Ever since I first played it, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time has been one of my favorite videogames. As I have written previously, I have played the game on multiple platforms and always found my trips through that version of Hyrule to be exciting and different.
While the franchise may not have seen very many lows, it certainly has experienced some lesser moments (Wind Waker). And, as much as this may get me slammed, I would be lying if I didn't say that Link's newest adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
should have been better. The story is only kind of interesting (not that one expects Zelda tales to stray greatly from the formula… that would be like Mario not having to rescue Peach). Worse than that though is the fact that the control scheme enhancements here only serve to detract from the fun that the game would otherwise be rather than increasing it, the in-game graphics are distinctly mediocre (even if the art style is great), and the issues don't even stop there. In short, this is a really good game, but it isn't a perfect one.
Skyward Sword opens with a young lad by the name of Link (you can rename him anything you want, but seriously, are you not going to go with Link?) waking up at his knight academy school and needing to prepare for a big test. Link lives on a magical land up above the clouds and, as with all the other folks that live up there, he's got this bird whom he's bonded to which he can call and which will take him to various other islands above the clouds. Naturally, Link has a super special bird as his partner, the kind of bird no one has seen for an exceptionally long time.
Now, I don't know whether this portion of the game was in development before Avatar, but certainly once that film came out, the story here should have been moved in a new direction. Essentially, your introduction to this new Zelda game makes it seem like a bad takeoff of the James Cameron movie combined with the need-to-travel-to-various-islands annoyingness that plagued Wind Waker (which was the biggest problem with that title). I call this a "bad" version of Avatar because the graphics are rather jaggedy, and the story of the birds we're given at the outset here lacks the depth of Cameron's tale.
That momentarily aside, soon enough Zelda is captured, brought down to the lower world below the clouds and Link is on a quest to find a free her. To do this, Link has battle creatures (like Skulltulas and all the regular Zelda baddies along with some new ones) and gain various tools and weapons (like a slingshot). Link travels, as one would think, through forests, water areas, fire drenched locales, and a whole lot of temples and dungeons.
Article comments
1 - vincent
o...k... where did people start comparing avatar to zelda? stay on topic man! also i don't think every fan of the franchise thinks that the game will be "perfect" as long as i have a great time playing the game. and you totally missed the point of wind waker. zelda is all about the joys of exploration and finding something new. wind waker probably embodies that goal more then any other zelda title do date with the exception of SS. and in my opinion OoT was just as bad as TP where it had really nothing to do outside the main quest line
2 - Maggio
I love the article... This is one of the first articles that talks a lot about the flaws of Skyward Sword... What I didn't like was the fact that you mentioned Wind Waker as being a lessor title in the series... I would normally say "Oh, well that's your opinion." but Wind Waker was better than Twilight Princess in so many ways. Twilight Princess was the lessor title in the Zelda series, the game RUSHED so much... I felt like Nintendo was trying way too hard to do what the fans wanted them to do, instead of them doing what they have always done... I have not played Skyward Sword yet, so I can't tell you if it's a "perfect game" or not, but I can at least call you out on the Wind Waker thing...
I have to agree with Vincent with the whole point of Zelda... If you have read the interview (maybe article), where Miyamoto says that he got the idea of Zelda from his childhood... He explored woods and caves... That is what Zelda is about. Zelda is all about exploring the vast world and seeing all it's beauty... and then saving that beautiful world from evil.
I don't want to make my comment bashing your article too much, so I do want to say that the whole not being able to do what you want/the designers are forcing you to take a certain path, is something I have disliked in Zelda, but at the same time, I look at Zelda as a story being read... If you read a book and you know you could easily turn the page to skip boring parts would you? Or would you know that the author did it that way because he/she felt like that was needed in the story? When you said that you could do certain things here and couldn't over there, maybe the designer made it that way because they felt like it was the best decision.
In the end, I love the article and still can't wait to pick up the game in a few days. Thanks for your time and effort into making this review.
3 - seriously?
Can't take this article seriously. Much more established reviewers with much more credibility have said the motion controls work nearly flawlessly. Also, if the Beetle could pick up heart pieces, then the player would never have to work for them. They are hidden for a reason. Using the beetle would defeat the whole purpose...
And that Avatar comparison... How exactly is that valid? I don't think this guy really knows what he is talking about. The game was in development for 5 years, and one piece of dialogue - which was done by NoA during localization - causes him to call the game rushed. The dialogue in question isn't even an issue. Skyview Temple IS a forest temple.
Additionally, I don't think this guy understands how the stamina meter works. You aren't supposed to use it until Link gets tired and then wait for it to recharge. You have to use it intelligently so that Link never reaches that fatigued state.
I enjoy reading articles that aren't afraid to point out a game's flaws, but this one was just a steaming pile of s***.
4 - Alex Zangari
lolwut?
You totally trashed the game and gave it a point below a perfect score. What is this garbage. At least go the full mile if you plan on ripping it apart.
On the other hand, I can't even imagine your focal points ruining anything. Especially your idea of a "cardinal sin." Did it really hurt so much to run to a platform? As for these alleged other cases of jumps that can't be made because "the game doesn't want you to," I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason for each of them. Not because I'm a Zelda fanboy with too much hype and faith, but because you honestly made a complaint about the Beetle item not picking up heart pieces (in other words, ruin 99% of the puzzles).
Poor visuals, Wind Waker as a low point, etc... your comments just eat away at any credibility you could hope to have. And complaints about the story? It's a freaking LEGEND, it's supposed to be about the history and lore of the fantasy world you're surrounded by, not some cinematic drama ploy like the games these days that try to be movies. Zelda is a video game and doesn't try hiding it. The story is about being the character, not watching the character. You're biggest mistake is that you judged Skyward Sword like it was any other game, where effort is made to be cinematic or easy or what have you.
If you can't fit in Link's boots, that's your loss.
5 - Really? Really!?
Are you serious about that Avatar comparison? Giant birds= Avatar? Seriously? How on earth does the concept of giant birds remind you first and foremost of Avatar? Did you not consume any form of science-fiction/fantasy entertainment before the fall of 2009? Go look at the TvTropes page for "dragon rider". I'll wait. Now please come back and tell me that Avatar somehow is the poster child for a concept that dates back to Tolkien. I honestly can't believe you used movie as derivative and shallow as Avatar as a comparison point to a video game that has literally almost nothing in common with Avatar.
"I call this a "bad" version of Avatar because the graphics are rather jaggedy, and the story of the birds we're given at the outset here lacks the depth of Cameron's tale"
Wow. Just, wow. I'm sure Nintendo is disappointed you disliked their attempt to compete with Avatar.
Christ.
6 - I couldn't make it past the first page..
Ok first off, you somehow draw some weird connection between a terrible movie and this game just because of birds.. Let me try that a sec, LoZ:SS is a great game but it seems like they clearly copied every movie and story ever made because the characters can walk. Did I manage to sound like the author of this article?
Anyway, moving on to another flaw in this article. Zelda does not get captured in the beginning like you say, she gets attacked, falls to the ground below the clouds and then sets off on her own journey. She does get captured later in the game, momentarily, but you only get hints about that and she frees herself before you are able to come to her aid.
Oh and one more thing, in Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, you realize there was a large bird that could carry you around the map right? I say large because pixel wise it was about equal to the size of Link. So yeah, maybe you should flip your theory around and blame Cameron of taking his bird idea from LoZ.
7 - no offense dude buy
you kind of lost me at calling wind waker a "low" in the series: its one of the series best
8 - Omar gomez
What a party pooper! Somewhat mean spirited. Tell me do you dwell in sorrow all the time?
9 - gerzzo
I feel bad for you guy...everyone here thinks your review is terrible. I am sorry to say it, but after reading it I think the same. Good thing is that you can try harder next time =)
Cheers.
10 - Ben
Honestly, you have purposely given this kind of review to increase your traffic. To that end, you are a success to your goal but a jackass for writing a review based on disagreeing with only what you have read from people who actually played the game. A shame of journalism - you are.
11 - Josh Lasser
Everyone is, naturally, entitled to their opinion. But, for what it's worth, I have played the game, and I rated it better than Gamespot did (they too noted issues with the controls).