Recently I borrowed my partner's copy of Links Awakening for the Nintendo Switch. I understand that many people did not enjoy the remake due to the graphics but I am one of the weirdos who somewhat enjoys the cutesy round graphics with the intense depth of field / forced perspective look. From a pure graphical standpoint I think this is a really good way of remaking a top down GB / GBC game for a new platform. I similarly enjoyed Pokémon Alpha Sapphire's graphics despite many others not enjoying them.

I think this has to be one of the most frustrating remakes I have played in recent history, solely for the inability to use the dpad for 8 direction movement. I am not against the remake using the joystick for movement, for example the aforementioned Pokémon game alows for the circle pad and the dpad to be used (for 360 degree movement and 8 direction tile based movement). My frustration with the controls in link's awakening is the forced use of the joystick with 8 direction tile based movement. What could have otherwise been an enjoyable experience is made more difficult, and leaves me wondering why I am not playing the original on my 3ds instead.

I do really enjoy many of the QoL improvements in the remake, the graphics, and the music. I also appreciate having the X and Y buttons available unlike the original gameboy versions. I'm still going to power through it, but sadly the GBC version is going to be the definitive version for me despite this version coming so close for me.