After gaining widespread attention on social media this week, the individual responsible for developing an unofficial PC port of the Game Boy Color classic Link’s Awakening has decided to remove it from online availability. This action comes in response to a takedown notice issued by Nintendo, prompting the removal of the viral port from circulation.
Renowned as ‘linksawakeningdxhd,’ the mastermind behind the PC port of 1998’s Link’s Awakening DX bestowed a myriad of enhancements upon the classic game. With a meticulous touch, they adorned it with mesmerizing HD visuals, a buttery-smooth 120fps scrolling experience, and widescreen support that brought a contemporary flair to the nostalgic masterpiece.
Digital Foundry’s John Linneman took to Twitter to shine a spotlight on a particularly distinctive feature of this homebrew creation—an innovative capacity that let players zoom out, treating them to a breathtaking panoramic view of Koholint Island, all while keeping the hustle and bustle of active NPCs and formidable enemies intact.
A noteworthy departure from tradition, the homebrew port introduced seamless camera movements, gracefully discarding the original’s transition screens that used to punctuate each move within the game. This nuanced adjustment created a fluid experience as Link traversed the intricacies of the island, paying homage to the cherished old-school Zelda style.
Many people were discussing how this game maintained its core elements while adding a fresh and captivating perspective. Nevertheless, there was also speculation among many individuals regarding the possibility of Nintendo developing a similar product in the future.
After the game was uploaded to itch.io, its files were suspended due to copyright claim. The subsequent takedown notice was posted on itch.io, where Nintendo of America Inc. identified an unauthorized game, Link’s Awakening DX HD, on Itch.io, infringing on their copyrights for The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. They requested the prompt removal of the game and its information page from the provided link, citing a violation of intellectual property rights. The notice emphasized the sender’s good faith belief in the infringement and asserted accuracy under penalty of perjury.