The Onion AV Club praises Link's Awakening
AV Club:
Since it’s so easy to get swept up in this push, it takes a while to realize that Link’s actions aren’t necessarily good. The townspeople were just fine without Link (except for the occasional dognapping). The monsters who guard the musical instruments aren’t causing problems for anyone. Link is the one storming into their homes, breaking their things, and taking away their drums and violins. The big guards waiting at the end of each labyrinth aren’t sympathetic to his “conquests,” either. They’re grotesque, and their warnings are unsettling.