Skyward Sword Remastered (40/60$)
The frustrating thing about Skyward Sword is that it is a good game. But only a good game and when you are a Zelda game, good just doesn’t cut it. There is nothing groundbreaking or game changing about this game. The developers planned on the motion controls being revolutionary, using the wii motion plus, but I don’t want to have to play a video game standing up unless it’s in VR. The motion controls quickly become a ball and chain for the game. The Nintendo Switch HD remaster frees itself from that weight by allowing for the joystick to function as Link's Sword, but that causes the several gameplay mechanics built around these gimmicky controls to lack punch, in particular the combat is way easier. The other frustrating thing is that it is missing the movement and exploration of the old games. The islands you visit don’t have the same impact as the ones in windwaker. The ground level is nowhere near as open as Twilight Princess. And as a personal gripe, the fact that the sail cloth does not let you glide feels horrible.
That is not to say that the game is “Bad,” in any real way. The level of polish, creative puzzles, and pacing has the player constantly in motion and these activities have a steady flow of rewards that encourage players to go back and solve puzzles they couldn’t before. It feels like Zelda at it’s best in that sense, something that Breath of the Wild lacked for me and it was refreshing, but I never got lost in it like I did other Zelda games. I never spent 10 hours trying to upgrade my bomb bags, playing a mini, or doing a side quest. Which is a shame because the few that I did in the skyloft were great fun. The problem is that the skyloft is tiny, and there really aren’t other cities or villages to find more quests at. What this really does is greatly hamper replayability. If the world is supposed to be one giant puzzle, once you know how to do it, it gets boring. Regardless of how much fun you had solving it the first time. Whereas with other Zelda games I want to replay them as I write this so that I can just go fishing in Twilight Princess and listen to the nice fishing music. That is not to say that the soundtrack is lacking, in fact it is the best part about the game's aesthetic. But everything else just does not hit as hard. I felt sympathy for Navi, Minda, and the Red Lion. I feel nothing for Fi. Same with the bird, the connection that is built between Link and Epona in Twilight Princess is far greater than the one in Skyward Sword. Even the mechanics of flying do not feel as good as sailing. With your bird lacking the gadetry and upgrades that the Red Lion had.
But it is good here. A few of the characters like Groose and the fellow Sky knights are good fun. The dungeons are the perfect mix of complex without being frustrating. Getting a new item feels as good as it does in past Zeldas, and items like the whip and the airbag are some of the best in the Zelda series. The boss fights while easy, are far more inventive than Breath of the Wilds. If you are looking for a game to scratch your Zelda itch, and you can get it on sale. Skyward Sword is worth a pick up (40$/60).
