The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Producer: Nintendo
Release Date: November 19, 2011
Platform: Wii
Rating: E10+
Genre: Action-Adventure
Raise Your Sword
Written by Heather Spears
One of Nintendo’s famous faces is finally back and grabbing some attention. With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in December, gamers finally had a reason to pick up their Wii remote and start playing again! The game can be compared to Nintendo 64’s hit classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and if you have followed the Zelda series at all you would know that comparing this new release with the absolute renowned greatness of the classic is really saying something. Skyward Sword stands on its own with an amazing story, classic game play and recognizable characters and enemies. It is by far the best Wii game I have played… but why is it not as great as Ocarina of Time? What keeps Skyward Swordjust a step back from the previous record setting classic on the Nintendo 64?
The game starts off with your character Link, ironically sleeping in his bedroom. Link is suddenly awakened by Zelda’s trusty bird companion, known as a Loftwig. The two are living within the town of Skyloft. This town was thrown up into the sky by a goddess many years ago to save the remaining people of the surface from everlasting darkens. The young people of Skyloft were set to recreate this ancient happening with a ceremony. In the ceremony, one young man who wins a race is set to become the town’s newest knight. Of course Link wins the race and when he and Zelda take off on their Loftwigs to go celebrate the two are caught in a black tornado which rips Zelda from her birds back sending her down to the surface. It becomes Link’s job to carry out a legendary quest and save his friend Zelda.
The game play of Skyward Sword is very similar to that of Ocarina of Time. You take control of Link in a somewhat open world setting as you battle monsters and progress though temples. Uncovering more of the story and gaining new weapons is satisfying beyond imagination. The way you navigate the menu and the familiarity of enemies is a breath of fresh air. Having Skyward Sword mimic the greatness brought to gamers in the past is exactly what the Wii needed.
Even if I stated that this is by far the best Wii game I have played to date, there are two problems I face while playing. The first problem is that you simply cannot relax while playing the game because with the Wii motion control you are forced to swing your arm around the room as if you are holding a sword to control your player. When I sit down to game, I sit down to game not run around a room to try and get my character to move correctly. The other issue with Skyward Sword is very minor. The save system just isn’t how it used to be. Players are forced to save at statues instead of straight from the start menu.
Even with the two errors in this game I am able to see past that and name this the best title for the Wii. It has seemed in the past that Nintendo seemed to forget what se them apart from other consoles with iconic characters and interesting story. Skyward Sword reminds me, as a gamer, that Nintendo hasn’t forgotten its roots. Skyward Sword is a step in the right direction and I hope Nintendo will realize this and continue to make games as compelling as this.