Zelda.wikia.com
I have been waiting to do this review for quite some time now. The Legend of Zelda is one of my favorite series, and Skyward sword proved itself to be a worthy addition to the growing collection. Compared to other Zelda games, Skyward sword has a very unique feel. This is specifically due to the fact that it runs on the Wii and uses the Wii’s Motion Plus. This allows for a much more intuitive gaming experience, and has dramatically changed the way any Zelda game is played.
In the game you can control your “Skyward Sword” by swinging your Wii remote. The control you have over your weapon is incredible. The Wii does a fantastic job of accurately registering your swings and translating that into the move performed in the game. Enemies in the game have certain weak areas, so you are required to perform precise swings with your Wii remote to inflict damage to that area. Along with this, many other moves are carried out through the Motion Plus such as a barrel role and rope swinging. The use of the Wii’s functionality allows the gamer to have much greater control of their character, and to complete battles uniquely as apposed to repeating the same move over and over again.
As we all know, the Wii is lacking in the graphics department. Skyward Sword took this into carful consideration when designing their game and created a new graphic style for the game. It is less focused on realism, and more on creating an environment that can be played on the Wii while still being easy on the eyes. The graphics are somewhat cartoon-like, but do not look blocky. They are still fluid and smooth and this helps to mask the Wii’s short comings.
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The plot follows the standard Zelda story. The princess is captured and you must rescue her. You live in the peaceful city in the clouds known as Skyloft and until the kidnapping of the princess you have no real knowledge of the “surface”. After she is kidnapped you find the sacred “Skyward Sword” which comes with a spirit who helps you on your quest to save the princess. After you acquire your sword, the first portal to the surface is unlocked. As you complete the game new portals are unlocked, each taking you to a vastly different environment.
The style of the game mimics every other Zelda game. As you procede through a certain area you unlock a dungeon and you must use critical thinking to solve an array of different puzzles in each dungeon. At the end of each dungeon you must fight a “boss”, and once you complete this you get a reward. Although this pattern is very universal for all Zelda games, this game is unique in the sense that it forces you to fully explore every area. Even after you make it through all of the portals and think you are ready to save the world, you have to go back and find things you missed along the way in each area. This keeps the game interesting and is especially good for players, such as myself, who dread the end to an epic game.
Overall my opinion is very biased. I am a hardcore Zelda fan, so I knew that I had to like this game. It is incredibly fun and intuitive. It has a wide range of different environments, weapons and enemies. It has smooth graphics, at least for the Wii, and it is challenging and lengthy. For any Zelda fan, it is something you must have, and even if you have never played a Zelda game before I am confident you will find the game well worth your money.
