses begin to sound more and more terrified. Also worth mentioning is all the cute froggies in Prince Richard's house. If you know, you know. Prince Richard and the frogs bridge the narrative gap between Link's Awakening and Wario Land 4 once and for all.
Brilliant video. Dunkey is so well spoken when talking about things he admires, I love it.
Beeg
Yoshi
i never knew he was so erudite
Hello Andrew!
You could even say he’s sometimes a bit too verbose.
hi andrew
this game has one of the best remake artstyles ever, i loved beating it for the first time on the switch
ben
LOVE YOUR EDITS
ben...
Bismilla
too many verified youtubers here
That outtro screen, the subtle off white coloring, the tasteful thickness of the font…
That last scene just hit me right in the feels. Amazing review, would definitely try to get this game if I could (:
Why can’t you?
@@L4yo he is dead
@@L4yo can’t buy games when you are dead
@@zachcarter1116 ?
@@L4yo Couldnt get it just cause I was busy , but luckily , recently got it a while back ! It was fun :D
My dad and I played this game to revisit his childhood and I never saw him so happy about something so simple before. It was an absolute joy to see him having so much fun. This game made him feel like a kid again, and for that I am forever grateful.
GOD'S STANDARD FOR HEAVEN IS PERFECTION AND ONLY JESUS (THE SON OF GOD/GOD IN THE FLESH) LIVED THAT PERFECT LIFE! HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE & TOOK THE WRATH OF THE FATHER ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS! GOD IS JUST SO HE MUST PUNISH SIN & HE IS HOLY SO NO SIN CAN ENTER HIS KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST ON JUDGEMENT DAY GOD WILL SEE YOU AS HIS PERFECT SON (SINLESS SINCE YOUR SINS ARE COVERED BY JESUS' OFFERING). YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO REJECT JESUS' GIFT/SACRIFICE & PAY FOR YOUR OWN SIN WITH DEATH (HELL) BUT THAT SEEMS PRETTY FOOLISH! GOD SEES & HEARS EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID & DONE. YOU WONT WIN AN ARGUMENT WITH HIM & YOU CANT DEFEND ANY OF YOUR SINS TO HIM. YOU'RE NOT A GOOD PERSON, I'M NOT A GOOD PERSON... ONLY GOD IS GOOD! WE'RE ALL GUILTY WITHOUT ACCEPTING JESUS' SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS!
MUHAMMAD DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, BUDDHA DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, NO PASTOR/NO PRIEST/NO SAINT/NO ANCESTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, MARY DIDN'T, THE POPE DIDN'T EITHER, NO IDOLS OR FALSE gods DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO MUSICIAN OR CELEBRITY DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO INFLUENCER OR CZcams STAR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO SCIENTIST OR POLITICIAN DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO ATHLETE OR ACTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS! STOP IDOLIZING & WORSHIPING THESE PEOPLE!
JESUS CHRIST ALONE DIED FOR YOUR SINS & WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE GRAVE! HE IS ALIVE & COMING BACK VERY VERY SOON WITH JUDGEMENT (THESE ARE END TIMES)! PREPARE YOURSELVES, TURN FROM SIN & RUN TO JESUS! HE KNOWS YOUR PAIN & TROUBLES, HE WANTS TO HEAL & RESTORE YOU! TALK TO HIM LIKE A BEST FRIEND! ASK HIM TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU & HELP YOU TO BELIEVE IF YOU DOUBT! DON'T WAIT TO CRY OUT! NO ONE IS PROMISED TOMORROW! HE LONGS FOR YOU TO INVITE HIM IN, HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANY PERSON EVER COULD, HE CREATED YOU!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."-John 14:6
"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 10:33
“For the wages of sin is death (hell), but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”-Romans 6:23
Unfortunately he will never truly feel like a kid again, and it's all because he had you, sport.
Join the fight against rampant childhood today, and you too may save a would-be dad from future agony!
Sounds like a nice experience
This comment officially makes me feel old. I was a kid when I played this game first on my Gameboy (and then later on Gameboy colour) while on road trips/camping during my childhood. It genuinely was one of the more memorable ones. I hope kids of the 2010+ era have something that has a similar novel and unique experience.
Thats so sweet
Dude, the fade in of more dunkey at the end just tied the whole thing up perfectly. Great game and great review.
And the “more dunkey”. When this shows up, is because all that he said in this video is true of his heart, without any sense of irony or parody. Only a pair of his videos show that words.
How many versions of that game, btw?
@@blipblop1112 theres the original, on the gameboy. Then the "DX" version on the GBC, which gave it color and added the new color dungeon. Then the 2019 remake on the switch!
This might be my favorite dunkview ever. Just got finished playing through this game for the third time, and got the secret ending finally. Such a great game, and such a great video.
arguably bloodborne takes place inside of a fish's dream
Fear the old blood!
"The thing you have to do is often the last thing you want to do"
Dunkey can really be a poet when he wants too.
Link's Awakening was the first video game that made me feel melancholy, long before I even knew what that word was. I got it along with my first Gameboy on Christmas. When I say I spent hours, I mean I sat my ass on the couch, ignored all my other presents, and slammed through 4 full batteries. I, also, got horribly stuck in more than a few places, causing days or even weeks of backtracking and confusion. When I finally did beat the game, my excitement was quickly overwhelmed by a profound sadness, even guilt. I had come to know these characters, and my actions caused their world to vanish from existence. It made such an impact on me that I still catch myself thinking about it from time to time. A real masterpiece.
Same. And now, playing the Switch remake, I couldn't bring myself to finish the game. I knew what was coming. And the foreboding inscription in the temple that reveals the nature of the Wind Fish's dream was even more chilling. Great game, but wow, deep.
I felt guilty too. Like I killed all of the characters I spent time with to get to know. What a wild game.
I have a different take on the situation.
The dream was turning into a nightmare and link ends it.
The people were just a dream but had a effect on you. Link can think of them and they’ll live on. Maybe the windfish will dream of the island again.
That girl became a seagull anyway so at least on person made it out.
"I never got into the first dungeon" Good to know I was not the only one.
In a sea of video essays Dunkey does it best, simple, to the point, explaining why things work without picking them apart with needless exposition, and enough personality and charm to make you want to listen.
I was not expecting a white fade out "more dunkey"
That was soothing as hell
This has to be dunkey's best video thus far
No tf it isn’t what are you smoking dawg 💀💀
You didn’t even have enough time to watch the whole thing bro😭😭
@@renkii_0 who cares
Yeah but SUPER MARIO BROTHERS TWO BABYBEEEEEEEEEEE
It's cause it was all a dream
You nailed what I've been telling people about Link's Awakening for years. The second video game I ever owned as a kid, the one I was stuck with the longest, and once I finally reached the dream reveal, I refused to beat it for months because I understood what waking up meant.
This game was such a masterfully crafted coming of age simulation on so many levels. It really is the best experience the franchise has yet to offer. Warmed my heart to hear such a sweeping and articulate appreciation for everything Link's Awakening is. Well done.
I didnt want to play this game for years because i thought it was game boy crap, and i had the game so that was no issue. I finally did like in 2017 lol, its probably the best game boy game and my second or third favorite zelda!
ye xmas was lit that year... got this and an ice blue game boy pocket
I don't know about best experience in the franchise but it's definitely a classic.
Dunkey convinced me the canon name for this hero was Blunka for like a whole year
I played this game after your recommendation - I’m so unbelievably happy I listened to it.
Dunkey talking about Link's Awakening is the thing I didn't know I needed
Hi, Monster Maze
@@StiusMarton Good day!
Love seeing Zelda-tubers in the comments haha!
Literally, saw the notification and dropped everything I was doing to watch this 😅
You should have known! :)
As usual, spelling "more dunkey" _"more dunkey"_ always strangely hammers home the gravity of a genuinely effervescent dunkview
You are very verbose and erudite
And if that didn't do it for you, maybe the *white background* will
This was the first video game I ever owned, and my favorite one of all time, to this day. As a kid, I never got past level two because I could barely read and knew maybe 20 words in English. Thanks for such an honest and well balanced review! I really appreciate the Switch version's dialogue and script, it was subtly updated with little rhymes and other poetic flourishes; even in the Spanish localization!
Marin's song actually brings a tear to my eye. It's just... Something about it.
This game is the cutest game Nintendo made that isn’t kirby
Nintendogs?
@@bosssnurp5912 that’s a horror game
If Kirby is in the game, is it not a Kirby game?
Kirby in a non kirby game?
Though Kirby IS in the game
'but sometimes in life, the thing you have to do is the last thing you want to do.
like waking up and getting out of bed'
legitimately needed that today, this man has a way with words. Brought a tear to my eyes
The music in this game breaks me man. It brings me back to simpler, care free times like nothing else. I can’t help but tear up from it.
I remember beating this game as a boy of maybe 8 or 9, without internet or a manual and thinking I was a god! Bought the Switch version on release and realised how much of an achievement that was, I must have gotten stuck 10 times and not having the patience for it these days reverting to CZcams videos to help me beat the game. Defo top 3 Zelda games for me.
You know Dunkey loves a game when he puts “more dunkey” in at the end…
But you know he REALLY loves it when he does the fade to white.
one day we'll get the trifecta with the saxophone
you can also tell if he hates a game when it ends with "more dunkey"
truly in contrast with his other videos, because he's black.
@@barbershopbible he's actually of puerto rican descent.
@@alcinado2072 he's actually a grandma
Man, Dunkey is so talented in putting into perspective things we feel as we play some games. I loved the part he told about the contrast between good and evil and you winning this time actually means the end of that world.
Incredible game indeed.
That's what's so great about Link's Awakening. It's got a lot of moral ambiguity. Its one of the first games where I questioned my ultimate goal. Are the nightmares really bad for just wanting to live or are they gaslighting me? Do I really want to erase the world of Koholint and all the people I met, especially Marin? The big thing is that the NPCs of LA have such great personalities that you kinda grow attached to them despite not a lot of dialogue. Or is it ultimately right to awaken the Wind Fish and end the dream-turned-nightmare freeing him and Link from the evil monster's dominion?
GOD'S STANDARD FOR HEAVEN IS PERFECTION AND ONLY JESUS (THE SON OF GOD/GOD IN THE FLESH) LIVED THAT PERFECT LIFE! HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE & TOOK THE WRATH OF THE FATHER ON THE CROSS FOR YOUR SINS! GOD IS JUST SO HE MUST PUNISH SIN & HE IS HOLY SO NO SIN CAN ENTER HIS KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST ON JUDGEMENT DAY GOD WILL SEE YOU AS HIS PERFECT SON (SINLESS SINCE YOUR SINS ARE COVERED BY JESUS' OFFERING). YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE TO REJECT JESUS' GIFT/SACRIFICE & PAY FOR YOUR OWN SIN WITH DEATH (HELL) BUT THAT SEEMS PRETTY FOOLISH! GOD SEES & HEARS EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID & DONE. YOU WONT WIN AN ARGUMENT WITH HIM & YOU CANT DEFEND ANY OF YOUR SINS TO HIM. YOU'RE NOT A GOOD PERSON, I'M NOT A GOOD PERSON... ONLY GOD IS GOOD! WE'RE ALL GUILTY WITHOUT ACCEPTING JESUS' SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS!
MUHAMMAD DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, BUDDHA DIDN'T DIE FOR YOUR SINS, NO PASTOR/NO PRIEST/NO SAINT/NO ANCESTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, MARY DIDN'T, THE POPE DIDN'T EITHER, NO IDOLS OR FALSE gods DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO MUSICIAN OR CELEBRITY DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO INFLUENCER OR CZcams STAR DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO SCIENTIST OR POLITICIAN DIED FOR YOUR SINS, NO ATHLETE OR ACTOR DIED FOR YOUR SINS! STOP IDOLIZING & WORSHIPING THESE PEOPLE!
JESUS CHRIST ALONE DIED FOR YOUR SINS & WAS RESURRECTED FROM THE GRAVE! HE IS ALIVE & COMING BACK VERY VERY SOON WITH JUDGEMENT (THESE ARE END TIMES)! PREPARE YOURSELVES, TURN FROM SIN & RUN TO JESUS! HE KNOWS YOUR PAIN & TROUBLES, HE WANTS TO HEAL & RESTORE YOU! TALK TO HIM LIKE A BEST FRIEND! ASK HIM TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU & HELP YOU TO BELIEVE IF YOU DOUBT! DON'T WAIT TO CRY OUT! NO ONE IS PROMISED TOMORROW! HE LONGS FOR YOU TO INVITE HIM IN, HE LOVES YOU MORE THAN ANY PERSON EVER COULD, HE CREATED YOU!
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."-John 14:6
"But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven."-Matthew 10:33
“For the wages of sin is death (hell), but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”-Romans 6:23
I love how he manages to mix humor and emotions in this video, it's amazing
What a genuine dunkview. Loved this game as a kid and was one of the first games I’ve ever beaten.
4:10
This transition from Mulholland Drive to Ocarina of Time is incredibly satisfying
It really is. And it makes me want to stop what I'm doing and go watch it again honestly. Mulholland Drive will always be one of my favorite movies, and was my first experience with David Lynch. It's also the only movie I've ever watched 3 days in a row before, which is exactly how many views it took for me to begin to understand all the puzzle pieces that made up that amazing story lol
@@ninja_tony AHhahhaahhaHAHahahhahAHhahhaaHAH Mul Drive is the worst movie ever created. If it requires a second watch to be good, then it simply isn't good. Watching it the first time is such a dreadful and excruciating experience that at the end of it you start thinking what you did wrong in your life to end up watching this disaster. I don't frankly care about the anonymity and mysteriousness of what the story is supposed to be in the movie. It just isn't appealing to watch.
As a kid, I always had an uneasy feeling finishing the game. I know it was just a game, but it really messed with me. I was deleting the world, but even more than that, I was “unexisting” them! But if I never beat it, I would never go on more adventures and play other games. Such a brilliant game
All it took was the seagull noises after the fading island to make me remember how Marin became a seagull and a tear came to my eye
@@deletedTestimony when the seagulls cry
You weren't, though. The Wind Fish sleeps and wakes on his own. The world is birthed from his dreams and returns to it. This time, when he slept, monsters invaded his dream world and stopped him from awakening, leaving him trapped and weakening, unable to feed or even move as they corrupted and devoured his dream, flooding it with darkness bit by bit and seizing it for themselves. You banish the nightmares and awaken the prisoner. The island is where it always was- in his mind. And when he next sleeps, it will be reborn once more. Preferably without the horrific monsters.
I felt the same finishing it. the realisation that i was about to delete all these people that I had made such beautiful memories and made me feel all kinds of emotions with. That really messed with me as a kid. It was a bittersweet feeling leaving the island and seeing it fade away.
@@ojojostar671 Umineko? 😅
You can always tell if dunkey likes a game because he will choose one heartfelt moment from it and let it play out in silence. He did it with the ending here, and with that rain walk with the little yellow goblin from undertale. it really is magical when he does it, because it doesn't happen often.
You know he loves a game when he spells his own name correctly.
Whenever dunkey gets serious in his videos, it's honestly the best. He captures your attention and keeps focus on what he says. These are some of his best work.
Hard agree. I actually think Dunkey's consistency in his serious videos adds to the humor of his funny ones. Not only does it add "suspense" to his jokes (it's hard to tell if they are jokes or serious until the punchline), but it adds legitimacy to them as well. You know when Dunkey is clowning on a game he is clowning on it for good reason, not just for cheap laughs, which makes it feel better to laugh about.
Very true, I was engaged with what he was saying the entire time. Not a small feat - even if for only 5 minutes - in today's world
I actually did get through this game as a kid on the original gameboy and it hit me so deeply it’s the first time I realized games could be art.
Same bro, everyone is like I grew up with link to the past, but my first Zelda game was links awakening. 4 year old me with a Gameboy, nostalgic.
I remember playing it when I was 7 or 8, and it hit me hard. The soundtrack is stuck with me forever, and the sense of wonder and exploration was real.
ok
For me this was also my introduction to the Zelda series. I have very fond memories of sitting in the back of the car playing links awakening on the og Gameboy!
"You take the blue pill and the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill, and I show you a funny alligator that eats dog food" - Gexpheus
"It also invented the fishing mini game"
~ Googles it
HOLY CRAP, IT REALLY DID!
This is also my favorite Zelda. The story is just so poignant and honestly heartbreaking. I played this as a kid and definitely got stuck for quite a while before I figured it out (chain chomp eats flowers?!) but once I started unravelling the mystery of the island i fell in love. All the characters are just so memorable and lovable and The Ballad of the Wind Fish is easily one of the best pieces of music in the series. Such a melancholy, longing sound that matches the tone of the game perfectly.
So glad they remastered it for a new audience as it truly is an underappreciated gem of a game
I don't think Marin wants to be a seagull, I think she actually is one. Her dream makes a lot more sense that way, plus the ending in the Switch version shows two seagulls leaving where the island was. I think that Tarin and Marin got stuck there just before Link did. It also explains why those two in particular were so integral to Link's journey as they were trapped there too.
Honestly there's no telling how many of the inhabitants were dreams or various ocean animals. Link may have actually saved a lot of non-human lives.
just wanted to add, Yosiaki Koizumi is the man to thank for creating the entire story of links awakening. he was also co director of Majoras mask, and a big driving force in the story there too.
He then left the zelda series behind, and went on to helm the mario series, with sunshine, galaxy, 3d world and odyssey. a Nintendo legend that sadly doesn't get enough credit for contributing some of my favourite aspects of Nintendo.
I wonder if he took inspiration from the Cthulu mythos character Azathoth. According to lore, if Azathoth wakes up the entire universe will be destroyed not unlike Link's dream.
This is tied with Majora’s Mask for my favorite Zelda games which also puts it at favorite games of all time. Links Awakening has so much nostalgia for me but it’s story is something I always feel. It’s as simple as “nothing lasts forever” and that’s always beautiful to me. Face Shrine is the real vibes. And those who know, know.
I think this is the sweetest ending to a dunkview yet ❤️
This man’s content is impeccable.
Its easy for me to peck because i am chicken peck peck peck
By impeccable, do you mean... COMEPLETELY PECCABLE???
Thith manth content ith impeccable lol jk great comment tho
The original Links Awakening on gameboy was my first video game experience ever and the nostalgia it intense. Makes me remember my grandparents. When I finally beat it decades later I realized it was truly a masterpiece.
Yeeeess! The intro puts into words perfectly what I've been thinking for years. There are so many great games that funnel the player through random bullshit to get to the rest. Besides being frustrating, this thoroughly shatters the illusion that anything in the game world exists for a purpose beyond interacting with the few things the player character can do. You knock over random shit which all turns out to be static dead decoration until you stumble upon the thing that magically isn't.
Awakenings ending always makes me cry without fail and I’m glad more people are acknowledging how amazing it’s story is
For how much Dunkley has references Twin Peaks over the years, I’d love to see him do a dunkview of the whole series and movie!!
Can you point me to some of the other times he’s referenced Twin Peaks? I love both these things so it’s wild for me to see them crossover.
ok
he should do an MGS-style summary of the plot that is (unbelievably) factually accurate
I remember just finishing this game and tearing up, it's probably one of the most beautifully weird stories I've played through
I've never heard of your channel, but that was a HELL of a CZcams video. Tight writing that summarized everything I loved about this game but didn't know how to say. well done. subscribed!
My man I cannot recommend enough that you check out more of Dunkey's reviews, especially the ones for games he loves like Mario 64 or Odyssey. The rewatch value of his videos is insane
This is my favourite dunkview video. I really love dunkey loving a great game. I come back to watch it every few months and I enjoy it every time.
You can really tell he poured his heart out for this game, this video conveys that passion so perfectly
I love when Dunkey puts out videos like this, his voice can be incredibly calming at times and he really does put quite a lot of thought into his scripts.
Actual chills when you finished your monologue and Koholint Island slowly disappears with that perfect music score. That's how you know a game has captivated it's audience.
Holy shit, how I love your videos, Dunkey! The intro with the cuts from the games and the music going on was pure art! And that ending, holy shit. You are amazing, dude!
I can safely say that "dunkviews" are the best part of this entire channel
entire CZcams actually
@@mrdog2472 best CZcams ever
I’d say his movie reviews specifically take the cake. Speaking of which, we’re due for another pretty soon
I dunno, drama mondays are pretty lit! (jk)
@@SleepyFawn among us tuesdays tho
As a full grown man, hearing Marin sing The Ballad of The Windfish still brings a tear to my eye.
The ending was *mwah* masterpiece
This video is amazing, so heartfelt and genuine and so well made, love you Donkey
I'm not sure Dunkey has ever sold me on a game as much he has with this short video. Brilliant video...gorgeous looking game.. I'll be purchasing this immediately.
I hope you enjoy it!
don't have too high expectations lol it's not the best
^dont listen to this hater, it’s an awesome game!!!
@@TheLegend_--27 I disagree, I loved it! but each to their own
It's such a great game! Lots of hours sunk in and loved every minute of it
The artstyle of the original, and the remake, and both fantastic. The Zelda series really knows how to make a game look good
It really make you feel.
@@paulwaltersheherfeministvl521 no
They need to stop using the Hyrule, Zelda and Ganon crap, Jesus it's the same shit story everytime. Just do something different.
@@zZiL341yRj736 tbf that's the point of zelda games. The story is that this is a story that has countless retellings
@@michaelwesten4624 you’ve gotta be joking. This is one of the best switch games ever in terms of visual polish and style.
the sheer unbridled joy that intro editing gave me
“This game invented the fishing mini-game” as NOT-Link stares at the camera 🤣
Perfect. Absolutely nailed it.
This game traumatized me as a kid, halfway through the game you learn you're the bad guy, and all the bosses are trying to stop you from destroying the world. Created a dichotomy in my little 8-year-old mind. How could I continue to play and enjoy this game knowing I'm killing all these cherished characters as I do it? Love it.
But it's just a dream and these characters, besides link and the whale, are not real. Should be easy when you realize it's a dream.
@@noahbarkelew6093 There's a beautiful ambiguity. Are they not genuinely alive, even if they're part of an elaborate dream? But if you do nothing, if you don't wake the Wind Fish, then the dream will inevitably deteriorate from the Nightmares' influence... the only way to save the world and its joys is to
...wake up.
@@Semudara No. They are not genuinely alive if they are part of a dream.
@@noahbarkelew6093 Hmm. Well, tell that to Marin. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The whole last 2 minutes is probably one of the most illustrative and humbling I’ve ever heard Dunkey been. I was waiting for his quick switcheroo between serious and sarcastic commentary but there was none. Seeing the “more Dunkey” just slowly fade in was so surreal
Thanks Dunkle
I thought he was done making good videos, he surprises us yet again
Dunkeys usual dark mode friendly outros:
Dunkey zelda video outro:
This kind of reviews are my favourite type of your vids, Dunk!
It makes my day whenever Dunkey drops a review because it always goes so hard that I can't help bit want to pick it up for myself
Definitely play it I played link to the past on nso and found it very frustrating and was scared links Awakening would do the same but it’s spectacular I’ve played it 3 times and I almost never replay games
I never had a Nintendo growing up so the switch version was my first discovery of link's awakening. Even without any nostalgia, this game was just spectacular. It was just the right difficulty, the vintage soundtrack, the tilt shift miniature effect, man i did not expect this. It definitely holds a place in my favourite games list
It's so funny. The announcement of this remake is why I bought a switch. I was like "well, Link's Awakening isn't out for like 4 months still. Guess I'll pick up this BOTW everyone is talking about to hold me over." When you remake a game like this there's so much possibility to totally lose the charm of the original but they MURDERED it man. It's a perfect remake.
I cried all over again when I finished it.
“I enjoyed this game the most on my third playthrough” is such a subtle yet hefty compliment
1:51 I find it amusing that this was a point of super high praise for ALttP in Egoraptor/Arin’s Sequelitis, and Dunkey’s just like: “Man, this shit’s annoying” lmao
I'm glad to have another game recommendation to add to my collection of experiences that exist entirely inside of a fish's dream :)
What are the other ones in your collection ?
It’s such a bittersweet ending. As a kid I remember the mixed emotions after figuring out how to get through the final maze and the Nightmare boss gauntlet, only to have everything and everyone I had come to know taken away. It was a good mix of emotions that made me feel like I had just completed something profound, not just a game
It was the first time as a kid that made me feel sad to beat a game.
I got a notification for this a year later. Did not disappoint
I come here every month to hear this dunkey to relax myself from the week.
"It is almost never referenced in later games" There is one big reference I can think of. The shrine music in Breath of the Wild is a more mystical rendition of the cave music from Link's Awakening
Also, while I don't think it's the same tune, you play the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" in Majora's Mask.
Link’s Awakening is an incredible game because it does so much more with so much less. It was just as revolutionary for the series as both its predecessor AND successor, while still somehow standing out amidst the series, and for that it deserves all the acclaim.
DUNKEY DESCRIBED IT PERFECTLY.
YES.
Among other things, you are a fantastic editor. Love your dunkviews.
New Dunkey on LA?? Hell yeah.
Always loved this game as a kid and really enjoyed the remake. The art style is great. It almost looks like you're playing with little chibi zelda toys.
Great experience back in the 90's, even better for us oldies who just want more Zelda.
Also, they went wild with the references of other nintendo IPs on this game, dayum.
I just don't get why he posted this. Don't get me wrong: great review, also love LA it's a great game...
But it's nowhere *_near_* November right now
@@early2000skid Well, I was late for Donkey Kong December so it’s fair.
It's a fun game I hope they make a new Zelda game in this style
And you get to steal!
Hearing Dunkey citing Twin Peaks in a video about a Switch remake of a GameBoy Zelda game was the best thing that could have happened to me in this monday.
it wasn't even the best video, but the way you sold your opinion at the end and faded out to white?
masterpiece
This is the only “it was all a dream” story that I love unconditionally.
As much as i love your humour dunk, your serious videos like this one really show how well you digest and understand the media you consume. The fact that you are able to present it in such an entertaining way is just the cherry on top. Truly one of the best creators on the platform.
Disliked, reported and unsubscribed.
I almost liked this comment. Then I saw it has 69 likes
Finally dunky speaks his mind on this absolute masterpiece. Hopefully he gives Zelda a great 5/5👍🏼👍🏼
Zelda isn't even in this game
@@michaelwesten4624 Wow, you are so funny and original 😐
@@michaelwesten4624 If the PS Vita were so good why isn't there a PS Vita 2🤨🤨🤨
@@michaelwesten4624 the game is older than you and will keep on living after you die
Personally I think this is one of Dunkey’s better planned out and scripted videos, the way he makes you so invested in the game and then ends it with the island disappearing is such a smart editing choice. Some people think that his videos haven’t need food in years while I think that they’ve gotten better and better, especially since Covid. Keep up the good work Dunkey!
Subbed tonight, watched six vids. Loved em all. Most poignantly moved by your appreciation toward this one. Never beat this game but it was a great time