The legend was born more than twenty-five years ago. In those twenty-five years, this groundbreaking series has perhaps brought more innovation to the industry than any other. The Nintendo 64 classic, Ocarina of Time, is often lauded as the best video game of all time, and is still revered today for its immense contributions to video games the world over.
Today I'm here to tell you that that bar has risen. Meet The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Exclusive to the Wii console, Skyward Sword has brought us one step closer to a utopia of gaming. How? With expertly implemented motion controls that draw the player into the game world like never before. After all, control is what sets video games apart from other media.
In Skyward Sword, one-to-one sword motion is possible thanks to the Wii MotionPlus accessory. And it works like a charm. I particularly like that it takes more than just a button-mashing fest to take on enemies: now combat is a puzzle in and of itself. The added motion capabilities also translate well to the use of items in the game. You'll find that one item in particular, the beetle, is used quite a bit in this game, due to its amazing capacity for clever puzzle-solving (not to mention the joy it is to control it).
Skyward Sword also goes a long way towards creating a simple, accessible interface. Many casual gamers are frightened away from "hardcore" games like Zelda because of the complex combination of buttons, etc. that are required to play. I believe Skyward Sword is the simplest Zelda yet in terms of control, and that's a huge step in the right direction if you ask me.
Much of what defines any given Zelda game is the world it creates. Skyward Sword has presented what I think is the best world yet in any Zelda game. It has a continuity that I think Twilight Princess lacked. There is meaning and purpose to every place you visit, and with every successive visit you make. Exploration (an important trait in any Zelda game) is at its best in Skyward Sword, with treasure and secrets to be found both above and below the clouds.
Skyward Sword's aesthetic is another source of the game's appeal. Whether the graphics are powerful or not is the wrong question to ask. They may not be technically powerful, but the creativity and imagination evident in them is what sets them apart and gives them a power that even the most realistic graphics can never achieve.
Nintendo has done it again with Skyward Sword. They make changing the face of the game industry look easy. My conclusion? Get this game. Period.
The controls put forth in this game are definitely amazing; I couldn't imagine playing another Zelda game without them.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adored Skyloft and surrounding islands. These areas have a charm that cannot be matched in any other Zelda game. I do prefer the overworld in Ocarina of Time to the ground sections though, but it's not by much.
Good review! Keep them coming!
Thanks! I will!
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