This summer, Nintendo is giving The Legend of Zelda fans the chance to experience one of the franchise's most famous and influential entries. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD brings Zelda's origin story to Nintendo Switch with sharpened graphics and new control schemes for those who'd prefer to pass on motion controls, an aspect of Skyward Sword that not everyone looks back on fondly. In terms of storytelling and Zelda gameplay innovation, though, Skyward Sword is an excellent milestone in the franchise's history. Fans would do well to revisit this game ahead of Breath of the Wild 2's release next year, especially considering Skyward Sword's impact on Breath of the Wild.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword actually was an unorthodox Zelda game in a lot of ways beyond motion controls. Fans remember it for things like flying around on Link's Loftwing and working creatively with the Master Sword, but it also introduced some new items and mechanics that were a little more obscure. Skyward Sword HD will be a great way to rediscover these mechanics and put them to use a second time. After all, remakes and remasters are a great way to revisit their mechanics and explore their potential from a new perspective. Here are a few of Skyward Sword's ideas that some fans may not have focused on.
Skyward Sword's Equipment and Crafting Systems
Link doesn't always stick to wielding the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield in Zelda games. The Biggoron Sword in Ocarina of Time is just one particularly famous example. Skyward Sword, however, put a very heavy emphasis on the equipment that players chose to make Link wield, and it was a little more sophisticated than some fans might remember. In Skyward Sword, the wooden shield that Link starts with is no good against fire in Eldin Volcano, but the iron shield is weak to lightning in Lanayru Desert. Later on, Link also gets the choice of a weak but self-repairing sacred shield, giving players lots of equipment options. These shields, as well as much of Link's other equipment, can be upgraded as long as Link gathers the necessary resources; carrying certain Medals will help players gather the Rupees and resources necessary.
Stronger shields and bigger ammo bags aren't the only things Link can craft. Skyward Sword also offers players much more liberty in crafting potions than most Zelda games. Naturally healing potions are crucial to Link's journey, but he can also pick up potions that protect him from damage, let him breathe underwater, or restore durability to his shields. Admittedly, some of Skyward Sword's potions are a little expensive to craft, but they can be lifesavers in a pinch. Link can find other Medals that'll increase the potency of potions and help him find bugs. In spite of Skyward Sword's crafting innovations, it's a relatively small part of the game and sometimes non-essential, so some fans might not have explored it very deeply. A Skyward Sword HD playthrough is a great opportunity to revisit crafting and make more use of it.
Skyward Sword's Most Elusive Minigames
The Legend of Zelda loves minigames, and Skyward Sword is no exception. Players flying around the skies can meet NPCs that encourage them to skydive or perform with a harp in search of prizes. However, a couple Skyward Sword minigames are particularly out of Link's way, but well worth traveling to. Way out in the thunderhead, Link can find his classmate Strich, a gangly young man who loves bugs. He has some bug-themed challenges that Link can complete in exchange for some rare bugs as a prize. Bugs don't seem like remarkable loot at a glance, but in Skyward Sword, they're crucial loot because they can be used to brew some of Skyward Sword's strongest potions. Strich's minigame is well worth the journey in the long run.
There's another minigame in Lanayru Desert that's particularly worth Link's time. After he meets the Thunder Dragon, Link can revisit him to play the Thunder Dragon's Lightning Round. It's a boss rush where Link will earn prizes based on how many Skyward Sword bosses the player can beat in succession. Doing well enough in the Lightning Round will earn Link the Hylian Shield, which is the only indestructible shield in Skyward Sword. Many players might have missed out on the Thunder Dragon's Lightning Round because it's unlocked pretty late into the game, so the remaster is a perfect opportunity to go back and give it a try.
Making the Most of the Master Sword
Motion controls were the name of the game in Skyward Sword, since it was a star title for the Wii. Because of that, Nintendo tried new things with the Goddess Sword and Master Sword and gave Link a much more dynamic fighting style than most previous Zelda games permitted. For instance, thrusting and stabbing is a very important part of Skyward Sword, sometimes essential for defeating certain enemies. However, stabbing with motion controls could be a little unwieldy, so players probably didn't use it in general combat much. Even so, stabbing and other moves like the vertical spin demonstrate how hard Nintendo tried to make Skyward Sword's combat unique in the Zelda series. Skyward Sword HD's new button controls might make stabbing more viable and helpful.
Those aren't the only new ideas Nintendo had for Link's sword. Throughout The Legend of Zelda, Link's sword can frequently shoot beams of light when he's at full health. In Skyward Sword, however, Link can charge his sword with light at any time and use the beams both to fight and to activate holy sites. There's one more rare functionality for Link's sword: in certain places, he can draw on Goddess Walls to get free items, including hearts, rupees, and arrows. Goddess Walls are uncommon, but they're worth looking out for as a quick, cheap way to stock up on supplies.
Skyward Sword is a game of big ideas. Its combat and equipment systems changed dramatically from previous games, and it introduced fun new mechanics like flying around Skyloft. Although not everyone agrees on Skyward Sword's execution, there's no doubt that Nintendo brought a lot of good concepts to the table and delivered interesting experiences through them. Breath of the Wild also suggests that Nintendo still looks back on Skyward Sword in a lot of ways and believes in those ideas. Skyward Sword HD might offer a sharper way of playing with Nintendo's ideas. It's good to see The Legend of Zelda's origin story getting ported to a new platform, because it's definitely worth experiencing again.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD releases for Nintendo Switch on July 16, 2021.