The Introduction of Greatness

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With the unveiling of the Wii controller at the Tokyo Game Show in 2005, many people had vivid dreams of what the now open door of motion gaming would bring. Whether it may be a knight carrying an oversized claymore or a Jedi wielding a lightsaber, sword fighting seemed like a natural fit with this new controller approach. Unfortunately, this lead into a trend of motion controls being tacked on in various ways just for the sake of using them, and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was no exception. A number of critically acclaimed games have been released on the Wii over the years, but few of them truly warranted the use of motion controls over a traditional controller. With The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Nintendo has finally brought a game that’s worthy of the motion-based innovation they were trying to sell us so many years ago.

Guess who needs to be saved again?

The game opens up with Link getting ready to participate in the Wing Ceremony as a student of an academy that trains knights. Skyloft, the city you originate from, is comprised of a giant floating island with birds called Loftwings serving as the main source of transportation. The clouds below cannot be penetrated by the Loftwings, creating a seemingly isolated utopia-like environment in the sky. Almost immediately a schoolboy-esque premise is painted around Link, which involves the relationship between Link and Zelda, along with a stereotypical bully and his two good-for-nothing accomplices. It works as a easygoing introduction to both controlling Link and his bird before the real excitement begins. The plot quickly moves past its more mundane elements and suddenly Zelda needs to be rescued from a mysterious force, to no one’s surprise.

The biggest sell...

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...On the flip side, there’s a generous amount of hints, along with a stone that assists through actual gameplay video, making the game more approachable to people who are prone to get stuck. While that doesn’t improve your motions, timing, or puzzle-solving skills, it does give you a lot of insight on how to advance.

Final thoughts

With flawless controls, engaging lengthy dungeon-like areas, tactically-based combat, and a higher overall difficulty, Skyward Sword is a shining example of how good Wii gaming can be. Nearly every aspect is equally good or superior to past Zelda games, easily putting it near the top of its class. While the fairly bland overworld hub and flight mechanics are still notable, their hindrance is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. As the epitome of motion gaming, no Wii owner should miss out on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

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