The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is an impressive remaster of an often slighted Zelda game. The new controls take some getting used to, but the minor changes and additions plus the superior control scheme make Skyward Sword HD an excellent second chance for this Wii classic.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Developer: Nintendo
Price: $60
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed)
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review
I’ve got a confession to make: I’ve always liked Skyward Sword. I had very few issues with the motion controls when I first played the game, and I thought the music, characters, and aesthetic were unique when compared to other Zelda games. So I was surprised to see so much vitriol directed towards Skyward Sword when this HD remaster was announced. Thankfully, that may change, as Skyward Sword HD fixes many of the issues that the original game had.
In Skyward Sword, you play as Link on the 25th anniversary of the knight school that he and Zelda attend on the floating continent of Skyloft. What begins as a jovial ceremony turns to terror as Zelda is cast to the surface by a mysterious villain. Link descends to the surface to find Zelda, and to stop the wily Ghirahim from resurrecting his dark master. It’s a fairly standard story in terms of Zelda narratives, but the unique setting and its place as the first Zelda game, chronologically make it stand apart from most of the Zelda games prior to Skyward Sword. A race of people that ride birds around the sky and view the surface as a cursed place is quite odd for a Zelda game, but it’s so interesting that it feels like a natural fit. Another thing that elevates this one is the characters.
Original characters like Groose and Ghirahim are standouts, as they ooze personality through dialogue and their animation. Fi, as a character, is also a neat idea, and one of the more aesthetically interesting companions in the series. This is also one of the few games where I feel that Link and Zelda have any chemistry, as I can believe that they’re childhood friends and very close. It’s a memorable and likeable cast of characters, and probably one of the best ensembles in the Zelda series.
“Slashing in certain directions feels natural, and it’s just plain fun to wantonly swing the sword around with the control stick. “
Unlike the original Skyward Sword, this HD remaster allows for button controls. The right analog stick controls Link’s sword arm, and you flick the stick in a direction to slash that way. You click the stick to stab, jostle it from side-to-side to do a spin attack, and jerk it up and down to do a fatal blow. It takes a while to get used to, but once you become accustomed to the controls, they feel a lot better than motion controls. Slashing in certain directions feels natural, and it’s just plain fun to wantonly swing the sword around with the control stick.
I do think the camera controls could use a bit of work, as they feel a bit janky even after you’re used to the controls. You can either hold L and use the right stick to control the camera, or you can click the Z-targeting button to place the camera behind you. If you’re used to using the right analog stick as a camera, it’ll be especially tough to get used to using it for your sword instead. The Z-targeting method feels like it suddenly jerks the camera behind you, so it can feel a bit disorienting.
“This is definitely now the best way to play Skyward Sword, as these small improvements make a big difference.“
Skyward Sword HD has gotten some nice tune-ups compared to the original game as well. Most notably, Fi’s endless tutorials have been trimmed quite a bit. Now you can press a button to request Fi’s help, so she explains much less to you by default. Items no longer tell you what they do upon every reset, making the pacing of Skyward Sword HD feel much smoother and less stilted. Plus, you can see NPC names now and use autosave, which are nice touches. This is definitely now the best way to play Skyward Sword, as these small improvements make a big difference.
Skyward Sword HD has some great dungeons, and some of the best boss fights in the series. Puzzles take time to work through but aren’t frustrating or mindless, and the dungeons have their own environmental appeal. The bosses can be a blast to fight, with Koloktos standing out as one of the best in all of Zelda because of how satisfying it is. Skyloft is a fantastic hub, as it always feels like there’s more to do between dungeons thanks to how lively the area is. Skyward Sword HD is great at making you look forward to your next upgrade or item purchase, making you feel like you’re always getting stronger as the game progresses.
The visuals of Skyward Sword HD are impressive for a remaster of a Wii game, which partially comes down to the timeless style it has. It’s a mix between the colors of Wind Waker and the more realistic proportions of Twilight Princess, and it looks swell all-around. The music is also remarkable, with a lot of tracks that stand out as some of the best in the series. From the welcoming tone of Skyloft’s theme to Ghirahim’s imposing melody, almost every track in the game is memorable. The main theme is particularly nice, and the fact that it’s Zelda’s Lullaby backwards is still cool a decade later.
The Final Word
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is an excellent remaster of an underappreciated Zelda title. The camera controls aren’t great, but the new button controls, updated tutorials, and atmosphere make Skyward Sword HD into the classic it was meant to be. If you’ve never played the original, or were even turned off by it, I recommend giving this remaster a go, as it could just change your mind.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
