I've been seeing a lot of hate directed at Nintendo after their announcement that the Virtual Boy will be added to the Nintendo Switch Online service for Expansion Pack members. I played very little of the system back when it was released in 1995, but the experience stuck with me. The Virtual Boy used dual red screens and parallax effects to create stereoscopic 3D graphics. Its controller was unusual with two directional pads and four buttons. The system had to be set up on a flat surface so players could rest their faces on the console to play. Multiplayer was possible in a way similar to the Game Boy by linking two systems together.
The Virtual Boy was a commercial failure. Many players found it uncomfortable to use, and it often caused headaches and motion sickness. Only twenty-two games were released between Japan and North America, with three launch titles. Of those, I've played Mario Clash, Mario's Tennis, and Virtual Boy Wario Land. The only one I spent any real time on was Wario Land. I don't remember much from the other two except that I wasn't interested. More games were showcased at E3 in 1996, but they were never released because the system was discontinued.
Even so, the Virtual Boy has a cult following. There are more fans than I ever realized, and some even develop homebrew games for it. Websites like Planet Virtual Boy show the passion people still have for the system. These same fans are now excited for the new peripherals and Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics coming to the Switch and Switch 2. There will be a peripheral modeled after the original console and even a cardboard version you can hold for comfort while playing. Games can be played with Joy-Cons, though I'm not sure how that will translate from the original controller. I trust Nintendo will include decent presets for each game.
Still, many Nintendo fans are outraged. Some say Nintendo is "wasting their time" or giving people "something no one ever asked for." I was surprised myself when I heard the news during the September 12 Nintendo Direct. At first, I thought it was a joke. I'm not against the release at all, but I also don't think it's necessarily a good idea. I believe Nintendo is testing the market to see how people respond. The company has plenty of other areas where it could improve. My relationship with Nintendo is a mix of love and frustration.
I can't speak much about Nintendo's newer improvements because I don't own their most recent hardware and haven't played many of their latest titles. I only know what I see in gaming news. With my Switch 1, I have to deal with newer software changes such as virtual game cards. As for upcoming games, I see a lot of negativity online. Metroid Prime 4 and Mario Kart World come to mind. The truth is there will always be hate toward something, no matter what a company does. That is why you will never see me writing formal reviews on this blog.
One major issue with Nintendo is its first-party pricing. The company never lowers the price of its titles. In my post about The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX for the Game Boy, I mentioned that I recently finished Breath of the Wild. I still paid the same price for it that it cost at release in 2017. It has been eight years. This pricing model is the main reason I have not played many newer first-party games, aside from also needing a Switch 2 for the latest titles. Nintendo also sends out cease-and-desist notices to anyone making fan games or software based on their properties. They are within their legal rights, but I think they could ease up when the fan-developers aren't earning income from the projects.
Then there is Nintendo's hostility toward Palworld by Pocketpair. If you're reading this, you likely already know about the lawsuits and patents. Nintendo is suing Pocketpair for infringing on patents tied to game mechanics that exist in countless other titles, such as creature capturing and riding systems. Nintendo has even updated patents while going after Pocketpair. The developer has made changes to Palworld in an effort to maintain peace, but Nintendo has been relentless. For some fans, this has painted the company in a harsher light.
I haven't seen any official statement from Nintendo about current reactions to the Virtual Boy Nintendo Classics or the planned peripherals. The launch date is February 17, 2026. Personally, I won't be worrying about Virtual Boy accessories because I have no interest in the system or its games. People may call moves like this outlandish, but Nintendo's history suggests otherwise. The Nintendo 64 skipped CD technology when competitors adopted it. The GameCube used smaller discs and underperformed in sales. The Wii and Wii U focused on originality. The Switch blended home console and handheld into one. Given that record, the Virtual Boy revival does not seem unusual at all.
+ Aremythion +
Waking Up with Link on Koholint Island
September 14, 2025
The Legend of Zelda is a franchise that needs no introduction. Even non-gamers have probably heard the name. Today I decided to play some The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX on my Nintendo Switch. I recently beat The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and wanted to dive back into a classic 2D Zelda adventure. You are probably asking, "Recently beat Breath of the Wild?!" Yes, I only just played through it, though I have not completely finished everything in the game. I am still behind on the series. I have not yet played Tears of the Kingdom or Echoes of Wisdom. Kind of unusual for me, considering how big a fan of Zelda I am.
I will begin with a basic introduction to the game. As you may have noticed, my blog posts usually explain the premise of the game along with what happens in a particular playthrough. Not every post will follow that formula. I also plan on writing about specific elements of a game, or perhaps even news in the franchise. What I do not plan on doing are previews or reviews. I prefer to let players form their own opinions.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was the first Zelda title released on the Nintendo Game Boy. A programmer at Nintendo, Kazuaki Morita, experimented with a Game Boy development kit by creating a Zelda-like project. Other employees joined in after hours just for fun. After The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past launched on the Super Famicom, director Takashi Tezuka requested development of a handheld Zelda game. His initial plan was a port of A Link to the Past, but the project soon became its own title: Link's Awakening. Even Shigeru Miyamoto served as a play tester before its release.
The game takes place on Koholint Island instead of Hyrule. After the events of A Link to the Past, Link set out from Hyrule in search of new adventure. During a storm, the ship he traveled on was destroyed, and he washed ashore on the island. The game begins with the classic file select screen. Link awakens in Marin's home. When he speaks to Tarin, Tarin returns Link's shield, saying he knows it belongs to him because it has his name engraved on it. Marin then instructs Link to head south to Toronbo Shores, where his sword is to be found.
On the way to the coast, Link notices a Chain Chomp from the Super Mario Bros. franchise. This game is filled with playful references to other Nintendo titles, especially Super Mario. Link also encounters a pair of children who explain the save system. On the original hardware, saving requires pressing B, A, Select, and Start at the same time. Playing on the Switch makes it easier since the emulator has built-in save states. As Link heads toward the shore, he faces Octoroks, whose attacks can be deflected with the shield.
Closer to the beach, Link encounters Leevers and Sea Urchins. Leevers burst from the sand and charge toward him, while Sea Urchins can be pushed aside with the shield. Their appearance is similar to Gordos from the Kirby series. Kirby himself even makes a cameo in this game. When Link retrieves his sword, he recognizes it as his, engraved with his name. I suppose Link was afraid he might lose his equipment or have it mistaken for someone else's. Soon after, an owl appears and tells Link that no one can leave the island until the Wind Fish is awakened. The owl directs him north to the Mysterious Forest.
On the way there, Link finds a well that was inaccessible before he had his sword. By cutting the grass and dropping in, he obtains a Piece of Heart. Upon entering the forest, the owl greets him again and tells him he should head toward Tail Cave, but he will first need to find the key hidden within the forest. The area contains Moblins, Keese, and Zols, all simple enough to defeat. Some enemies drop Guardian Acorns and Pieces of Power. Guardian Acorns temporarily boost defense, while Pieces of Power increase attack strength after defeating a number of enemies. Link also meets a raccoon who claims his nose is sensitive to powder and dust.
Deeper in the forest, Link discovers a toadstool that he takes to the Witch's Hut to the east. She brews it into Magic Powder, which can light braziers and has other effects. Returning to the raccoon, Link sprinkles powder on him. The raccoon panics and transforms back into Tarin, who does not remember what happened and claims he needs to sleep it off. North of this spot, Link finds the Tail Key, which allows him to enter Tail Cave near Toronbo Shores.
The first dungeon begins with a text box saying "Level 1 - Tail Cave." This will not be a thorough walkthrough, but the dungeon follows the familiar Zelda formula. Link must solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and collect keys to open locked doors. The dungeon contains chests, some hidden, and finding the Compass reveals points of interest on the map. The Compass also plays a chime whenever Link enters a room with a chest. Along the way, he faces various enemies and eventually a sub-boss before the main boss, known as the Nightmare. The game even includes side-scrolling sections featuring Goombas from Super Mario Bros.
Two important dungeon items are the Roc's Feather and the Stone Beak. The Roc's Feather lets Link jump when equipped, and the Stone Beak allows owl statues to give hints. Eventually, Link finds the Nightmare Key, which opens the boss chamber. Before that, he must defeat the sub-boss, Spiked Roller. Link avoids the rolling trap, jumps over it, and attacks when the enemy is vulnerable. After the battle, a warp point connects the sub-boss room with the dungeon entrance. Finally, Link faces Moldorm, the boss. Moldorm must be struck on the tail multiple times while avoiding being knocked into the pit.
After the battle, Link earns a Heart Container and the Full Moon Cello. A cryptic message appears: "...SWAMP... A path opens... in the blooms..." Link is transported outside the dungeon, where this playthrough ends. I originally owned Link's Awakening for the Game Boy Pocket in the 1990s, and playing it again fills me with nostalgia. This is my first time playing the DX version for the Game Boy Color, which even includes a hidden bonus dungeon. Now Link must continue his quest to collect the instruments and awaken the Wind Fish.
