Link's Awakening is an amazing game, just because it does not have the same level of notoriety / fame in comparison to the other Zelda titles does not make it a bad game. I would argue the platform it was released on is the only reason it isn't as popular.

Agree with godoco.

And as far as individual level design goes, I have to go with Link's Awakening for superb execution under several technological limitations. Majora's Mask wins the content density and spatial arrangement award.
Game Boy, also being one of the best selling video game systems of all time.. I don't think the platform is the reason.

Handheld games tend to get treated as spin-off games and easily dismissed. Also Gameboy is the best selling handheld now, but back when Link's Awakening came out it was brand new, and hadn't claimed the foothold it has now.

I can't imagine there were any competitors who were outselling it then, though. Lynx? pfft
I mean I understand what you're getting at, but saying no one played Link's Awakening because it was a handheld spin-off of a console game is like saying no one played Pokemon because it was a spin-off of Earthbound. I'm not seeing the point in arguing something that isn't true--EVERYONE played Link's Awakening, unless they are a tard.

Back onto the level... I like it, but more cliffs pl0x. It looks too flat.