Software:The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

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Short description: 2021 action-adventure video game
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Icon art depicting Link raising the Master Sword
Icon artwork depicting Link raising the Master Sword with Ghirahim (left) and Fi (right) in the background
Developer(s)Tantalus Media
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Daiki Iwamoto
Producer(s)Eiji Aonuma
Designer(s)Ryuji Kobayashi
Programmer(s)Resmi Hasankolli
Artist(s)
  • Ayden Polat
  • Oberon Bradford
Writer(s)
  • Naoki Mori
  • Hidemaro Fujibayashi
Composer(s)
  • Hajime Wakai
  • Shiho Fujii
  • Mahito Yokota
  • Takeshi Hama
SeriesThe Legend of Zelda
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseJuly 16, 2021
Genre(s)Action-adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD[lower-alpha 1] is an action-adventure game published by Nintendo. Based on the Nintendo-developed original Skyward Sword game for the Wii in 2011, it was remastered and ported to the Nintendo Switch by Tantalus Media and released worldwide on July 16, 2021.

Gameplay

When using the new control scheme, tilting the right analog stick in a direction results in the sword slicing in that direction

Gameplay in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is largely unchanged from that of the original game.[1] As in most The Legend of Zelda games, players control the series' main protagonist, a young swordsman named Link. In combat, Link primarily uses a sword and shield, bow and arrows, and bombs. The remaster features two control schemes, one of which aims to replicate the functions of the Wii Remote Plus and Nunchuck through improved motion controls on the Joy-Con, while the other aims to replicate a traditional control scheme by using the right analog stick to control the previously motion-controlled sword.[2] This secondary control method allows the game to be played in handheld mode, on a Pro Controller, and on the Nintendo Switch Lite.[2]

In addition to higher-resolution graphics, the game now plays at 60 frames per second.[3] Other quality of life features added include autosave, the ability to save to any of the three save files instead of just the original file (which also now includes giving Hero Mode its own slot upon unlocking it as a New Game Plus feature when saved into a file),[4] many of Fi's hints now being optional, the ability to skip dialogue boxes and cutscenes, and item descriptions no longer appearing after the first encounter with an item, with the Gratitude Crystals being the lone exception.[5][4] One Amiibo figure is supported,[6] being a new figure depicting Zelda and a Loftwing enabling fast travel between the sky and the surface.[7]

Development and release

Series producer Eiji Aonuma stated in June 2016 that it might be possible to create an HD remaster of Skyward Sword for then-current hardware.[8] Years prior, during the development of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Nintendo experimented with an HD version of Skyward Sword running on Wii U development kits when trying to settle on a graphical style for the new game.[9] This ultimately led to the production of The Wind Waker HD, whose success encouraged the Zelda team to pursue other high-definition remasters. In November 2018, Aonuma recognized the interest in a Skyward Sword remaster, though a spokesperson from Nintendo would later clarify to Eurogamer that there were no plans to bring the game to the Nintendo Switch at that time.[10] In August 2020, Amazon UK had listed a Nintendo Switch version of Skyward Sword, though it was delisted soon after.[11]

In February 2021, a remaster of Skyward Sword for the Nintendo Switch was announced during a Nintendo Direct stream with a release date of July 16, 2021.[12] A pair of Joy-Con controllers themed after the Master Sword (right Joy-Con) and Hylian Shield (left Joy-Con) from the game were also released on the same date,[13] in addition to the Zelda and Loftwing Amiibo figure.[7] This version was co-developed with Tantalus Media, who previously also handled Twilight Princess HD.[14]

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic81/100[15]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EurogamerRecommended[16]
Game Informer8/10[20]
GameRevolution8/10 stars[24]
GamesRadar+4/5 stars[18]
IGN8/10[19]
Nintendo Life9/10 stars[17]
The Guardian4/5 stars[22]
VideoGamer.com9/10[23]

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[15]

Sales

Pre-orders for Skyward Sword HD sold out on Amazon.com, and it was listed as the best-selling game on the US version of the site.[25][26] It sold 159,089 physical copies within its first week on sale in Japan, making it the bestselling retail game of the week in the country.[27]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ゼルダの伝説 スカイウォードソード HD Hepburn: Zeruda no Densetsu: Sukaiwōdo Sōdo HD

References

  1. ↑ "Skyward Sword HD Fixes the Original's Biggest Problems". 2 July 2021. https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/skyward-sword-hd-quality-of-life/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/07/14/zelda-skyward-sword-controls/
  3. ↑ Robinson, Andy (2021-02-17). "Zelda: Skyward Sword is coming to Switch with 60fps graphics and new controls" (in en-GB). https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/zelda-skyward-sword-hd-is-coming-to-nintendo-switch/. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Langer, Even (2021-07-16). "12 Biggest Changes In Zelda: Skyward Sword HD" (in en). GameSpot. https://www.youtube.co/watch?v=P3E8zT0eAwI. 
  5. ↑ Phillips, Tom (2021-07-02). "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD enhancements detailed" (in en). https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-07-02-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-enhancements-detailed. 
  6. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (2021-02-18). "The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Will Feature amiibo Support, File Size Revealed" (in en-GB). https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/02/the_legend_of_zelda_skyward_sword_hd_will_feature_amiibo_support_file_size_revealed. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Phillips, Tom (2021-05-19). "Zelda: Skyward Sword's Loftwing amiibo lets you skip a frustrating piece of game design" (in en). https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-05-19-zelda-skyward-swords-loftwing-amiibo-lets-you-skip-a-frustrating-piece-of-game-design. 
  8. ↑ Otero, Jose (2017-05-02). "Zelda Producer on Skyward Sword HD: "It's Definitely Possible"". https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/06/14/zelda-producer-on-skyward-sword-hd-its-definitely-possible. 
  9. ↑ "Breaking Conventions with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyMsF31NdNc. 
  10. ↑ Phillips, Tom (2018-11-28). "Nintendo shuts down Zelda: Skyward Sword Switch port reports". https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-26-nintendo-fans-excited-by-zelda-skyward-sword-nintendo-switch-port-reports. 
  11. ↑ Oloman, Jordan (2020-08-17). "Zelda: Skyward Sword Switch Port Listing Found On Amazon". https://www.ign.com/articles/zelda-skyward-sword-nintendo-switch-port-leak-amazon. 
  12. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (2021-02-17). "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword coming to Nintendo Switch" (in en). https://www.polygon.com/2021/2/17/21371925/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-nintendo-switch-release-date. 
  13. ↑ Romano, Sal (2021-02-17). "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD announced for Switch" (in en-US). https://www.gematsu.com/2021/02/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-announced-for-switch. 
  14. ↑ "Aussie developers Tantalus return to Hyrule with Skyward Sword HD" (in en-AU). 2021-07-14. https://www.vooks.net/aussie-developers-tantalus-return-to-hyrule-with-skyward-sword-hd/. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd. 
  16. ↑ Donlan, Christian (2021-07-14). "Review: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - a cloud-bound romance" (in en). https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-07-14-review-the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-a-cloud-bound-romance. 
  17. ↑ "Review: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - A Remaster That Truly Soars" (in en-GB). 2021-07-14. https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/legend_of_zelda_skyward_sword_hd. 
  18. ↑ "Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD review: "One of the most misunderstood games in the series gets a second chance" | Aces high". 12 September 2021. https://www.gamesradar.com/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-review/. 
  19. ↑ "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Review - IGN" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-review. 
  20. ↑ Reeves, Ben (12 September 2021). "The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Review – A Diamond Buried In The Rough". Game Informer. https://www.gameinformer.com/review/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-review-a-diamond. Retrieved 12 September 2021. 
  21. ↑ O'Connor, Quinton (12 September 2021). "The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Review". https://www.rpgfan.com/review/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd/. 
  22. ↑ "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD review – still a cut above | Aces high". 12 September 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/games/2021/jul/14/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-review-nintendo-switch. 
  23. ↑ Wise, Josh (12 September 2021). "The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD review". https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-review/. 
  24. ↑ "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Review: 'Still the odd one out' | Aces high". 12 September 2021. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/688923-the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-hd-review-worth-playing. 
  25. ↑ Doolan, Liam (2021-02-21). "Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Tops "Best Seller" Chart On Amazon, As Pre-Orders Sell Out". Nintendo Life. https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/02/zelda_skyward_sword_hd_tops_best_seller_chart_on_amazon_as_pre-orders_sell_out. 
  26. ↑ Byler, Josiah (2021-02-21). "Zelda Skyward Sword HD Preorders Sell Out On Amazon". Screen Rant. https://screenrant.com/zelda-skyward-sword-hd-preorders-amazon-sell-out/. 
  27. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 22, 2021). "Famitsu Sales: 7/12/21 – 7/18/21". Gematsu. https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/famitsu-sales-7-12-21-7-18-21. 

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