The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

Whenever Nintendo release a new entry in the Legend of Zelda series, anticipation levels amongst fans rise to white hot levels. Conventions, traditions and often rose tinted memories results in a new entry delighting many and equally disappointing others and Skyward Sword is no different, in fact it could well be the most divisive home console Zelda ever. But forgetting about traditions and expectations for now, how good is it as a standalone modern video game? In my opinion it's marvelous, but the reasons why I think so are also the reasons why it may well rankle with others.As a Zelda game, Skyward Sword tells a well-worn yarn. A fantasy tale about a youth who becomes a hero through saving the land of Hyrule by rescuing a princess and defeating a great evil. It's essentially an arcade adventure with core gameplay rooted in puzzle solving, combat and exploration. This time we are introduced to a brand new control method that hasn't been implemented in such a game previously thanks to Wii motion plus. Motion controls are integral to this game, defining how you engage in sword combat, use additional items, traverse distances and manage your characters' inventory. If you've struggled physically with motion controls in the past despite your best efforts (particularly when some precision is necessary) then your experience will be hampered. If you stubbornly oppose motion controls but not through any difficulty in using them, you'll get to enjoy a fantastic game if you push your prejudices to the side and let yourself loose. I found the controls to be accurate, natural and ultimately rewarding, some high points being how quickly items can be selected by gesturing the Wiimote in one of eight compass directions, and with a key gadget that is used to interact with distant objects. The swordplay feels natural and although easier enemies can be defeated by `waggling' I found myself swiping accurately anyway as it was more rewarding. Harder enemies and bosses require precise motion swordplay, the thrill of taking down a major beastie with a few well timed swipes and jabs a real stand out in my personal gaming experiences of the past few years. As with many top Nintendo games, simply getting to grips with the controls and playing around with them is great fun in itself and Skyward Sword is no exception.The main quest is around 50 hours long, packed with varied challenges and flows beautifully. In fact I cannot think of such a lengthy game in the last few years that managed to hold my attention so effortlessly and largely avoided repetitious challenges as much as Skyward Sword. Where this entry to the Zelda series breaks from the earlier tradition is in its' compactness and density of gameplay. The main quest is literally brimming with challenge after challenge and as such possesses a sense of `Arcadeiness' and urgency that no Zelda previously has mustered. The trade-off here is that in order to maintain this pace and to prevent the player from becoming sidetracked there is a reduced emphasis on open exploration and side quests, the latter being a hallmark of the Zelda series up until now. I believe this factor above all others (yes even the motion controls) to be the most controversial change to the Zelda template made in Skyward Sword. Personally I felt the trade-off was worth it, enabling the designers to focus on a feast of action and puzzle challenges that never stop coming while giving Skyward Sword an identity of its own amongst the Zelda canon.Skyward Sword is a meticulously crafted game and features stunning visuals despite the Wii's lack of horsepower. The graphical style is inspired by impressionist art with the wonderfully warm aesthetic giving a magical aura to the worlds. Distant scenery fades into a blur which further extends the dreamlike mood. Animation is suitably top-notch and any graphical glitches that are oh so common in contemporary games are barely noticeable here. The audio is also outstanding with a fully orchestrated score and some stand out melodies that made my heart stir. It's fairly rare in my experience for a mainstream, big budget game to exude a sense of beauty but Skyward Sword is certainly one of them.On its own merits, Skyward Sword is a fantastic action adventure game which feels like no other in recent years due to its control scheme and rampant, unrelenting imagination in its challenges and variety. There are high points, there are some lower points. The game has been criticized for padding and re-using previously visited areas too frequently. I never got that sensation when playing Skyward Sword . Whenever an area is re-visited you are faced with a new challenge, puzzle and a new thread of the story is unwound. The dungeon designs are exceptional, the bosses magnificent and every nook and cranny of the game world has purpose. Unlike earlier Zelda games, there is very little empty or underused space due to the structural changes and multi-dimensional challenge of the playpens that make up the game world. This flies firmly against the wind of many modern game conventions where the size and scale of the world is prioritised over the density of gameplay and varied challenges held within. For this reason alone I think Skyward Sword deserves significant praise.The only area where I feel the game deserves criticism is with its sometimes over-zealous guidance. The player could be left to work things out for themselves a little more rather than always being pointed in the right direction. This would have lent a marginally greater explorative element to the game that would have been welcome, particularly for number of long term fans. Did the Wii's large casual user base lead Nintendo to lend a helping hand too many? It seems plausible. This design decision does however make more sense in context of the reduced emphasis on wandering and side quests and frankly never came close to spoiling the experience personally.Being a Zelda game, Skyward Sword is invariably compared to all others in the series and could feasibly sit anywhere on the scale of a Zelda fan due to its meddling with some much loved series conventions and new motion controls. However, to judge it purely on its own merits as a standalone modern video game experience, The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword ranks as one of my favorites of the last 5 years.

This is a great game with some very well though-out dungeons, puzzles and a colourful world which was a joy to explore. I feel the game was let down by two things, the motion controls and repeated boss fights. The motion controls were very responsive at the best of times but when you're fighting a boss and Link doesn't swing his sword the way you wanted him too (Critical to the fight) it can get aggravating very fast. I would have much preferred to play this with a proper controller, but saying that it does have it's moments where swinging your sword in real time can feel epic, so I can see what they were going for. But yes that repeated boss fight can go to hell :P Not fun or enjoyable, hated that so much. There's actually 2 bosses that repeat themselves but one's just a hindrance. Not only do you face these Bosses a certain amount of times, you'll also have to do a Boss run if you are interested in acquiring a certain shield in the game which may see you facing that monster another handful of times...The game does have some great boss battles, just a shame they couldn't all be different.This was by far the best portrayal of Zelda so far with much more character and emotion than previous incarnations. There is already an established relationship between her and Link from the get go, seeing as they've had a long friendship. This made the story more enticing as you didn't feel you were going on a quest just for the hell of it, it gives you purpose. You're following the trail of your friend whilst also vanquishing the enemies which also seek to pursue her. So the story gets a thumbs up.It's a Zelda game, you'll like it. You'll just have to be committed to the controls because you can't change them.It's a very pretty game, that sustains the charm of previous adventures, have at it!