The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

 Wii
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2628 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,980 out of 2628
  2. Mixed: 360 out of 2628
  3. Negative: 288 out of 2628
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  1. andsoitgoes
    Nov 22, 2011
    6
    I'm feeling a bit... I don't know. I fondly remember playing the very first Zelda, dying... a lot. I've played every Zelda from that point on. A Link To The Past changed my entire outlook on gaming. It, along with Super Metroid were what defined that era. Then welcome the N64 and the new 3D Zelda... I felt empty. Maybe it was all the yapping, maybe it was the goofy characters, the stupidI'm feeling a bit... I don't know. I fondly remember playing the very first Zelda, dying... a lot. I've played every Zelda from that point on. A Link To The Past changed my entire outlook on gaming. It, along with Super Metroid were what defined that era. Then welcome the N64 and the new 3D Zelda... I felt empty. Maybe it was all the yapping, maybe it was the goofy characters, the stupid expressions, the repetitive phrases, the silly grunts and groans - but it lost me. I tried playing through OoT, MM... but I never ended up getting an N64 and tried it much later. I felt lost, there was no connection. I found my way back on the GBA releases and fell in love again, so of course I snapped it up when Wind Waker released on my recently purchased Game Cube... meh. It was okay, better than the previous games, but still with the goofy expressions, no vocal work, silly translations, characters that don't fit what you'd expect in real life (really, that's how kings/leaders speak?). But I finished it, even though by the end I wanted to take the boat and set it on fire.

    Then I fell back in love with the Minish Cap, got the Wii for Metroid Prime and snapped up TP... same problems, same dislikes but worse, I had to waggle the heck out of my arm to play.

    And now, this, with Motion Plus, and my RSI due to all the work I've done in these many years, I end up sore from swinging my sword, annoyed from the flying, sick of the stupid characters, the powdered cheeks, the goofy look of the salesman, the offensive flamboyant Beedle? Really? This is compared to the complex characters in almost every other video game out there?

    I don't get it. I may finish it, but I just don't get it any more. I'll go back to play LTTP, and all the awesome GBA games, skip the stylus-focused NDS.

    Zelda to me isn't this. For a lot of you it is, and although I don't understand that and know it's my own fault constantly trying... but this just isn't my thing. I'm very disappointed, how could I not be? This is something I grew up on from its very first incarnation - but how does everyone just shrug off the weirdness and sillyness, just that... it's so.. Maybe that's why people like it. I don't know. Sigh. I don't get the overwhelming praise. I mean, I want to, but I just don't feel it. It's not a "terrible" game, but I just don't feel I have the desire to finish it. If I do, I fear I may need to spend 5 times the price of the game on physio for my arm, stupid waggle controls...    … Expand
  2. TeutonicTank
    Mar 6, 2012
    8
    And so it was decided. That Nintendo would release the same game again and again. And again.

    The story is the same story in every Zelda game, fighting is the same. and puzzles, although challenging, are just as tedious. I'm glad I switched to the Xbox. This is probably the last Zelda game I will ever buy because I have been buying the same game since Majoras Maks
  3. Megakrage
    Oct 21, 2019
    0
    Putting a zero to counter act the good reviews cause it doesnt deserve an 8.1 . i love zelda. But this game isnt good
  4. Phuz
    Oct 28, 2020
    0
    Which idiots rate this zero. Great fun game with amazing Zelda soundtrack. The motion controls don't work well with the motion plus add on but seem to work fine with the wiimote when it is built in. One of the most fun Zelda's and one of the most slagged off. I found one little bit a bit fetch questy but other than that absolutely amazing game. The best Zelda? Maybe. Right up there. NotWhich idiots rate this zero. Great fun game with amazing Zelda soundtrack. The motion controls don't work well with the motion plus add on but seem to work fine with the wiimote when it is built in. One of the most fun Zelda's and one of the most slagged off. I found one little bit a bit fetch questy but other than that absolutely amazing game. The best Zelda? Maybe. Right up there. Not sure it beats ALttP but definitely way more fun to play than BotW.… Expand
  5. VidsRule
    Feb 25, 2012
    0
    I'm doing something a little different (admitting this might not be 'right'), but I'm scoring this game with-respect to my expectations. And explaining it that way, this is the most disappointing game of my 30 years of videogaming, and therefor deserves the lowest score possible. Everything about this game is average at best, and the motion controls (even though apparently great by manyI'm doing something a little different (admitting this might not be 'right'), but I'm scoring this game with-respect to my expectations. And explaining it that way, this is the most disappointing game of my 30 years of videogaming, and therefor deserves the lowest score possible. Everything about this game is average at best, and the motion controls (even though apparently great by many reviewers) are just, well, beyond terrible. The stuff that works are nothing we haven't seen before 1000 times and the stuff that is 'revolutionary' is just, well, beyond terrible. The exploration is a chore. The dungeons range boring to acceptable. The boss battles are alright. The graphics and sound are alright. The amount of BOREDOM is really REALLY impressive. Like I said I'm scoring this according to my expectations, and that may be wrong but it feels right for me. And the most disappointing game of all time deserves a -10 if I could. I'm glad I got this using my Shoppers points because spending actual cash on this would have been a tradegy.… Expand
  6. turtletalker
    Jun 25, 2013
    0
    I hated skyward sword. The whole thing felt like it was made for a toddler. I felt like the producers focused so much on the new controls that the let the storyline, soundtrack, and graphics slip by. The characters felt really awkward. Fi drove me over the wall she had to pop up to let me know that the annoying beeping noise is my life is almost gone not to mention that she was giving meI hated skyward sword. The whole thing felt like it was made for a toddler. I felt like the producers focused so much on the new controls that the let the storyline, soundtrack, and graphics slip by. The characters felt really awkward. Fi drove me over the wall she had to pop up to let me know that the annoying beeping noise is my life is almost gone not to mention that she was giving me statistics for the most obvious facts. Girihim was a freak. I was not impressed at all.… Expand
  7. gLoMeR
    Mar 11, 2017
    0
    El peor Zelda de todos sin dudarlo. Puede que el juego como tal sea uno de los mejores pero el sistema de control destroza por completo la experiencia.
  8. thefrench
    Feb 2, 2012
    3
    I game is well enough, I am fan of Zelda, but there is some bugs.
  9. Gayfish
    Jan 24, 2013
    0
    This games motion controls were so bad I didn't even want to play to the first dungeon. I didn't like the art style, but it was better than Wind Wakers. The controls killed it.
  10. Thajocoth
    Apr 7, 2017
    0
    This is the only Zelda title that completely lacks an overworld. Instead you have linear slices to play through that you visit multiple times that all look & feel kinda the same (except that one's green, one's red, and one's yellow... That's all that's really different.) You mostly fight the same few bosses over & over instead of getting new boss challenges to solve. Combat is slow andThis is the only Zelda title that completely lacks an overworld. Instead you have linear slices to play through that you visit multiple times that all look & feel kinda the same (except that one's green, one's red, and one's yellow... That's all that's really different.) You mostly fight the same few bosses over & over instead of getting new boss challenges to solve. Combat is slow and repetitive. The first few times swinging the sword to slice the enemy at the correct angle, it was alright, but after that it was more of a hindrance to push through to get back to playing the game.

    Not that there was much game to play through. The whole thing was super easy. The hardest part was sitting through the interruptions whenever the game decided to tell you the solution to something you already figured out on your own, or to re-display text you already read about what things are.

    The gratitude crystals were also very forgettable, unlike other Zelda games' collection items. There was no real searching needed to easily find them all.

    The final dungeon was alright. I liked that dungeon's main gameplay mechanic. (Avoiding spoilers, but if you've played it, then you know what I'm talking about.) That's the only good thing I have to say about this game though.

    The desert had a mechanic in it that looked like it could've been a lot of fun if they actually did much with it, but instead really just added a bit of blue coloring. (Avoiding spoilers, but if you played it, you probably know what I'm talking about.)    … Expand
  11. ludd_gang
    Dec 13, 2011
    10
    My favorite Zelda since Link to the Past. Possibly even better because it is challenging but not frustrating. Motion Plus adds to the gameplay, and rewards thoughtful swordplay over random bashing; For instance, to kill a 3-headed snake you have to hit all the heads at once, requiring timing and angle.
  12. TristonDaShorty
    Jan 5, 2012
    9
    This game is great, and in my mind re-legitimatizes the Wii. The main thing I was happy with in this game was the controls, they are wonderful! The story great, and predictable of course, and winding your way through settings is super fun. This game can get frustrating, but no matter what your having fun.
  13. Novaprospekt
    Dec 3, 2016
    7
    I will start off in saying Skyward Sword is overall a great game. Great, but not excellent or amazing like Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess were.

    The story is fresh and I think is one of the games strong points. It sets you in a completely different environment than what you are used to in previous titles, reminiscent of Majora's Mask when you realized Termina Field is not Hyrule,    I will start off in saying Skyward Sword is overall a great game. Great, but not excellent or amazing like Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess were.

    The story is fresh and I think is one of the games strong points. It sets you in a completely different environment than what you are used to in previous titles, reminiscent of Majora's Mask when you realized Termina Field is not Hyrule, but makes sense when you understand that Skyward Sword takes place very early in the LOZ timeline. There are familiar names or "roots" of names you will recognize from other titles (titles that take place in the future of the LOZ timeline) that really makes the story feel special that you are playing through the very early period of the Zelda Universe and setting events in place for the future.

    The Wii Motion plus controls -- I love them and I hate them at the same time. The are a breath of fresh air, especially in the beginning, when you realize the game was built around them as opposed to the other way around. Eventually though, you get the feeling that some features are there just for the sake of being there. For example, opening up boss rooms becomes an oft-frustrating task that often boils down to a lucky flip of your wrist instead of precise motion. Other puzzles with the motion controls simply boil down to praying the sensor doesn't go crazy and really fails to make you THINK or challenge your mind to solve it.

    The score in this game is also good, but not spectacular. I certainly felt immersed playing in LOZ game with familiar songs and sound effects, the game's music failed to capture my mind in the way that Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess had. Speaking more to TP, the overworld theme of TP is still a song that rings in my memory -- as were the ambiance of various locations throughout the world. SS fails in that respect. The song while flying becomes very repetitive and though an appropriate brass-filled overture for the sky, it just misses the mark for what you'd expect from a newer LOZ game in composition and memorability.

    Worth mentioning here is the musical instrument of this game. It felt like a gimmick for the sake of including an instrument. The songs largely do not matter other than a "one time use" to progress the story at specific points, and especially don't matter since you don't control the actual tones with the controls - the game plays it for you. This really disappointed me when you think back to OOT, Majora's Mask, and even TP where the Wolf howling, though superficial at its core, was turned into a memory game that had you controlling the pitch.

    Finally, the puzzles. I found most of the game's puzzles to be interesting and challenging, requiring you to integrate knowledge from all previous Zelda games but most impressively they often required you to make use of items you received much earlier in the game. This is a fresh departure from previous Zelda titles where many puzzles only integrate the 1 or 2 items you most recently received while forgetting the rest. All items you get in Skyward Sword have a purpose and may be needed at any point in any dungeon. As great as all of that is, the game also baby's you. The in-game helper (i.e. Navi/Tat'l/Midna equivalent) is EXTREMELY annoying and often interrupts you right when you start to think about where you are or what to do next -- breaking the immersion and the flow of the preceding events or the events that are about to happen. Many times I found myself wishing for a setting for "experienced player" or "advanced player" where I didn't get interrupted and told immediately what to do or where I had to go until I had a chance to figure it out for myself.

    This game would have seriously benefited from a simple button to call for help when you wanted it but otherwise leaving you to your own devices until called for. It made the game feel even more linear than it already was having someone constantly saying 'OK go here next', or 'how about do this to solve the puzzle and then go here.'

    Overall, Skyward Sword is a great game and fine addition to the series. It falls short of the mark in music, and some of the Wii motion controls end up pissing you off quite a bit. The game has some really challenging puzzles, while also having a little too much nannying or "babying" on the part of the in-game helper. The story is fresh and interesting, but is extremely linear (almost to a fault) and late in the game it has you doing things that feel bored or repetitive as if the tasks only exist to prolong the game but not the story.

    I rate this game an 7.5/10 overall, but I just felt there was something missing that made games like OOT and TP the masterpieces that they were. I round down to a 7 because the mini-games and peripheral things to do in SS also fall very short of the mark for me.    … Expand
  14. Duke_Challenger
    Dec 18, 2011
    6
    Zelda: Skyward Sword is the first game I've really played in long time since I've been a fan of the series since I was a kid. However, it does not really live up to the innovations of previous Zelda games. Rather there are some new aspects here and there, but it really just copies off of the formula of past Zelda game, along with using all the same ingredients that were once innovationsZelda: Skyward Sword is the first game I've really played in long time since I've been a fan of the series since I was a kid. However, it does not really live up to the innovations of previous Zelda games. Rather there are some new aspects here and there, but it really just copies off of the formula of past Zelda game, along with using all the same ingredients that were once innovations of the previous Zelda games.

    Flaws of Zelda: Skyward Sword
    â    … Expand
  15. Staggs
    Oct 10, 2013
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I wanted to love this game. I wanted to love it so much. In fact, about halfway through my first play through, I was ready to proclaim the Zelda series completely revitalized after the (IMO) ho-hum fest that was TP. The game starts agonizingly slowly (but what Zelda doesn't nowadays?), but once I got to the first dungeon I was having a blast. The motion-based puzzles were extremely well implemented for the most part, and satisfying to solve. And a couple of the boss fights rank among the best in the series, simply because there's more to them than exploiting a weak point.
    But then something happened. Nintendo was afraid of letting this game end. Around the 25 hour mark I began realizing that most of the things I was doing, I had done before. And this feeling never ended. Pretty much the entire second half of the game is a bunch of One quest in particular stands out: the objective is to get a certain item. In order to get this item you have to collect three pieces from these three guys. Alright, kinda stupid seeing as how I had been doing this same thing for 40 hours at that point, but whatever. WELL it turns out that each of these three guys wants something done for them, one of which is an infuriatingly dull underwater scavenger hunt that just wastes your time. The other two are similarly boring busy work that require you to either re-collect your items all over again or take an item to a faraway place for three seconds and then return it. Terrible, padded game design.
    Okay so you have your three pieces from the three guys. It made you want to bash your skull open to get them, but there you go, you made it. Give me the item, Nintendo.
    WRONG! Now you have to play through this stupid, frustrating stealth minigame that you have already played THREE TIMES before in different settings. Once you succeed with that, you are given a thing that you need to use to get the item. When you use this thing it unlocks a dungeon in which you FINALLY get said item. Like, holy I spent five hours jumping through the hoops before I even got to the dungeon. After that, there is no dungeon Nintendo can throw at me that wold be worse. In fact, the dungeon is one of the better ones in the game. The stupid fetch quests were the real dungeon.

    I would rather have a short, awesome game than a long and hollow one, Nintendo. Stop going all Harvey Dent on us.    … Expand
  16. AnonymousPal
    Jan 8, 2012
    7
    I was so excited for this game but overall it kind of left me disappointed. It is not the best game for the wii (Mario Galaxy) and there is no way it is the best game in the series although it would probably be in the top 5 for both. (My top Zeldas btw in order are: Link to the past, Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess and Link's Awakening THEN skyward). Even the wii game of theI was so excited for this game but overall it kind of left me disappointed. It is not the best game for the wii (Mario Galaxy) and there is no way it is the best game in the series although it would probably be in the top 5 for both. (My top Zeldas btw in order are: Link to the past, Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess and Link's Awakening THEN skyward). Even the wii game of the year I would have to give to Xenoblade over Skyward Sword and it was a pretty rough year for the wii. Here are my reasons for a 7.5.
    Pros:
    It's Zelda
    Motion controls done as they should be and work most the time
    Impressive puzzle design
    Loved how Link was more athletic
    Loved the "time capsule" levels

    Cons:
    First NO over world to explore. I loved the twilight princess world and was hoping for expansion.
    Only 3 worlds that you return to like 4 times
    Time for voice acting (ok to leave Link out)
    No hidden faries for upgrades
    Fight same bosses up to 3x
    Pick a graphic style and stick to it: Skyward sword and Twilight both looked great don't need to fuse them rather improve them.
    Motion controls often need resetting
    Weak side quests
    The shadow realms: one or two is enough!
    Kept feeling like something big was coming but nothing did.
    Repetitive

    The game does lay a nice foundation to build upon for the Wii U which will be able to bring a more powerful experience in areas other than just control. That I am excited for!    … Expand
  17. Starfighters76
    Aug 4, 2012
    10
    Absolutely brilliant. Played the Oot all the way through and this other entry in the zelda series plays great. The dialouge between characters is hilarious, the gameplay is smooth, solid and extremely enjoyable. Well worth a play
  18. Taiga
    Jan 7, 2012
    10
    Very well done videogame. The story alone makes it amazing! Once you learn how to play this game (it does have a learning curve) you will have so much fun! I am also happy that I actually got Game Over a few times because other Zelda games have been very easy in comparison. All in all: great story, great characters, great game!
  19. manayter
    Dec 12, 2011
    10
    The Wii has had some very good games in its lifespan- Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Goldeneye 007- heck, even The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. But none surpass Skyward Sword, the game which truly capitalises upon the hardware, using motion controls to play a work of art.

    PRESENTATION: Skyward Sword looks and sounds a treat- the impressionistic art style    The Wii has had some very good games in its lifespan- Super Mario Galaxy and its sequel, Metroid Prime Trilogy, Goldeneye 007- heck, even The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. But none surpass Skyward Sword, the game which truly capitalises upon the hardware, using motion controls to play a work of art.

    PRESENTATION: Skyward Sword looks and sounds a treat- the impressionistic art style lends itself to the wacky, off-beat characters present here-in and the blur effect- while in use because of the Wii's lack of grunt- creates a beautiful painting in the background. The graphics also aid in the gameplay, accentuating what the player has to do with their new found mastery of the blade. The game also sounds delightful, the orchestrated soundtrack delivering many memorable tunes. The story is the best that the Zelda saga has to offer- deep characters with moving tales told through well-designed cinematic cutscenes. While the lack of voice-acting is a pain, I can understand why it was done- these characters probably wouldn't be quite so fun to talk to if they were being acted out. GAMEPLAY:
    Skyward Sword revolutionises the Zelda formula. It takes what was once only in the dungeons of its world and spreads them out across Hyrule, leaving you with a constant challenge, wherever you go. Skyloft is something of a hub from which you travel to the lands below. There you complete very original challenges and battle foes in an all-new way. In addition, the dungeons themselves are better designed- instead of having dozens of smaller rooms, the puzzles are built across huge halls! Now, the combat. Using super-accurate Motion Plus controls, battles themselves are puzzles which you have to defeat by swinging well. The first boss just goes to show how accurate they are, destroying you if you flail randomly! With 40 or so hours in the main plot, another 10-15 in bonus content like side-quests and then a harder version of the main plot, you are getting a lot of bang for your buck- 80-100 hours? This game is a must-own: the puzzles are brilliant, the monsters amazing, the graphics stunning and the soundtrack awe-inspiring. This has cast off the shadow of Ocarina Of Time is a game that all should play. 10/10    … Expand
  20. rideatlga
    Dec 12, 2011
    9
    This was a great game that I had fun playing through. The motion controls are great to a point, but I found sometimes i would be doing the "right" thing to proceed on a puzzle but not be emphasizing the right movement with the motion controls. I would end up checking online and be like I have been doing that all along. I can overlook those 10 minutes of frustration here and there.This was a great game that I had fun playing through. The motion controls are great to a point, but I found sometimes i would be doing the "right" thing to proceed on a puzzle but not be emphasizing the right movement with the motion controls. I would end up checking online and be like I have been doing that all along. I can overlook those 10 minutes of frustration here and there. Another major flaw in the game is whenever you pick up an item for the first time each session it will go to a big cut scene and be like "oh hoorah you already have 10 of these but you got one for the first time again." The open sky area isn't as cool as Hyrule Field as you can do less exploring, at least put some mini dungeons on those islands or something. Aside from these gripes the dungeons were amazing, boss fights great, and a great story line. The issues i mentioned were the only thing keeping this from a 10. For a title like Zelda it is unacceptable to have these issues.… Expand
  21. HitomiNoRyu
    Jul 5, 2014
    7
    I am giving this game a 7 for admittedly selfish reason of I couldn't finish the game. Not because of gameplay...gameplay was awesome no doubt about it. I'm giving this a 7 because Fi ruined every aspect of my experience. OMG this character is the most annoying thing ever. She wouldn't shut up about her unnecessary statistics about things we can figure on our own. Worst of all, I couldn'tI am giving this game a 7 for admittedly selfish reason of I couldn't finish the game. Not because of gameplay...gameplay was awesome no doubt about it. I'm giving this a 7 because Fi ruined every aspect of my experience. OMG this character is the most annoying thing ever. She wouldn't shut up about her unnecessary statistics about things we can figure on our own. Worst of all, I couldn't just mute the game to avoid her nonsense because Fi would pause my battles for her to give obvious adv---SHUT UP I DON'T CARE!! I want to strangle this person who pitched Fi to be included in this game.… Expand
  22. Octotr0n
    Dec 30, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Okay where do I even begin? This game is a masterpiece and a must have for all of the gamers out there. This game brought me back to the "good old days" when I would sit in my room, away from all distractions playing some Zelda. I spent my entire week playing this game and didn't face a single moment of boredom. The only annoying thing about this game was having to reset the calibration on my wii motion plus controller every now and again. Despite the resseting issues, the motion sensing gameplay was fantastic. I did miss the Zoras and Dekus but the replacement kikwis, parella and mogmas are a new look at the Zelda universe and are actually pretty cool. The boss battlesgradually grow harder as you proceed into the story. The environment is huge. Flying your loftwing is great. The entire game is compelling and, as hard as it is to say this, matches the greatness of LoZ OoT!… Expand
  23. RRR
    Jan 3, 2012
    10
    There are simply no words for how good The Legend of Zelda is. All of the games that have been launched into the market by Nintendo are great, but Skyward Sword is really amazing. I have not been able to stop playing it, since I got a few days ago. Nintendo Repair Shop
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  24. Erika22
    Jan 11, 2012
    5
    My boyfriend got this for me for Christmas - He loves gaming, but I'm pretty bad at it. We both thought this would be a good way for me to play something with him that was maybe more my speed. The controls were weird, and the game seemed pretty dull and boring. I don't know enough about games, but even he said that this game was a huge disappointment for him (he's a big zelda fan).My boyfriend got this for me for Christmas - He loves gaming, but I'm pretty bad at it. We both thought this would be a good way for me to play something with him that was maybe more my speed. The controls were weird, and the game seemed pretty dull and boring. I don't know enough about games, but even he said that this game was a huge disappointment for him (he's a big zelda fan). Pretty lackluster, not much else to say. Although I did learn a new phrase! "Fetch quest", lol. This game is full of them.… Expand
  25. X-fushion
    Jan 17, 2012
    10
    Ok first of to all the people that keep saying that "this zelda is more of the same and is worthless" well can you tell me WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? Elder scrolls VI: Zelda or what???? really people, if you buy a zelda game you already now about 50% of what the concept of the game is ,what changes would you add??? ,making it a hack n slash or removing the dungeons???? NO and beside if you doOk first of to all the people that keep saying that "this zelda is more of the same and is worthless" well can you tell me WHAT DID YOU EXPECT? Elder scrolls VI: Zelda or what???? really people, if you buy a zelda game you already now about 50% of what the concept of the game is ,what changes would you add??? ,making it a hack n slash or removing the dungeons???? NO and beside if you do that the game would be a total garbage. But anyway this zelda is one of the best of the series, the dungeon desing is amazing and the puzzles are really well made not to mention that you can repeat boss fights. The controller is great and makes the combat challenging, if you think that motion controls sucks this game is a proof that when motion gaming is done correctly the games mechanics work perfect and are enjoyable.… Expand
  26. Aerofall
    Feb 13, 2012
    9
    The legend of zelda: link to the past is one of the first games I can remember playing, and loving. It's nice to see that even after all those years that Nintendo remembers what makes the series great, and sticks to its roots in the latest installment. I wasn't too crazy about the new look at first, but it really does grow on you, and the motion controls worked as I expected. If you'reThe legend of zelda: link to the past is one of the first games I can remember playing, and loving. It's nice to see that even after all those years that Nintendo remembers what makes the series great, and sticks to its roots in the latest installment. I wasn't too crazy about the new look at first, but it really does grow on you, and the motion controls worked as I expected. If you're having trouble with the controls, I suggest trying a different room, tv, set-up, anything, as I've heard of others having problems only in one room. All that said, this is a zelda game, and while the main enemy is a bit lackluster, I found it to be darn good game.… Expand
  27. RygarLigar
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    It's Zelda, so of course it's great. But what I wasn't expecting was how much fun it was to learn how to sword fight. For the first time in years, I felt there was a learning curve I had to master. Battles were difficult in the beginning until I gained skill and finesse with the sword. The other highlight is the art style. The Wii can't compete with HD, so instead they opted forIt's Zelda, so of course it's great. But what I wasn't expecting was how much fun it was to learn how to sword fight. For the first time in years, I felt there was a learning curve I had to master. Battles were difficult in the beginning until I gained skill and finesse with the sword. The other highlight is the art style. The Wii can't compete with HD, so instead they opted for creativity. The impressionistic paint style is so pretty, I felt like the real world looked boring in comparison every time I stopped playing. The story is interesting and feels a little less generic and archetypal than some in this series.… Expand
  28. mattysurvive
    Apr 19, 2012
    7
    I want to establish something before I write this review: When I purchased Skyward Sword, I was tremendously excited to play it. Zelda is a big deal to me. I'm 20 years old, so I was the perfect age to discover Ocarina of Time when I did. It seeded itself into my heart as one of the most magical experiences from my childhood, and therefor my life so far. I've heeded the call to save ZeldaI want to establish something before I write this review: When I purchased Skyward Sword, I was tremendously excited to play it. Zelda is a big deal to me. I'm 20 years old, so I was the perfect age to discover Ocarina of Time when I did. It seeded itself into my heart as one of the most magical experiences from my childhood, and therefor my life so far. I've heeded the call to save Zelda and Hyrule many times over now. I've traveled to other lands and even other dimensions, and just when I think I've seen it all, each games offers an array of new experiences and topics. Every game in the series thus far has given me memories that I'll always have, even now (I only recently beat Wind Waker and A Link to the Past). The point that I want to make is that I had never been disappointed in a Zelda game, and never imagined I ever would be, until Skyward Sword.
    Whatever excitement I had tearing into the foil around the case and putting the disc into the Wii was rather quickly diminished after maybe an hour of playing this game. After Twilight Princess, I had come to expect long tutorials in Zelda, but come on.. And when you finally arrive in the untamed world of Hyrule, it resembles a playground. There are only three areas on the map for you to explore, and theyre all quite small. It's very simple: there's a forest area, a volcano area, and a desert area, and they're not that attractive visually. You will be visiting the same three maps many, many times. Yes, these maps expand later, but its not enough, and 2 out of 3 times, those additions are too similar to the original map for my taste. They just feel like simple levels in the game, rather than areas to explore, without anyone to really interact with on the scale seen in nearly every Zelda game before. That brings me to the characters. I don't like them, no one stands in a way I'll remember, aside from the core characters in the story, and there aren't too many. I did however feel myself really involved in Groose's story, but ultimately failed to impress me. Fi has her moments, but you can count them on one hand. The story itself is okay, but "safe". I wish Nintendo would have tried new things this time around, given the production time of this game. It just doesnt stand out over any Zelda game I've played before, at all. I do remember going back and forth fetching items many times though. While it does have plenty of moments, it could have been much more. And for fans who care, there are maybe 2 memorable songs in this game. That's saying a lot for a Zelda title. What I feel happened is Nintendo sacrificed much of their grasp on what makes their franchise magical because of the focus on the Wii Motion Plus, which is sad, because it doesn't work that well. Before Skyward Sword was released, I trusted Nintendo that they would never implement a control scheme into a Zelda game if it did not work, and I was excited to see the Motion Plus in action, but it immediately failed to deliver. He never held the sword like I was holding it. I struggled with swinging my sword exactly the way I needed to for hours. Hours of clumsy buggy controls. What's sad is that you can feel the potential, had the Wii Motion Plus delivered. Most of the items are great ideas, but like the swordplay, they come up short because of how buggy the controls are overall. Most frustratingly, the "Skyward Strike", which consists of you charging your sword by holding the Wiimote over your head and then swinging it downwards, is a pretty important part of the final boss battle, and in the heat of the moment, it failed 4 out of 5 times. I died 13 times before I beat him.
    One thing I really did like: the dungeons. You will remember these dungeons, they are terrifically difficult, and all of the items in your inventory to good use during your time in each one. They feel fantastic, look fantastic, and you'll feel all the more brilliant every time you conquer one. Too bad most of the bosses disappoint, save a couple (Dungeon 5's boss is a brilliant battle). I'm giving this game a 7 out of 10, and I wrote this review with the intention of justifying a 6 out of 10 score, but there are redeeming points in this game. It's still a lengthy adventure, full of puzzles and things to be discovered, but there are so many disappointments, which is rare for this series. This was my least favorite title in that series, so I think it speaks for the entire series that I'm giving it a decent 7. Try not to buy it, but any Zelda fan should play it, but don't expect anything more memorable than anything released in this franchise's impressive 25-year run.    … Expand
  29. kuehnau
    Oct 30, 2016
    5
    I've always like the Legend of Zelda franchise. I grew up with it and I've played every game. So I was excited to play Skyward sword.

    The game uses advanced motion detection in the controller to better detect player movement. The idea was that they were going to make an attempt at emulating sword play in the game. When I first started playing, I thought it was a unique idea, but the    I've always like the Legend of Zelda franchise. I grew up with it and I've played every game. So I was excited to play Skyward sword.

    The game uses advanced motion detection in the controller to better detect player movement. The idea was that they were going to make an attempt at emulating sword play in the game. When I first started playing, I thought it was a unique idea, but the longer I played, the longer I realized I didn't like it, I really wanted to just play with a standard controller.

    The game makes it a point to bascially justify the existance of the new motion controller, by making you have to use it constantly. While flying your bird, you have to wave your controller around to make it fly. In almost every dungeon there's stupid ropes you need to swing off of, or tightropes you have to balance on to cross large gaps. These felt fine at first, but once I realized that every location is literally littered with this junk, I became annoyed. Boss doors are locked with these stupid, 3D keys, that you have to spin around and rotate in order to get it to fit into the boss door. Neat concept but poorly used. I spent far too much time trying to figure out how to actually rotate the stupid key.

    The Legend of Zelda has never been a platformer game. Granted, some of the games required a bit more climbing or jumping than previous titles, but the design they used for the game is going to have you constantly jumping from platform to platform, swining on ropes and vines and lame distractions like that.

    Further, the game simply feels smaller than other titles because of how they chose to design the world. You'll start in a sky city and you can transverse the air with your bird. Once you get deeper into the game, you'll travel to the surface to explore, fight monsters and delve into dungeons. The problem is, these areas are all seperated into smaller locations, which are accessed by the sky. It makes each area feel small and isolated, instead of like a vast kingdom.

    There's also your new assistant, Fi, who is constantly bothering you with needless information. She's worse than Navi in the N64 version. You are constantly being harassed by stuff no one cares about. It becomes frustrating really fast.

    The reality is, this doesn't really feel like a true Legend of Zelda title, the motion controls really ruined it for me and it felt more like a theme park than a vast unexplored land.    … Expand
  30. denvise
    Jun 10, 2012
    10
    Amazing game, the controls works great, someone saying different can't set up there Wii's correct.
    Music is very good start to finish, story best to date, graphics beat PS3 anyday even on the Wii, now stop reading and go buy it, you won't be sorry!
  31. NIntendoFan94
    Aug 6, 2012
    10
    this game is amazing as Twilight Princess! The sound is freaking authentic, Gameplay looked awesome. This was an epic Zelda adventure! Its a must buy
  32. chronoT
    Sep 2, 2012
    7
    I bought a Wii and this game over the summer because of everything I've heard, and I am a HUGE Zelda fan. Zelda link to the past and Zelda 64 were two masterpieces, and every Zelda after should walk in their shoes. I will admit that this game was innovative in certain ways and fun, but for some reason it just felt a little too different. Some of the items were pretty silly, like the blowI bought a Wii and this game over the summer because of everything I've heard, and I am a HUGE Zelda fan. Zelda link to the past and Zelda 64 were two masterpieces, and every Zelda after should walk in their shoes. I will admit that this game was innovative in certain ways and fun, but for some reason it just felt a little too different. Some of the items were pretty silly, like the blow dryer and I thought the flying beetle was a neat idea just not for Zelda. Also, what happened to the music in this game? The music at certain places, especially in the desert was kind of ugly. I would love to see a Zelda game use SOME previous music in a remastered form such as the dungeon music from aLtTP, memories would flourish. I also have to somewhat agree that the controls are a little sloppy and annoying at times, and for some reason I don't really like flailing my arms around to play a Zelda game. Graphically I was a little disappointed too because I prefer a more mature type of artwork compared to a sort-of childish look. I have to say too that even though some of the areas were pretty large, it felt a little too linear and I wish they didn't include all these check and save points that make it feel less like Zelda. The flying around on the bird was a good idea but sometimes it gets a little annoying as well. If you are a die hard Zelda fan though and you own a Wii already, this game is worth at least checking out because passed all the flaws there is still a good game. I totally agree with IGN giving Zelda 64 a 10 out of 10 but not for this game, a 10 is overrated IMO.… Expand
  33. McFungus
    Nov 16, 2012
    6
    Zelda, what an inspiration this series has become. We look to you not only as an originator of a whole subset of gaming but to perfectly encapsulate and immortalise transvestites as not only being people, but being heroes. Only perhaps with Kirby, another fine Nintendo creation, have we seen a long standing transexual role-playing series. To this I say Nintendo should be given a hugeZelda, what an inspiration this series has become. We look to you not only as an originator of a whole subset of gaming but to perfectly encapsulate and immortalise transvestites as not only being people, but being heroes. Only perhaps with Kirby, another fine Nintendo creation, have we seen a long standing transexual role-playing series. To this I say Nintendo should be given a huge hurrah by the greater community for their ability to radically change the way we think. For anyone, be they man or woman, or one that identifies better as the other, can be a hero to all.… Expand
  34. Fetacritic
    Oct 5, 2013
    7
    Very boring, hours long opening. Nothing really new. Levels are repeating themselves, puzzles aren't that great. Characters are quite meaningless. Even the sidekick is annoying and boring (I miss Midna!). The graphics are quite bad, even for the Wii. It looks worse than Twilight Princess and is nothing near the graphical quality of e.g. Mario Galaxy. The sword controls with Wii Motion PlusVery boring, hours long opening. Nothing really new. Levels are repeating themselves, puzzles aren't that great. Characters are quite meaningless. Even the sidekick is annoying and boring (I miss Midna!). The graphics are quite bad, even for the Wii. It looks worse than Twilight Princess and is nothing near the graphical quality of e.g. Mario Galaxy. The sword controls with Wii Motion Plus aren't that great either.

    If you can slog one's way through the first seven very boring hours, it gets better. But it stays very dated. Same old elements like every Zelda of the last years had, nothing new, characters still don't speak. Feels very dated in every aspect. I loved OoT, WW, TP but couldn't get warm with Skyward Sword at all. Worst Zelda I ever played. I think the series needs some kind of reboot like OoT was back in the days.

    It's still fun to play if you don't count the first hours. But in my opinion it's one of the most overrated games of all time.    … Expand
  35. CrazyNed
    Feb 21, 2013
    9
    Somehow, this feels more like Studio Ghibli than even "Ni No Kuni." I adore the art design and graphics of the game so much, it's probably my second favorite looking "Zelda" behind only "Ocarina of Time." Awesomely enough, how incredible it looks is matched (and often exceeded) by its great storytelling, pace, and controls. I don't think I ever became more emotionally invested in aSomehow, this feels more like Studio Ghibli than even "Ni No Kuni." I adore the art design and graphics of the game so much, it's probably my second favorite looking "Zelda" behind only "Ocarina of Time." Awesomely enough, how incredible it looks is matched (and often exceeded) by its great storytelling, pace, and controls. I don't think I ever became more emotionally invested in a "Zelda"... or any solely Nintendo title, come to think of it. There are moments when the plot beats and the music accompanying them are simply awe-inspiring. I'm also in the camp that firmly believes its place in "Zelda" mythos as the first chronologically (and how the rest of the games fit together because of it) is genius. There's no other word for it except genius. I never thought it possible to logically and practically link every game in this series, but so help me, it REALLY works! However, I do have a rather large problem with "Skyward" that cannot be ignored (and is the only reason I didn't rate it a 10): it's insanely easy in every area (save combat) and it never allows itself to become more complicated at any point before it ends. With every quest, puzzle, and whatnot, you have Fi giving you advice and flat-out hints and, as if that's not enough, there's those miserable stones that basically reveal everything to you if you so inquire. It's ridiculous to me, considering the very foundation of the "Zeldas" is exploration and discovery. It's a shame Nintendo also decided to carry this ability to find out everything about everything without having to do anything over to the 3D release of the aforemenioned "Ocarina" (the reason the N64 version is still the ace).… Expand
  36. DrGenisi
    Jan 1, 2013
    6
    Let's start with the positive. For those of you who don't know this game is the first zelda game in chronological order. I'm not gonna bore with the Zelda timeline so let's go to gameplay. I had high expectations for this game and from the beginning to the end of the first dungeon, those expectations were met. Almost one to one tracking with the sword, interesting new items with new waysLet's start with the positive. For those of you who don't know this game is the first zelda game in chronological order. I'm not gonna bore with the Zelda timeline so let's go to gameplay. I had high expectations for this game and from the beginning to the end of the first dungeon, those expectations were met. Almost one to one tracking with the sword, interesting new items with new ways to play. That came at a price though. CALIBRATION. There is so much calibration in this game because the Wii MotionPlus gets uncalibrated so easily. I don't have the Wii RemotePlus so I don't know if that's better. So even though we have the amazing one to one sword tracking and the (tricky to master) different techniques for different enemies, I can't say I enjoyed playing the game because of the endless calibrating. I much prefer games like Ocarina of time and Majora's Mask because it's not tedious and that makes it fun. There's a line between fair but hard and then just overly annoying and Skyward Sword falls into the overly annoying section. This bit is personal so I'm not gonna take marks of for this but I've met a lot of people with the same game experience as me so I should. I said that it was "fun" until the end of the first dungeon/temple. That's when the game didn't become hard just, I didn't know what to do. I had to look up a guide literally every 5 mins. That was the thing that made me put down the game and say no.… Expand
  37. thebeachinator
    Oct 12, 2014
    6
    I have played every zelda game so far. I am a huge fan of the series, but this may be the worst one in my opinion. My main objection is with the combat style. The sword follows the wii remotes movements. You have to swing at the openings in the opponent's defense. The angle of the swing is very important and I just can't control it properly. When i wind up for a backhand swing, LinkI have played every zelda game so far. I am a huge fan of the series, but this may be the worst one in my opinion. My main objection is with the combat style. The sword follows the wii remotes movements. You have to swing at the openings in the opponent's defense. The angle of the swing is very important and I just can't control it properly. When i wind up for a backhand swing, Link just swings forehand right into the enemies' block and then staggers backwards. Its clumsy and frustrating. Everything else is good and the flying system is great. But overall I have lost interest and don't think i will ever finish the game.… Expand
  38. javaleno
    Sep 11, 2013
    10
    The story is amazing. The gameplay is better than ever. I can't imagine me playing another legend of zelda game without motion controls. The feeling of actually controlling the swords and your attacks is amazing. I recommended this game to all my friends, and I recommend it to whoever is reading my review. Ignore the Negative reviews, they are on the Ocarina of Time band wagon.
  39. Game_Row
    Nov 16, 2014
    6
    This game had potential. Good storyline, decent maps, and a cool new way for transportation. After you stop drooling from all these great new features let's get into the needy greedy. Nintendo tries to implement their motion plus. This makes it really annoying. You will be constantly trying to level it again and again making it difficult to control. This game makes you use thisThis game had potential. Good storyline, decent maps, and a cool new way for transportation. After you stop drooling from all these great new features let's get into the needy greedy. Nintendo tries to implement their motion plus. This makes it really annoying. You will be constantly trying to level it again and again making it difficult to control. This game makes you use this feature by controlling your transportation, sword, and many other aspects. Not cool, especially when fighting enemies. I think I got half way in the game and haven't picked it up since. I'm sure I would have had a better experience if Nintendo gave me a controller option.

    -Game_Row    … Expand
  40. SirKirbyThe4th
    Feb 9, 2015
    6
    Quick, Fi! Summarize the cut scene I LITERALLY watched less than 1/2 a second ago! Let's explore the same places 7 million times! Where is the eye I need to hit?
    Good game.
  41. MissFantastic
    Dec 1, 2013
    6
    After playing this game through, I was pretty disappointed. In my opinion, Skyward Sword is a fantastic game...sadly, it doesn't hold true to the Zelda series. There are two key parts of the franchise that Skyward Sword is missing: the open world design and being able to complete dungeons in any order the player may choose. I honestly don't see how people can say that it stays true toAfter playing this game through, I was pretty disappointed. In my opinion, Skyward Sword is a fantastic game...sadly, it doesn't hold true to the Zelda series. There are two key parts of the franchise that Skyward Sword is missing: the open world design and being able to complete dungeons in any order the player may choose. I honestly don't see how people can say that it stays true to the Zelda series, or how Nintendo thought they were going back to their roots with this one. Aside from the negatives, the game has an as-usual fantastic story along with great graphics suited perfectly for the Wii's aging hardware. I just couldn't give the game a high score because it doesn't "feel" like you're playing a Zelda game. That and the amount of hand-holding in the game was a real turn off for me. I give this a score of 6 because it's a good game, but in my opinion, deserves its own IP and should not be part of the Zelda franchise since it deviates so far from the other games. Of course, like any other Zelda game, it's a must-play for a fan, but be prepared for a game play style much different from what you're used to!… Expand
  42. tomasz009
    Dec 6, 2013
    10
    Amazing. This game takes advantage of all of the Wii's capabilities, and is one of the most beautiful games I've ever played (a word that I seldom use for games). Surprised it made me feel this mushy, but the characters are actually well made this time around! Gameplay and puzzles are perfection too. Before playing this game, I said that nothing could ever beat Twilight Princess, but nowAmazing. This game takes advantage of all of the Wii's capabilities, and is one of the most beautiful games I've ever played (a word that I seldom use for games). Surprised it made me feel this mushy, but the characters are actually well made this time around! Gameplay and puzzles are perfection too. Before playing this game, I said that nothing could ever beat Twilight Princess, but now I'm in doubt. Hope the Wii U gets a Zelda game half this good.… Expand
  43. MisterButter
    Nov 22, 2014
    5
    I have a bunch of small complaints but the big one is the motion controls. It's an interesting idea but it makes fighting simple enemys very difficult. So think about it, do I wanna play a video game or do I wanna get sword fighting lessons?
  44. bearbishop
    Jul 22, 2014
    7
    The critics on this site should be ashamed for the way they review stuff. Why is it that every single Zelda game regardless of whether it is a good game gets a 90+. This game was pretty fun, but it does the typical **** that Nintendo loves to do in Zelda games now where a huge part of it is just stupid filler garbage. I never beat this game, but I got to dungeon 6 and realized that all IThe critics on this site should be ashamed for the way they review stuff. Why is it that every single Zelda game regardless of whether it is a good game gets a 90+. This game was pretty fun, but it does the typical **** that Nintendo loves to do in Zelda games now where a huge part of it is just stupid filler garbage. I never beat this game, but I got to dungeon 6 and realized that all I had to look forward to was a crappy dungeon where you use mole claws as a tool to enter into some weird mini game where link tunnels around. Then after that you backtrack through all the old areas and collect pointless items like tad tones. I saw the ending and it was cool, but not worth going through a bunch of post game garbage that shouldn't have even been included.… Expand
  45. HSuke
    Aug 6, 2014
    7
    Skyword Sword is a prime example of why you can't trust critic reviews for a blockbuster game. 93 Critic Metascore, 7.9 user score.

    Skyword is the retarded, bastard son of the Zelda series. It had lofty ideas that were poorly implemented. First, using the Wii-mote Plus was so frustratingly cumbersome because the Wii was just unable to detect it accurately. That was essentially the only    Skyword Sword is a prime example of why you can't trust critic reviews for a blockbuster game. 93 Critic Metascore, 7.9 user score.

    Skyword is the retarded, bastard son of the Zelda series. It had lofty ideas that were poorly implemented. First, using the Wii-mote Plus was so frustratingly cumbersome because the Wii was just unable to detect it accurately. That was essentially the only reason the boss fights were any challenge at all. It felt like I was playing the QWOP version of Zelda. It would've been much better with a GC controller.

    The story was decent, but Zelda games are never about the story. Skyward Sword has some of the worst dungeons of all Zelda games. If its puzzles were twice as smart, they'd still be grossly stupid. In terms of gameplay, SS was basically the CoD equivalent of adventure games--it was very linear. You go from point A to B to C without much of any thought. Gone were the brilliant puzzles of OoT and LttP. Skyward Sword's dungeons all felt 1-dimensional.

    The game was also tediously long. Getting from any place to another required minutes of flying in the sky, which didn't really add anything to the gameplay. Being able to teleport between owls would've fixed that. Lastly, the songs (with the exception of Fi's Theme and the Gate of Time) were quite repetitive and annoying.

    Criticisms out of the way, it was still a decent game. It just was nowhere near the level of its predecessors.    … Expand
  46. UrbanScott
    May 1, 2014
    7
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a great game. With a long story, fun gameplay, and high replay value, the game just feels fun compared to older games. However, that being said, unlike the classics, Skyward Sword lacks any real challenge and puzzle that would take more than 10 minutes to complete. The story is good, not great. It does tie in a lot of the series. The gameplay is highlyThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a great game. With a long story, fun gameplay, and high replay value, the game just feels fun compared to older games. However, that being said, unlike the classics, Skyward Sword lacks any real challenge and puzzle that would take more than 10 minutes to complete. The story is good, not great. It does tie in a lot of the series. The gameplay is highly enjoyable with the Wii Motion plus and is very satisfying. The graphics, although, not realistic by any means, do work for the game. Instead of realism, it's replaced with art. The entire world when viewed, looks like a piece of art which does replace any desire for realism.

    However, the thing that really draws me back is the child-ish nature to the game and the easiness to it. Something I wish Zelda would start doing is making the games darker. Make the game more realistic. Twilight Princess and Majora's Mask are great examples of ways to do it, without making it very violent. Also, compared to older games, I never found myself stuck in one spot very long. Majora's Mask took me almost a year to complete when I first started playing it. Ocarina of Time took even longer. Now, this does make the game more relaxed, family friendly, and enjoyable, but when I'm playing Zelda, I want puzzles and a great story.

    Overall, it's a good game. Worth buying. Would I say it's amazing by any means? No.    … Expand
  47. 843514
    May 9, 2014
    10
    na minha opiniao esse é o melhor the legend of zelda de todos os tempos o game é muito épico eu
    tambem acho que ele é o melhor jogo do mundo eu do a nota maxíma para ele 100 de 100
  48. i76
    Nov 4, 2021
    8
    You can tell the old legends of Nintendo no longer input into these games.... ocarina of times gameplay and control mechanic (and every thing else) is so much better.

    Consistently interrupted by f'king everything wanting to talk to you and you cant skip.... ever. Controls are pretty shjtty, when fighting difficult enemies the control from the wiimote is good but not good enough... plus    You can tell the old legends of Nintendo no longer input into these games.... ocarina of times gameplay and control mechanic (and every thing else) is so much better.

    Consistently interrupted by f'king everything wanting to talk to you and you cant skip.... ever.
    Controls are pretty shjtty, when fighting difficult enemies the control from the wiimote is good but not good enough... plus it recalibrated every time you use an item (slingshot etc) so if you pull up your slingshot while aiming the mote and the ground it will be centre on the screen meaning you never have a defined centre instead itas always recalibrated messing up your orientation, a 64 controller is superior in every way... though the kids that dont know any different will refute this.... cuz kids.

    It Zelda and I love it.... it just does not live up to the standard set on the 64's Ocarina of Time or even Majora's Mask.
    The old boys have left the building and as everything in the last 20 years... quality of everything has dropped a hell of a lot.... and this/nintendo didnt escape the quality drop.    … Expand
  49. le-weirdo
    Jul 1, 2014
    5
    look, i believe that this game is good, but it is just not for me. this game is too slow in the beginning and doesn't go faster after that. some of the characters are SO annoying. Zelda, Groose, Fi. I'm not lying that the first world took me 6 HOURS. in this game (just as any other zelda game) you can collect items for potions, and if you collect it for the first time they explain it toolook, i believe that this game is good, but it is just not for me. this game is too slow in the beginning and doesn't go faster after that. some of the characters are SO annoying. Zelda, Groose, Fi. I'm not lying that the first world took me 6 HOURS. in this game (just as any other zelda game) you can collect items for potions, and if you collect it for the first time they explain it too you as usual, BUT EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU TURN OFF THE GAME AND COLLECT AN ITEM AGAIN IT TELLS YOU AGAIN WHAT IT DOES. this get to you frustrated really fast. i got so mad that i didn't came further than half the second world. the music also feels.............not that great, boring too be honest.
    i'm sorry but this game is just not for me.    … Expand
  50. macskii
    Jul 29, 2014
    3
    Easily the worst Zelda game ever created, it has a mediocre boring storyline, it's the same dungeon solving except made tedious. I did not even finish this game, it brings nothing new to the series besides gimmicky controls. There is not even a left handed version! Link being left handed and they didn't even bother to make a mode for lefties. Truly a failure, don't waste your time.
  51. GypsyPeach
    Aug 1, 2014
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Although I generally do favor Zelda games I had a hard time with this game. It was difficult to see where this story fit in until the official timeline came out and then it was a little easier to accept that Zelda wasn't the princess, there is only 1 goddess as opposed to 3, there's no master-sword etc.

    Still the controls with the wii-mote felt TOO sensitive for aiming and swinging alike and I didn't like the gameplay as much overall. The art style was definitely better in twilight princess as well as was the story and pretty much everything and I'd much rather play that. The music in Skyward Sword was still good though and the bosses were challenging, the temples were fun and the new items were cool but overall it was just a meh game for me.    … Expand
  52. jkersey
    Nov 21, 2014
    3
    This game is like a mad scientist's experiment to create the worst possible Legend of Zelda game. Vast, explorable words? Take that out, and put in clunky flying to get anywhere. Awesome monster, boss, and level designs? Nah, replace that **** with repeating dungeons, recycled bosses (you literally fight two bosses twice), and very few monster types.
    Vast arsenal to collect and use? Hah,    This game is like a mad scientist's experiment to create the worst possible Legend of Zelda game. Vast, explorable words? Take that out, and put in clunky flying to get anywhere. Awesome monster, boss, and level designs? Nah, replace that **** with repeating dungeons, recycled bosses (you literally fight two bosses twice), and very few monster types.
    Vast arsenal to collect and use? Hah, how about a limited inventory that can only be expanded by collecting thousand of rupees to have a slightly less tiny inventory? Oh, you also have to farm for items like a Monster Hunter game to improve your items...except you're walking as slow as you can with a bug net to catch one bird. That's fun right?
    But the real fun comes with the combat. And by fun, I mean swinging, and getting ticked off that the controller doesn't pick up what direction you're swinging in. And you thought Navi was bad? Wait until you get to meet Fi, who makes her look like a pleasant walk in the park.
    Top all of this off with a dash of fetch quests, a sprinkle of escort missions, a dallop of glitches, and a heap of dungeons just to get to the actual temples, and you have yourself a bafflingly disappointing LoZ game. At least with Wind Waker, I can understand why people enjoyed it while I personally didn't. With this game, I honestly can't see what people even like about it.

    The music is nice, though.    … Expand
  53. Joaco890
    Nov 27, 2014
    1
    Zelda Skyward sword was a game that was meant for Wii U but rushed to be sold on the Wii console, that's the only possible explanation, since it showed elements that had enormous potential, yet snowballed in the small but relevant aspects of a Zelda game, being the worst Zelda I've ever played so far and the only ones i still haven't played are the ones on Phillips CDI.

    The story:    Zelda Skyward sword was a game that was meant for Wii U but rushed to be sold on the Wii console, that's the only possible explanation, since it showed elements that had enormous potential, yet snowballed in the small but relevant aspects of a Zelda game, being the worst Zelda I've ever played so far and the only ones i still haven't played are the ones on Phillips CDI.

    The story: Filled with the new Japanese trend where the evil guy belittles the hero only to find himself being beaten at the end. But besides that it still keeps a Zelda-ish story.

    The World: A world you want to explore yet you find yourself walking around small stages-like maps with some puzzles that unlocks an item in another map that you have visited hundreds of times(ridiculous), with the exception of the desert map(that was an awesome fresh map). The concept of an explorable sky world was awesome but it was so empty and monotonous that exploring it didn't give me any satisfaction.

    The assistant: Useless, annoying, it's like one of those MTV shows were they test how long can you keep your cool before raging making her the hardest boss of the game. Not only it will interrupt you in the middle of a fight breaking your "immersion", it will do it to inform you about trivial things or things you already know.( PS: She also spoils all the puzzles in the game.....a game that consists about puzzles and exploration)

    The Menu: Was decent.....until you reach the part where you start picking up items to upgrade your equipment... Who was the genius who thought it was a good idea to show you the menu and the explanation every time you turn on the game and pick one of those items?? If you are in the middle of a fight and a monster drops one of those you will not only see the classic pick up animation, but also be taken to the collectible items menu where they will show you what you collected.....

    (I'm not implying they should make the puzzles harder to solve, but to actually give the player a chance to think of a solution, instead of having the assistant playing the role of a tourist guide immediately.

    The items: Really liked the scarab one, it really made full use of the wiimote, the whip was so-so since it was pretty much a fancy grappling hook. The other items didn't add anything new to the game except that new interaction with the bomb.

    The mount: Funny to use, but only available in two maps which is kind of sad, also you cant use your items while you are mounting it....

    The final boss: Didn't even face him, Phi, the true final boss beat me after the "final boss" opened the portal to the final battle.

    So to the people who gave this game a good rate and dare to criticize those who disliked it should go back to all the other Zelda and play them once again.

    It didn't feel like a Zelda.

    No interesting side quests, extra items and stories
    Lack of puzzles( since Phi spoils them)
    Lack of open world elements

    1/10 as a Zelda

    3/10 as a Game    … Expand
  54. MrCommonSense
    Jan 11, 2015
    4
    I'm just going to cut to the chase, This game honestly kinda sucks. If it wasn't on the **** console in recent history then things could have been FAR different but as it is the controls are wonky thanks to the fact that you have to reset your freaking controller every few minutes just so that you can actually freaking play the game. The graphics are decent but they are blended with aI'm just going to cut to the chase, This game honestly kinda sucks. If it wasn't on the **** console in recent history then things could have been FAR different but as it is the controls are wonky thanks to the fact that you have to reset your freaking controller every few minutes just so that you can actually freaking play the game. The graphics are decent but they are blended with a bubblegum bright color scheme to hide the fact that the wii was a cheap piece of **** barely capable of producing graphics on par with the gamecube.

    My biggest gripe with this game is that every aspect of it seems to be marketed towards children. All of the things that made Twilight Princess and Majora's Mask so amazing are completely absent in this game. The dark brooding atmosphere and creative enemies and bosses are replaced with neon bright colors and almost friendly looking foes, Not to mention the fact that there are like. MAYBE twenty people in the floating city that you are protecting and the fact that the freaking zoras are replaced with TALKING SEAHORSES.

    This game is just plain **** and I never even bothered to finish it.    … Expand
  55. Brendon6446
    Jan 21, 2015
    7
    I beat the first temple (thats enough to judge the game i believe) and the game is good. Solid story, big map, decent art style, eh....ok characters. The bright colored world is different but probably most similar to wind waker if i had to choose anyway the game has good intentions but what really got to me were the motion controls. The motion controls are very annoying and difficult. ThisI beat the first temple (thats enough to judge the game i believe) and the game is good. Solid story, big map, decent art style, eh....ok characters. The bright colored world is different but probably most similar to wind waker if i had to choose anyway the game has good intentions but what really got to me were the motion controls. The motion controls are very annoying and difficult. This zelda had the worst controls of the entire franchise. The controls is what lowered the score of this game for me. Nintendo is a great company and what is cool about them is that they are always trying something new and succeed a lot but sometimes you fail. That being said everything besides the controls are solid so i believe my score is reasonable until i play the game more… Expand
  56. yoshi_s_island
    Oct 10, 2021
    6
    This came when Nintendo had started not to be really serious with their major releases for domestic consoles (as opposed to only for the handhelds).
    The GameCube age, an age where Nintendo tried to be very serious as they had with the N64 before that, taught Nintendo a stern lesson about the dangers in, let me repeat myself, being serious versus lowering their target and aiming at the    This came when Nintendo had started not to be really serious with their major releases for domestic consoles (as opposed to only for the handhelds).
    The GameCube age, an age where Nintendo tried to be very serious as they had with the N64 before that, taught Nintendo a stern lesson about the dangers in, let me repeat myself, being serious versus lowering their target and aiming at the mass of players.
    The Wii generation is where they enacted what they had been taught by "the market".
    They did it with Super Mario Galaxy, with the Mario Kart series' instalment, and they did it with Zelda.

    Firmly lowered the... requirements to play, and I am not talking of hardware requirements.

    After the misunderstood masterwork Twilight Princess, Zelda has luckily gone back to its identity and spirit with its Switch instalment. Those two games are where I suggest to you to begin if you want to approach the series.
    Then would come the two very good ones for the Nintendo 64. Then the 2D ones.
    Skyward Sword being the single one to studiously stand clear of, ever.    … Expand
  57. PokeMaster99999
    Jun 27, 2015
    4
    This game is not a good game. Unlike every other Legend of Zelda game, this 'game' uses spotty, imprecise motion controls to control Link's sword and Harp. This results in a lot of pain and annoyance, as the Harp is rendered almost unusable. There's also no 'classic control' option, so you are stuck with the fricking motion controls.
    The Imprisoned is also very cheap, and thus very    This game is not a good game. Unlike every other Legend of Zelda game, this 'game' uses spotty, imprecise motion controls to control Link's sword and Harp. This results in a lot of pain and annoyance, as the Harp is rendered almost unusable. There's also no 'classic control' option, so you are stuck with the fricking motion controls.
    The Imprisoned is also very cheap, and thus very annoying; he can climb on the second encounter, and fly on the third. In a circular arena, this is absolutely stupid, as he can easily, easily gain an advantage, as Link cannot fly; this is compounded by the next stupid design decision.
    The limited stamina gauge. No other Link has this distinction, so why should this one? The limited stamina means that you cannot run all around to your heart's content, as Link gets tired. This also limits how often you can use the spin attack, a move that has been weakened from previous (and future) games. The limited running also makes the Imprisoned fights worse, as you have to catch up to him (sometimes needing to run to an air gust to be blown to the higher level) while fighting the limited stamina. This is absolutely stupid.
    The Silent Realm is also very stupid, as first Link has to use the Harp (which uses the flawed motion controls, as stated above). Once in, Link has none of his items, and fails if touched by a Guardian. As soon as you step out of the initial ring, the Guardians awake and hunt Link down. Sure, they're put to sleep if a Sacred Tear is collected, but taking too long, being caught in a spotlight, or even touching Water all results in them waking up again. If Link's damaged by a Guardian, he has to start ALL OVER AGAIN - only missing one Tear? TOO BAD - YOU NEED TO COLLECT THEM ALL AGAIN.
    The fact that the same basic mechanic (collecting Tears to progress) was present in Twilight Princess, and was done infinitely better in said game (no Guardians, no time limit, no extra bullsh), is shameful.
    The method taken by the game to upgrade shields, items and potions is absolutely annoying, especially when it comes to the rarer materials (such as Blue Bird Feather and Goddess Plume). These materials are a pain to get, and obtaining bugs is also a nuisance, as they can fly away and ruin your enjoyment.
    Lastly, tomboyish Zelda is not a good Zelda; be more like your Twilight Princess or The Wind Waker counterpart, and be quiet and meek.

    Skyward Sword should not be considered a 'perfect' or 'near-perfect' game; its many, many flaws (many of which were not present in The Wind Waker or Twilight Princess, nor in A Link Between Worlds) prevent it from being a 'fantastic' game. All the stupid flaws listed above relegate Skyward Sword to a 4/10.    … Expand
  58. Hackattaque
    Jan 14, 2016
    7
    I skipped Twilight Princess so can't compare but this game is not worth the money or the hype in my view. Odd design choices like a run meter and dodgy motion controls (just unsheathing your sword is ridiculous) make combat and exploration a chore, while the story is just not very interesting. I'm glad they are trying new things but ultimately they tinkered too much with core playI skipped Twilight Princess so can't compare but this game is not worth the money or the hype in my view. Odd design choices like a run meter and dodgy motion controls (just unsheathing your sword is ridiculous) make combat and exploration a chore, while the story is just not very interesting. I'm glad they are trying new things but ultimately they tinkered too much with core play mechanics and not enough with story, character and the way the game unfolds.… Expand
  59. TharosTheDragon
    Aug 17, 2015
    6
    This is the worst Zelda game. That doesn't mean it's a bad game though, since Zelda does set the bar pretty high. I'm mostly turned off by how uninspired it is. Instead of someone saying "I have a great idea for a new Zelda game," it feels like someone said "we need a new Zelda game for the Wii, so what can you come up with?" The story is the same old boring crap about how you're the heroThis is the worst Zelda game. That doesn't mean it's a bad game though, since Zelda does set the bar pretty high. I'm mostly turned off by how uninspired it is. Instead of someone saying "I have a great idea for a new Zelda game," it feels like someone said "we need a new Zelda game for the Wii, so what can you come up with?" The story is the same old boring crap about how you're the hero of destiny who has to fulfill a prophecy. Every single item in this game is based on an item in another Zelda game. And Navi doesn't hold a candle to how obnoxious your sidekick is now. As a testament to how sloppily this game was thrown together, it was released with the most glaringly fatal glitch that has ever been seen in a Nintendo game. I'm sure the developers were all very embarrassed by how badly this reflects on them.

    One thing that annoys me about this game is that it was advertised as going at the beginning of the "official Zelda timeline." I could write a whole other review about how stupid that timeline is and how I wish they could just treat Zelda like many other highly respected series like Final Fantasy and Fire Emblem by accepting that the games don't have to be connected in their storylines. Anyway, since I was expecting this game to be set at the very beginning, I kept my fingers crossed in hopes that they wouldn't start the game off with the Wind Waker Zelda trope of having hieroglyph-like murals explain the ancient historic conflicts that occurred long before this game. And sure enough, that's exactly how this game starts. And the game is full of references to the distant past, like with the admittedly cool mechanic of having time shift stones reveal the world of 1000 years ago. It's full of ancient things because the makers of this game don't know how to do things any differently, but also because I'm sure the decision to put this game at the beginning of the timeline came after the game was already made and so the writers were not part of that conversation. Minish Cap explains the origins of Link's hat, so if you want Link to have his signature hat in the game you better put it after Minish Cap in the timeline!

    To be fair, I do appreciate the few new things they tried with this game, like the stamina bar and the limited inventory space. But the problem is that both of those things serve to limit what you can do and so are perceived as nothing but an annoyance! Players want to feel empowered rather than stunted, and so those new features fall flat on their face. And speaking of empowerment, I'm sick of the Zelda story trope of having your every move be predetermined as part of some prophecy, which is hit harder in this game than any other. I'd like to carve my own destiny, thank you very much.    … Expand
  60. airgonomike
    Jun 1, 2016
    4
    Alright this is it... I've decided not to finish the game after the 2nd encounter with the "Big spiky monster". This thing has a name but you just end up absolutely not caring what you do anyway...
    You actually hope until that point that the game is going to be somewhat interesting but it just doesn't...
    You're just assisted, assisted and assisted again, constantly reminded to do this or    Alright this is it... I've decided not to finish the game after the 2nd encounter with the "Big spiky monster". This thing has a name but you just end up absolutely not caring what you do anyway...
    You actually hope until that point that the game is going to be somewhat interesting but it just doesn't...
    You're just assisted, assisted and assisted again, constantly reminded to do this or that by Fi who basically knows everything you have to do... The game should have called "Fi Skyward Sword". Items collection is just pointless since making a shield is close to useless.
    And flying is soooo boring... The bird keeps falling and you just end up free falling and climbing back on the bird just to get some altitude, it's ridiculous how exploring the sky is useless and boring.
    You keep going back and forth to the exact same places...

    I have a Wii U so please don't f**k up with the next Zelda Wii U please...
    Love Zelda, all of them. THIS IS NOT A ZELDA GAME.    … Expand
  61. OberiousLocke
    Jul 24, 2016
    4
    I really wanted to like this game, really put forth the effort to enjoy it. Almost everything about it is amazing. The story, and especially the soundtrack just "works" with the game and the areas therein. The reason it's getting a low score is because of the absolutely worst part of the experience; The controls. I went in with a neutral opinion about them, knowing enough about it from theI really wanted to like this game, really put forth the effort to enjoy it. Almost everything about it is amazing. The story, and especially the soundtrack just "works" with the game and the areas therein. The reason it's getting a low score is because of the absolutely worst part of the experience; The controls. I went in with a neutral opinion about them, knowing enough about it from the manual. I respect Nintendo's choice, the Wii's gimmick was motion controls, and other than SS I can't think of a game I've played that did them horribly, but from the get go I had nothing but issues, and had to re-calibrate them multiple times per session (especially the swimming segments, ughh) It finally came to a head when I was doing the Lightning round, and I was on the very last boss to get the shield. I tried twice. The first time I died and it was my own fault. The second time, I got to the 8th fight, only to die with about one or two hits left because the controls went completely out the window. I calibrated the wii remote 3 times in about a minute or two, and died because despite me thrusting it forward properly (required to hit the bosses last weak point), it made Link swing left and right like a madman regardless of what I did. I cannot in good conscience give this game any positive review, a game is built not just on it's story, sound and graphics, but it's controls (at least in my opinion, your mileage may vary) the things that are the throughput from gamer to game, and in Skyward Sword, they're nothing more than acceptable when they work 100%, and atrocious if they work any less than that.… Expand
  62. Kamiyasi
    Feb 26, 2017
    6
    The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a mixed bag from start to finish. It comes tauntingly close to a really fun and engaging Zelda game at times, but overall it's a drudge to get through. Everything element in the game progresses in a very basic pattern; Fi comes out, tells you to go to unlock a new location, you go to the new location, she tells you to dowse for some items, you dowseThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a mixed bag from start to finish. It comes tauntingly close to a really fun and engaging Zelda game at times, but overall it's a drudge to get through. Everything element in the game progresses in a very basic pattern; Fi comes out, tells you to go to unlock a new location, you go to the new location, she tells you to dowse for some items, you dowse for said items, she tells you to find a dragon, you find the dragon, and then you get to the dungeon. Rinse and repeat. After the first dungeon, everything that follows is completely predictable. The fact that the different areas are disconnected from one another and are only accessed through drop-off points from the hub world only adds to the feeling that you're simply being lead from point A to point B (often literally as you have to dowse for items with your sword far more often than necessary) than getting to explore a vast world. For these reasons, the world you explore is a bust. The combat doesn't fair much better. This may vary person to person, but in my experience the motion controls were unresponsive and often unpredictable which made combat unsatisfying. Fighting simple enemies like keese or bokoblins became a chore. This become even more of a problem when some bosses required being fought multiple times throughout the game. The remaining elements that I felt left down with are the characters and quests. I found both to be rather lacking, with very few interesting NPCs (the Goron bud and Groose were my favorites by far) and most of the side quests boiling down to simple collectathons. All of these things hampered the experience for me greatly, but it's not all bad. The music is great, and the atmosphere is often spectacular. I didn't like Ghirahim as much as other baddies like Vaati, Zant, or Ganon, but he was still a fun character. I also enjoyed the segments where you have to outwit the invincible guardian enemies while running from safe zone to safe zone. I don't think Skyward Sword is a bad game, but it's not a great game. For a game in the Zelda series though, I was personally disappointed.… Expand
  63. knightk
    Mar 1, 2017
    7
    This is a Zelda game with some of the series most fantastic dungeons / puzzles / designs. But sadly its all wrapped around this horrible idea of motion controls. The most difficult part of the game is struggling with getting the motion controls to do what you want, when you need it to. Some of the bosses require specific hand waving motions, and even with the official Wii+ remotes,This is a Zelda game with some of the series most fantastic dungeons / puzzles / designs. But sadly its all wrapped around this horrible idea of motion controls. The most difficult part of the game is struggling with getting the motion controls to do what you want, when you need it to. Some of the bosses require specific hand waving motions, and even with the official Wii+ remotes, sometimes it just doesn't work. It feels like your fighting the motion controls more than the monsters that inhabit this new Legend of Zelda world.

    They even put an option in the items menu for re-calibrating the controls since it messes up so often. I had to do this a few times to get to grips with the controls, and it totally takes me out of the experience, since it a strange stoppage to put down your controller, and wait 30 seconds for it to not be stupid.

    Visually its one of the best looking Wii era games. Distant backdrop are mosaic-ed in the beautiful colorful scheme throughout the whole game. Characters and creatures are distinctive and make the world feel very much so alive.

    I finally just beat the game in preparation for BOTW. (since it was my only Zelda game i never finished) And the story, dungeons, and overall look of the game screams classic Zelda game, but having to play it was a pain, because the motion controls completely ruined the video gaming experience.    … Expand
  64. daManne
    Mar 29, 2017
    7
    I love the Zelda Franchise and I did enjoy this game. But it is one of the weakest Zelda titles. I loved Zelda in this game. She finally was a real person and had a believable friendship with Link. The dungeons were mostly very good, especially the one with the time stone. I also remember great boss fights.

    But the game has too much back tracking. I had problems with the motions    I love the Zelda Franchise and I did enjoy this game. But it is one of the weakest Zelda titles. I loved Zelda in this game. She finally was a real person and had a believable friendship with Link. The dungeons were mostly very good, especially the one with the time stone. I also remember great boss fights.

    But the game has too much back tracking. I had problems with the motions controls. And the worst thing was that stupid fight against the Imprisoned, which you have to do 3 times. It was absolutely tedious with no fun involved.

    All in all it was a fun game, but clearly not as good as other titles in the franchise.    … Expand
  65. Asrieled
    Mar 11, 2017
    6
    Although I rather enjoyed this game, I understand and mostly share some of the concerns.

    One of the best parts of this game were the cut scenes and the story - although some of the bits in-between were sometimes a bit of a mess, the cutscenes kind of tie it all together. For me, they were one of my main inspirations for proceeding in the game, rather than for the sake of completing it -    Although I rather enjoyed this game, I understand and mostly share some of the concerns.

    One of the best parts of this game were the cut scenes and the story - although some of the bits in-between were sometimes a bit of a mess, the cutscenes kind of tie it all together. For me, they were one of my main inspirations for proceeding in the game, rather than for the sake of completing it - Always a plus for a game.

    I kind of enjoyed the visual style, which was sort of a more traditional, if not more 'bright' rendition of Twilight Princess's theme. It's also noticeable that this 'Brightness' isn't *Too* bright; instead of hurting to look at, you can recognise it as a style rather than a forced lighting change. The areas were nicely presented, but they don't give you as much space to explore, like games such as Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask do. Due to this, I think the game might of been a bit better if the areas below actually connected, though I'm not sure how that would work with the whole map and falling through the sky thing the game has going. The 'connecting' of different areas in the majority of other Zelda games, in my opinion, seems to generally make the world feel like its actually a world you're exploring.

    Something I didn't really like at all was the whole 'Dowsing' thing in order to get to the dungeon. It kind of takes away the magic of exploring the area and trying to find a way, which is almost never a tedious experience in a lot of other Zelda titles. It also makes the areas almost seem like a one way path which you have to follow, only making very slight detours here and there.

    In regards to the motion controls, I honestly didn't have an issue - BUT. If it *does* happen, (and apparently, its more often than you think!), then its a pretty game ruining experience. This is probably just a way of showing off the consoles features in a Zelda title though, so I can kind of see what Nintendo were trying to do. I'll just leave it at that.

    All the Zelda games have it - The water temple, That other water temple, The water temple from that other game, you name it: there's always a puzzle which takes too long for you to figure out and ruins the moment, or simply seems like too much of a chore, even for the most determined individual. This wasn't *too* bad of a problem in Skywards Sword, however the parts I remember as being tedious are pretty bad. The whole 'empowering of the master sword' thing seemed cool at first, but it just kind of seemed like they ran out of ideas and were throwing me in slightly different places in the same areas.

    Finally, I'd like to address maybe the biggest letdown of the game, the sky. Y'know, the main part of the entire game. I kinda thought they'd have it basically be the reverse of Windwaker's The Great Sea, but what it turned out to be was no where near as good. The sky can be described as just... kind of empty. Sure, there's islands, but they take just that extra 30 seconds too long to actually reach - the in-between is literal nothingness. The Great Sea may of been empty and has quite a large space between islands, but it gives that *Zelda Vibe* of exploration and adventure - Its a whole darn ocean for Pete's sake! There's so much to look at, so much in the horizon, and you want to explore it all. I was hoping for a similar feeling with the sky, but it unfortunately failed to deliver.

    Despite all this, they managed to hit a near perfect score with another Zelda game. Again. Huge, Exciting tracks like Ballad of the Goddess alongside peaceful and charming ones like Romance match nearly every scene perfectly. Ballad of the Goddess especially is one of my all time favourite tracks from ANY Zelda game - now that's saying something!

    Overall, I'd rate this game a 6/10, though perhaps leaning more towards a 5 than a 7. Although the Cutscenes and music were really good, its lack of exploration and traditional Zelda gameplay which lets this title down. They tried to do something different, but it didn't go all too well. Hopefully this game should reinforce the idea that exploration is a pretty big part of what makes Zelda Zelda.    … Expand
  66. The_Log
    Mar 12, 2017
    3
    Whether you are new to the Zelda series, or a long time fan: do yourself a favor and skip this one. This is the only Zelda game I've started and not finished. I really tried to enjoy this game, but around the halfway point I had to put it down because it was SO TEDIOUS.

    This game is a hand-holding, linear chore that seem more interested in the quirky characters than the exploration or    Whether you are new to the Zelda series, or a long time fan: do yourself a favor and skip this one. This is the only Zelda game I've started and not finished. I really tried to enjoy this game, but around the halfway point I had to put it down because it was SO TEDIOUS.

    This game is a hand-holding, linear chore that seem more interested in the quirky characters than the exploration or adventure or problem solving. The motion controls work well enough, but it feels extremely awkward and it causes link's arm animations to be stiff. This makes Link almost always run around pointing his sword in the air like an idiot when at rest. Combat usually boils down to "swing sword from this specific direction" with no variety in strategy. The worst boss fight in the game is reused 3 times. The stamina bar seems to lack utility other than to limit your running. Which is a shame because apart from a couple of really great moments, there is little environment to marvel at. The dungeons themselves are decent, but there are so few of them. The second half of the game is just running back through areas you already were to collect balls of light in this awful mini game.

    Go play any other Zelda. This is the series at its lowest point. Go get Breath of the Wild or Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker or Majora's Mask or Link Between worlds. If you are getting this for a child, consider another title please. This will turn your kid into a mindless drone with no ability to think for himself.    … Expand
  67. ooo77
    Apr 16, 2017
    1
    The motion controls are aweful, it ruined what could've been an amazing Zelda game. The worst examples are swimming and the sword. It's used for literally everything. The story also isn't the best, Fi is an annoying horrible character who I hope we never see again. Also Ghirahim is the most nori g, pathetic Zelda villain ever. The fights with him are little more then glourified tutorials.The motion controls are aweful, it ruined what could've been an amazing Zelda game. The worst examples are swimming and the sword. It's used for literally everything. The story also isn't the best, Fi is an annoying horrible character who I hope we never see again. Also Ghirahim is the most nori g, pathetic Zelda villain ever. The fights with him are little more then glourified tutorials. The back tracking is annoying and boring. There's way too much of it, this is the most overrated game I've ever seen. Only reason this didn't get a 0 is because it looks good and has a good sound track, but that's not nearly enough things to save this piece of **** I hope that we get a remake on the Switch that gets rid of the motion controls.… Expand
  68. Meta1234
    Apr 20, 2018
    7
    Very good effort except for the clumsy controls that give back frustration. Story repetitive as always. Only the boss was named Demise instead of Ganon, Wow!
  69. ktjayhawk77
    Jun 14, 2018
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I believe this is a fantastic, and extremely underrated game. Many will disagree, but I think this game is a million times better than breath of the wild, and here is why: I prefer more lineal zeldas with ACTUAL DUNGEONS! dungeons are my favorite part of Zelda games and BOTW had absolutely none, as the shrines and divine beasts don’t really count - really hope they fix this in BOTW 2!. Back to SS, I was initially turned off from the motion controls, but after getting past the steep learning curve, they are not bad at all, and actually make for more fun and strategic boss and sword fights. The dungeons were my favorite part of this game, this is the first Zelda which I actually enjoy playing through all of them, as they are each very unique and challenging in their own right. I also like that you can spend at least 20 hours completing the game, and that is WITHOUT side quests! There were only 2 parts of the game that I absolutely hated and those were the part where you had to train to learn the spin charge with your bird, I was so frustrated at this part that I actually threw my Wii more it was so hard. The other is swimming through a flooded Faron Woods to collect all those tad notes, very tedious. The tear collecting was kinda annoying too, esp the Eldin Volcano trial, which was the hardest. I didn’t let these setbacks keep my from rating this a 9. I sincerely believe this will end up being the last good 3D Zelda in my opinion, as I absolutely HATE the direction they went in with BOTW, with being TOO open world and having no dungeons. SS is fun as hell and has one of the best plots out of all the zeldas I’ve played. My favorite Zelda boss in the series is also in this game - looking at you Koloktos. I also loved the soundtrack for this game, it’s probably my favorite in the whole franchise. Swimming can be sort of annoying with the motion controls, but luckily there are very few parts of the game that require swimming. If you have a Wii, pick this gem up, it is worth every penny. I also don’t want to say that this is the last good 3D Zelda, c’mon Nintendo - MAKE ZELDA GREAT AGAIN!… Expand
  70. Johnny_evil2101
    Oct 27, 2021
    0
    No left-handed support in a game where the main character always was a lefty.
  71. CalebTV
    Dec 21, 2018
    8
    This game gets too much hate. It has amazing dungeons and story. However when the controls don't work it gets really annoying. The combat become annoying if the controls don't work. However, if the controls do work it feels great. It has the best dungeons in the series yet the worst controls. The bosses are repetitive and they suck when the motion controls don't work. It is very hard toThis game gets too much hate. It has amazing dungeons and story. However when the controls don't work it gets really annoying. The combat become annoying if the controls don't work. However, if the controls do work it feels great. It has the best dungeons in the series yet the worst controls. The bosses are repetitive and they suck when the motion controls don't work. It is very hard to get used to the controls during the first part of the game. Fi is also the worst companion.… Expand
  72. philou
    Feb 17, 2019
    5
    Firstly let me say that I'm a big Zelda fan. Skyward Sword introduced some new ideas like upgrades with treasure and bugs. The shields now have limited durability for some reason, which only led me to not using it that much. The three main areas feel more like a big dungeon which I enjoy. Most side quests, are happening in the overworld but are actually just there to upgrade your wallet.Firstly let me say that I'm a big Zelda fan. Skyward Sword introduced some new ideas like upgrades with treasure and bugs. The shields now have limited durability for some reason, which only led me to not using it that much. The three main areas feel more like a big dungeon which I enjoy. Most side quests, are happening in the overworld but are actually just there to upgrade your wallet. Speaking of the wallet: I feel like rupees have a much higher value in this game. Stuff is pricy and getting money togther isn't as easy as one might think.

    But enough of the good stuff and on to the reason why I like this Zelda game the least so far.
    Some people described the game as challenging and praise it for the hard fights. Also the varying game mechanics like using the canon boat or the Groosenator were praised. The problem is - the game is only hard because of the awful motion controls which, regardless of motion plus, weren't as sophisticated as they are today. I played Twilight Princess on Game Cube so I was able to enjoy it.
    Many game mechanics are only there to give you a reason for using the wii remote.
    Trying to aim for something? Better hold your nunchuk perfectly still because Link gets his shield out and interupts anything you do with the remote.
    After playing the game for 30h it still happens from time to time.

    Also it seems the game designers were a bit lazy or maybe rushed by Nintendo. There are ao many recycled assets it's really sad. Most enemies you encounter are just the same ones you encountered from the beginning of the game with mote stamina and slightly different skills but in a different color.
    The Puzzles are okay I guess - sometimes almost too easy.
    Small Keys rarely appear and only serve as a method of preventing the player to progress. They could've just replaced them with switches. In other Zelda games you usually get a key and need to decide which of 2 or 3 possible doors you want to open next - in Skyward Sword: One key, one door.
    At one point in the game you need to get something for a character that is hidden in a dungeon you visited before but this time, what a surprise, different colored enemies and one door is locked again! Nothing at all was enjoyable about this segment.

    So: No, I will not play the game again. Unlike Ocarina of Time, which I play to a 100% at least once a year. Many reviewers compare the two games but I really don't get why. Is it the usage of a musical instrument? The one that you have to play with actual notes in OoT and in Skyward Sword you just wave the wii remote like an idiot?

    Yes: There are some quite good gameplay elements like the timeshift stones and making sword fighting more complex by introducing different directions.    … Expand
  73. thehairyscreame
    Aug 24, 2021
    0
    This game sucks. In 2011 this game was not good, but now it's really not good. The motion controls are gimmicky and when the game isn't holding your hand it's super cryptic. I hate this game. Critics compared this game to metroidvanias, this is nothing like a metroidvania. this game makes you revist locations over and over agiain because the devs were lazy.
  74. razbuten
    Feb 18, 2021
    10
    I am giving this game a 10 to counteract the person who gave it a 0 out of 10 in the hopes of counteracting the good reviews. I actually think this is like an 8? But yeah thanks.
  75. AbeFiletti
    Oct 20, 2020
    10
    I rarely give a game or movie a 10/10, but Skyward Sword deserves it! Everyone gripes about the motion controls, but I thought they were SO FUN, and a new type of combat for Zelda. The story is phenomenal. It has epic, and emotional moments and they all feel earned. People complain about the linear aspect of the game and I see where they are coming from but I kind of enjoyed it. AlthoughI rarely give a game or movie a 10/10, but Skyward Sword deserves it! Everyone gripes about the motion controls, but I thought they were SO FUN, and a new type of combat for Zelda. The story is phenomenal. It has epic, and emotional moments and they all feel earned. People complain about the linear aspect of the game and I see where they are coming from but I kind of enjoyed it. Although flying the skies isn't as engaging as sailing the seas the overall Skyloft island is the best place in Zelda history with great characters, and super fun side quests. Speaking of characters Zelda and Link in this game are the greatest interpretation of them both only rivaled by Breath of the Wild Link and Zelda. The music is probably tied for best in the entire series with Wind Waker. As of 10/20/20, Skyward Sword is the best game I have ever played. I wish I could give it an 11/10.… Expand
  76. couchmonkey
    Sep 10, 2021
    7
    This game is good, not great. Pros and cons from top to bottom:

    #1. Con: The world design sucks - I expect something reasonably open-world from Zelda, but this is more like a hub with three mega-dungeons tacked on. Link finally gets to fly...as long as he stays in his closed-in cloud land and only enters the "regular" overworld from above. #2. Con: The story forces you down a linear    This game is good, not great. Pros and cons from top to bottom:

    #1. Con: The world design sucks - I expect something reasonably open-world from Zelda, but this is more like a hub with three mega-dungeons tacked on. Link finally gets to fly...as long as he stays in his closed-in cloud land and only enters the "regular" overworld from above.
    #2. Con: The story forces you down a linear path with a load of backtracking. In one open lake area, I was forced to do four different things in order...go to the wrong area at the wrong time and you'll just be sent away. Sad!
    #3. Pro: The motion-control sword battling is pretty great. Some consider it too puzzle-y, I thought it was fun and this is the closest thing you'll find to a full-fledged motion controlled swashbuckling adventure on the Wii.
    #4. Pro: Possibly the best soundtrack in the series.
    #5. Con: The swordless scavenger hunting sequences with one-hit deaths are a pain in the rear.
    #6. Con: I hate the sidekick, Fi. Worse than Navi, for real.
    #7. Small Pro: the story is pretty entertaining, albeit with some weirdo characters in the mix.

    Replay value: The game lasted about 80 hours for me, maybe more like 65 for most folks...I doubt I"ll ever replay this game, it's too big and too mediocre, I could see myself playing the first 10-20 hours again.

    Dollar value: I'd pay around $40 Canadian for this game.    … Expand
  77. Owen76287
    Feb 10, 2021
    7
    I wouldn't have enjoyed this game if it hadn't been my first Zelda title. I enjoy it but the controls are extremely flawed, The story is slightly tedious but will keep you playing.
  78. PrincessRescuer
    Feb 18, 2021
    1
    The Moderate Relevance of Zelda Skyward Sword is a boring game. Certainly not worth buying with current prices or re-buying on Switch. The game is designed for the creators' idea of what an emotionally fragile person is. You are constantly led by the nose constantly given opportunities to save. Enemies are slow and infrequent. The difficulty slowly and nonchalantly inches up whenever itThe Moderate Relevance of Zelda Skyward Sword is a boring game. Certainly not worth buying with current prices or re-buying on Switch. The game is designed for the creators' idea of what an emotionally fragile person is. You are constantly led by the nose constantly given opportunities to save. Enemies are slow and infrequent. The difficulty slowly and nonchalantly inches up whenever it feels like it, never making any daring jumps. The motion controls are the least of this game's problems. Take them out, and it's still a feckless game that doesn't want to be played- it just wants you to be done with it so it can be relieved of its duty.… Expand
  79. lSAGGERl
    Mar 3, 2021
    4
    Me lo acabo de terminar. La historia es bastante buena aunque típica pero bueno la he disfrutado. El juego es entretenido aunque algunas zonas se repiten para alargarlo artificialmente, pero por los controles no le puedo dar más de un 4, es de los peores juegos que he jugado en toda mi vida respecto a controles y camara y eso lastran completamente el juego, tanto que a veces te dan ganasMe lo acabo de terminar. La historia es bastante buena aunque típica pero bueno la he disfrutado. El juego es entretenido aunque algunas zonas se repiten para alargarlo artificialmente, pero por los controles no le puedo dar más de un 4, es de los peores juegos que he jugado en toda mi vida respecto a controles y camara y eso lastran completamente el juego, tanto que a veces te dan ganas de tirar el mando y claro te acuerdas de la madre del creador.… Expand
  80. peevedComic
    May 8, 2021
    2
    Sometimes I feel like this game is actively trying to get you to stop playing. The opening lasts literally hours, the overworlds are the most linear in Zelda history, the dungeons, while sometimes clever, give you the answers to all the puzzles written on signs. The main companion, Fi, constantly jumps out to either tell you information you just saw in a cutscene, or information that wasSometimes I feel like this game is actively trying to get you to stop playing. The opening lasts literally hours, the overworlds are the most linear in Zelda history, the dungeons, while sometimes clever, give you the answers to all the puzzles written on signs. The main companion, Fi, constantly jumps out to either tell you information you just saw in a cutscene, or information that was just told to you by another character. When she's not doing this, she's telling you that your hearts are low, your batteries in your remote are low, to take a break, or to use the dowsing feature again. Items will remind you what they are each time you reboot the game, the motion controls can be unresponsive, and the entirety of your adventure spans 3 bland locales that you have to revisit twice each. I found playing this game to be more of a chore than anything.… Expand
  81. GuybrushT57
    Jul 17, 2021
    2
    Je n'y ai joué que quelques heures.
    Les commandes m'ont fait abandonner.
    Imprécision, piloter les drones comme ça est un calvaire d'autant que la plus-value du combo joycon-nunchuck rrdte un mystère...
    Le seul zelda que je n'aurai jamais fini (hormis ceux sur CDi
  82. grimreapersims
    Nov 4, 2021
    9
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  83. Pembroke_Watts
    Oct 14, 2021
    5
    Skyward sword could potentially be a solid game. Unfortunately, it is often held back from the wii motion controls, which sometimes are not responsive to your actions.
  84. Shunior
    Apr 4, 2022
    1
    el peor, mas soso, feo y mal disenãdo Zelda 3D nunca hecho! Controles ridiculos, histpria mas sosa que coca sin gas, de verad ese juego fue el fondo del pozo para la saga! Estoy seguro que BOTW fue lo que fue porque la gente de Nintendo vió la basura que fue SS y decidió tomar una acttide al respecto. Y para empeorar esa wea me hizo gastar plata comprando un controle nuevo!
    Estica y    el peor, mas soso, feo y mal disenãdo Zelda 3D nunca hecho! Controles ridiculos, histpria mas sosa que coca sin gas, de verad ese juego fue el fondo del pozo para la saga! Estoy seguro que BOTW fue lo que fue porque la gente de Nintendo vió la basura que fue SS y decidió tomar una acttide al respecto. Y para empeorar esa wea me hizo gastar plata comprando un controle nuevo!
    Estica y tecnicamente esta muy por debajo de WW y TP, y es toda una verguanza, ese juego salió en 2011! En ese mismo año salió al mercado juegos como Uncharted 3, Batman: Arkham City, L.A. Noire, The Wicher II, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Super Mario 3D Land, y en la misma semana SKYRIM!
    Seamos sinceros, para 2011 ya no era aceptable un juego con malditas cajas de diálogos! Ya todos los AAA tenían doblaje. Incluso el Star Fox para la 3DS que salió al mismo año traía doblaje y en español! Cuando Twilight Princess salió en 2006 si que era normal los juegos no tener voz, además era un juego tan bonito, con buenos controles (al menos claro en la version original para la Gamecube) buenos combates y buenissima historia, que la falta de voz ni de lejos molesta aún a dia de hoy… pero SS es todo lo contrario!
    Y recuerden, SALIO EN LA MISMA SEMANA QUE SKYRIM!
    El juego es tonto y feo y mas bien parece que estoy jugando una aventura de Dora Aventurera do que un Zelda.
    El juego te trata como un niño tonto a todo momento. Vas a subir en una caja, aparece un npc con una CAJA DE TEXTO INFINITA en pleno 2011 con mucho mucho texto para decirte que puedes subir usando el analógico, otro npc te interrumpe para decirte que puedes correr pulsando A, y así pasa que las primeras 2 horas de ese juego es un grande, largo y innecesario tutorial.
    Pero nada ni nadie es más molesto que Fi. Esa personaje que A TODO EL RATO interrumpe el juego para decir o cosas muy obvias o porcentajes que de verdad no agregan nada al juego y deja la sensación aún mayor de que estás jugando un juego con una historia pensada por un niños de 5 años.
    Personalmente he oído de amigos que después de ver a ese juego dijeron que no sabían que Zelda era así un juego tan para niños... Porque el juego esta lleno de diálogos tontos, los “villanos” de la isla no convencen ni a su madre, una pandilla de pillos tirado de una peli para ninõs noventeros formada por un gastón y otros dos tipo torpes que hacen bulling. El juego es linear hasta no más poder, siento que Ocarina Of Time de 1998 fomentaba mucho más la exploración. En comparación a Wind Waker SS estaba en pañales! Y EN COMPARACIÓN A SKYRIM NI VOY A MENCIONAR NADA!

    Los gráficos están feos, y no solo feos para 2011, porque ya sabemos que la Wii no iba a entregar juegos HD, y la arte de Skyward Sword no era pa ser un juego realista, pero está mucho más feos que por ejemplo los Mario Galaxy. El estilo cartoon es bueno, Wind Waker tiene graficas más bonitas que SS, de hecho es un juego de 2002 que sigue siendo muy bonito!
    Pero SS no encaja, tiene cenarios genericos y mal hechos. En zonas como el desierto muchas veces estuve perdido… PERDIDO! Yo no me perdí ni en BOTW que tiene un mapeado GIGANTESCO y me perdí en eses mapas genericos de SS.    … Expand
  85. GDsReviews
    Aug 15, 2022
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Skyward Sword is the epic prequel of the Zelda series, sometimes too epic. This game has easily the best soundtrack of any Zelda game after Twilight Princess, but it is painfully long and hard, with some the worst controls I have ever played with for a game.

    This game is full of tedious but necessary actions with no real payoff, you can only save at certain places, the boss battles are absurdly hard, it constantly takes much longer than it should, two bosses are repeated 3 times, has an insanely annoying robot helper in Fi that upon departing feels like a blessing and good riddance, and is easy to get lost in even using a strategy guide like I was.

    However, the worst part of this game are the controls. It relies on the Wii Motion+ controls that you have to calibrate, and lose calibration constantly no matter how many times you recalibrate them, including right when you need your controls to function most. The worst is in the harp, which goes out so quickly that you have to hold the remote at awkward angles to get through it all. At least though you can fix them briefly by recalibrating them.

    Compared to most 3D Zelda games, the characters in this game are few in number. Impa makes her return as a strong time traveling warrior woman, but she is the only truly strong woman character in this game sadly. This game does though have a neat desert region where hitting stones shows the lush past around a barren present desert.

    The controls sink this game pretty much.    … Expand
  86. otmiyo
    Jun 18, 2022
    9
    The best story driven game of the saga with endearing characters, delightful music and beautiful visuals
  87. SnowDay
    Nov 3, 2015
    9
    Almost on par with Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time, but the gimmicky wii motion controls can be troublesome at times, especially in the most dire situations.
  88. asggamefan
    Mar 4, 2012
    9
    Skyward Sword was meant for the Wii. Motion controls for this game have been perfected and the game-play is among the best in the entire series. Though the story of Skyward Sword doesn't compare to that of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess, to me it held its own with the new dungeon system requiring the completion of puzzles leading up to the dungeon as well as in the dungeon itself.Skyward Sword was meant for the Wii. Motion controls for this game have been perfected and the game-play is among the best in the entire series. Though the story of Skyward Sword doesn't compare to that of Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess, to me it held its own with the new dungeon system requiring the completion of puzzles leading up to the dungeon as well as in the dungeon itself. I also really enjoyed the ability to collect resources to upgrade weapons and equipment. I would highly recommend this game to anyone wanting a good game for the Wii and definitely to fans of the Legend of Zelda series.… Expand
  89. Jman4
    Jul 16, 2012
    10
    I waited to play this game due to mixed fan reviews. Eventually I was convinced, and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. The MotionPlus controls are a blast and not as finicky as everyone claims; in fact, they just add to the overall experience. The "backtracking" isn't as repetitive as people claim either; each area is revamped and changed with all new challenges. TheI waited to play this game due to mixed fan reviews. Eventually I was convinced, and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. The MotionPlus controls are a blast and not as finicky as everyone claims; in fact, they just add to the overall experience. The "backtracking" isn't as repetitive as people claim either; each area is revamped and changed with all new challenges. The scenery is breathtakingly beautiful, and the story line is simply fantastic and perfect in every right. By the end of the game I was in tears; because I had beaten my first every Skyward Sword experience, and because the touching story line was concluded expertly. Touches of humor and a nice difficulty level are also good embellishments. This is the best game I have ever played, and everyone else should have the bliss of playing it at least once.… Expand
  90. Minechomp
    Jan 6, 2012
    10
    An amazing game in all ways. The graphics are pretty, the storyline is engaging, and this game sets all other zelda games up by being set before the others. The bosses are cinematic and never get old.
  91. Teliiii
    Jan 7, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Note: This review contains COMPLETE honesty. I will give praise the the parts to ONLY deserve praise. I will hate on the parts that deserve hate. After hearing all the praise for this game and the perfect scores, I got really excited to play this, and expected the best Zelda game ever. Sadly, that is not what happened, I ended up completely agreeing with GameSpot's review. First I would like to say the graphics are absolutely beautiful. The makers of this game took advantages of the Wii's limited abilities, by creating a beautiful painterly-like landscape. On the bad side though, the blurs in the background really hurt my eyes, and could have been either removed or less blurred. The music in the game is absolutely gorgeous!! I found myself listening to a lot of the music on youtube. However, the sounds people make are a bit awkward and could have been removed or improved on. The story was probably the most disappointing part of the game. The story is VERY obvious. (Have you ever realized that the white dress Zelda wears is the same as the the one the goddess statue wears? Have you noticed the silhouette of the goddess in the prologue looks exactly like Zelda?) There are other spoilers in the game itself, but I'm not going to point them out. It's like the makers of the game were trying to give away the entire story to us! Not to mention this game was supposed to touch upon Ganon's creation, but it felt as if they slipped it in at the end. I was expecting to be like "WHOA THAT'S HOW GANON WAS CREATED? Mind=Blown," but instead I was like "oh." And I must complain, Demise is probably the most unimaginative name EVER. Not to mention his design kind of looks like a rip-off of something you'd see in a M rated game. And the final boss with Demise felt rushed and also a rip-off of Ganondorf's final battle in Twilight Princess. What I do not understand the most is Ghirahim. Yes, he flamboyant, yes he is fabulous, but why do the fan-girls go crazy over him? There have been plenty of feminine insane bloodthurst villains in animes and movies, so WHY? I also noticed that the fans try to make Ghirahim more "deeper" and "fleshed out" than he really is, which pisses me off. I understand the makers of the game were trying to make him the complete opposite of Ganondorf but this just doesn't cut it. As for Fi, I thought I would really like this character, but I just couldn't. She constantly telling us the obvious ( Personally I think she's worse than Navi), and I'm not afraid to say I was happy when she had to leave at the end. And Zelda, when I first saw her in the E3 2011 trailer, I hated her. I hated her design, and after playing the game, it doesn't change my opinion about her. She seems like a cliche "kawaii desu" anime girl, who seems to giggle at every little thing. Not to mention it seems a little pointless for Hylia to reincarnate herself as a human for reasons relating to Demise, but then she is used to resurrect him? Seems a little pointless to me. Game play was alright. The controls either work for you, or they don't. Which is a problem. In the nest Zelda game, I hope they make sure the controls work 100%, so we don't have to complain. All in all, this game could have done better, I wouldn't have minded waiting another year for this game, maybe they would have been able to make this game better than it already is.… Expand
  92. ScottReid
    Jun 1, 2012
    10
    Those of you giving The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword low scores have clearly had trouble playing the game. Here's the rager's patterns : Play Skyward Sword. Fail. Think "Ok, I'll try again". Fail again. Rage. Throw control at wall/door/television/family member/cat. Go on Metacritic. Type in "The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword", hands shaking in rage. Type in a common rage comment. "THISThose of you giving The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword low scores have clearly had trouble playing the game. Here's the rager's patterns : Play Skyward Sword. Fail. Think "Ok, I'll try again". Fail again. Rage. Throw control at wall/door/television/family member/cat. Go on Metacritic. Type in "The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword", hands shaking in rage. Type in a common rage comment. "THIS GAME IS AWFUL. THE CONTROLS SUCK. THEY MADE ME FALL OFF A LEDGE 40 TIMES. GAMEPLAY IS NOT FUN." I mean, come on people. When you comment on lack of voice acting, it's so clear that you're commenting on something trivial becuase you couldn't think of much else. Skyward Sword is a brilliant game. The composing is amazing, the graphics are very attractive. The gameplay is hours of brilliant fun which can never get boring to me. Hell, I've not actually finished Skyward Sword. I'm at the last boss battle. (You know, the guy with the fire hair.) I failed but didn't rage. I camly put down my controler and say to myself "i'll do it another time." The fact that I've dragged out this game for months (since christmas, actually.) added to my enjoyment. It's the longest game I've ever played. And I usually finish games within 1-6 hours of getting them. So, a word to everyone - drag out the gameplay. It's really worth it.… Expand
  93. xboxlikewater
    Nov 20, 2012
    7
    A good game but a bad Zelda game. Zelda is held to higher standards than other franchises and this is just a step backwards. The variety in enemies is low, the combat is boring and consists of waggling your wiimote for most enemies, the dungeons are short and easy, it's extremely linear, and there is too much back tracking.
  94. dylb
    Jan 22, 2012
    10
    Skyward Sword is definitely one of the best Zelda games released in a while! With Zelda's signature way of using new graphic styles, the use of the Motion Plus (which, unlike the Wii version of Twilight Princess, is NOT a gimmick), and memorable characters and dungeons, Skyward Sword could easily give most Zelda games a run for their money- maybe even Ocarina of Time! The "painterly"Skyward Sword is definitely one of the best Zelda games released in a while! With Zelda's signature way of using new graphic styles, the use of the Motion Plus (which, unlike the Wii version of Twilight Princess, is NOT a gimmick), and memorable characters and dungeons, Skyward Sword could easily give most Zelda games a run for their money- maybe even Ocarina of Time! The "painterly" graphics make this adventure stunning, while also shrouding the fact that the Wii's visual ability isn't that great. The Motion Plus makes this a game where you must think before you act. No more frantically shaking the controller to defeat enemies! No, you have to plan out each strike before it happens, otherwise it will be blocked and somehow turn on you. Each dungeon utilizes all of your items, not just the one you recieved thirty seconds ago. There are only a few downsides to this game- for starters, there's no main world map. You fly to a certain spot in the sky and then descend onto the surface area, close to the dungeon. The music instrument of this game- the harp- is also a useless attempt to keep an instrument in the game. If you see butterflies, you randomly strum the harp to get a pedestal to appear, then you strum in time with a pulsing light. Learning new songs is pointless, because playing one song is no different from playing another.
    However, despite these minor setbacks, Skyward Sword is still an amazing game. With the new flight system, new motion controls, new upgrade systems, and new items, this installment is no "Nintendo re-hash". A lot of things in this game are new and exciting, and definitely worth getting.
    Skyward Sword, I will never forget you.    … Expand
  95. snowsnows85
    May 19, 2012
    8
    Although this is a great game, I am not saying this is the best Zelda game by no means. All the flying around makes me feel like I'm back in the Windwaker with sailing accept for flying in this game. The fact that you half to return to desert, woods, lava over and over again takes away from the game. I like it, best wii game of 2011 for sure but it doesn't feel like a true Zelda game in myAlthough this is a great game, I am not saying this is the best Zelda game by no means. All the flying around makes me feel like I'm back in the Windwaker with sailing accept for flying in this game. The fact that you half to return to desert, woods, lava over and over again takes away from the game. I like it, best wii game of 2011 for sure but it doesn't feel like a true Zelda game in my opinion. I take Twilight Princess over this one for dungeons, items, story.… Expand
  96. Kermie
    Jul 12, 2012
    10
    9.5 - While some of the latter game feels unnecessary and tacked on, this is what I've been wanting in a Wii title ever since I first saw the console. The controls are fantastic with spot on swordplay. The music is incredible and varied, not to mention absolutely beautiful. The story is excellent, and the many colorful locales you visit are full of life and character. There are an9.5 - While some of the latter game feels unnecessary and tacked on, this is what I've been wanting in a Wii title ever since I first saw the console. The controls are fantastic with spot on swordplay. The music is incredible and varied, not to mention absolutely beautiful. The story is excellent, and the many colorful locales you visit are full of life and character. There are an incredible amount of things to do and see, and everything is memorable, from the characters to the world itself. It's pure Nintendo magic at it's finest.… Expand
  97. Zilcell
    Jul 20, 2012
    10
    This is the best use of motion controls ever seen in a video game. This game is packed full of content. The story is interesting and the graphics are perfect. The amount of sidequests adds on even more to the length of the game. Everything about this game is perfect. It takes Zelda, Nintendo, and the wii to new heights, as this is one of the most innovative games that has ever seen theThis is the best use of motion controls ever seen in a video game. This game is packed full of content. The story is interesting and the graphics are perfect. The amount of sidequests adds on even more to the length of the game. Everything about this game is perfect. It takes Zelda, Nintendo, and the wii to new heights, as this is one of the most innovative games that has ever seen the light of day.… Expand
  98. Upgrayedd69
    Mar 7, 2012
    8
    Pretty darn good. Third best Zelda in the bunch only to A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time. The water color art style looked great yet I am really hoping for a more realistic art style in the next installment on the Wii U
  99. Ninjapenguin1
    Jan 16, 2012
    10
    Every few years there comes a game that is so wonderfully made, that no matter what console you own, or what genre is your favorite, every gamer needs to play. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is one of those games. Those familiar with the Legend of Zelda Series will instantly recognize â
  100. Sevvy88
    Jun 7, 2013
    6
    Underwhelming. I think that's the best word here. I remember watching my mom play A Link to the Past as a small child and being so excited when I got Ocarina of Time for my birthday one year. I really expected a lot out of this game, but it seems that the "on-rails" hand holding trend in modern gaming has tarnished even Zelda. The story is cute and typical, Link and Zelda are as adorableUnderwhelming. I think that's the best word here. I remember watching my mom play A Link to the Past as a small child and being so excited when I got Ocarina of Time for my birthday one year. I really expected a lot out of this game, but it seems that the "on-rails" hand holding trend in modern gaming has tarnished even Zelda. The story is cute and typical, Link and Zelda are as adorable as they have ever been, and the dungeons are pretty well designed and fun, but the exploration is gone. That sense of place that was galloping through Hyrule on Epona's back is definitely gone. And did I mention that I hated the flying thing? Maybe I am just handicapped, but seriously, it just didn't feel good. It's alright. It's not Zelda, at least not how I remember Zelda being. Oh well.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Wii Game of 2011
1
#1 Most Discussed Wii Game of 2011
1
#1 Most Shared Wii Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
93

Universal acclaim - based on 81 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 78 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 81
  3. Negative: 0 out of 81
  1. Armchair Empire
    Feb 6, 2012
    100
    Overall, this is the best experience I've had playing a Zelda game since Ocarina of Time and I'd have to say they are pretty equal in my opinion. Either way, you won't be disappointed getting this game, it's a masterpiece.
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  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 19, 2012
    90
    New Zelda is the best game of whole series since the groundbreaking Ocarina of Time. It is a true masterpiece with uncompromising playability. [Christmas 2011]
  3. PALGN
    Jan 19, 2012
    95
    A magnificent homage for the 25th anniversary of one the biggest franchises in gaming, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword provides a compelling gaming and artistic showcase for the indefatigable potential of the medium as a whole, and a reason to have gaming as a hobby.
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