Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Add Reply
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Topic Started: Dec 15 2011, 12:02 PM (125 Views)
TheGreg
Administrator
I have no hesitation in proclaiming Zelda to be my favorite game series. Intrigued as I was by the NES originals, they were far too difficult and obscure for me at the time.

All that changed with A Link To The Past. The game was an absolute masterpiece in game design, storytelling and presentation. It forever shaped my idea of what a great game is.

And then came Ocarina of Time. Other games may sell more now, but Ocarina's debut stands out as the single most anticipated video game release in history to me. It had been 7 long years since we had seen a console Zelda title, and the series' 3D N64 debut once again changed the way I experienced games. A deep, involving quest, Ocarina revolutionized 3D gaming thanks to it's camera system, which allowed the player to lock onto a target, constantly keep it in view. It seems simple now, but framing the gameplay oftentimes proved disastrous in these early days of 3D environments.

Just two years later, Nintendo proved to me why they are the greatest developer on the planet. No one would have blamed them for building off the massive success of Ocarina and releasing a similar title. Instead we got Majora's Mask. Although it shares similar visuals, Majora's Mask was a completely and utterly unique experience. It is perhaps the most unconventional title of the franchise. Forgot Zelda or Ganon or even Hyrule. Majora's Mask completely shook up the Zelda formula and integrated a daring time management system that consistently loomed over the players head (literally and figuratively). Link must endlessly relive the final three days of this world as its moon comes crashing down upon it. The problem was that unless you obtained something that you could bring back through time with you, everything reset. How's that for pressure? Majora's Mask is perhaps the cult favorite thanks to its ambition and originality.

I'll never forget the reaction to the unveiling of Wind Waker. Its cartoon visuals were uniformly trashed by those who had become accustomed to the more realistic style of the N64 offerings. These naysayers are hard to find now, because Wind Waker was such a brilliant title that it converted just about every one of them. Once again, Nintendo shook things up, giving us a Hyrule that had sunken beneath the ocean. Instead of vast fields, Link must navigate the high seas, giving Wind Waker a feel all its own. And what about those visuals? Well, they're now widely considered to be the best the GameCube ever saw. The sharp, vibrant art direction still holds up today and was so successful in the end, that when one thinks of Link, they are just as likely to picture his Wind Waker incarnation as any other version. Wind Waker also told a wonderful story filled with memorable characters and the strongest themes of any game in the franchise. It seems that with every year that passes, Wind Waker becomes more and more the most beloved title in the franchise.

The return to a more traditional Zelda adventure came in the form of Twilight Princess. And while some may consider it to simply be a followup to the gameplay of Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess is a brilliant game in its own right. From its sprawling overworld (the best in the series since A Link to the Past) to its glorious presentation, Twilight Princess was a fantastic tribute to the gameplay of Ocarina of Time and it shouldn't be discounted how close it stands up to the quality of its masterful predecessor. Twilight Princess also introduced my favorite character in the series, the mischievous Midna.

What seems like ten pages later, we finally reach Skyward Sword. And once again, Nintendo has provided an utterly unique experience that still maintains the incredible quality of its history.

Most notably, Skyward Sword reinvents combat in the franchise by implementing the absolute best motion controls in gaming. Utilizing the increased accuracy of the Wii MotionPlus technology, the player can now wield Link's sword with 1:1 accuracy. This means that how you hold and slash the Wii remote is perfectly recreated in the game. Direction, angle and twist are all accurately captured. Nintendo takes advantage of this technology with their enemy design. The player can no longer slash away wildly and expect to win. You MUST find an opening in the opponent's defense and make the corresponding motion. If an enemy is set to parry to the left, you have to swing right. There are enemies that require more that just a direction though. A scorpion boss from the beginning of the game requires a very certain angle to hit the soft spot behind its rotating claws. We have never experienced combat like this in a Zelda game and it's very hard to imagine going back, not just for this franchise, but for any sword-wielding game. It works that well.

This increased satisfaction also leads to some of the most satisfying boss encounters in the series. It helps that the game is much more difficult than any title in recent memory. Forget losing a quarter of a heart, Skyward Sword's enemies will drop you quickly, especially if you go with the hack and slash technique.

Dungeon design has always been stellar in the Zelda games, and Skyward Sword's do not disappoint. Especially notable is the great use of unique items this time around, giving the game a very fresh feel. Block and mirror puzzles are nowhere to be found and the dungeons are very organic and satisfying.

The new combat and original dungeon design make Skyward Sword a truly great game.

There are a few missteps, however. The game's streamlined progression always ensures that there is a healthy flow to the action, but a vet of the series can't help but miss a more traditional overworld. We do get to soar through the skies above the locations, but it isn't quite the same as the various areas end up feeling disconnected from each other. I always loved how the Zelda games created a huge seamless world, and that is lost a bit here.

The story also feels a bit lacking. After a great start that sees Link and Zelda as childhood friends (and maybe more...?) living in a city in the clouds, the game settles into a fairly standard tale. Your companion, Fi, is a poor replacement for Twilight Princess' Midna and the game never really reaches the epic level of the best in the franchise. It certainly has its moments, but story-wise Skyward Sword is a bit disappointing.

I would have initially said the same about the game's score, but it has begun to grow on me quite a bit. It doesn't have the epic heroic themes of Twilight Princess and others, but many of the compositions are excellent. The use of a live orchestra for many of them is long overdue and very, very welcome.

The art direction is a bizarre hybrid of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. And while I appreciate the unique, sometimes almost impressionistic style, it isn't always well realized. Perhaps its due to the underpowered Wii console, but too many locations look flat and cheap. Skyward Sword's visuals are very hit or miss.

Presentational issues aside, Skyward Sword does everything that really matters extraordinarily well. The gameplay is uniformly fantastic in terms of design and execution. Despite its considerable length and massive amount of content, Skyward Sword is very well paced and it's one of those wonderful games that gets better and better the deeper you get. By the time the credits roll, Skyward Sword will have won you over not for it's visuals or cinematic flair, but because it is an extraordinarily well designed game that is worthy of the 25 years of excellence this series' has consistently provided.

At a time when so many games favor cinematic flair over gameplay, Skyward Sword is a great reminder of why many of us fell in love with gaming in the first place. It should not be missed.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · Posts · Next Topic »
Add Reply


Find more great themes at the IFSZ