The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is another entry in the award-winning franchise and was originally released on the Nintendo Wii. This fantastical adventure features beloved hero Link on another epic adventure, where he must travel to the depths of various dungeons in an effort to rescue his childhood friend Zelda. While Skyward Sword holds true to the established series formula, there's a larger focus on swordplay and aerial exploration, introducing some unique gameplay elements to the mix. From the floating islands surrounding Skyloft to the brooding mystery of the surface below, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is full of interesting places to discover, packed with enemies to slay and upgrades to collect.

Main Game Features

• Fantasy third-person action
• Puzzle-filled dungeons to explore
• Open world map with side quests

Story

Although the franchise timeline is scattered and confusing in the first place, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword takes place at the earliest point in the story, making it a great place for newcomers to hop in. As always, players take on the role of Link, the green-suited hero destined to save the world from evil.

After graduating from knight school in the floating city of Skyloft, Link must embark on a perilous journey when Zelda is stolen away by a mischievous villain named Ghirahim. Although Link and everyone he knows has spent their entire life above the clouds, he must plunge into the mythical surface below, guided by the spirit Fi. When compared to other Legend of Zelda titles, Skyward Sword is surprisingly heavy on narrative, with lots of characters to meet and places to discover. It's a strong story that keeps you invested throughout the entire journey, even if the plot is somewhat formulaic. Despite its predictable nature, the bigger significance of storytelling is a welcome change for the series.

Gameplay

Despite switching the kingdom of Hyrule for the floating world of Skyloft and the surface below, Skyward Sword offers many of the same gameplay elements that fans of the Zelda franchise have come to expect. You'll spend time exploring a vast fantasy map, discovering new gear, better items, and picking up collectibles. Each section of your adventure is punctuated by a focal dungeon to explore, each themed around different gameplay or environment elements. One dungeon sees you delving into a sprawling cave system near a fiery volcano, while another has you manipulating time during a trip to the desert. Important items are discovered as you progress such as the bombs and bow, letting you access previously unreachable areas. Players must also manage a new stamina bar that depletes as they run up steep ramps or climb ledges, adding another element of difficulty.

Considering the floating island setting, Link can appropriately navigate the air by flying on his trusty Loftwing mount, allowing him to access smaller sub-islands with additional quests. These side-quests usually involve exploring or retrieving enemy-filled areas, leading to lots of combat. The swordplay is completely based on motion controls, with 1-to-1 movement tracking thanks to the Wii Motion Plus controller. With the new accuracy afforded to the player, some enemies must be overcome by using specific directional attacks, swooping past their shields or blocking stances. The directional attacks also come into play during some puzzles, keeping the experience tactile even when out of combat.

Conclusion

Overall, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a unique and exciting addition to a stellar franchise. The combat feels great for most of the adventure, only feeling gimmicky in certain situations. Exploring the clouds of Skyloft feels fun and breezy, and the expansive cast of characters helps build the world in some cool ways. As always, solving puzzles and surviving the dungeons is rewarding, especially when you unlock new and inventive items.

Pros:

• Engaging narrative
• Unique dungeons and puzzle design
• Fun characters and atmosphere

Cons:

• Combat feels gimmicky
• Not enough level variety
• Lack of challenge