The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

At the start of the game you meet Tarin, the mushroom-collecting father of Marin. He later appears transformed into a raccoon.

Tarin's appearance is intentionally based on Mario.

While walking through Mabe Village you meet Madame Meowmeow's menacing (yet harmless) pet, Bow-Wow. It is based on the Chain Chomp enemy from the Mario series.

The Japanese name of Chain Chomp is "Wanwan", which is the Japanese onomatopeia for a dog's barking.

Madame Meowmeow keeps two smaller Bow-Wows as well, one in her house and one in her shed.

The first item in the trading sequence is the Yoshi Doll, which can be won from the Crazy Game in Mabe Village. It is based on Yoshi from the Mario series. The item's description says:

"You got the Yoshi Doll! Recently, he seems to be showing up in many games!"

During the trading sequence sidequest you meet Mr. Write, who likes to write letters. Mr. Write is based on Dr. Wright, the mayor's assistant in the SNES Sim City.

The music in his house is also a remix of Dr. Wright's theme from Sim City.

While looking for the Slime Key, you meet a prince called Richard who was kicked out of his castle by monsters. Richard (and the frogs in his villa) originally appeared in Japan only Game Boy game For The Frog The Bell Tolls. Richard was your character's rival in the game.

The music in Richard's Villa is a remixed version of the main overworld theme from For The Frog The Bell Tolls.

When you arrive in Animal Village, you meet a goat named Christine who has Dr. Wright's Sim City music in her house. She will give you a letter to take to Mr. Write.

After delivering the letter, Mr. Write shows you the photo that was inside. Instead of a goat, the photo is of Princess Peach from the Mario series.

After you successfully navigate the Signpost Maze, you uncover a stairway to a giant, singing frog named Mamu. Mamu is based on Wart, the final boss of Super Mario Bros. 2 and the game it was based on, Dream Factory: Dokidoki Panic.

Later in the game, while exploring Tal Tal Heights, you meet the Cucco Keeper who tells you the legend of a flying Cucco.

The Cucco Keeper is based on Luigi from the Mario series.

Richard's Villa

In Richard's Villa, wait for the music to loop several times and Kazumi Totaka's Song will play.

In the Link's Awakening DX version, Richard's theme also plays when you are having your photo taken outside Kanalet Castle. You can also hear Kazumi Totaka's Song at this point in the game.

File Select Screen

In the Japanese version, enter your filename as "Totakeke" in hiragana. The File Select screen music changes to an upbeat remix of Kazumi Totaka's Song.

In the German version of Link's Awakening DX, you can also hear this secret track by entering your file name as "MOYSE", after the German language localiser for the game. It is unknown if the same is possible in other languages or regions.

Unknown Third Version

A third instance of Kazumi Totaka's Song has been found on the game's soundtrack dump, but so far has not been found in the game. It sounds like it is played on one of the Instruments of the Sirens.

One of the enemies in Eagle Tower is called Anti-Kirby. He is a cute pink ball with a face who hops around trying to suck you into its mouth. This enemy is based on Kirby.

Link's Awakening features monsters based on some familiar enemies from the Mario series. Many of them appear in the side-scrolling sections, while others are standard dungeon enemies.

• Goomba from Super Mario Bros.
• Piranha Plant from Super Mario Bros.
• Cheep Cheep from Super Mario Bros.
• Blooper from Super Mario Bros.
• Shy Guy from Super Mario Bros. 2 (known as Mask-Mimic)
• Bob-omb from Super Mario Bros. 2
• Pokey from Super Mario Bros. 2
• Boo from Super Mario Bros. 3
• Thwomp from Super Mario Bros. 3

Additionally, statues in the shape of Bowser's head appear in some of the underground sections.