Armageddon Games has released a fan-made remake of the original Zelda called Zelda Classic.Zelda Improvement - A popular Legend of Zelda editor.A digital version is also available to download directly onto your Switch from Nintendo's eshop.Īlong with the game, Nintendo is selling Joy-Cons with a special "Skyward Sword" design, and an amiibo figure of Zelda and her loftwing, the flying bird that helps her travel around Skyloft. The games carries a list price of $60, but we've already seen some physical copies go on sale for $10 off. " The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD" is available now for the Nintendo Switch. You can find 'Skyward Sword' in stores now, along with these other Zelda collectibles from Nintendo
However, the controls can still be a bit cumbersome, so newcomers to the "Zelda" franchise might want to try "Breath of the Wild" or " The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening," a redesigned version of a series classic on the Switch. We recommend it for any Nintendo Switch owner, and it's one of the best Switch exclusives of 2021.įans of " The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" should feel right at home and players who skipped out on the mandatory motion controls of the original "Skyward Sword" will be able to experience the game without issue.
" Skyward Sword HD" is an excellent update to a classic action-adventure game, though it shows its age at times. Te dungeon designs are also notably more complex than the shrine puzzles in "Breath of the Wild." 'Skyward Sword HD' revives a great game for a new generation, but it's not the best Zelda on Switch
"Skyward Sword" doesn't offer the full open-world exploration that made " Breath of the Wild" a modern masterpiece, but it does have one of the largest Zelda worlds to date. Nintendo also improved the pace of "Skyward Sword" by adding an auto-save feature, automatically skipping over repetitive text, and making mandatory conversations quicker than before. While some animations look a bit stiff 12 years later, the game's art style and presentation still hold up well after all these years. The frame rate has also been increased to 60 frames per second to offer smoother animations than the original release.
"Skyward Sword" won't win any awards for its graphics, but the environments still look solid after the high definition upgrade.Īs the title implies, " Skyward Sword HD" improves the game's visuals from 480p standard definition to a full 1080p high definition image. The visuals of 'Skyward Sword HD' still look great thanks to unique art design " Skyward Sword HD" also gives players the option to mix button-only and motion controls, so you can aim or move the camera by pointing at the screen, but still use the right analog stick for controlling weapons and other actions. The motion controls in "Skyward Sword HD" are surprisingly accurate but you'll spend a lot of energy swinging and aiming during the more than 30 hours of gameplay. Personally, I prefer using button-only controls due to my familiarity with past Zelda games, but I still find myself frustrated at times when trying to control the camera.
Puzzles and fights require precise movements, regardless of whether you're using the controller's analog stick or waving your arm with a Switch Joy-Con in hand.
The controls of "Skyward Sword" can still be a bit cumbersome for new players.Īdding a button-only controller option to " Skyward Sword HD" makes it work on the portable Switch, but much of the game was designed with motion controls in mind.
A new button-only option makes 'Skyward Sword' more accessible, but the motion controls are surprisingly accurate However, some of the mechanics used for platforming and motion controls in " Skyward Sword HD" still feel rough around the edges. "Skyward Sword" was the first "Zelda" game to feature a stamina meter and a crafting system for improving items.
Other weapons like the slingshot and bow can be aimed using motion controls too, and solving certain puzzles requires specific player movements.įans of "The Legend of Zelda" will recognize gameplay elements that inspired " Breath of the Wild," the critically acclaimed title that launched alongside the Switch in 2017. Players control the direction of Link's sword slashes by swinging the right Joy-Con controller, or by using the right analog stick. "Skyward Sword" separates itself from other games in the series with its incorporation of motion controls, which are optional on the Nintendo Switch. Like other Zelda games, " Skyward Sword HD" offers a mix of adventure and puzzle solving with a gentle learning curve. "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD" / Nintendo "The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD" explores the origins of Link's signature weapon, the Master Sword.