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Ok, I'm going to review what is probably my least favorite Zelda games that I have played: Skyward Sword. First, I want to be clear that things I might've said about this game don't represent my actual opinion. They were over exaggerations. They're not that far from the truth, to be honest, but I don't hate this game as much as I let on. Let's get it started.
Story: It's your typical Zelda game with a few tiny twists to accommodate the game's setting. You're a boy (who looks like a girl) living on a floating island called Skyloft, and you're enlisted in the Knight Academy. You're good friends with a girl named Zelda, and there's a guy called Groose who is totally jealous of you. Everyone on Skyloft has a Loftwing, but you have a special Crimson Loftwing. You win the contest of the Wing Ceremony, which is a pretty big deal on Skyloft, and graduate to the senior class of the Knight Academy. While riding on your Loftwing with your bestie Zelda, you're both hit by a tornado and she goes beneath the clouds, to the mysterious 'land below'. A mysterious being named Fi appears and she tells you you're a hero of some legend, and only you can wield the Goddess Blade. With the Goddess Blade in hand and the power of the Skyward Strike, you set out to find Zelda using hints left by Zelda herself and the Goddess Hylia.
Gameplay/Controls: This game plays like your modern console Zelda game. You have a sword, some items, combat system based on targeting, the usual. Easy enemies can be dispatched swiftly with your sword or one use of an item, harder enemies required patience and strategy. For the first time in a Zelda game you can sprint, but instead of it just running it, there is a meter, which can be refilled with special green fruit. It almost feels like Twilight Princess. Almost. But then you have the controls. I have to admit, if I had been working on this game, I would've added in the motion controls too. I don't blame them. It was a bit of Wii technology they wanted people to utilize. But it turns the combat into a lack luster experience. Enemies you would be able to kill easily in other games become more difficult as you have to waste time making sure you swing your sword the right way. Even Ghirahim, one of the villains, pokes fun at this when he blocks your attack after watching you hold your sword in whatever direction before you attack. I will admit the Loftwing controls aren't bad, but the sword is a bit of a chore to use. It's playable, but it doesn't come without its frustrations. Also, the shield can break after being used for a while. In previous Zelda games, the shield was either not the right shield for the job, or it burned up because it's wood. But never did a shield break from usage. Not only do you have to go back up to Skyloft to repair it, but it costs more Rupees than it should, if I remember correctly. I know the last few shields are either close to unbreakable or are unbreakable, but I think you should be given access to an unbreakable shield earlier on, similar to previous Zelda titles. And there's the upgrade system. It does seem like a nice idea, I do admit, but I feel it has no place in the Zelda universe. I don't want to waste time checking what I need, finding where that spawns, farming it, then going back and making it. No. That isn't something you should have to do in a Zelda game. You should have to complete a complex puzzle, fight a difficult enemy, or maybe do a sidequest. That is the Zelda way. Save the upgrading system for another game, please.
Sound: The soundtrack of Skyward Sword is a great soundtrack, I won't lie. I really like Skyloft's nice, relaxing theme in particular. However, I don't find it as memorable as past Zelda games have been, and I'm not just talking about the older games. Some of the newer games, like Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, have a better soundtrack than this game. Like I said, it's a great soundtrack, but it's an okay soundtrack compared to other Zelda soundtracks.
Graphics: The graphics of Skyward Sword are a mixture of Wind Waker's cel-shaded style and Twilight Princess' more realistic, detailed style. This has to be one of the best looking Wii games out there. My only gripe with it is that you could easily say Link is a girl, and this would be more than acceptable in any other case, but the game clearly says Link is a guy, making it unacceptable. I don't hate guys that look like girls necessarily, but I think Nintendo could've put more effort towards Link's face. But aside from that, this game looks beautiful.
Final Verdict: 7/10, A Good Game
I actually think Skyward Sword is a very decent game. Good soundtrack, great graphics by Wii standards, typical Zelda story, and gameplay/controls that are solid, but have huge room for improvement. However, comparing it to other Legend of Zelda titles I have played, Skyward Sword has to be the worst. If someone asked me if Skyward Sword was worth the buy, I would say 'maybe' if they're fans of the series, but 'yes' if it would be their first Zelda game.
Thanks for reading! This didn't take me nearly as long as Halo 4 vs Black Ops 2, but I did put a fair amount of effort into this. If you have any comments/questions, PM me.
Story: It's your typical Zelda game with a few tiny twists to accommodate the game's setting. You're a boy (who looks like a girl) living on a floating island called Skyloft, and you're enlisted in the Knight Academy. You're good friends with a girl named Zelda, and there's a guy called Groose who is totally jealous of you. Everyone on Skyloft has a Loftwing, but you have a special Crimson Loftwing. You win the contest of the Wing Ceremony, which is a pretty big deal on Skyloft, and graduate to the senior class of the Knight Academy. While riding on your Loftwing with your bestie Zelda, you're both hit by a tornado and she goes beneath the clouds, to the mysterious 'land below'. A mysterious being named Fi appears and she tells you you're a hero of some legend, and only you can wield the Goddess Blade. With the Goddess Blade in hand and the power of the Skyward Strike, you set out to find Zelda using hints left by Zelda herself and the Goddess Hylia.
Gameplay/Controls: This game plays like your modern console Zelda game. You have a sword, some items, combat system based on targeting, the usual. Easy enemies can be dispatched swiftly with your sword or one use of an item, harder enemies required patience and strategy. For the first time in a Zelda game you can sprint, but instead of it just running it, there is a meter, which can be refilled with special green fruit. It almost feels like Twilight Princess. Almost. But then you have the controls. I have to admit, if I had been working on this game, I would've added in the motion controls too. I don't blame them. It was a bit of Wii technology they wanted people to utilize. But it turns the combat into a lack luster experience. Enemies you would be able to kill easily in other games become more difficult as you have to waste time making sure you swing your sword the right way. Even Ghirahim, one of the villains, pokes fun at this when he blocks your attack after watching you hold your sword in whatever direction before you attack. I will admit the Loftwing controls aren't bad, but the sword is a bit of a chore to use. It's playable, but it doesn't come without its frustrations. Also, the shield can break after being used for a while. In previous Zelda games, the shield was either not the right shield for the job, or it burned up because it's wood. But never did a shield break from usage. Not only do you have to go back up to Skyloft to repair it, but it costs more Rupees than it should, if I remember correctly. I know the last few shields are either close to unbreakable or are unbreakable, but I think you should be given access to an unbreakable shield earlier on, similar to previous Zelda titles. And there's the upgrade system. It does seem like a nice idea, I do admit, but I feel it has no place in the Zelda universe. I don't want to waste time checking what I need, finding where that spawns, farming it, then going back and making it. No. That isn't something you should have to do in a Zelda game. You should have to complete a complex puzzle, fight a difficult enemy, or maybe do a sidequest. That is the Zelda way. Save the upgrading system for another game, please.
Sound: The soundtrack of Skyward Sword is a great soundtrack, I won't lie. I really like Skyloft's nice, relaxing theme in particular. However, I don't find it as memorable as past Zelda games have been, and I'm not just talking about the older games. Some of the newer games, like Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, have a better soundtrack than this game. Like I said, it's a great soundtrack, but it's an okay soundtrack compared to other Zelda soundtracks.
Graphics: The graphics of Skyward Sword are a mixture of Wind Waker's cel-shaded style and Twilight Princess' more realistic, detailed style. This has to be one of the best looking Wii games out there. My only gripe with it is that you could easily say Link is a girl, and this would be more than acceptable in any other case, but the game clearly says Link is a guy, making it unacceptable. I don't hate guys that look like girls necessarily, but I think Nintendo could've put more effort towards Link's face. But aside from that, this game looks beautiful.
Final Verdict: 7/10, A Good Game
I actually think Skyward Sword is a very decent game. Good soundtrack, great graphics by Wii standards, typical Zelda story, and gameplay/controls that are solid, but have huge room for improvement. However, comparing it to other Legend of Zelda titles I have played, Skyward Sword has to be the worst. If someone asked me if Skyward Sword was worth the buy, I would say 'maybe' if they're fans of the series, but 'yes' if it would be their first Zelda game.
Thanks for reading! This didn't take me nearly as long as Halo 4 vs Black Ops 2, but I did put a fair amount of effort into this. If you have any comments/questions, PM me.