Legend of Zelda Legend of Zelda Art Skyword Sword

Breath of the Wild changed a lot about The Legend of Zelda. About importantly, it made the fantasy realm of Hyrule more open up, increasing the sense of pure take chances. If you saw something off on the horizon — a crumbling ruin, a giant mountain, whatever — y'all could observe your own style there, rather than post-obit a path laid out by the game's developers. It'due south what made the game so refreshing, just it could besides make going back to older entries challenging.

At least, that was my fright playing Skyward Sword, which originally launched a decade agone and is coming to the Switch this week. Aside from a few quality-of-life tweaks, slightly updated visuals, and the very welcome addition of a motion command-free command scheme, the new version is the same as the one that debuted on the Wii in 2011. That means it'south a largely linear affair that'southward missing the open-ended construction that fabricated BotW then engrossing. Merely it however has plenty Zelda magic to make it worth playing — especially if y'all missed it the first time around.

The cadre is the aforementioned as always. A quiet young boy named Link discovers that he's actually a hero — shock! — and eventually gets a legendary sword and green outfit to help him on a quest to relieve a princess named Zelda. Just as with the best Zelda adventures, Skyward Sword takes that bones formula in interesting new directions. The game begins in a city in the clouds. The residents of this minor, floating village ride behemothic birds like horses and live above a sprawling cloud barrier that separates them from what they believe is a desolate and inaccessible surface. Naturally, this is exactly where Link needs to get.

The premise was refreshing a decade agone, and information technology still remains an enticing world to explore. There's something really fun nearly soaring through the sky, exploring this very different history of Hyrule. At its best, Zelda takes a familiar place and makes it experience new — there'southward a reason Wind Waker is then honey — and that's exactly what happens in Skyward Sword. This was especially true back in 2011, every bit it was the next mainline Zelda after the comparatively drab Twilight Princess. Each entry is similar a new have on an aboriginal legend. Skyward Sword remains one of the more memorable.

Merely while the earth still feels fresh later all this time, the actual game is very familiar territory. Dissimilar BotW, Skyward Sword pushes you along a predetermined path, where you lot go through a series of areas — a wood, a desert, a volcano — solving puzzles in lodge to become to the dungeon at the end, where you'll observe another bread crumb in your search for Zelda. And in traditional Zelda way, you'll slowly gather new items that open up new areas. That could be a slingshot for shooting downward vines or a magically controlled drone that lets you hit switches remotely.

In that location's a satisfying sense of progression, even if the straightforward structure can feel dated. Skyward Sword funnels you forth a path; the path tin be large at times, merely there'due south ordinarily merely ane or two things you can or should be doing. Information technology's missing the sense of freedom and serendipity that are so core to BotW. This didn't bother me equally much equally I expected — likely because the world is still so interesting, and the puzzles and combat remain excellent — but it tin be frustrating at times, particularly if you lot observe yourself stuck.

The big change between this version of Skyward Sword and the original is the controls. Skyward Sword was built with motion controls in mind; information technology originally required the Wii's MotionPlus add together-on, which fabricated your sword swipes more than authentic. You tin can yet play that way, wielding ii Joy-Con controllers similar a sword and shield. Merely on the Switch, in that location's also a more traditional control scheme so you can play in portable mode or use a Pro Controller.

For the well-nigh function, it works. Sword swipes have been moved to the right analog stick, which you tin employ to replicate thrusting a sword in diverse directions. As someone who doesn't savour flailing my arms in forepart of a screen, it's a welcome addition, simply there are a few little niggles.

For example, Skyward Sword on the Switch finally adds camera controls to the game, one of the biggest omissions from the original. But the fashion they work is a little wonky. In order to rotate the camera, y'all have to agree the left shoulder push button and move the right stick — the same stick that controls your sword. I kept finding myself swinging a weapon when I meant to expect around; it's just natural to go straight for the right stick when you lot demand to rotate the camera. It's peculiarly annoying in battle if yous need to both attack and expect around at the same time. (The lock-on option helps somewhat, but not when there are lots of bad guys or bosses that teleport around.) The right stick is freed up when using motion controls, just this does require a level of coordination I don't seem to possess; it'due south tough to rotate a camera with your thumb while as well swinging your arm effectually.

Bated from that, this port is improved in all of the expected ways. It runs smooth, the graphics look cleaner (despite a few muddied textures here and there), and the new control scheme makes it a more attainable version of Skyward Sword. There are even some nice petty tweaks, similar a slightly less communicative talking sword that serves equally your guide. The biggest barrier is your expectations. Yes, information technology can feel dated after Breath of the Wild. But for me at least, the fantastical world, clever puzzles, and challenging dungeons made it worth pressing through. And given that the however-untitled sequel to Breath of the Wild looks similar information technology'll feature a like sky-themed world, this could be only the thing to hold you over until its release.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD launches on July 16th on the Nintendo Switch.

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Source: https://www.theverge.com/22576029/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-review-nintendo-switch

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