The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Part 4

In 2011, Nintendo introduced the highly controversial official timeline which would map out the position of each Zelda game in a linear way. The star of this show was The Fable of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which stands out as i of the all-time story-telling games in the Zelda franchise. This is maxim something, considering the games in this series are built upon divine foundations of lore and legend. On acme of a fantastical plot, the game introduced motion controls, a stamina bike and other items which would influence the progression of the series in the time to come. Ten years after, Nintendo has gifted the Zelda fanbase with the release of Skyward Sword Hd; then with the knowledge that the original version boasts a stellar soundtrack, challenging dungeons and excellent story, this review will examine the changes from the base game to the remaster.

The Visuals

It'due south important to remember that Skyward Sword itself sets a criterion for story narrative. It was considered the first Zelda game to present a truly cinematic experience based on a solid, captivating tale that would exist felt throughout the entirety of the series. In short and without detailed spoilers, this is an origins story that encompasses a groovy evil aptitude upon making the globe its ain while the ability of good stands in opposition, and it'due south told in dramatic, picturesque glory.

Pleasantly, the visuals in Skyward Sword Hard disk drive are both vibrant and colorful in support of the aforementioned cinematic experience. This, partnered with the charming (if dated) pastel artstyle, improved texturization (goodbye blurred edges), and a deliberate focus on facial expressions, makes cut-scenes a delightful accessory to gameplay itself. The whole visual experience is but improved further because the 1080p/60fps upgrade when docked (handheld mode coming in at 720p/60fps) as opposed to a mere 480p/30fps that was bachelor on the Wii. This was specially noticeable when taking in the scenery while roaming around the overworld (known every bit The Sky and The Surface) — the world and its inhabitants kept up with my motion as opposed to looking more grainy which we seen during the Wii era.

The Controls

1 stickler that caused quite the stir effectually the original game was motility controls, which left many fans disappointed at the time. Skyward Sword HD addresses this with two types of control options, pregnant the thespian can switch from motion controls to button but controls any fourth dimension they want. Notwithstanding, true to the original game's intended gimmick, Nintendo have incorporated directional sword attacks no matter your preference.

The motion controls for Skyward Sword HD provide about the same experience as seen on the Wii version of the game. The result often leads to wildly swinging your arms around in an try to traverse the skies with your Loftwing, or to land a perfectly positioned accident. This can be fun at times, simply frustrating at others and I'll admit that I suffered an agonized elbow subsequently the first few hours of my adventure. The aiming mechanism can also cause some issues equally it tends to elevate to the edge of the screen, which tin can be an unwelcome lark when you're desperately trying to apply the Gust Bellows or the Bow during battle. One notable improvement is how the controls take been streamlined to centre more smoothly. I wasn't forced to wave my Joy-Con into the centre of the screen, which was a necessity during the Wii era. Instead, pushing "Y" automatically done the chore for me, saving quite a chip of frustration. The best role of motion-controlled gameplay is the feeling of achievement that comes with each perfectly executed attack though, and I began to think I've got what it takes to walk in Link'south shoes later on all!

When switching to button only controls, prepare to be merely as frustrated as you lot might take been with motion controls. Traditional Zelda players might habitually push "B" to slash and instead find themselves dashing across the map without purpose, which is an issue I faced a number of times that really put me off. The real annoyance comes from trying to slash your sword in the right direction though. Slashes are controlled from the right analog stick and you have to flick it precisely to get the desired attack, otherwise Link can finish upward taking a adept chirapsia from his enemy. Withal, with a bit of do and a lot of patience, this pick becomes a bearable solution for those who really couldn't become to grips with motion controls.

The Photographic camera

With improvements on visuals and controls in order, it only makes sense that Skyward Sword Hd would add the ability to fully control the camera — something that the Wii version did not allow. The histrion tin focus on all of the charming detail available in the game's landscape (virtually) with ease. I say "almost" because if you lot choose to wait around while in button but style, yous're going to have to use the same joystick that you lot would normally use for the sword (this translates to motion controls sans the sword issue). Simply holding "Fifty" ensures that you don't make any unwante d attacks, while releasing it volition allow you to resume slashing as normal. I faced a few minor issues with this, only once I made a addiction of property the right buttons, the camera became a much more enjoyable feature in this championship.

The Trivial Things

With the quality-of-life improvements taken care of, the adventure of Skyward Sword Hard disk drive feels even amend than before. The characters remain as whimsical and endearing as ever, with more prominent NPCs like Zelda and Groose claiming a place of their own in the hearts and minds of players the world over. Even Link'due south companion Fi moves upwardly a notch in my esteem since her helpful hints have become an optional chemical element that I can freely ignore. Even amend, those repetitive item descriptions that we were forced to bear accept been tweaked and then that they only appear the showtime fourth dimension you option something up; this was a major gripe of mine and I was elated that Nintendo decided to set it. At the same time, speedrunners can jump for joy at the new autosave feature, optional cut-scenes and tutorials, as well faster text/skipping dialogue in the race to consummate their game.

Dungeon-delving and puzzle-solving present challenges that the Zelda series has sorely missed in more recent titles, and there is some real fun to be had if you determine to throw yourself into battle, artillery swinging. The Stamina Wheel returns and somehow feels less offensive than it was in the original game, which is probably downward to its prominence in Breath of the Wild. The linearity of the plot and gameplay is but as engaging as it was earlier the series turned to an open-world narrative, which I appreciated personally. There are some heart-wrenching moments and fifty-fifty some panic-inducing scenes (no spoilers here!) that hit hard, showing real depth in the emotion that Skyward Sword Hard disk can evoke, and proving that it yet holds ane of the well-nigh captivating plots in the legend itself.

Skyward Sword HD seems to accept washed everything so well up until now, only that's because we oasis't talked about added content and sidequests. Nintendo had the perfect opportunity to include quality extras in this game such as a simple sidequest log book or some new mini-games in The Sky, but they just didn't. While Fun Fun Island is entertaining initially, it gets former quite quickly, and don't go me started on collecting Bugs. Collecting Gratitude Crystals is worth the effort but when you've been there and done that, yous're left with very little to do later. You would take idea that existing Skyward Sword-themed amiibo might have offered something interesting, however they featured no functionality whatever, which seems like such a waste. All in all, a little extra content would have went a long way in this remaster. At the very least I expected an Easter egg for Breath of the Wild 2,but no dice (at to the lowest degree as far as I've noticed).

The amiibo

Finally, nosotros'll address the elephant in the room: the amiibo fiasco. Nintendo released an absolutely gorgeous amiibo aslope this title which featured Zelda and her Loftwing; its purpose would exist to unlock fast-travel from your exact location on The Surface to The Sky, with the choice of returning to that exact location when ready. This feature would accept made a significant change to the in-game mechanics and understandably, fans are frustrated that it was locked behind a paywall. As if to add together salt to the wound, the amiibo proved difficult to come up by too. Luckily, I managed to snag my own amiibo, and can ostend that fast-travel certainly made life easier, especially when I needed to catch a quick potion during a sticky spot.

The Verdict

Every bit a remaster, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Hard disk drive is an splendid example of bringing a 10-year-old game into the time to come. The visual improvements, photographic camera, and control options but enhance this title's unique charm, while other quality-of-life updates brand for a more than streamlined gaming sequence. All things considered, this version of the game provides the experience that was intended but non quite achieved during its original release. Skyward Sword Hard disk drive is a joy to behold and a must-play for those seeking the self-indulgence of a lore-heavy plot and bright, beautiful risk.

Our Score: nine/x

Judy Ann Calder is a Copy Editor and member of the Direction team at Zelda Dungeon. She joined the ranks back in 2018, bringing some skillful onetime British charm to the tabular array.

Contact Judy at: judy.calder@zeldadungeon.internet