The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and what better way to celebrate it than with a re-release on Nintendo Switch. Skyward Sword is a divisive game, but it’s still another awesome game in the Zelda series. The Switch version of the game has a few enhancements that clean up some trouble spots and make the game shine brighter than before. It’s still not perfect, but fans who haven’t soared through these skies should give it a chance.
Skyward Sword, might not be the first game to release, but chronologically it starts off the whole series. A young hero raised in a village in the sky heads out to save his childhood friend from the evils of the world below. Link travels between the surface and his home in the sky to find Zelda and bring her back safe and sound. It’ll be a perilous journey, but with his magic sword in hand, Link is going to be just fine.
Link has an enemy of sorts in the sky, his rival Groose. Groose is a big softie underneath it all and is jealous of Link and Zelda’s relationship. When journey calls, even Groose may not shy away from the adventure of a lifetime. The villagers in the sky are all named after birds, and Link will find that they each have their own small stories to tell. Stritch likes bugs, Cawlin is in love, and Gaepora is just worried about his daughter. With a big village to assist, Link will need to return there time and again.
Link’s home base; is Skyloft, the place he’s lived in his whole life. He has no idea that there is a surface world below him; he’s happy to fly through the skies and relax. This iteration of Link might seem lazier than others, but Link is always ready to do what he needs to. Skyloft is a pretty place, and there is a lot to see and do up in the clouds.
Beedle makes a return appearance after last appearing in The Wind Waker. His shop is different this time too because he doesn’t sail the seas in his store. Beedle constantly pedals his sky shop around, so he can easily peddle his goods. He is in better shape this time around, but don’t go into his shop without buying something Beedle has no time for window shoppers.
Link will need to head up to the clouds to buy items at the shop, stock up on potions, and upgrade his weapons. Other side quests pop up in the sky too. One of the best is the quest from Batreaux, who wants to gather the gratitude crystals from the people in the world. There are weird characters to meet and even minigames to take on.
The sky slowly opens up as the players take on quests on the Surface. At first, there might not be much to do, as it helps push the player to dive to the Surface below. They will eventually open up chests, and explore the sky, once they progress far enough in the game. It’s a good idea to take some time exploring the sky in between dungeons, as things do change up there.
The Surface is the land below the clouds; that the characters believe to be a myth. They have never seen below the clouds and have been living contentedly for millennia. The only thing that bothers the Skyloftians is the Remlits at night. Remlits are cute cat-like creatures, and at night they go feral.
The Surface is split into sections that Link lands on by falling through a sky section. Link must return to areas later to find things; that helps pad out the game. The areas themselves are chock full of enemies, and fun characters, so players won’t hate these return visits. The world might not seem as vast as other games, but it slowly but surely opens up as the player plays through the story.
There are numerous dungeons for the player to take on too. Players will fight through enemies, solve puzzles, and face wicked bosses. Each of the bosses corresponds to a weapon earned in the dungeon, like in past Zelda games. The motto of if it’s not broken, don’t fix it, works well in this case.
There are quite a few new weapons in this game, some are from 2D titles and others are brand new such as one of the more unique items in the game, the beetle. The player launches the beetle, and in doing, so can cut things, pick items up, and survey the area. It’s an interesting weapon to have in the game but handily shows off the motion controls.
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword is a Zelda game that adds to the usual Zelda formula. Link has a majestic Red Loftwing to ride. This bird is Link’s other best friend, and with his wings, Link can soar through the skies. There are other islands up there with chests to open and people to meet. It might take a little getting used to, but flying feels so free in Skyward Sword.
The motion controls in the original game relied on the Wiimote, and while players can still use Joy-Cons like a Wiimote, there is a new control option. Players can use button controls and the right analogue stick to take down enemies, which makes playing on the go easier. This game relies on the player understanding exactly how to strike the enemy. Each enemy has a tell, so it’s easy to remember where to swing the blade. But the action doesn’t translate as well, which can be frustrating to the player. I might be less handy, but always swing from the right angle, and it just doesn’t connect.
This game came out before Breath of the Wild, but they were working on that game during that time. The upgrade system is the first step to crafting in Breath of the Wild. Bring items to Gondo, and he will work to upgrade Link’s weapons and gear. Link might need to take down multiple enemies, but it’s not hard to quickly collect what is necessary. There are plenty of items in the game so players will enjoy the scavenger hunt.
This HD remaster fixes up a few other things in the game. As mentioned before, players can play using a regular controller, sans motion. Players can skip a few early sections, to speed Link’s descent to the clouds. If a player picks up an item, they won’t see the description for the item again. This one is big because for instance, Amber Relics, appear everywhere, and in the first release, the description; would pop every time the player started the game.
Fi, Link’s ally and spirit of the Master Sword is a helpful character at the best of times. She was quite a nuisance in the first release, but they’ve toned her down significantly here. She won’t immediately pop up to tell the player how to complete a puzzle or kill an enemy. This makes the game that much more enjoyable, so everyone should be able to play through this awesome game.
Skyward Sword, is also the first Zelda game to have orchestrated music and let me tell you, it’s wonderful. The music is crisp and clear, and the sound reverberates quite well. People complain about this game, but all in all, the game is a fine-tuned beast. The music is the cherry on top, and players will enjoy listening to the tracks, every time they return to the areas or discover new ones.
Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword is an amazing game and one that deserves more recognition. It’s a game that every Zelda fan should play through, as it sets off the whole story. With the HD release of Skyward Sword coming out this year, it’s possible, that there will be a deeper connection to the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild Sequel. Link has to leave the skies to find Zelda and save the world; will the player help him on his quest.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Disclaimer: Images were taken from Nintendo.com