Link's Awakening Ending: Depressing?

[Casual Matt]

Did anybody else think the ending to Link's Awakening for the Game Boy was kind of depressing.

I mean throughout the game you piece together clues and figure out that the whole island only exists within a dream, which is a trippy concept. But then at the end, the Wind Fish wakes up and the whole island, along with everybody you met there, ceases to exist.

I mean you even see everything and everybody phasing out of existence. It honestly saddened me a little.

[Leonri]

If you complete it without dying once (freaking impossible.....) you see an extra scene with
Marin fulfilling her dream and grow wings. She flies away from the island out to the sea.
Weird huh?

[Fizz]

It's actually not that hard to beat it without dying. Just save often. And in the DX version, it simply shows a picture of the sky with some seagulls, and Marin's portrait appears over it with the Ballad of the Wind Fish playing in the background.

Anyway, I've read a manga of Link's Awakening, and in that story it was a lot more emotional... Link tried to neglect his duties as "Messenger of Awakening", so the island didn't have to disappear. But in the end he realized he'd have to defeat the Nightmares and cause the island to disappear, because it would save the villagers the anguish of monster attacks. He felt that as long as he remembered the dream, the island and all the villagers would survive in his heart... Much more heartwarming, although tear-jerking of an ending, in my opinion. XD

[Oizys]

I hated the ending when I first played it. but I was young, and didn't really know better. Now the ending is what makes me think this is one of the best Zelda games there is.

Also, if you save while link is in the death animation, your death isn't recorded when you restart your file.

[wingsforweapons]

i loved it.
it was well thought out and made it an ending that was not like any other game.
therefore making it one of a kind.
Link's Awakening is the best handheld zelda game.
it was the first as well which makes this unbelievable.
nintendo prolly thought "this is gold" when they finished it.
it was also the first zelda game i ever played and brought me into this world.
thumbs up.
peace.

[MDS13]

It really isn't depressing to me because it is replayable but is there a link to the Manga?

[Fizz]

Originally Posted by MDS13

It really isn't depressing to me because it is replayable but is there a link to the Manga?

Yeah, here's a link: Zelda Legends - Other Material - Comics/Manga
It's fan translated, and has a few errors, but still, it's a good read. Enjoy!

[MDS13]

Originally Posted by Fizz

Yeah, here's a link: Zelda Legends - Other Material - Comics/Manga
It's fan translated, and has a few errors, but still, it's a good read. Enjoy!

Thanks Fizz!

[Asmodea]

I remember being SO disappointed when I first played the game. I was MAD! I thought things like "What was the point of all of that, when it was just a stupid dream!?". But, I agree that the whole point of it was probably to symbolize that they would always live on in Link's heart.

So, if you get past the depressing it's really kind of heart-warming....

[Temple of Time]

I suppose it's all a dream but I guess that why it's called "Link Awakening"

I'm glad you finished it because it is a fantastic game and every Zelda fan should definitely play this. It resembles the old Game Boy which has some fond memories that will stay in my heart forever! LA is the game that reminds me of the old Game Boy. Oh the Nostalgia. *Sobs*

[JonnyJinx]

One thing doesn't really make sense to me. Are you waking up Link, the Wind Fish, or both? Since Link sees the Wind Fish overhead when he wakes up, it must be real... so what does the Wind Fish have to do with Link's dream?

[Fizz]

Originally Posted by JonnyJinx

One thing doesn't really make sense to me. Are you waking up Link, the Wind Fish, or both? Since Link sees the Wind Fish overhead when he wakes up, it must be real... so what does the Wind Fish have to do with Link's dream?

The way I gathered it, when Link fell unconscious in the beginning of the game, his dreaming mind entered the Wind Fish's dream. The Wind Fish's dream consisted of Koholint Island and its inhabitants, as well as the Nightmares. It couldn't wake up until the Nightmares were defeated, and in order to do that, Link entered the Wind Fish's dream to help out.

So, in my opinion, Link's Awakening took place entirely in the Wind Fish's mind, with Link taking part in it while he was unconscious, neither able to wake up until Link was able to defeat the Nightmares.

I kinda repeated myself there... Sorry if it doesn't make sense, I'm really tired. XD

[JonnyJinx]

Ah, good thinking. Thanks.

[Master Link300]

The ending was kind of depressing. Its sad Linkn awakens on the ocean, with no sight of Marin....

[Jinjo]

Damn right the ending was depressing. The Ballad of the Wind Fish song is playing while Koholint Island is disappearing from existence. That scene is the pinnacle of emotional moments of hand-held video games.

[funkymonks0724]

yea...LA ending was kind sad...I remember being younger...like 7 or 8...anyway I rember specifically the first time I beat it...sittign in my paretns living room...the Ballad of the WF plus the visual of everyone you met and made friends with touched me even at that young age...

LA brings back very fond memories...

[nikita]

Yea.It did sadden me. I mean you play to figure out what`s goin on & then when you beat it, it doesn`t give no answers.

[JonnyJinx]

It was a bit sad, but it was good too. I beat the game recently. I guess I forgot how similar the ending is to that of Phantom Hourglass.

Getting through the game without dying is a bit easier on DX, because you have to access to the Red and Blue Tunic. Other than that, just keep your Heart Pieces and Seashells up to date. You'll be able to get the Level 2 Sword as early as you get the flippers, if you do. Here's how I'd rate each of the dungeons in terms of difficulty when it comes to not dying:

Tail Cave - 3/10
Bottle Grotto - 9/10
Key Caverm - 5/10
Color Dungeon - 7/10
Angler's Tunnel - 2/10
Catfish's Maw - 4/10
Face Shrine - 6/10
Eagle's Tower - 5/10
Turtle Rock - 6/10

The reason I had so much trouble on Bottle Grotto is because of the Pol's Voice, and the boss. They do quite a lot of damage, especially when you only have four hearts. Even so, all of them were pretty easy.

[Calebyte]

The ending of Link's Awakening is among the most emotional moments throughout gaming history. The fact that Nintendo was able to pull this off on nothing more than a handheld, black and white Game Boy game is truly phenomenal. It remains among the most engrossing games I've ever played. Did anyone tear up a little at the end?

[jediileia]

I just beat Link's Awakening for the first time today (hehe...) but yes it was really depressing! And I even knew about the ending before (Nintendo Power spoiled it...)! I was really hoping that Marin and Link would get together, too. And those little boys that were playing ball for the entire game-- that was quite sad! Ahhh it was such a good game!

[banker061291]

Originally Posted by jediileia

I just beat Link's Awakening for the first time today (hehe...) but yes it was really depressing! And I even knew about the ending before (Nintendo Power spoiled it...)! I was really hoping that Marin and Link would get together, too. And those little boys that were playing ball for the entire game-- that was quite sad! Ahhh it was such a good game!

dont know if you have noticed it before but(even though this is an old game) link never ends up with someone in the end of the games except for zelda(which for some reason i happen to think is his sister) but iv beat the game and even with knowing he wont end up with someone it was quite sad