The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (Japanese: ゼルダの伝説 夢をみる島 Zeruda no Densetsu Yume o Miru Shima) is the fourth game in the series and first on a handheld console. It was released in Japan, North America and Europe in 1993. A remake, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, was relased on the Game Boy Color worldwide in 1998, which featured the entire game in color, as well as a new dungeon which revolved around the use of different colors.

Link’s Awakening is the first and one of the few games not be set in Hyrule and make very few or no references to traditional series canon such as the Triforce, Ganon, and Princess Zelda herself. The story instead revolves around Link’s strandedness on Koholint Island and his adventure to return to Hyrule. Critics praised the game for its number of features despite the Game Boy’s technical limitations, although the remake was generally received better due to the addition of colored graphics and more control options. The original sold 3.8 million copies worldwide and DX sold 2.2 million, making them the eighth and tenth best selling games in the series, and second together, with 6 million copies.

Though you fufilled the Hyrulian prophecy of the Legendary Hero and destroyed the evil tyrant Ganon, the land of Hyrule enjoyed only a precarious peace. “Who knows what threats may arise from Ganon’s ashes?” the restless people murmured as they knitted their brows and shook their heads. Ever vigilant, you decided to journey away from Hyrule on a quest for enlightenment, in search of wisdom that would make you better able to withstand the next threat to your homeland.

Months of difficult travel passed. After a long and fruitful voyage, you breathed deeply the sea spray from the deck of the ship that carried you home to Hyrule. But your homecoming was not to be. Suddenly a squall struck your ship, and though you valiantly fought the waves, a lightning bolt reduced your ship to splinters.

Your world faded to black as you sink into the darkness of the storm-tossed sea with the remains of your craft. But in the cold darkness of the deep, you heard a comforting voice that reminded you of home. It was the voice of Princess Zelda!

“You’re going to be all right!” the voice said. “What a relief!”

You opened your eyes to find Princess Zelda standing over you – or was it?! Actually, it turned out to be a woman named Marin. She explained that you had drifted with the wreckage of your ship to the shores of Koholint Island. This mysterious island was unique for the gigantic egg which crowned its centeral mountain. It was said that a mythical creature, the Wind Fish, lay asleep inside the egg.

You set out in search of your sword and other gear that might have washed up on the beach with you. As you stood in the surf with your recovered sword, a strange owl suddenly appeared and hooted this riddle:

“Awaken the Wind Fish and all will be answered.”

“What is the Wind Fish?” you wonder… And what did its awakening portend? Your most mysterious adventure yet, following the riddle of the Wind Fish throught the uncharted island of Koholint, is about to unfold.