History TearJerker / TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVMC2PAEIQ original theme]] for the Face Shrine is melancholy enough, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EVhFI_y_9w the remake's version]] kicks it up a notch by starting off with dark and somber orchestral strings before adding the original 8-bit arrangement to the mix, making for a truly heart-wrenching musical experience. With the Face Shrine intended as the first dungeon you'll visit after TheReveal, the music does a great job in capturing the feel of a HeroicBSOD that one would experience when they find that everything and everyone they've spent the last few days growing to love is an illusion.

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVMC2PAEIQ original theme]] for the Face Shrine is melancholy enough, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRa9SNyHBJk the remake's version]] kicks it up a notch by starting off with dark and somber orchestral strings before adding the original 8-bit arrangement to the mix, making for a truly heart-wrenching musical experience. With the Face Shrine intended as the first dungeon you'll visit after TheReveal, the music does a great job in capturing the feel of a HeroicBSOD that one would experience when they find that everything and everyone they've spent the last few days growing to love is an illusion.

--->'''Dethl:''' Our world is going to disappear... Our world... Our... world...

-->'''Façade:''' Okay, listen up! If the Wind Fish wakes up, everything on this island will be gone forever! And I do mean... EVERYTHING!
-->'''Grim Creeper & Evil Eagle:''' My energy... gone... I... lost! But you will be lost too, if the Wind Fish wakes! Same as me... you... are... in... his... dream...
-->'''Hot Head:''' [[WhatTheHellHero Why did you come here? If it weren't for you, nothing would have to change!]] You cannot wake the Wind Fish! Remember, you... too... are in... the dream...

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVMC2PAEIQ original theme]] for the Face Shrine is melancholy enough, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRa9SNyHBJk the remake's version]] kicks it up a notch by starting off with dark and somber orchestral strings in a rubato tempo before adding the original 8-bit arrangement to the mix, making for a truly heart-wrenching musical experience. With the Face Shrine intended as the first dungeon you'll visit after TheReveal, the music does a great job in capturing the feel of a HeroicBSOD that Link will likely face in a realistic situation after the twist.

* Everything sad about ''Link's Awakening'' is worse in the manga adaptation. Throughout the first half, Link is convinced that he's fighting monsters to bring peace to the island. When he discovers that waking the Wind Fish will destroy the island and end the lives of everyone on it he's grown to care about, he's understandably mortified. It's at this point we find out that Felicia the fairy was reluctant to tell him the truth, and that the Owl is part of the Wind Fish's spirit and also knew the whole time. Link then outright ''[[ScrewThisImOuttaHere abandons]]'' the entire thing, deciding to leave the island with Marin so she can fulfill her dream of seeing the world. However, when Link tries to leave, he sails for days without getting any further away. He gives up and returns to the island, and has a conversation with Marin where she discusses the island as a pleasant dream she wants to wake up from so she can see the world. She leaves and the Owl appears, saying that she knows Link was sent to destroy her world and accepts it. This renews Link's hope in the quest and leaves him to do it all for Marin.

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVMC2PAEIQ original theme]] for the Face Shrine is melancholy enough, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRa9SNyHBJk the remake's version]] kicks it up a notch by starting off with dark and somber orchestral strings in a rubato temperature before adding the original 8-bit arrangement to the mix, making for a truly heart-wrenching musical experience. With the Face Shrine intended as the first dungeon you'll visit after TheReveal, the music does a great job in capturing the feel of a HeroicBSOD that Link will likely face in a realistic situation after the twist.

* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsVMC2PAEIQ original theme]] for the Face Shrine is melancholy enough, but [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RrYJ5z-be8 the remake's version]] kicks it up a notch by pairing the original 8-bit chiptune with dark and somber orchestral strings, making for a truly heart-wrenching musical experience. With the Face Shrine intended as the first dungeon you'll visit after TheReveal, the music does a great deal in hitting home all the drama and emotional weight associated with the twist.

-->"The flow of time is always cruel... Its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it... A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days..." -'''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Sheik]]'''

* The whole island is revealed to be part of the Wind Fish's dream, and when you wake him up so Link can leave the island, [[DreamApocalypse everyone you got to know in the game blinks out of existence]] - with the scene hanging on Marin singing for a few moments before ending.

--->"Our world is going to disappear... Our world... Our... world..."
*** Doubly so as the final three dungeon bosses - Facade, Grim Creeper, and Hot Head - all warn Link to stop before he destroys the island.

* The whole island is revealed to be part of the Wind Fish's dream, and when you wake him up so Link can leave the island, [[DreamApocalypse everyone you got to know in the game blinks out of existence]] -- with the scene hanging on Marin singing for a few moments before ending.
** It becomes even worse with the Grim Creeper and his last words upon his defeat in the Eagle Tower, who claims that Link himself will ''also'' be erased: though that turns out to be untrue.

*** Doubly so as the final three Dungeon Bosses- Facade, Grim Creeper, and Hot Head- all warn Link to stop before he destroys the island.
** If you beat the game without dying, then Marin turns into an angel or a seagull, depending on the version, at the end instead of disappearing into nothingness.

* After Marin realizes that Link is going to leave the island, and hints that perhaps she had realized the true nature of her existence, her only request is for Link to never forget her or her song. Marin is never referenced in any other ''Zelda'' game except the non-canon ''Hyrule Warriors''. Moreover, the song you use to wake the Wind Fish and erase the island is the love song that she taught you.
** The fact that she is included in ''Hyrule Warriors'' is actually a really good thing for her, at least in that continuity: it means she is real, since she could leave Koholint. While ''Hyrule Warriors'' is technically non-canon, some of what it introduced eventually trickled back into the main series (mostly through the Zelda Encyclopedia). So she has to have ended up in that world after the end of the game, and was changed back into a human. This is her wish being granted by the Wind Fish, and not only does she get to sing for people, she gets to do so [[ActionGirl violently]].
* The ghost revisiting his old home. Any older players who've dug up remnants of a long-forgotten pleasant memory from years, even decades ago in their life would be able to relate to the ghost's sadness at days gone by, never to be reclaimed.
--> "The flow of time is always cruel... Its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it... A thing that doesn't change with time is a memory of younger days..."
--->-'''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Sheik]]'''
* Everything sad about ''Link's Awakening'' is worse in the manga adaptation. Throughout the first half, Link is convinced that he's fighting monsters to bring peace to the island. When he finally discovers that waking the Wind Fish will end the island and the lives of everyone on it he's grown to care about, he's mortified. It's at this point we find out that Felicia the fairy was reluctant to tell him the truth, and that the Owl was part of the Wind Fish's spirit and also knew the whole time. He outright ''abandons'' the entire thing, deciding to leave the island with Marin, so she can fulfill her dream of seeing the world. However, when Link tries to leave, he sails for days without getting any further away. He gives up and returns to the island, and has a conversation with Marin where she discusses the island as a pleasant dream she wants to wake up from so she can see the world. She leaves and the owl appears, saying that she knows Link was sent to destroy her world and accepts it. This renews Link's hope in the quest and leaves him to do it all for Marin.
* The Official Vocal version of Ballad of the Wind Fish version made for the Switch Remake can hit hard with both its solemn melody and the lyrics themselves, almost giving the impression Marin is begging Link to not leave.

** If you pay very close attention, you'll notice that during Link's ignorance of the island's true nature, every dungeon had its own unique musical theme that sometimes was pretty significantly different from one another. Once Link visits the Ancient Ruins and realizes the truth of the island, the final three dungeons take on a fairly similar, almost somber tone. It's as if the music itself has ceased to portray a grand adventure to save the day and now represents a sadness at what you're choosing to do.
* After Marin realizes that Link is going to leave the island, and hints that perhaps she had realized the true nature of her existence, her only request was for Link to never forget her or her song. Marin was never referenced in any other ''Zelda'' game except the non-canon ''Hyrule Warriors''. Moreover, the song you use to wake the Wind Fish and erase the island is the love song that she taught you.
** The fact that she was included in ''Hyrule Warriors'' is actually a really good thing for her, at least in that continuity: it means she is real, since she could leave Koholint. While ''Hyrule Warriors'' is technically non-canon, some of what it introduced has begun to trickle back into the main series (mostly through the Zelda Encyclopedia). So she has to have ended up in that world after the end of the game, and was changed back into a human. This is her wish being granted by the Wind Fish, and not only does she get to sing for people, she gets to do so [[ActionGirl violently]].

** It's probably even worse in the remake, if anything because of the more detailed and childish graphics. The sight is such a lush and happy world being completely erased is just simply devastating.

* After Marin realizes that Link is going to leave the island, and hints that perhaps she had realized the true nature of her existence, her only request was for Link to never forget her or her song. Marin was never referenced in any other Zelda game except the non-canon ''Hyrule Warriors''. Moreover, the song you use to wake the Wind Fish and erase the island is the love song that she taught you.

* Everything sad about Link's Awakening is worse in the manga adaptation. Throughout the first half, Link is convinced that he's fighting monsters to bring peace to the island. When he finally discovers that waking the Wind Fish will end the island and the lives of everyone on it he's grown to care about, he's mortified. It's at this point we find out that Felicia the fairy was reluctant to tell him the truth, and that the Owl was part of the Wind Fish's spirit and also knew the whole time. He outright ''abandons'' the entire thing, deciding to leave the island with Marin, so she can fulfill her dream of seeing the world. However, when Link tries to leave, he sails for days without getting any further away. He gives up and returns to the island, and has a conversation with Marin where she discusses the island as a pleasant dream she wants to wake up from so she can see the world. She leaves and the owl appears, saying that she knows Link was sent to destroy her world and accepts it. This renews Link's hope in the quest and leaves him to do it all for Marin.

* The Official Vocal version of Ballad of the Windfish version made for the Switch Remake can hit hard with both its solemn melody and the lyrics themself, almost giving the impression Marin is begging Link to not leave.

** The Official Vocal version made for the Switch Remake can hit harder with both its solemn melody and the lyrics themself, almost giving the impression Marin is begging Link to not leave.

* The whole island is revealed to be part of the Wind Fish's dream, and when you wake him up so Link can leave the island, everyone you got to know in the game blinks out of existence -- with the scene hanging on Marin singing for a few moments before ending.
** It becomes even worse with the Grim Reaper and his last words upon his defeat in the Eagle Tower, who claims that Link himself will also be erased though that turns out to be untrue.

** "''The flow of time is always cruel. Its speed seems different to each person, but no one can change it... The only thing that doesn't change with time is the memory of younger days...''" -'''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Sheik]]'''

*** The blow might be softened a bit by the ending to ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]]''. It's almost as if it started out as a remake of ''Link's Awakening'' that got turned into a ''Wind Waker'' sequel. (Unmarked spoilers, since it's impossible to talk about otherwise.)//
** Both games have similar openings (Link being knocked out and waking up on an island), similar twists (the world Link has been in is part of the dream of a whale-like divine being who is trapped by an eyeball-themed creature), and ending (awakening the whale which returns Link to his own world). Both also feature a surprise in their ending: just like Marin is able to turn into a seagull and fly away, [[spoiler:Linebeck is now in Link's world]]. The whale in ''Phantom Hourglass'', the Ocean King, says that the connection between the two worlds is weakening and Link and Tetra will have to return or be trapped possibly forever. But the Ocean King's world continues to exist, and there is an implied connection between the Wind Fish, the Ocean King, and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Levias]].

* The ghost revisiting his old home.

//
Both games have similar openings (Link being knocked out and waking up on an island), similar twists (the world Link has been in is part of the dream of a whale-like divine being who is trapped by an eyeball-themed creature), and ending (awakening the whale which returns Link to his own world). Both also feature a surprise in their ending: just like Marin is able to turn into a seagull and fly away, [[spoiler:Linebeck is now in Link's world]]. The whale in ''Phantom Hourglass'', the Ocean King, says that the connection between the two worlds is weakening and Link and Tetra will have to return or be trapped possibly forever. But the Ocean King's world continues to exist, and there is an implied connection between the Wind Fish, the Ocean King, and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Levias]].

* If you beat the game without dying, then Marin turns into an angel or a seagull, depending on the version, at the end instead of disappearing into nothingness.

* The whole island [[spoiler: is revealed to be part of the Wind Fish's dream, and when you wake him up so Link can leave the island, everyone you got to know in the game blinks out of existence -- with the scene hanging on Marin singing for a few moments before ending.]]
** It becomes even worse with the Grim Reaper and his last words upon his defeat in the Eagle Tower, who claims that Link himself will also be erased [[spoiler: though that turns out to be untrue]].

** And your very last image of [[spoiler:Tarin is him ''beaming and holding up a mushroom'' as he slowly fades out of existence.]]
* If you beat the game without dying, then Marin turns into an angel or a seagull, depending on the version, at the end instead of [[spoiler:disappearing into nothingness]].
* After Marin realizes that Link is going to leave the island, and hints that perhaps she had realized the true nature of her existence, her only request was for Link to never forget her or her song. Marin was never referenced in any other Zelda game except the non-canon ''Hyrule Warriors''. Moreover, [[spoiler:the song you use to wake the Wind Fish and erase the island is the love song that she taught you]].

* Everything sad about Link's Awakening is worse in the manga adaptation. Throughout the first half, Link is convinced that he's fighting monsters to bring peace to the island. When he finally discovers that [[spoiler:waking the Wind Fish will end the island and the lives of everyone on it he's grown to care about, he's mortified. It's at this point we find out that Felicia the fairy was reluctant to tell him the truth, and that the Owl was part of the Wind Fish's spirit and also knew the whole time. He outright ''abandons'' the entire thing, deciding to leave the island with Marin, so she can fulfill her dream of seeing the world. However, when Link tries to leave, he sails for days without getting any further away. He gives up and returns to the island, and has a conversation with Marin where she discusses the island as a pleasant dream she wants to wake up from so she can see the world. She leaves and the owl appears, saying that she knows Link was sent to destroy her world and accepts it. This renews Link's hope in the quest and leaves him to do it all for Marin.]]