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13.12.2011

Without a doubt a title worth playing. Having recently started playing Elder Scrolls: Skyrim before starting Skyward Sword, I've got to admit, it felt a little like a step back after seeing the complex level geometry of Elder Scrolls. Skyward Sword soon revealed its own visual beauty, though, with landscapes on the distant horizon appearing almost like an impressionistic watercolour painting. Moving around the world, you soon realise that buildings and other bits of scenery appear to 'sink' into this watercolour style as you move further away from them. It's a striking effect. Link (the main character), the characters he interacts with, and other objects you can interact with, though,are presented in a bold, clean and colourful cel-shaded style.This entry is unique in the series, in that it introduces full motion controls. It should first be noted that you need to pick up the MotionPlus add-on (or make sure you already have one attatched to your Wii Remote controller), as the game requires this to pick up your motions.For the most part, the motion controls really work well. You can swipe the Wii Remote up to down, down to up, left to right, right to left, or diagonally for sword attacks. This really brings much needed extra depth to enemy encounters, and requires skill and careful study of the enemy's stance (the way it's holding its shield, or sword, for example). The Deku Baba - a common enemy staple of this series - requires a careful slash with the sword in a direction that corresponds with the way it angles its mouth. As the game goes on, new enemies turn up that again require you to study their movements in order to correctly dispatch them.And as you further progress, you'll acquire new tools, such as a Sling Shot (that allows you to aim with a pointer to fire stones at enemies from a distance), or a Beetle, that you can fly around the level independantly of your main character in order to pick up hidden treasures or activate switches that would otherwise be out of your reach (such as to open a door blocking your progress). There are several other items I'd rather not spoil, but all these tools are fun to use, and all utilise the motion controls.These items are used to solve the game's puzzles or interact with enemies, which are thankfully not just restricted to indoor dungeon areas this time. Variety is the spice of life in this particular Zelda game, both in the way it it has you switching through and making use of every tool in your arsenal, and in the way it throws fresh diversions and challenges at you. Old areas you've visited earlier also play host to new activities later on, and can also yield further secrets when you return with new abilities and tools. In this regard it feels a little like the Metroid games. Puzzles range from studying maps to chart your way across dangerous territory, to working out how to operate moving platforms, and a big number of them make great use of the motion controls.Link is also far more agile than he has been before, and can sprint around the world and even hop a couple of steps up walls onto higher platforms, provided they are low enough to the ground. This has also brought about the introduction of a small circular stamina bar that depletes as you sprint or climb vines, which leads to strategic use of Link's newly found atheletic abilities as the game goes on. Again, a great new addition to the series that helps quicken the pace of the adventuring.Some aspects of the game were irksome, however, and do let it down somewhat.The sky, an area I was looking forward to exploring with the replacement for Link's horse - a bright red bird - feels really rather empty. It is great fun to control the bird's direction by tilting the Remote, and diving from the bird onto the odd bit of floating land to uncover the occasional treasure chest can be a nice diversion from the main quest. But the sky area itself feels like little more than a slightly more interesting level select screen, where instead of selecting your level via menu, you hover over a region you would like to land in (of which there are three), and drop from the bird.Despite the motion controls being a great addition to the series, they are not perfect. One sword action that I have not yet mentioned, is the forward jab, which requires you to jab the Wii Remote forwards. On a few rare occasions, it failed to register my action, meaning I had to perform it again. There is also a very slight delay between you making the forward jab motion, and your character performing it onscreen. Another point - this certainly isn't a game I'd recommend for children, as I think the controls would be too complex for them. Your arm movements, in order to register correctly, must be controlled (not too quick), clean and precise. A child would probably find frustration in trying to achieve this balance.Strange then, that the game sometimes treated me like a child. The game insisted on repeatedly giving me an explanation of a collectable item, even if I'd already encountered the item before. There was a pause for 3 seconds or so before I could return to my adventuring, and all these small pauses began to feel like unwelcome interruptions after a while. The game's assistant character (that hides in the sword) also pointed me in some really obvious directions, and once ruined a puzzle for me by giving me a hint when I would rather have solved it myself.The game also required me to re-calibrate the controls often, which could, over time, become out of sync (the cursor would end up lurking in the corner of the screen, even if pointing at the centre of the screen). Re-syncing required pointing at the centre of the screen and pressing the Sync button (down on the D-Pad). It only takes a couple of seconds, but is still an annoying flaw that affected my overall enjoyment.I found the game recycled enemy types towards the later end of the game, too, and I was left wishing they'd introduce a few new types. Sometimes the motion controls felt tacked on and unnecessary, particularly when having to make a flicking motion with the Remote to climb vines quicker, or tilting to control Link's direction when swimming underwater - I didn't think these were much of problem for me, however, and they didn't detract from the experience.Moving back to the positives, though, the game contains beautiful melodies, and lots of orchestration, memorable characters (including a rather flamboyant villian!), and even a Hard Mode after completion (of which I have not yet tried unfortunately). Blocking enemy attacks with my shield by making a slight motion with the Nunchuck, also made perfect sense when combined with a motion controlled sword. I loved the creative, sometimes almost egyptian-themed settings and dungeons, the prominence of the desert location, and the fact that I didn't know what action packed challenge I'd be doing from one minute to the next.Skyward Sword is a fantastic game to mark the 25th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. I only hope the series can continue this successfully for another 25 years!
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4.8.2012

Whenever Nintendo release a new entry in the Legend of Zelda series, anticipation levels amongst fans rise to white hot levels. Conventions, traditions and often rose tinted memories results in a new entry delighting many and equally disappointing others and Skyward Sword is no different, in fact it could well be the most divisive home console Zelda ever. But forgetting about traditions and expectations for now, how good is it as a standalone modern video game? In my opinion it's marvelous, but the reasons why I think so are also the reasons why it may well rankle with others.As a Zelda game, Skyward Sword tells a well-worn yarn.A fantasy tale about a youth who becomes a hero through saving the land of Hyrule by rescuing a princess and defeating a great evil. It's essentially an arcade adventure with core gameplay rooted in puzzle solving, combat and exploration. This time we are introduced to a brand new control method that hasn't been implemented in such a game previously thanks to Wii motion plus. Motion controls are integral to this game, defining how you engage in sword combat, use additional items, traverse distances and manage your characters' inventory. If you've struggled physically with motion controls in the past despite your best efforts (particularly when some precision is necessary) then your experience will be hampered. If you stubbornly oppose motion controls but not through any difficulty in using them, you'll get to enjoy a fantastic game if you push your prejudices to the side and let yourself loose. I found the controls to be accurate, natural and ultimately rewarding, some high points being how quickly items can be selected by gesturing the Wiimote in one of eight compass directions, and with a key gadget that is used to interact with distant objects. The swordplay feels natural and although easier enemies can be defeated by `waggling' I found myself swiping accurately anyway as it was more rewarding. Harder enemies and bosses require precise motion swordplay, the thrill of taking down a major beastie with a few well timed swipes and jabs a real stand out in my personal gaming experiences of the past few years. As with many top Nintendo games, simply getting to grips with the controls and playing around with them is great fun in itself and Skyward Sword is no exception.The main quest is around 50 hours long, packed with varied challenges and flows beautifully. In fact I cannot think of such a lengthy game in the last few years that managed to hold my attention so effortlessly and largely avoided repetitious challenges as much as Skyward Sword. Where this entry to the Zelda series breaks from the earlier tradition is in its' compactness and density of gameplay. The main quest is literally brimming with challenge after challenge and as such possesses a sense of `Arcadeiness' and urgency that no Zelda previously has mustered. The trade-off here is that in order to maintain this pace and to prevent the player from becoming sidetracked there is a reduced emphasis on open exploration and side quests, the latter being a hallmark of the Zelda series up until now. I believe this factor above all others (yes even the motion controls) to be the most controversial change to the Zelda template made in Skyward Sword. Personally I felt the trade-off was worth it, enabling the designers to focus on a feast of action and puzzle challenges that never stop coming while giving Skyward Sword an identity of its own amongst the Zelda canon.Skyward Sword is a meticulously crafted game and features stunning visuals despite the Wii's lack of horsepower. The graphical style is inspired by impressionist art with the wonderfully warm aesthetic giving a magical aura to the worlds. Distant scenery fades into a blur which further extends the dreamlike mood. Animation is suitably top-notch and any graphical glitches that are oh so common in contemporary games are barely noticeable here. The audio is also outstanding with a fully orchestrated score and some stand out melodies that made my heart stir. It's fairly rare in my experience for a mainstream, big budget game to exude a sense of beauty but Skyward Sword is certainly one of them.On its own merits, Skyward Sword is a fantastic action adventure game which feels like no other in recent years due to its control scheme and rampant, unrelenting imagination in its challenges and variety. There are high points, there are some lower points. The game has been criticized for padding and re-using previously visited areas too frequently. I never got that sensation when playing Skyward Sword . Whenever an area is re-visited you are faced with a new challenge, puzzle and a new thread of the story is unwound. The dungeon designs are exceptional, the bosses magnificent and every nook and cranny of the game world has purpose. Unlike earlier Zelda games, there is very little empty or underused space due to the structural changes and multi-dimensional challenge of the playpens that make up the game world. This flies firmly against the wind of many modern game conventions where the size and scale of the world is prioritised over the density of gameplay and varied challenges held within. For this reason alone I think Skyward Sword deserves significant praise.The only area where I feel the game deserves criticism is with its sometimes over-zealous guidance. The player could be left to work things out for themselves a little more rather than always being pointed in the right direction. This would have lent a marginally greater explorative element to the game that would have been welcome, particularly for number of long term fans. Did the Wii's large casual user base lead Nintendo to lend a helping hand too many? It seems plausible. This design decision does however make more sense in context of the reduced emphasis on wandering and side quests and frankly never came close to spoiling the experience personally.Being a Zelda game, Skyward Sword is invariably compared to all others in the series and could feasibly sit anywhere on the scale of a Zelda fan due to its meddling with some much loved series conventions and new motion controls. However, to judge it purely on its own merits as a standalone modern video game experience, The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword ranks as one of my favorites of the last 5 years.
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25.11.2011

Skyward Sword is simply a majestic experience, and certainly one of the best games I have ever played. The title above is the best way I can explain in short how I feel about this game. It truly does feel like you are privileged to experience Link's adventure, which becomes your personal adventure. It's one of those games where you easily forget that anybody else is playing the game, as it seems like it's just for you.I have already written a very similar review for Skyward Sword under the limited edition bundle, but I'm writing this review partly because I'm now much further through the game and partly to counter the ridiculous 1-star review on here. First off, I should say I'm a huge fan of the Zelda series.That doesn't mean, however, that I'm a fanboy who's blind to flaws. That said, I've played nearly 30 hours of Skyward Sword now and I have encountered very few flaws. It is shaping up to be a true masterpiece.I was openly sceptical of the combat using the Wii motion plus when I initially heard about it. Now, I love it. It is not absolutely perfect, as has been suggested in some reviews, but I can tell you now it's incredibly impressive. If you put some effort into your sword strokes, and don't just waggle your wrist sitting down, the sense of controlling Link's blade is responsive and rewarding. Occasionally you do find Link is pointing his blade in completely the wrong direction, but a quick sheathing of the sword and getting it out again quickly sorts this out. Every item incorporates motion controls well and feels intuitive, but it is the added immersion that the swordplay provides that really stands out here.In terms of aesthetics, Skyward Sword is sublime. The art style is so assured and consistent that I find it hard to imagine it looking any better given the Wii's power limitations. Whilst great attention has been given to detail, the occasionally rough textures do sometimes let this down. The environments are nothing short of beautiful, however, and as tightly designed as you may expect from a Zelda game. You are always unlocking new areas that can only be accessed with newly-obtained items, so it doesn't feel like you're backtracking through the focused areas beneath the clouds, but rather exploring them more thoroughly. The slight lack of islands to explore above the clouds, however, aside from the beautiful Skyloft where you begin your journey, is somewhat disappointing. If there were a few more islands inhabited by more than a handful of people then this would have greatly improved the scale of the game, which does at times feel slightly limited compared to past Zelda games. Some people may prefer this, but personally I love the exploration element of adventure games.There is plenty to collect throughout your journey, and it is a welcome change that you can quickly upgrade your wallet to take more rupees, so that you aren't always wandering around with a full wallet, as was frequently the case in previous Zelda games. Skyward Sword is now a challenging game; enemies frequently take a whole heart off if they hit you (you do start with 6 hearts this time instead of the standard 3, however), and demand quick thinking and accurate sword-work to defeat. When you return to locations after your initial visits, you'll find the enemies getting progressively tougher to beat, giving you a combat challenge in line with your increasing heart-count.A criticism that has been levelled at Skyward Sword is that the dungeons are much shorter than in previous Zelda games. In response to that I would point out that now the areas preceding the dungeons are full of puzzles and, in particular, enemies. The dungeons themselves, therefore, feel more like actual buildings that are visited to draw a particular chapter to a close, rather than huge, mystical spaces which you visit sequentially, as in Ocarina of Time for example. Further, whilst the very early dungeons are certainly fairly brief, they do become far more expansive later on. The Great Deku Tree and Dodongo's Cavern in OoT were very brief, if you recall, and yet by the time you had reached the Shadow Temple, for example, there was much more to do.A special mention must go to the NPC characters, who are so colourful and yet somehow completely believable, that they are truly endearing. Many people will be able to empathise with the woman who is bored sick of her tedious job, and down-in-the-dumps because of it, for example. The characters expressions seem to have improved dramatically from previous entries in the Zelda series. This is no L.A. Noire, but the subtle expressions of Link and Zelda in particular really convey meaning. The lack of voice-acting still isn't an issue here, as the characters are so brimming with personality that, along with the charming expressions, the player can readily give them their own voice without conscious thought.In summary, everything in Skyward Sword is polished to near-perfection and really shows the fruit of 5 year's labour. The environments and characters are as caringly designed as ever, and the gameplay has experienced a huge overhaul with the motion controls. Further, the storyline is surprisingly tight for a Zelda game, although it does stall very slightly around the 25 hour mark. If there was only a little more to explore both above and below the clouds, then Skyward Sword would be extremely close to being the perfect adventure game.Time will tell if Skyward Sword can truly be crowned the best Legend of Zelda game in the series, but I can assure anyone wondering that it is certainly right up there. It's too early to say whether it will have the longevity and astonishing replay value that Ocarina of Time has, but I'm not counting it out, and neither should you. If you are on the fence about getting this game, then get out your Wii (or buy one cheap - it is worth it, I promise) and have the adventure of the decade. I keep comparing aspects of Skyward Sword to Ocarina of Time - that alone should certainly tell you something. 9.5/10
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9.8.2012

This is what the franchise has been in need of, especially after somewhat bland and washed-out Twilight Princess. Of course, it has certain flaws, but I firmly believe Skyward Sword is the best Zelda game ever.First, the game's most famous feature - the motion controls. To me, they worked flawlessely, although at the beginning they took a little time getting used to - especially the forward thrust. When battles would get intense, people tend to start waggling with their Wii Remotes, which causes short, impulsive moves that often cannot be properly interpreted by the console, and as a result, faulty moves are produced (fof example Link swings his sword the opposite direction,or doesn't perform the forward thrust at all). However, as long as your hands stay calm and steady, nothing will disrupt your fun. The motion controls are so fun (with the epitome being flying and swimming) and natural, that I can't imagine forcing myself to mash B button ever again. Moreover, Skyward Sword made the swordfight really engaging: every enemy is sorts of a puzzle now, and in order to kill it, you must overcome its defences. Remember coming over to a Bokoblin in Twilight Princess to waggle it to death? Or performing one-button Mortal Draw on a Lizalfos? This will not happen here. Whereas in TP, TWW or OoT after encountering certain kinds of monsters you'd be more like "meh", in SS you will be more likely to say "not THESE guys again!".The world, unlike in any other Zelda game, is divided into three separate parts accesible only via the sky overworld. Some people may say this division is really artificial and the Sky is too empty, and I partly agree, however, due to certain reasons contained in the game's backstory, I think that the lack of a land overworld (Hyrule Field sorts of) and the emptiness of the Sky is justified in that case. Besides, the greatest advantage of this type of division is the complexity and depth of the three regions we visit throughout the game. The enviroment is very interactive, and each time you re-visit a region as the story is progressing, something is sure to change, and you'll find a way to access parts of the region previously out of reach. It's contrasting really nicely with linear locations of TP, which were crafted to be visited once and then ditched (linear even literally - just look at the map of Death Mountain or Snowpeak). Faron Woods of Skyward Sword are in my opinion the most open and sandbox-esque location in the entire franchise, and that's just the tip of an iceberg. Every dungeon except maybe for one has its atmosphere, none are too long or too frustrating, and some of them, namely 4th, 5th and 7th are among the best of the entire series. The game took me approx. 65 hours to 100%, which is a great result. Furthermore, I absolutely loved the Stamina Bar, which gave Link some physical realism, and the upgrade system - I would love seeing both of them return in the future. Maybe except for this annoying "you just picked X" screen which pops up every time you start your save file and you collect something for the first time during that particular session.And at last, the game's strongest card: the plot, the characters and the storytelling. Skyward Sword is the prequel to everything, the first game in the chronological order, and it had a hard task of giving all future events a reason to occur, and to give the story a significant momentum. And it was successfull in doing all this. The story of Skyward Sword winks at many different Zelda games, and at the same time remains genuine and solid. If you're not a fan of the plot being important in Zelda games, you probably won't like this game. However, I'm certain that Skyward Sword presents us with the best story in the entire franchise. But what would it be without the outstanding characters? Say, who was the central point in Twilight Princess? I dare say Midna. Phantom Hourglass? Linebeck all the way. How about The Wind Waker? That game was about Tetra and the King of Red Lions. Skyward Sword is the first Zelda game since very long that is about Link and Zelda, and the relationship they share. Link has a personality, and despite still being silent, his face, and eyes, and body scream emotions. Zelda is not a princess, she is our closest friend, and maybe even something more. Ghirahim is the most amusing villian ever, and Fi is a devoted sword spirit aware of here fate, and although she could easy become the second Midna using her backstory, she decided not to - because it isn't The Legend of Midna, Fi, or Ghirahim - it's The Legend of... GROOSE. Just the best rival character ever! And during the final cutscenes, it is really a pleasure watching how all the character have grown. Probably the most mature plot of all Zelda games, telling about friendship that lasts for ages, about passing, about devotion till the end.People accuse Skyward Sword of being linear, I strongly disagree. Every Zelda game IS linear, and only Skyward Sword presents us with sidequests that can end in more than one way. I myself played through the Hero Mode right away after completing the first playthrough, almost just to see "what the other option would do". And of course to play this marvelous game again, from the top, but in a much harder way. I love Skyward Sword, and I would buy it once again, but I already have my copy. And of course you need the MotionPlus add-on to play the game. Soar sky-high and plummet below the clouds!
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19.4.2012

Storyline:As is the general plot with many Zelda games, Skyward Sword follows Link on his quest to rescue Zelda (and inevitably, the world) from her capture. In this particular release, Link and the other people of his town reside on the floating isle of Skyloft - the existence of which is briefly mentioned in Twilight Princess in case you're interested - where great birds called Loftwings are essential to their survival. After she is taken, Link travels "the surface" in search of Zelda as well as maybe preventing the world from being engulfed in evil at the same time.I can say little more about the storyline without giving anything away, except that it is a very good plot line,with strong characters (gotta love Groose!) and an unpredictable plot that takes just about everywhere more than just once. On top of that, the game never gets old. I looked forward to every weekend morning when I could play it, spending hours at a time with the Wii remote.There is also a CD available with the game. Skyward Sword marks the 25th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda series, which is why it's there. It has some epic orchestral music on it from the Zelda games, stick it in your stereo and be blown away.Motion Plus:Many other players have complained that the Wii motion plus ruins the game, making it hard to play and frustrating. I would like to make it clear that I suffered NO irritable problems whatsoever. Because of its ability to pick up movements more accurately, the motion plus makes attacks more common sense and logical. It took time for me in Twilight Princess to adjust to the controls. Since certain moves had to be done while moving and/pressing a button while also swinging the remote, it was hard to get to grips with it. In Skyward Sword, however, swing the remote in any direction will spend the sword that way: left = left, up = up, and so on.Admittedly, the forward thrust attack can be difficult to execute due to the accuracy needed, but it is achievable with the right gesture.Hint: The easiest way to get what you want out your sword is to move the remote as if you yourself are wielding one. You don't need to go crazy, just be generous with the amount of swing you give. It'll improve your battles greatly.Side Quests and Battle:This game is so packed full of side quests I used to spend entire mornings getting them done. They are immensely fun, though. Almost every person in Skyloft requires your aid in at least one side quest. Helping them can sometimes open up money and treasure earning mini-games for you too, though some become available eventually anyway.If you become stuck in the game visit the Shadik stone. It will play a short video to show you how to solve your problems. The best idea the makers have ever come up with. The internet will not be needed as it's incredibly helpful.Battles are good fun, not too hard, not too easy. Unlike many games, where an enemy is easy once you know how to defeat it, In Skyward Sword an element of skill is also required. In some circumstances, there is more than one way to defeat an enemy, be it boss or normal, making it appealing.Other Elements:A nice touch is that you can upgrade your many gadgets, shields, and even your sword. You can use treasures dropped by monsters and found about the world in order to do this. It is not a difficult or hard to keep track of (shields go from normal to better to best, and items such as quivers go from small to medium to large) so it's pretty straight forward.No Epona? Don't be concerned. Instead you can be transported from floating island to floating island on the back of your very own Loftwing. It's fully under your control. It can dive, charge, hover and can take you anyway. Tremendous fun!And finally:A few final things you should note:1 - Scrapper's Tune: There will come a time when you will hear Scrapper's theme tune. Be prepared to be forced to jig; it's the grooviest little thing you've ever heard.2 - The glitch: There is a bad glitch in the game which, when triggered, means you have to start the game again. It's actually very easy to avoid, but just in case:I will have to reveal a few spoilers for this. For that I apologise.When obtaining the Thunder Dragon's verse of the Song of the Hero, you will meet a Goron on your way to meet him. This will instantly engage you in a conversation. This is a trigger that tells the game you are currently seeking the Thunder Dragon's verse, and will make the other verses unavailable until you have completed this.After obtaining the verse DO NOT speak to the Goron afterwards. This will set off the trigger again, permanently making the game think you are still trying to get the verse, thus making it impossible to continue the plot.The best way to avoid the glitch is to leave the Thunder Dragon `til last, as I did. Or, return to the sky and undergo an expedition to find the other verses. An opportunity to return is available before you reach the Goron, so it is unlikely you would trigger the glitch unknowingly.3 - My opinion: This is the best Zelda game I have ever played. I never needed out of game help, never grew bored, and was so sad when I finished the game because I never wanted it to end.Buy it, you won't regret it!
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18.7.2012

First of all, Zelda games are always quality. They invariably have an epic scale, engaging story and inventive gameplay. This is no different- it is a very good game- but the following observations make it sound worse than it is. They are merely the gripes that stop it being a great game: please assume that anything that isn't moaned about is as good as anything else you'll find in a Zelda game.This is the fifth Zelda game I've experienced and my least favourite. Zelda games almost always break new ground and by taking to the skies, Skyward Sword definitely does that, but what this achieves is debatable. With the exception of one boss-battle, flying is just a mode of transport to get you across the hub area.We've seen it before in other games as Link travels by horse, boat, train and er, wolf, but in this mode you're also forced to flap to keep going, meaning you have to pay attention to the boring expanse of nothing you're travelling through. It's as though, in struggling to find a use for motion control, the designers have ended up giving you something that you'd rather not have.It is a nuisance common to a lot of Wii games and rears its head regularly in Skyward Sword. This is worst in sword fighting. Most people have never tried sword fighting and probably wouldn't be very good at it. Being called upon to do so in a quasi-real fashion is therefore difficult, especially when the remote often misrecognises a stab from a slash. As you're effectively performing the actions for real, a prolonged boss fight can be very exhausting, especially if you die and have to go in for multiple rounds. Your back will be screaming for mercy too.On the other hand (literally), there's your shield-controlled nun chuck. Players must learn to "butt" away attacks or be forever losing life and their shield. Yes, their shield: your shield can now be destroyed making the boss fights very difficult (plus, if you want a decent shield again you'll have to spend ages picking up junk to upgrade the replacement back to spec). An indestructible Hylian shield is unlockable but only near the end and only if you repeat a string of previous boss fights in succession without dying- it's a task that's harder than the final battle and, if you can achieve it, you're probably so good that you don't need the thing anyway.Skyward Sword seems plagued more than usual with pointless side quests that hold up progress until you complete some minor distraction. It takes far too long before you're allowed to take to the air and it's not until after the first temple that you start to feel you're getting into the action. First, you must run back and forth talking to the right people so they can tell you to find your bird, then you have to free your bird, then you have to win a race. After you've done all this, you get in the air and down to the ground but you still can't start playing properly until you've rounded up a bunch of hedgehogs.Zelda players will be used to these but they can feel like inconveniences to your progress rather than being fun. It's especially maddening when you're well into the quest, NPCs are aware you're trying to save the world, but will still say pointless things like "I can't possibly let you move on until you can destroy twelve targets in 45 seconds" or "I'll only help you if you gather this bunch of musical notes I'm going to scatter around this lake for no reason". I'm sorry, did I not say? I'M TRYING TO SAVE THE WORLD HERE!Then there's the collecting. To upgrade items and make potions, you need to go all Womble and pick up junk and bugs for ingredients. All well and good if if it's optional but because of the stupid breakable-shield, the final boss requires a raft of potions for the unskilled. I spent an hour chasing tumbleweed and another hour chasing butterflies to get what I needed. It just sapped the fun out of the final stage (though it was in danger of that already- the end drags on and on when you're ready to be finished).And then there's Fi. It was an exciting prospect to think that the master sword held a powerful spirit...but then horrifying to realise that this spirit was more of a pain in the arse than Navi the Fairy ten times over. After every cutscene, she'll pipe up with a lengthy repetition of exactly what you've just learned. But if you actually want to ask her information you have to guess through a bunch of vague options to find nothing of value at the end of it. It's worst in a boss fight: where Orcarina's fairy would have pointed out weakpoints, Fi will only identify them after you've hit them, giving you the answer to a problem you've already solved.As far as visuals are concerned, it's not cell-shaded Link and it's not realistic HD link: it's a pastel-hued somewhere in the middle Link and it's a look that just doesn't appeal. If these are the best graphics the Wii can put out it's a disappointment.But, as stated earlier, this game's far better than the grumbling above would indicate. There are some brilliant puzzles involving the shifting of time and two wonderful new items: a leaf blower and a remote controlled scarab (doesn't sound like much but they're used to novel effect). If you like Zelda, you'll enjoy this. Just beware the snags.
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8.3.2012

After playing through Skyward Sword here's a breakdown of my opinions:Things Skyward Sword does right:-Zelda herself is perfect. She is full of character and instantly likable. The best Zelda character of the series by far.-Sword controls are genuinely fun and used really well throughout the game-Graphics style is original and suits the series down to the ground-Imagination and vision of the team is top notch for 90% of the game-Real good dungeon and level design-The 'Zelda order' of everything including the order you get items, the order of areas etc has been muddled around helping to freshen things up,although in my opinion not as much as we were led to believe-The surface is generally very interesting and implemented well including the almost Metroid style of opening up of new areas off of old ones when you get a new item-The obvious love the developers have poured into the game is always apparent-How theatrical the whole game is, especially Groose.-Making it an origin story was a nice touch for long term fans-Rupees have a purpose again!-Ditching some over-used ideas from previous games makes everything that bit fresher-Some good new items as well as some well known ones-Some well placed nods to previous games-Timeshift sections were well thought out and were good fun-I really liked the sense of panic created by the Silent Realm trials, which is pretty rare in a modern Zelda game-Excellent bosses, if a bit easy. Some have said they found the last 2 bosses the hardest in Zelda history. Really?-Emotional bits. Not as many as OOT, but some great moments, mainly between Zelda and Link. I love the fact that the first half of the game is just Link trying to track his best friend, rather than saving the entire world.Things that felt wrong with Skyward Sword:-Constant notifications when you pick up a bug or item for the first time each session are utterly pointless and a constant source of annoyance-Fi - there is no need for her to keep chirping up. She ruins puzzles and will drive you mad every time you get down to 3 hearts as she tries to notify you that you are running low on health. Many found Navi irritating, but Fi really gets on my nerves.-NPC's have nothing interesting to say and rarely update their conversation relative to your advancement throughout the game. Generally the characters feel exceptionally hollow. Remember even on the Gameboy back in '94(?) we had Marin who despite being 4 colours and less than 20 pixels high was full of character! Zelda, Groose and a few others have a lot of depth, but the rest are dull and uninspired.-Not many really decent puzzles. You are never really left thinking what to do next as it is spoon fed to you. You generally don't need to think to get through the game. Puzzles are what make Zelda!-New races are pretty weak in comparison to the more established races-You're quite often forced to skip through the same dialog - one point this sticks out is whenever you get a potion you have to go through a spiel every time, even if you buy multiples-The sky is awfully bare. I was imagining something between the overworld from Skies of Arcadia and the sea from Wind Waker - at least give us more than one town to explorer!-Too much filler between key moments, most of which felt forced and ruined the games flow-I personally didn't like the adventure pouch - I'd much rather just be able to carry everything at once. Some loved it, but I didn't think it added anything note worthy to the game, it just made things a bit more annoying than they really needed to be-Overused motion controls. Items and swordplay are great, swinging on vines is OK, but swimming felt clunky and just didn't work well. Why bother with motion controls when they hamper the gameplay?-Where are the trading sequences? You do a few one off trades and return a few lost items, but no long sequence that really makes you think. This is a real disappointment.In the next Zelda I'd love to see a more consolidated, richer world where every NPC has a unique personality, with at least 4 or 5 times the dialog. I don't see any way back from the motion controls as they really are fun, but things like swimming should revert to a traditional method. I personally prefer the large overworld idea from recent Zelda's to the hub approach that is the sky in Skyward Sword. This is an excellent Zelda, but has a lot of obvious missed opportunities, and pointless sections and fillers. If Nintendo can just polish out the annoyances, and stop trying to be too helpful in pointing us in the right direction we could have an OOT beater, but sadly this isn't it.
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25.1.2012

Bit late to the party and I have finally finished the latest Legend of Zelda game Skyward Sword. After first being disappointed by the cartoon look of the game a few E3's ago I am pleased to say that the game looks much better. I really should have trusted Nintendo rather then early concept pictures and videos.This is the first proper Zelda game made for the Nintendo Wii (Twilight Princess does not count as it was made for the Gamecube than ported across for the release of the Wii). All your movements use the Wii Motion plus controller which is needed to play this game. If you don't own one, you can pick up an attachment, however I would advise against this as I found it hurts my wrist after long gaming sessions.Failing that you can pick up the game with a special Wii Motion Plus Controller but prices now start around £65.The control movement actually feels pretty good, as you slowly turn your wrist you can see Link move his sword in the same direction, movements of your sword will help you against some enemies who leave themselves vulnerable points so long as you slash them in the correct direction. The only problem with this is when you start to swing around quickly, you will find that sometimes there will be a short lag and you will slash a move behind. Other items and equipment also use the Wiimote, the new beetle for example will be controlled holding the mote in front of you and tilting it left, right, up and down. This same method will be used to control your bird (Loftwing) however I do have a few minor issues here. Your Loftwing is use to get you around the skies and if you have to gain any height you can use tornado's or a short dive and then climb technique which can become drawn out and tiresome. The problem occurs when you come up from the clouds you will always start near cloud level and Skyloft itself is quite high up, so you have to always have to use this dive and clime technique to reach Skyloft. I would have preferred it if you started near the top each time to save time.This really is my only issue with the game; the graphics look very pleasant on the eyes especially if you are running your wii through a component cable on a HD tv. The music is as good as any previous Zelda game and you will find yourself knowing some of the tunes they have sneaked in. Some of the previous enemies are back but there is a twist on how you finish them off.Gameplay lasts around 30 hours including side-quests which there are plenty and not once will you get bored during your play through. During your time in the game I guarantee there will be times where you will have to think about what to do to get ahead but a few minutes later you will realize what it is you have to do. I love these moments because the moment you realize what it is you have to do you get that feeling of achievement. Skyward Sword has that correct level where you have to think about things but it will come to you eventually. Other games can find themselves making puzzles too difficult forcing some players to seek out help and this I find can have an effect of the fun level. I like figuring things out for myself and I don't want to have to ask someone or look it up.I am pleased to say there are a couple of new weapons replacing some that appear time and time again in Zelda games. Bug and item collecting as you progress through the game will allow you to upgrade certain items which are a nice touch and brings something different to the game. Another nice touch added to Skyward Sword is the ability to dash for short periods of time but be warned; if you run out of stamina you could be left open to attack.There is an issue I find with bug and item collecting and it's not the sheer amount you will have by the end of the game but what happens each time you turn the game on. The very first time you pick up a new item or bug there will be a short cut scene telling you what you have picked up and then it will show you where in the menu it goes. After this you can pick up as many of the same item without seeing this again. That is until you turn the game off and back on again, if you then pick up an item you have loads of you will again have to witness this scene and you cannot skip it! Thanks Nintendo I know what a butterfly is I have 69 of them already!Taking away the minor issues and they are minor, this is one of my favourite Zelda games and it's probably the Ocarina of Time of today. With lots of playtime that doesn't get boring, a fantastic music score and great graphics It would have been my game of 2011, but I unfortunately I played Xenoblade!
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10.12.2011

Skyward Sword (SS) is better than Ocarina of Time. There, I said it. Though it is a huge statement to make, I believe that Zelda has improved on what many consider to be gaming perfection, and finally shows what the Wii was capable of all along.PRESENTATION:When people first saw SS's new graphical style, many of them instantly hated it. They didn't like the mix of Twilight Princess' darker, more realistic tones with the light hearted style of Wind Waker. However, the final product has some of the best graphics on Wii, surpassing even Metroid Prime 3. Unlike many current games (FPS's, I'm looking at you!)SS avoids a limited colour palette of black and brown, and opts for a vibrant range.This makes the worlds of SS vivid and immersive, especially during some of the sections in the desert, which I won't spoil for you.The soundtrack is orchestrated in this game, like in Super Mario Galaxy 2, and it is fantastic. Zelda is known for its epic and well-known tunes, so for SS's soundtrack to stand out as one of the best in the series is a true achievement.The story here is an important one, as it details the story of the first Link and Zelda. It explains the confusing storyline of Zelda, and why there are so many Links and Zeldas, and why Ganon never stays defeated. Last but most definitely not least, it details the creation of the Master Sword and the first assembling of the Triforce, two of the symbols that are synonymous with Zelda.COMBAT:The Wii Motion Plus has been used incredibly well here, to the point where, I cannot imagine a Zelda game without it. The 1:1 swordplay adds a new dimension to every fight, meaning that you can't just waggle your Wiimote to defeat an enemy like in Twilight Princess. Enemies actively block and react to your attacks, instead of mindlessly charging at you. Things get especially interesting when there are consequences for having your attack blocked, but again, I won't spoil anything for you.GAMEPLAY:Skyward Sword is not like previous Zelda games in that there is less of a focus on the dungeons themselves. Instead, you will spend an equal amount of time getting to the dungeons themselves, tackling some puzzles and trials (which I will come to later) along the way. While this may sound like a negative to long time Zelda fans, it definitely works here, and varies the gameplay.Even though there is less of a focus on dungeons, the ones in Skyward Sword are absolutely stellar. Nintendo has once again displayed their capability to produce puzzles that are difficult, but not infuriatingly so. The design here is some of the best in a Zelda game. Note especially the two desert dungeons, which are among the top five Zelda dungeons of all time. The items here are also varied. There are the usual mainstays like the Bow and Clawshots, but also some more exotic offerings like the remote drone Beetle shown in many trailers. While I won't ruin any more for you, what I will say is that unlike previous Zelda games, you will continue to use all your items throughout the game, rather than just one per dungeon. The Wii Motion Plus makes the items a true joy to use.What may dissatisfy some fans is the lower difficulty of this game. While it is by no means short (40 hours at least for full completion), dungeons are quite straightforward, although combat is definitely more difficult. Bosses are fantastic in this game, though again, they are not that difficult. However, there is one section that is quite challenging. Remember the trials I mentioned before? Well, they are trials where you must collect Tears of Light. Do not despair, it is nothing like the boring offering in Twilight Princess, but is a genuine and interesting challenge. The feeling after completing the last trial is ecstatic!VALUE:At the price at the time of review (£32.99), there is no question that you get every penny's worth. There are many side quests for you to explore after completing the lengthy main story, which plump up the game's length to 40-50 hours. There is also a Boss Replay mode, which I sorely missed in Twilight Princess.VERDICT:If you have a Wii, buy this game. If you don't have a Wii, buy a Wii and then buy this game. The only bad thing about Skyward Sword is that once you have played it, all other games don't seem good anymore.
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18.11.2011

I have been playing this for a fair few hours now and after seeing Gamespots review of the game I was sceptical that it may not be that good. This is the first time I have ever disagreed with one of their reviews, although the 7.5 they gave it isn't low this deserves at least a score of 9 from a highly rated gaming site. IGN gave it a 10 which I no doubt agree with.Lets get onto the controls, the part of the game game-spot and one other site didn't like.I so far have had no problems with it and think they have been made to work very well and feel extremely polished. The sword swinging is very responsive and feels very nice to use. When rolling/throwing bombs and other items it shows you the path it will take so is easy to aim and isn't hard to do after a few tries. The motions used in this are also very good. If you have played Wii sports resort you'll feel right at home with this. You shake the nun-chuck on it's own to raise your shield in combat and block attacks using the usual Z-Target system to lock on to your enemies.Flying theThe shops are in my opinion greatly improved, you walk to the item you want and then select it to buy it. Nice little touch as you now only have to go to the item you want, although when they were a scroll through shop it want bad, this just makes it feel like you get the item you want quicker. Also there has been a weapon upgrade and repair system added so you can improve your weapons to make them more effective. Again a nice little touch.The graphics, the part most people nowadays want to be perfect to have a game considered good. I have never been bothered by graphics, I'll take game-play over graphics any day. But this is one of the best looking games I have played on the Wii. Like most Wii games the graphics aren't sharp but like the other Zelda games they are a world to be taken in as a whole and not each part and texture individually. A bit like Elder Scrolls games where the textures aren't perfect but when you look at a part of the world as a whole you can only think... WOW!The combat in this game is something that I am really enjoying so far. You can't just go in and swing your remote like there is no tomorrow, it requires thought and tactics thanks to the new stamina bar. I again like this addition. What the developers seem to have done is make the game more realistic without going over the top and making so realistic that is takes away from the game-play. If you are on the back foot in a fight you can no longer just run for your life because if you run out of stamina then Link slows to almost a stop and you will most likely be killed. I have not yet got to a boss fight but if they are like fighting the enemies then they are going to be very fun and more than likely challenging.The stamina bar adds a new dimension to the game-play, climbing requires thought and so does scaling ledges while hanging off. You can no longer just hang there for a long periods of time. The stamina bar is also depleted by certain sword manoeuvres so you can no longer just spin attack or use other moves when attacked by a group of enemies.With the map system it hasn't changed much from the other versions of Zelda with the overlook view on the world with one nice new addition... You can now place markers, which shoots a beam of light up into the sky so you can see the direction in which you need to be heading.The few complaints I have with game would be that you can only save it at statues and not when you want to. I also haven't taken to you companion in this or the sound they have given her, Midna being my favourite so far.The music and sounds in this game are otherwise wonderful, almost on a par with the soundtrack from Ocarina of Time.All in all I am very much enjoying this game so far and and am looking forward to getting hours of game-play out of it.Game-play: 10Sound: 9.5Controls: 10Combat: 10Graphics: 10 (for a Wii game)Also I highly recommend getting the special edition if you can get if for an extra few pounds than the normal edition for the soundtrack and remote (with built in Wii Motio Plus, no add-on on the bottom, very nice addition).I cannot recommend this game enough. If you buy it, Enjoy!
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27.1.2012

Skyward Sword without a doubt is one of the best zelda games that nintendo has to offer. Being a prequel to the rest of the Zelda's this game takes you back to the origins of the Hero of time.Using the Wii Motion Plus Nintendo has allowed full control of Links sword; diagonal, left right, up down, circles, anything you wish. This is also needed within game play, certain enemies cannot be defeated without the correct use of the sword, for example certain enemys need to be flipped over so their bellies show and then need to be jabbed (by jabbing the remote).It is this control system that truly helps this title to be top over so many of the others.Additionally the story is enthralling.A typical Zelda has been stolen story but none the less an original one. The 'evil guy' is much different to any other, and is in fact rather creepy and the people within the game seem far more 'real'. Additionally the enemies themselves are much more difficult to kill than in any other Zelda to date due to a fantastic AI system. It has been a long time since I saw the GAME OVER screen in a Zelda. They are bigger, badder and the bosses are pretty unique.However, the greatest part of the game is the emotion that it manages to portray and the story it pulls you into. Ocarina of time had a wonderful story with a sense of so much history that you were entering into, Skyward Sword gives the feeling you are making that history. I have felt so involved in the Zelda tale in this game, and have greatly enjoyed noticing the little links it has to the games it is a prequel to. For example, although I enjoyed Windwaker, I felt the story to be almost separate to the series, this game I am pleased to say did not have that feel; I felt completely at its roots.Additionally the relationships of the characters is much larger and interactive than previous Zelda titles. This gives way to many side quests that can keep you busy for hours. As the game progresses so does your relationship with the characters, so keep an eye out for what is changing.Nevertheless, the map on this game I personally feel is much smaller than some others, such as Twilight Princess, Majora's Mask or even Ocarina of Time. Additionally the areas sometimes seem rather juxtaposed with the new singular way of entering them. This however doesn't take away from the epicness of the game, as large map areas are re-covered, with new secret paths opened and although its the same area it feels completely new as there's new enemies, its seen in a new way with new weapons or gadgets and often leads to new paths which then do expand the map.The main map of the game takes place in the sky, where you can have some relax time, it is this area that can be rather small after a while, being about half the size of the map of Windwaker (rather than sailing around you fly however),,, except that said this is ONLY Links home area, most of the game takes places on the surface, which as said, being re-explored and expanded as you progress it doesn't feel all that small. Many of the ways the map is expanded and used is very clever, so when playing be sure to think outside of the box and always think of your whereabouts in terms of the map.Some sections of the game have had me completely stumped, with need to call upon the aid of your new servant that plays the role of Navi from OOT. In that sense the game is quite repetitive to the other games in the series, however, rather than repetitiveness, it feels like nostalgia; keeping the Zelda series as Zelda rather than something completely remastered and new.This game is a must buy. If ocarina of time didn't bring such memories with it this would be my favourite of all Zelda games, with the epicness of Ocarina, the intensity of Majoras to save the world and an expansion of the innovative controls of Twilight this game has it all; a comfortable but expanded story, with lots of twists, brilliant controls of all gadgets and weapons throughout the game, explanations of the origin the hero of time and to top it off beautiful graphics of a mixture of cell shading and twilight.Five stars, nintendo really has out done themselves with this one.
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5.8.2012

Being financially stunted at present, as a lot of people are, I wasn't able to play this until a family member bought it for me as a christmas gift. It sat to the side until I was able to afford a Wii Motion Plus attachment, and I have to say, once I did start playing it, I had a lot of fun.Gameplay: 5/5Classic Zelda. Run around, collect things, kill bad guys, find treasures and solve puzzles. Oh good lord the puzzles. There are a LOT of them, and some of them aren't so much difficult as somewhat infuriating - but then, I've had that same experience with every Zelda game I've ever played, and it's always satisfying when you do complete them.I would personally have approved if they'd found a way to let you use a standard Gamecube style controller to play, but then that would have made a few bits much less epic - even if Link looks a bit derpy running about with his sword held out infront of him like a divining rod for adventure.Fi, your companion for this game, can be a bit irritating, but she's a lot less annoying than Navi by several hundred times, so I lived with it. Plus, she lives in your sword most of the time, and save for plot moments when she has to come out and say something, her hints and advice can be ignored (which, if you've ever played a Zelda game, you'll know all of anyway - things like 'water + lava = rock platform you can jump on")The WiiMotion Plus fighting mechanic was a -little- annoying at first, especially if you don't have much room, but I found it working fine sitting about 3 feet away from my sensor on the sofa, so it's certainly not going to need you to buy a bigger house to play. And, not to ruin anything, the way it's used in the final boss fight makes it, quite possibly, the most epic encounter I've ever played through in a Zelda game.In a fun change for the Zelda series, this one offers you the chance to upgrade your gear as you go - the shield, for example, starts as a basic wooden affair (which, like Ocarina of Time, can be destroyed by fire if you're not careful), moves on to a sturdier but heavier metal shield, then to a magic shield that reflects attacks but has low durability, and finally, if you complete the necessary side-quest/challenge, you get the Shield of Legend, which is unbreakable and blocks pretty much anything you put it in the way of. And each individual shield, sword and all of Link's assorted batman-esque gadgetry can be upgraded to improved forms by bringing the necessary components to the village's resident blacksmith/engineer, to make them generally more useful.Looks: 5/5Absolutely gorgeous. This is the first Wii game I've played where I've genuinely been impressed by the graphics. Granted, it's no Crysis, but for what the Wii can do, it looks amazing. And I couldn't help but be delighted to see Link actually has some proper armour on this time around instead of pure green cloth - there's visible chainmail underneath it this time! Which makes sense, as he's supposed to be a "Sky Knight".Plot: 4/5It doesn't take much to figure out the overall plot of any Zelda game - You're Link, you like Zelda, Zelda gets kidnapped and/or goes missing, and you have to go find her. You've got a rival in the form of a buff moron named Groose and his oddly proportioned lackies, an array of strange and entertaining characters both in the skies and the world below to help you out, and more sidequests and bonus content than you could shake a Wii controller at.Mixed in with that is a fair amount of both new and nostalgic plot elements and references to older games, and it's even more amazing when you see the end boss finally take on it's "final form" and... well, I won't ruin it for you, but suffice to say it's cool :)Soundtrack: 3/5It's certainly classic Zelda music, and there's nothing wrong with it, but I can't help but feel they could have done a bit more with it. However, the accompanying music CD has some really awesome tunes on it, so bonus points for that.Overall: 4/5. There were a few little things that kept it from 5/5 status but suffice to say, if you enjoy Zelda, you'll enjoy this.
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5.12.2011

IGN gave this game a perfect 10/10 rating.I can't really disagree with them.To be honest, at first I thought this game wasn't going to be for me.I've played Zelda: Phantom Hourglass on the Nintendo DS and it's a fantastic game.I'd also played some of Twilight Princess (when I originally had a Wii. I re-bought one a while back) though got stuck, and played another game. I have Ocarina of Time on the 3DS, though haven't really got around to playing for more than a couple of hours.Lately, I'd been playing a lot of Call of Duty (Black Ops) online. Though I'm far from bored of that, I felt like it was time to play other games. And trust me, I have A LOT to get through.When I saw this for £30 on pre-order,I thought 'Yeah, why not'.Anyway, on with the review...The reasons I first didn't like this game was:1) The Graphics2) The NarrativeAfter playing this game for approx. 11 hours, I don't know what my beef with the graphics was. I play on a 42" HD TV and have the component cable for my Wii. At first, I just thought 'Woh... It looks truly terrible'. I'm not talking about the design (cartoon/art style). It was the fact that the eyes looked out of focus, and the figures' outlines were jaggered. After changing my Wii settings to HD and widescreen it seemed to improve it a bit.When I play now, I don't even worry about this. The graphics seem alright. In fact, sometimes they look absolutely beautful. The detail on everything is good, and the adult Link looks very cool.The narrative seemed to be suited to young children at first. It seemed slow, repetive and un-necessary. Again, now it doesn't seem a problem whatsoever, so I'm glad I persevered.Let's be honest though. The Wii isn't respected for it's graphics. Those who continue to buy Nintendo's consoles do so because of the brilliant games they bring out. Third party titles rarely do the system justice but, in my opinion, Mario and Zelda games never disappoint. I cannot say how pleased I am to have given this game a real playthrough. I would have been missing out if I'd of not carried on. I'm used to playing a quick game online. It's been a while since I followed a storyline. I very much look forward to playing the rest of this game, and then I can play Ocarina of Time and Spirit Tracks (on the DS). I've also re-bought Twilight Princess as I'm sure I wasn't playing it properly.This game is so much fun for these reasons:1) The bad-guys are funny, and the game doesn't take itself too seriously.2) The puzzles are brilliant. I'm 21 and they are hard enough to keep me walking back and forth at times. It gives you that sense of achievement when you finally figure it out by yourself.3) The sounds and the music are epic, and always suited to the levels you're playing. (You get the soundtrack on CD too!)4) The game lasts a long time. There are plenty of side-quests you can complete if you wish to. I believe there is about 35 hours worth of gaming in one playthrough.The game suits any age, and you have a magical guide... thing, who pops out if you need advice on a level. Don't expect her totell you everything though. It'll be more of a hint if anything.Gamespot - the critics - game this game a somewhat low score of 7.5/10. They put this mainly down to the controls. I'm not sure why. At first, I may have agreed, but you learn to get good at it. Flying your giant-birdy-thing is used rarely, but when it is, I stand up because my sensor bar is above my TV. The MotionPlus (which is required for this game) mimmicks your movements exactly.You know the score though, I'm guessing. You have to save the princess Zelda and your world from the evil that lurks over. In this game you start off in 'Skyloft', a place above the sky. You travel down 'below the clouds' to visit different areas, in search of Zelda. You visit various temples (8 in this one) and fight bosses. This is where the most fun is had.Seriously, I love this game so much. I think it deserves Game of the Year, despite the massive amount of decent games out this fall. I'm off to tackle Temple numero. 3!Take care,Stefan
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7.1.2012

Where do I start?... At 40 I have played virtually every Zelda game there is, Ocarina 3x, Majora's 2x & Wind Waker also 2x... However, The Twilight Princess is the ONLY Zelda game I never completed!! As it was a game for the Wii I felt I needed to do this write up just in case, like me, you were maybe put off a little by TTP & possibly thinking Zelda had lost it's way, or simply couldn't cut it on a console like the Wii...? Well, dont be, The Skyward Sword is utterly FANTASTIC!!!I'll start with my only real gripe which is the control style of the game ~ As a whole it is fantastic (I'll explain more later), however, I have found occaisionally that the Nunchuck joystick control gets jammed 'in game'& Link runs round in circles & I temporarolly lose control ~ But all you need to do is unplug the Nunchuck & then immediately plug it back in & this resets the problem!! After around 30hrs of play it has happened only around 5 or 6 times ~ Worth noting, this could be that I have an iffy Nunchuck?... My brother is 60hrs into Skyward Sword & far ahead of me & he has had no issue at all!!...Now to the good stuff ~ The game itself is HUGE!!! With loads of side quests & challenges to keep you occupied should you tire of questing for awhile. Indeed, TSS has an ingenious new angle on weaponry in so much as you are now required to hunt for different items (incl. insects & bugs - you need to buy a net to catch these at the start of the game, to hidden treasures, rare plants, claws, feathers etc...) in order to upgrade your weapons!! No more simply being given the best sword or shield, you start with the basic tools for the job & its then up to you to find all the required items in order to improve your items!! (which you have to do in order to progress through the game ~ your first shield is a wooden one which very easily breaks or burns & your left forking out for a (expensive!!) replacement!!!).The upgrade side is worth noting in fact, you have 10 Sheild upgrades & 7 sword upgrades, plus around 1 - 3 upgrades on many other new & fantatstic weapons & tools you will aquire throughout the game (incl. a whip, a 'blower' & a fantatsic 'Beetle'!!). Your bomb & seed pouches require 3 upgrades each & your purse... 7 upgrades!! To hold a massive 9900 rupees!!! (& yes, there are items which will scoff all that loot!!).You can even improve your potions (there are quite a few to choose from, but to save spoiling it we'll just talk about the usual 'heart' potion here), once again a successful loot hunt to collect the correct ingredients will result in a Heart Potion+ & even a Heart Potion ++ (restores all your hearts & can be used twice!!). In fact, so good are the array of potions & especially as you can improve them, the old 'fairy in a jar' is quite defunct in this game!! I certainly haven't bothered, although you do still get the instant resurection, but only 6 hearts will be restored which aint good if you're in the middle of an intence Boss fight!!!The gameplay is fantastic, dont expect a 'walkthrough' game like WW (which I completed without losing a life!!)... The Boss's in TSS are VERY hard to beat!! Complex fighting techniques are required to defeat them & I have found myself stood sweating & exhausted after certain battles ~ much to the ammusement of my daughter!!.The dungeons are complex & their usual frustrating self ~ however, a nice touch no longer having to search for a compass ~ only the map is required!!I could go on & on here, but the fact is that at 30hours of play I'm only 40% of the way through the game, but I'm hooked, I'm still to even begin a side quest or in-game challenge!!! If you're thinking about buying it - BUY IT!! You shant regret it, its vastly better than Twilight Princess, it's better than Majora's Mask & Wind Waker & it holds its own against the giant Ocarina of Time!!!
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18.11.2011

That is the word I think most missing from the Skyward Sword reviews describing the controls.After Gamespot shocked the gaming world by awarding Zelda a 7.5 score, fatwas were declared, Robin Williams started to grow his beard again and the Metacritic rating went down by a percent. The reason the review cited for such a low score was that the control method was often erratic and had to be recalibrated a lot. Shock: I have to agree with the point, the control method is not as perfect as some reviews have been making out. Anyone who believed that every action would be duly recreated without error by motion plus is overestimating the device. However, each item in the game has its idiosyncrasies (see top),which, when mastered feels more intuitive than any other Zelda game to date. So rather than flailing the remote around wildly, taking a little time to appreciate the controls is advised and most rewarding. And whilst never truly being one to one, it certainly beats pressing A continuously. Also vantage point needs to be taken into consideration. Whilst perfectly playable sitting down, this is one game where a little arm space is appreciated for each swing or stab of your sword. A different experience may be garnered by playing the game standing, depending on how immersed you want to get.Graphics wise this is the most stunning looking Zelda game to date. Whilst initially ambivalent to the first footage of the game shown at E3, the art style is simply magnificent and very clever in disguising the dated Wii hardware. People often say games aren't art (why do they use artists then) but this is a piece of exquisite art. Like a Terry Pratchett novel brought to life infused with a palette not afraid to be colourful (Skyloft) or scared to represent more sombre environments-to get lost in this world is delightful and phantasmagorical.The sound is also superb, and whilst some music could have been extended more rather than repeating the beat so quickly, overall it adds to the atmosphere with the orchestral effects being stunning and playing a major role in this grandiose adventure.And what an adventure it is. Combining the best elements of previous Zeldas-the quirkiness of Majora, the exploration of Waker and a narrative which so far beats Ocarina of time. It was an ingenious idea by Nintendo to shift the story before Ocarina recanting it like Zelda origins, and it all weaves together superbly, supplementing stellar dungeon and boss design with an emotionally charged and fulfilling story. The tale between Link and Zelda has never been better told nor more romantically inclined, and it works great-creating a real dynamic between not only those characters, but lesser ones exhibiting traits to rival Guru-Guru (see Ocarina of Time). And perhaps to appreciate the story the most, it is beneficial to have played Ocarina as it makes references which are pertinent to the timeline of the game, but not so that you could not understand them if you haven't. Whether this was a ploy by Nintendo as they recently released Ocarina 3D, it doesn't really matter as most people would have played it before but I certainly appreciated my recent play through congruently with this title.Overall this is the Zelda you have been waiting for, but it is not the perfect implementation of motion controls. It is the best that can be done with motion plus, but to truly exceed that you would have to have a further iteration of the hardware. Each individual aspect of the game is top notch, Nintendo's A game, but the sum of these parts is exponentially more.
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