The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

 Switch
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 700 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 467 out of 700
  2. Mixed: 104 out of 700
  3. Negative: 129 out of 700
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  1. TheOnlineGamer
    Jul 18, 2021
    10
    It should be a crime that the Skyrim Zelda Mod that is Breath of the Wild gets to have a **** near perfect score, while Skyward Sword (AN ACTUAL ZELDA GAME) gets rated this lowly...
  2. Steyraus
    Jul 21, 2021
    10
    A master peice of a game and now even better at 60 FPs and more control options..
  3. Dudraug
    Aug 12, 2021
    10
    Wow. Fantastic game. Interesting fight system, various good puzzles, many side quest, much exploring. Good old school Zelda. Don’t believe those who say that control is not good… at least non-motion is ok. I’ll try motion in 2nd playthrough. Strongly recommend.
  4. Mwirmm
    Jul 29, 2021
    10
    After BOTW I definitely was relishing a more classic Zelda experience and this hit all the right spots. Yes, they do re-use a lot of locations and there's quite a bit of backtracking but it didn't personally affect my enjoyment of the game. Plot wise, the design choices make complete sense.

    Memorable characters, emotional story, great dungeons and gear. I just really enjoyed it.
  5. luisflopez
    Oct 25, 2021
    10
    I loved Skyward Sword back in its day. Going into this remaster after so much time, I was afraid I might finally see what everybody sees to keep calling this the worst 3D Zelda game. But nope, I still love it, maybe even more than before.

    1080p resolution, 60fps and the removal of excess explanations and interruptions make this a massive upgrade over the original Wii release. Seriously,    I loved Skyward Sword back in its day. Going into this remaster after so much time, I was afraid I might finally see what everybody sees to keep calling this the worst 3D Zelda game. But nope, I still love it, maybe even more than before.

    1080p resolution, 60fps and the removal of excess explanations and interruptions make this a massive upgrade over the original Wii release. Seriously, this remaster looks downright better than Breath of the Wild.

    As for the game itself, motion controls are creative, easy to pick up and fun (and people who complain about them probably aren't even capable of using a fork and a knife to eat), dungeons are brilliant, I seriously can't get enough of the art style, and the story is pretty enjoyable and provides some cool explanations on the series' lore. Skyward Sword is just plain fun, a lot of fun in fact. And this is clearly the superior way to experience it.

    Score: 9.5
    -    … Expand
  6. di_sanchezs
    Nov 14, 2021
    10
    Excelente
    Una mejora correcta respecto al de wii. Podria si haber sido mas economico
  7. Sabrewulf1
    Jul 24, 2021
    10
    The most under rated of the Zelda games, I remember purchasing this for my wii but never finished it because It was right at the back end of the wii life and I had purchased a ps3 and a then a wii u. Nintendo have absolutely smashed it out of the park again like they did with wind waker hd. You can feel the DNA of the last ocarina style game, the music and jumping is right out of ocarina,The most under rated of the Zelda games, I remember purchasing this for my wii but never finished it because It was right at the back end of the wii life and I had purchased a ps3 and a then a wii u. Nintendo have absolutely smashed it out of the park again like they did with wind waker hd. You can feel the DNA of the last ocarina style game, the music and jumping is right out of ocarina, with added bells. Feels like the more adult link from Twilight with an art style between windwaker and ocarina. But the way nintendo has had the gfx touched up is sublime. I loved BOTW (500 hours in, total completion) and I'm also pretty old, so when the first zelda came out on NES in '86 (I was 13) it blew my mind. This variation of links travels was unloved and wrong so. Its a classic. The dna of the wii is here with the motion controls, and I hope that we see more games from wii come over, becuase the motion controls actually really work well on the joycons. The nostalgia trip is jedi levels of fun, but the core game is right there, and will smash a smile on your face in that way only nintentdo seem to do. Perfection remaster.… Expand
  8. Kvr
    Jul 25, 2021
    10
    A great Zelda game! Has everything that a fan of the series will love. Great world, great music, funny npcs, rewarding sidequests, collectables! Amazing dungeons. Really nice story. This Zelda has it all!
  9. Reed618
    Jul 17, 2021
    10
    Unfortunately ports are a target for review bombing so the user score probably won't be that reliable as people who haven't played the game will just give it a 0.

    I'm a few hours in and really enjoying the game though. The art style really holds up and this is such a great version of Zelda (the character I mean). I love her design and she's quite funny. The quality of life features make    Unfortunately ports are a target for review bombing so the user score probably won't be that reliable as people who haven't played the game will just give it a 0.

    I'm a few hours in and really enjoying the game though. The art style really holds up and this is such a great version of Zelda (the character I mean). I love her design and she's quite funny. The quality of life features make the experience noticeably better.

    I also really appreciate that I can use a gamepad. Joycon drift is a big headache so I just couldn't handle playing with joycons.

    Having tried the original version on wii just a few months ago I can definitely say this is hands down the best version of the game. Better control options, less annoying tutorials/pop up messages, visually it's far nicer (the old wii version looks awful on modern tvs), autosaves, camera controls etc. It really is a massive improvement.

    Is it better than breath of the wild? personally not at all. botw has a lot more to offer but skyward sword is full of charm and it's a fun adventure. I'd definitely recommend it.    … Expand
  10. FanFreak777
    Jan 29, 2022
    10
    The game has been improved graphically and it shows a lot, especially for those of us who played it in 2011. Like all Zelda games, it's a must-buy whether you're a fan of the saga or even more so if you've never played it.
  11. NinnyMugginz
    Jan 29, 2022
    10
    Maybe the 10 offsets the people giving this a 0 for silly reasons. I especially don’t understand people that dock points for price point, for many people like myself, this was my first chance to play skyward sword as I’m not a huge motion control fan aka the wii. I respect it and the original skyward sword’s popularity, just not for me.

    The stylization of skyward sword is wonderful, the    Maybe the 10 offsets the people giving this a 0 for silly reasons. I especially don’t understand people that dock points for price point, for many people like myself, this was my first chance to play skyward sword as I’m not a huge motion control fan aka the wii. I respect it and the original skyward sword’s popularity, just not for me.

    The stylization of skyward sword is wonderful, the characters are unique and in Zelda fashion. The story, cinematics, and what I thought was as the first real glimpse at romance between link and Zelda was cute. I truly enjoyed and had a great experience overall.

    My only major complaint, which did take a few hours of gameplay to finally become used to, the action controls. I do wish it was standard hack n slash like most Zeldas. The directional attack using R is a cool way to mirror the original’s combat style, but I would have loved an option to rework the mechanics for standard buttons for slicing. You eventually become used it, and it did grow on me, but being able to switch would be amazing.    … Expand
  12. ktjayhawk77
    Aug 16, 2021
    10
    Folks - do not listen to the trolls giving this masterpiece a zero. Seems like most people’s gripe are with the controls. I play in handheld mode and the controls work really great, they just take a little getting used to. The controls are way better than the original for the wii, so people can’t use the controls as an excuse for not liking this game anymore. Content-wise, this is oneFolks - do not listen to the trolls giving this masterpiece a zero. Seems like most people’s gripe are with the controls. I play in handheld mode and the controls work really great, they just take a little getting used to. The controls are way better than the original for the wii, so people can’t use the controls as an excuse for not liking this game anymore. Content-wise, this is one of the better Zelda titles - I think it is waaay better than BOTW, as it actually feels like a Zelda game rather than a Skyrim game with Zelda characters. I consider SS to likely be the last true 3D Zelda game, as BOTW simply did not have that Zelda charm. I also have doubts about BOTW 2 being the same way, but I will wait for it’s release to be the judge. Yes, this game is linear, but I think that is better IMO. The dungeons are extremely creative and fun, the combat is extremely fun, and this has the best soundtrack in the entire franchise. I also hear people whine about the price - for 60 dollars I consider it a good buy, considering the game will deliver at least 20 hours of gameplay to compete the game, more if you do side quests. At the moment I consider this to be the best Switch title to date, don’t listen to the haters, who likely didn’t even finish the game - pick this gem up!… Expand
  13. greninjaX
    Sep 13, 2021
    10
    this is a remastered game, so here is my remastered review: i don't think people give skyward sword enough credit. a lot of things breath of the wild did, like stamina, crafting, a glider, skyward sword did first. it also has the 2 best Zelda characters, being groose and ghirahim. and the motion controls always worked for me, so git gud deku scrub
  14. Kakadu
    Jul 18, 2021
    10
    Absolutely fantastic. Controlls are more accurate than in the original and it looks and runs way better. Qol improvements make the game alot more fun. Fi isn't annoying anymore.
  15. Tomek7
    Aug 6, 2021
    10
    First time playing skyward sword and although the beginning of the game was a bit slow after it picked up I could not stop playing. An absolute gem of a game. The motion controls are excellent. The HD graphics are a lovely sight. Great story line. Nothing is repetitive, Every dungeon and map is unique. 30+ hours of gameplay. 10/10
  16. Metapyro
    Jul 18, 2021
    10
    I really feel the game is a strong 9 but I’m giving it a 10 to offset the trolls. It looks amazing. The controls just take a little getting used to. Once you get the hang of it it’s fine. Wonderful sound track as well. For me I know a game is good when it’s hard to peel myself away from it and when I am away from it I’m still thinking about it. This game has done that
  17. GreenMenace
    Jul 19, 2021
    10
    Skyward Sword [SS] isn’t a game for everyone. With that out of the way, let me tell you why SS is my favorite Zelda game from my favorite franchise.

    First I’ll acknowledge its flaws. You can read other reviews and get a very solid understanding of those so I won’t waste your time. Most of them are correct. I would add that I would have liked more monster variety as well as more things    Skyward Sword [SS] isn’t a game for everyone. With that out of the way, let me tell you why SS is my favorite Zelda game from my favorite franchise.

    First I’ll acknowledge its flaws. You can read other reviews and get a very solid understanding of those so I won’t waste your time. Most of them are correct. I would add that I would have liked more monster variety as well as more things to do in the sky as the sky and its islands feel relatively empty.

    I loved Skyward Sword because of its story. It doesn’t do anything extraordinary, but it attempts to develop characters and introduce plot twists. In my opinion, any Zelda game without Ganon as its main enemy already deserves some attention. The characters are as goofy in this installment as other Zelda games. This game also stands out from the rest because it started to break away from the old Zelda formula that had been established.

    And while mandatory motion controls were/are unpopular, SS is the only Zelda that features them, creating an experience you can’t get with any other Zelda. The game was my first Zelda experience that had a hard mode. Two of the dungeons in the game are in my top three dungeons list (and I’ve played most Zelda games out there since A Link to the Past). Finally, I’d argue that the ending of the game was as epic as Zelda gets. This is a fantastic game that’s only getting better with the remaster. Not only that, but the game will also somehow be connected the next game in the series I’m super excited for—BOTW 2.

    SS was my favorite game on the Wii. On the switch I’m roughly 18 hours in. The game looks more crisp, it runs smoothly, and it’s now portable. The button controls work well, but they take away from the immersion factor that the game aimed for. The motion controls work, but because joy cons are uncomfortable for me to hold, I find myself using button controls most of the time. I’d recommend switching to motion controls for big events in the game like bosses.

    The game feels a lot faster paced since a lot of the wordiness can now be rushed or even skipped entirely at times. And the free roaming camera adds a lot to the experience as well.

    In conclusion, if you’re on the fence about considering giving SS a shot, I’ll wrap up with these thoughts. SS is a differently paced game from most Zelda games. Since it is a little slower with compact environments, it’s not a game for everyone. It places a different emphasis than BOTW. It doesn’t offer much to players who want to explore, but it offers an immersion factor, great dungeons, and good music. The story of SS is more important than any other mainline Zelda game. While marketing has focused on comparing the game to BOTW, I think it’s much more comparable to Twilight Princess. SS may not have aged as well as other remastered Zeldas, but it’s still a fantastic game and was a no brainer preorder for me.    … Expand
  18. Fatluou
    Jul 18, 2021
    10
    Incredibly fun game the controls are so much better now and is more fluent than the wii version, the game still looks stunning even after 11 years later, I recommend that you should buy it if you haven't
  19. Fiercevinegar
    Jun 1, 2023
    10
    hands down the best zelda game ever made, best dungeons best music best sidequests best combat, everything is the best
  20. UmAlguem
    Jul 20, 2021
    10
    Skyward sword is the best zelda game with the link to the past formula and the hd remaster just makes it better
  21. x7thSeeker
    Aug 21, 2023
    10
    So much fun! Many people didn't like the motion controls, I for one like it, you just need to learn to reset the gyro, it's kinda strange at first, but the moment you get the hang of it becomes a nice enjoyable ride. I think would be a 7-ish game, but I'm having so much fun that I'm can't help myself but to give it a 10, because the point is have fun while playing games, right?!
  22. joash
    Jul 21, 2021
    10
    This game is for you if you:
    - Love a good story
    - Love beautiful art directions
    - Love epic music
    - Love Zelda games
    - Love video games
    - Love fun
  23. kokkoyako
    Aug 2, 2021
    10
    SO MUCH FUN the game gave me that i can almost ignore any of its flaws and some bad idea
  24. SporadicDeviant
    Jul 21, 2021
    10
    I've already written a review of the original Wii version of the game on this site. and what I said in that review still stands here. Overall this version has some tweaks to the experience. Some are minor like text speed and some are major like framerate, and the ability to use button controls in lieu of motion controls.

    While I think the motion controls in both the original and the    I've already written a review of the original Wii version of the game on this site. and what I said in that review still stands here. Overall this version has some tweaks to the experience. Some are minor like text speed and some are major like framerate, and the ability to use button controls in lieu of motion controls.

    While I think the motion controls in both the original and the remaster not only work exceptionally well but also make the game a true 10 out of 10 experience, it's nice that those who couldn't use the motion controls in the original release (for whatever reason) can now have the chance to experience this wonderful game. Also there's no stick drift with motion controls. Just saying.

    The other changes aren't major unless you're the type who fixates on framerate/graphics. I like the new camera. I was not one of those who thought the item text boxes were a major issue and I knew that Fi's advice and dowsing were mostly optional so a majority of the quality of life changes didn't really "improve" the game for me because I never found those elements to be true objective flaws with the original version. Nevertheless the attempts to make the game more accessible to certain other gamers is admirable.

    If you are one of the people spamming 0's, 1's, or 2's, (because you have terrible taste in games) I advise you not to get your gaming takes from Youtube personalities (that may or may not have multiple This is How You Don't Play compilations dedicated to them).

    Whether on Wii, Wii-U, or Switch, The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword is an objective masterpiece in terms of story-telling, game design, and especially controls.    … Expand
  25. Zephyrion
    Jul 17, 2021
    10
    For me who never played the wii version this game is fantastic. Love the story gameplay is okey and the music wow
  26. Elm0_0
    Jul 18, 2021
    10
    Skyward sword gets a lot of hate for its price and that "the drift makes it unplayable". I got to agree that these are real problems and need to get a fix by nintendo. This ain't a reason to give this amazing game a bad review.

    The combat may for many be something that needs to get used to. But compaired to its old entery on the switch the combat has had a big 1up. The motion controles    Skyward sword gets a lot of hate for its price and that "the drift makes it unplayable". I got to agree that these are real problems and need to get a fix by nintendo. This ain't a reason to give this amazing game a bad review.

    The combat may for many be something that needs to get used to. But compaired to its old entery on the switch the combat has had a big 1up. The motion controles feel way smoother and if they are off just hold the joycon straight press y and boom all good. The button control is not the best. This ofc comes due to the game being build around motion controls. Even though the game has his lacks in some parts of the gamr its still a really solid 3d zelda game to give a try. People say 60 bucks is too much, but even though its 60 bucks you still have that zelda feeling to it. The characters (especially Groose) are great characters with fun/goofy designs. The story is one of if not they best in the zelda series.

    If there is a zelda game that has a big love/hate ratio its this game. That's mostly because of the many problems it had back in the day on the wii. All these problems are fixed besides some story things (these are difficult to remove by not making it a totally diffrent game) the game has his up and downs but the ups are there wayyyy more then the downs.

    All the other quality of life changes needed to be there and are all there. This game is a MUST play if you like zelda games. Because its one of if not they best out there.    … Expand
  27. jo_ll
    Aug 12, 2021
    10
    Primeira vez que jogo, e achei simplesmente maravilhoso, arte, trilha, história, tudo. Os controles por botões são meio estranhos no inicio mas logo me acostumei (e ainda bem que tem essa opção)

    First time I ever play this game, and I simply loved it. Art style, Soundtrack, Story, everything. Button controls are a bit weird at first, but I got used to it very quickly (and thanks    Primeira vez que jogo, e achei simplesmente maravilhoso, arte, trilha, história, tudo. Os controles por botões são meio estranhos no inicio mas logo me acostumei (e ainda bem que tem essa opção)

    First time I ever play this game, and I simply loved it. Art style, Soundtrack, Story, everything. Button controls are a bit weird at first, but I got used to it very quickly (and thanks nintendo for this option, I probably wouldn't like it so much with motion controls only).    … Expand
  28. NextPlayer_it
    Mar 2, 2022
    10
    Tutti i fan di vecchia data lo sanno molto bene che risolvere un enigma in un dungeon è una vera conquista, qualcosa da ricordare, oltre che sconfiggere i nemici durante l’avventura!
    Nintendo, con questo titolo ha creato una remaster coi fiocchi, le modifiche che ha portato hanno di certo un po’ svecchiato il gioco.
    La grafica migliorata e i controlli di movimento rinnovati, hanno reso    Tutti i fan di vecchia data lo sanno molto bene che risolvere un enigma in un dungeon è una vera conquista, qualcosa da ricordare, oltre che sconfiggere i nemici durante l’avventura!
    Nintendo, con questo titolo ha creato una remaster coi fiocchi, le modifiche che ha portato hanno di certo un po’ svecchiato il gioco.
    La grafica migliorata e i controlli di movimento rinnovati, hanno reso questo gameplay piacevole e scorrevole, nonostante la piccola problematica della combo tra il tasto della telecamera e la levetta destra.
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD resta comunque un’esperienza solida e divertente, che chiunque dovrebbe provare.    … Expand
  29. Inuyasha17
    Oct 9, 2021
    10
    It's an action-adventure RPG with cool boy characters just like the ancient Chinese swordsman game. It's really fun.
  30. sex69
    Oct 9, 2021
    10
    It's fun. Because the play time is very long, it is excellent as an open world RPG action game, and there are many various mini-games, so it is fun.
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Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Best Switch Game of 2021
4
#4 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 106 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 89 out of 106
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 106
  3. Negative: 1 out of 106
  1. Gamersky
    Dec 20, 2021
    77
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD on NS brought this once masterpiece back to the player's vision. However, its crappy control and a somewhat old-fashioned design make it seem less attractive nowadays.
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  2. RPGamer
    Nov 22, 2021
    70
    Skyward Sword HD should be commended for its attempt to improve on the original. Having a new control scheme and making a good deal of Fi’s advice optional make it a more palatable experience. However, the game still suffers from pacing issues that made the original feel too bloated as well as a disappointing deemphasis on exploration. This remaster could have realistically improved upon a lot, yet it would still fall short compared to the series’ strongest entries. There is still enough for those looking for a more traditional 3D Zelda experience on the Switch provided they keep their expectations in check.
    Read full review
  3. JeuxActu
    Oct 16, 2021
    65
    Yes the picture is sharper, yes the game is smoother (60fps), yes there have been some improvements to make the adventure more enjoyable, but damn the gameplay has taken a hell of a beating in the back of the head. It was already painful in 2011, it is even more 10 years later, and it is not the tinkering in classic controls that will sublimate the gameplay of this Zelda : Skyward Sword HD.
    Read full review
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