The first portable Zelda game could have been simple. Nintendo could have easily pumped out a lazy, half-hearted adventure, or ported a shoddy version of an existing console game over to the Gameboy, and it still probably wouldve sold well, but the Big N wanted to release a game that would live up to the Zelda name, and with Links Awakening, they didnt let us down. From the opening minutes, this game sets itself apart from the others in the series. Theres no princess to save, no threat of Ganon in sight, no Hyrule to explore. Instead, this quest takes place on a trippy tropical island, where Link is tasked with finding eight magical instruments to wake the Wind Fish. Admittedly, the stakes arent that high, but thats a part of the games appeal; the laid back approach makes the game all the more endearing. But what really makes this game unique is its off-beat tone. Zelda games can get pretty weird, but Links Awakening might just be the weirdest of them all, featuring cameos from Mario and Chain-Chomp, bizarre talking bosses, and a mischievous raccoon that needs to be knocked out with sleeping powder. Is it silly? Most definitely, but in a series that often takes itself a bit too seriously, its refreshing to find a game so willing to turn and face the strange.