[ExpandKong]

Developer: Tantalus
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform: t e n d o
Release Date: July 16, 2021
Download size: 7.5GB
ESRB Rating: E10+

Before Hyrule, before Ganon and the Master Sword and even before the talking hat from Minish Cap, everyone lived on islands floating above an impenetrable sea of clouds. Link is a trainee in Skyloft's Knight Academy, and his childhood friend Zelda is the headmaster's daughter.

Disaster strikes on the day of the final exam as Zelda is taken below the clouds by a sudden tornado. That night, Link is awakened from his nightmares by a mysterious voice summoning him to a hidden shrine beneath the statue of the Goddess…

• Technical specs: 1080p/60fps docked, 720p/60fps handheld
  
  
• Quality of Life Updates: You can now click through text, skip cutscenes, ignore a lot of what Fi has to say, and there's an autosave. In addition, you'll no longer get a full item description every time you pick something up. But perhaps the most notable update of all...
  
  
• New Control Scheme: The original game on the Wii relied heavily on motion controls, which are carried over here by holding a Joy Con in each hand. If you're playing in handheld mode/playing on a Switch Lite/feeling lazy, there's a new control option that uses just the buttons and sticks themselves.
  
  
• Amiibo: There's a new "Zelda with Loftwing" amiibo that, when scanned, allows you to instantly transport to the sky from anywhere on the surface, and then back again. It's a nice little shortcut, but not a huge deal since the statues that you otherwise have to use to do this are all over the place. So don't get too upset when you inevitably never see one of these amiibos in a store in your entire life.
  
  
• Streamlined Introduction: This is one that I'm just hearing about and it's kind of vague, but apparently they've "streamlined" the opening section a bit by removing certain bits of extraneous forced dialogue and things like that, the goal being to get your adventure started properly faster than originally. One video example of such a change has been added below.
  
  
• Free Camera Control: On the Wii your only camera control option was tapping the C button to align it behind Link. Now you can use the right stick to freely control the camera as you see fit. In handheld/button control modes you need to hold L while doing so, since the right stick on its own controls the sword.

• Link: This is the guy, officer, the one who keeps attacking our cat at night and asking my wife if she has any "sidequests" for him.
  
  
• Zelda: Link's childhood friend and an all-around sweetie that everybody loves. She's been taken below the clouds by a totally innocuous tornado and now you gotta do something about it. Just an ordinary lil' miss…or is she? She is. Right? YOU'RE WRONG. Or are you?
  
  
• Fi: The spirit that lives in the Goddess Sword, and Link's constant companion on this journey. She will tell you when your controller batteries are getting low and also a ton of other stuff. Like a lot of stuff. Too much.
  
  
• Girahim: The self-proclaimed Lord of the demon tribe running amok on the surface world. He's a bit of a theatrical poofter but once you get to know him you'll see he's actually also a violent asshole.
  
  
• Headmaster Gaepora: Zelda's father and headmaster of Skyloft's Knight Academy. Watches you get dressed, don't think too much about it it's cool everyone lets him do it.
  
  
• Groose: He is the star of the game and the best character in the franchise. He is Link's rival at the Knight Academy for both academic accolades and Zelda's affection and honestly you don't even stand a chance just give up right now. Turn the game off and sell it to GameStop you will never beat Groose.

For comparison's sake, here's what the game looked like back on the Wii:

Wow. It was truly a simpler time. Hard to believe we ever tolerated this.

Compare this to the HD remaster:

What a difference ten years makes. Incredible.

Trailer: A Hero Rises




Quality of Life Improvements




Streamlined Intro Sequence




Groose is Loose

Make it happen, Nintendo

 

[Arc]

This is amazing, and about the most Kong thing ever, lol.

Super-excited for the game, and tempted to pick it up on Day 1, if I can clear out a game or two.

 

[Nicktendo]

Been sat on my Switch since Friday last week. Waiting for our benevolent Nintendo gods to unlock it and grant me a 60fps weekend.

Skyward Sword Zelda is best Zelda. I can't believe how much they ruined her in BOTW with all the crying and the dumb, poorly acted English accent. Some things are better left unsaid...

 

[ODST 1337]

Switch is still sat there after taking it out of hte box 2 months ago and not touched it, bought 8 games aswell ¬_¬

Need to get back on it!

 

[DESTROYA]

I'm just waiting for reviews to see if the control scheme is good, not playing with motion controls because I'm a lazy bastard

 

[ExpandKong]

I'm just waiting for reviews to see if the control scheme is good, not playing with motion controls because I'm a lazy bastard

I am curious as well. I started a playthrough early last year that I ended up abandoning after the first dungeon, but at the time rumors were already swirling about SSHD and I just didn't think there was a way they could transfer everything to a traditional control scheme. I play mostly in handheld mode nowadays so hopefully it works well.

 

[WhatIsThis?]

Great thread OP.

I'm super curious about the reviews too. Really disliked the game at launch on the Wii, revisited it back in December on the Wii U and was quite enjoying it. Still has plenty of issues but I was enjoying myself much more the 2nd time around.

Also curious about the analog control, I feel like it's going to be like 'Skate' where you gotta flick the right analog stick, I'm assuming the sword movement is mapped to the right analog stick. It'll be interesting to see if people can break the game with the new controls. Hopefully some hilarious videos will come forth.

 

[ExpandKong]

Added a bit to the OP - news about further QOL improvements has come out (streamlined introduction and free camera).

 

[A Elbereth Gilthoniel]

Been sat on my Switch since Friday last week. Waiting for our benevolent Nintendo gods to unlock it and grant me a 60fps weekend.

Skyward Sword Zelda is best Zelda. I can't believe how much they ruined her in BOTW with all the crying and the dumb, poorly acted English accent. Some things are better left unsaid...

I'm partial to that regal version of Zelda we saw in OOT and MM. She was similar in TP, but too cold and remote. I suppose they sort of sidelined her for Midna. In the Wind Waker, they turned her into a sassy pirate, and in Skyward Sword she's more of a girl next door archetype. BOTW made her into a petulant child.

 

[ExpandKong]

I'm partial to that regal version of Zelda we saw in OOT and MM. She was similar in TP, but too cold and remote. I suppose they sort of sidelined her for Midna. In the Wind Waker, they turned her into a sassy pirate, and in Skyward Sword she's more of a girl next door archetype. BOTW made her into a petulant child.

It's funny that Age of Calamity fixed most of the problems I had with BotW Zelda's character as a result of not being the direct BotW prequel people were hoping it would be.

Except the accent. They did keep the accent

 

[Arc]

I don't think there's a single Zelda (character) I haven't liked. They seem to shoot for something totally different each time, and I've found each one some varying level of cool, fun, or a great character.

My hat is in the ring for Spirit Tracks Zelda as the best one though. She and Link made the best, most hilarious comedy team, while simultaneous actually having real character depth and friendship chemistry. That entire game is underrated.

Also curious about the analog control, I feel like it's going to be like 'Skate' where you gotta flick the right analog stick, I'm assuming the sword movement is mapped to the right analog stick. It'll be interesting to see if people can break the game with the new controls. Hopefully some hilarious videos will come forth.

This is exactly how it works. It's even in some of the trailers if you want to have a closer look. It seems like it kind of works well for the gesture system and cadence/speed SS has going on in battle. Curious how stuff like waving the sword around to confuse an eyeball will work, as that's where the original Motionplus really kicked in.

Added a bit to the OP - news about further QOL improvements has come out (streamlined introduction and free camera).

This is the most asinine thing to be excited about, but with Nintendo, you never truly know. They're the Apple of gaming, in the way they make amazing products with inexplicable subtractions. The right stick also getting heavy duty made me wonder.

It all sounds fantastic for people playing with motion controls — they'll just get a free camera and that will be that. Should really open up SS's visuals and world to be admired, while making things more cohesive and smooth than pressing Z to center your camera. The Wii Remote was an unwelcome step back in that way.

I just wonder how this 'Hold L and move the stick to move the camera' will work for gamers playing with buttons? I will certainly play a big chunk in portable. Sounds gettable-used-to, but a little awkward at the same time.

 

[Arc]

Really good comparison. Even gets into the painting/bokeh filter stuff and how it's changed on Switch (it's still there, and in different ways).

 

[HE1NZ]

Played a bit. There's a button to recenter the pointer that you have to use constantly. Seems a little weird, haven't played any Switch games where you point at a screen before. But it's controls very smooth and responsive.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

Played a bit. There's a button to recenter the pointer that you have to use constantly. Seems a little weird, haven't played any Switch games where you point at a screen before. But it's controls very smooth and responsive.

So it feels like the Wii but portable?

 

[HE1NZ]

So it feels like the Wii but portable?

I only tried docked. It plays exactly like the Wii except you have to sync all the time. But it works instantly.

 

[ExpandKong]

I only tried docked. It plays exactly like the Wii except you have to sync all the time. But it works instantly.

Didn't you have to recenter constantly on the Wii too? I think it was down on the d-pad. Always thought that was kind of odd since that was the whole point of the IR pointer.

 

[Arc]

Time crawling by at work until I can get my hands on this.

Weekend. Epic Zelda (even if it's controversial SS). Is there a better feeling?

 

[ExpandKong]

Apparently there were some "production problems" with the new amiibo and most of the orders for it have been cancelled. Didn't see an estimate on when it would be available. No idea what "most" means exactly either.

I'M FINE

 

[Arc]

Apparently there were some "production problems" with the new amiibo and most of the orders for it have been cancelled. Didn't see an estimate on when it would be available. No idea what "most" means exactly either.

I'M FINE

This feels like the nefarious work of @Xaero Gravity

 

[HE1NZ]

Didn't you have to recenter constantly on the Wii too? I think it was down on the d-pad. Always thought that was kind of odd since that was the whole point of the IR pointer.

I don't remember. I think you only calibrate wiimote once when you start the game.

 

[Sejan]

Didn't you have to recenter constantly on the Wii too? I think it was down on the d-pad. Always thought that was kind of odd since that was the whole point of the IR pointer.

In SS the Wiimote recentered itself automatically when it caught glimpses of the censor bar. I think that you could recenter it manually, but it generally didn't need it provided that you weren't swinging wildly.

 

[JORMBO]

This game has some of the most awkward controls and camera I have played in a long time. Everything about them just feels bad and hard to use. Moving the camera is shared with the joystick that swings the sword. I'm never going to get used to holding the shoulder button to move the camera. They should have stuck the camera on the stick and then made the sword only usable when Z targeting.

I'm going to try the joycon motion controls later. One of the things I was looking forward to is playing with a normal controller, but what they did here with regular controls does not work well.

 

[Stouffers]

Time crawling by at work until I can get my hands on this.

Weekend. Epic Zelda (even if it's controversial SS). Is there a better feeling?

I can think of one.

A new Metroid.

 

[Arc]

Got my physical copy (lovely box art, inside as well) and was lucky enough to score some SS Joy-Cons! Literally the last ones on the rack. I didn't plan to spend $150 today, but I didn't want them to forever get lost to Ebay, lol.

Having a wonderful time. I forgot how strong this game can be in its big story moments, and that kind of sweeping, romantic (in the archaic sense) feel to the sky and setting.

The actual game, lol, is as fun as I remember it. Love or hate the focus on motion control, it's clearly never coming back in the foreseeable future, which makes this Zelda a unique, fun way to play the series. There's a lot of great game here too, but I haven't gotten far enough in this playthrough to start talking about that.

Visuals are lovely. They pushed the Wii absurdly hard (particularly the animation) in the first place, and having it all cleaned up yields the expected result. Like Wind Waker, but without the heavy lighting changes, it really gets to shine. This is a game that comes across far better in modern resolutions and 60 FPS than it did back then, imo.

But yeah. If you want to play some SS, this is a fantastic way to do it. As I was saying to someone, just so looking forward to getting to chill for the rest of the month with this, RE8, and Metro.

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

I got this one confused with twilight princess which I never played. Started wandering around that sky town at the start and had the strangest sense of deja vu. Then I realised I have played this one. I still have the wii copy in the cabinet. I remember hating the stupid wii remote plus controls and putting it down when I couldn't catch that golden snitch bird at the start.

 

[JORMBO]

I swapped the controls over to motion and these actually work much better. Going to play this way going forward.

 

[Dr. Farnsgoth]

I swapped the controls over to motion and these actually work much better. Going to play this way going forward.

Hey dude, welcome to the forum.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

I swapped the controls over to motion and these actually work much better. Going to play this way going forward.

Welcome to the forum!

I want to enjoy the best of both worlds by playing motion on the dock and button only in handheld

 

[Arc]

Welcome to the forum!

I want to enjoy the best of both worlds by playing motion on the dock and button only in handheld

That's what I'm doing. Handheld definitely takes a bit of getting used to, with shoulder button + right stick for camera, but it works surprisingly well, and the combat is still very enjoyable. This control scheme wouldn't be my first choice, but it makes those times when you only have the time to play handheld, actually work.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

That's what I'm doing. Handheld definitely takes a bit of getting used to, with shoulder button + right stick for camera, but it works surprisingly well, and the combat is still very enjoyable. This control scheme wouldn't be my first choice, but it makes those times when you only have the time to play handheld, actually work.

I find it helps to enable the gyro camera controls in the options for handheld mode, so the camera is controlled by the gyro

 

[A Elbereth Gilthoniel]

I really wish there was more to Skyloft in this game. It feels like an afterthought, to be honest...One of my favourite things about Zelda is the discovery and exploration of new villages, but Skyloft is really the only one in this game.

 

[ExpandKong]

Finally had a chance to sit down and play a bit last night, just made it to the surface world playing exclusively in handheld mode. The game looks lovely. Sword controls are working well so far, the only fiddly bits for me are the spin attack and the killing blow. Controlling the camera in handheld mode is also more awkward than I thought it would be and I ended up just reminding myself that the game was designed around not having full camera control so I could just ignore it.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

Finally had a chance to sit down and play a bit last night, just made it to the surface world playing exclusively in handheld mode. The game looks lovely. Sword controls are working well so far, the only fiddly bits for me are the spin attack and the killing blow. Controlling the camera in handheld mode is also more awkward than I thought it would be and I ended up just reminding myself that the game was designed around not having full camera control so I could just ignore it.

It helps to have gyro enabled for camera controls in handheld

 

[Arkam]

Was watching/reading some reviews wishing I had the time/motivation to play this one, when I noticed something on Metacritic. This one here is at 82 with most reviewers lauding the visual and QoL improvements... but the original got a 93. Crazy how a little time (and possibly a lack of novelty) seems to temper experience.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

I bounced early on the Wii, because I simply could not deal with the motion controls. The controller option on a pro controller feels pretty good, if a little awkward with the camera.

I'm looking forward to rectifying the glaring hole in my Zelda history.

 

[ExpandKong]

Beat the first dungeon and am getting the hang of button controls, but the boss fight drove home the point that I can't cheese sword swings this way. With motion I can point the sword to the left so the enemy guards on that side, then quickly push my arm further left so Link does a right-to-left swing for an easy hit...now I gotta move the stick quickly but not too quickly to register a swing...bah let me cheat!

 

[Arc]

Up to the Lanaryru Mining Facility. Somewhere along the line, I fell in love with this game. Probably after the umpteenth incredibly creative, joyful play mechanic. This game is just stuffed with ideas and pure, fun gameplay in a way that I've rarely seen a game do.

 

[Nicktendo]

I'm onto the fourth dungeon now and absolutely loving this game. Genuinely surprised by how good the traditional controls are. Tantalus done good.

I'm about 18 hours in, I think. Honestly, it's so good to just sit down with a classic 3D Zelda game again. As much as I adore BOTW, there's a completely different vibe with this game. The dungeons have been exceptional so far. It's a shame the watercolour effect is drastically reduced in HD, but aside from the low-res textures, the game looks and runs magnificently. Very pleased I picked this up at launch.

 

[ProgenitorCastle]

At first Dungeon! This gem is every bit as great as I remember it!

 

[Arc]

I'm onto the fourth dungeon now and absolutely loving this game. Genuinely surprised by how good the traditional controls are. Tantalus done good.

I'm about 18 hours in, I think. Honestly, it's so good to just sit down with a classic 3D Zelda game again. As much as I adore BOTW, there's a completely different vibe with this game. The dungeons have been exceptional so far. It's a shame the watercolour effect is drastically reduced in HD, but aside from the low-res textures, the game looks and runs magnificently. Very pleased I picked this up at launch.

I've argued since the day I played BotW, as brilliant as it is, that these traditional elements are still worthy and can and should be folded back into open world Zelda. This is how I'd like to see them take BotW 2 above and beyond, by bringing those elements back.

For now though, it is so fun to play the kind of Zelda game (albeit a bit different) that I came up on.

The watercolor stuff is a bit diminished, but weirdly enough, it shows up closer to the camera, more often now, which is cool. You kind of have slightly different expressions of the same art style. Overall with the 60 FPS, HD clean-up though, and tweaks, this is by far my preferred version of the game.