Preview: Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword (Wii)

In the history of gaming, not many franchises have commanded respect the same way the Legend of Zelda franchise has. The games were difficult and frustrating, but fun and worth the effort. First released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, or NES, which was Nintendo's first home console in North America, Zelda has thrived since its first legendary release. Skyward Sword, the newest addition to the franchise, is in no way a blemish on that great history. Recently I had the chance, while at San Diego Comic Con International, to get my hands on the newest Zelda title. Forget all the complaints you may have heard, or personally hold, about Twilight Princess being too easy, or the art design for Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks being weird; I assure you that Skyward Sword will knock you for a loop so hard you'll forget all about that.

First, it does rely on motion control, and there isn’t any way around it. Sorry to those of you who don’t enjoy this control scheme. However, it is far more accurate than any game I have ever played on the Wii before. Utilizing the Wii’s Motion Plus accessory, the game tracks your motions at almost a one for one ratio. The advanced motion tracking this game uses allows for more intense battles and harder enemies that will be spread throughout the dungeons. The control scheme is also more varied, and doesn't leave you with the impression that you are doing the same thing over and over again.

The demo I was able to play offered three modes for us to experience. The first was a romp through Skyloft, which is Link’s home in the clouds. In it, you find yourself riding on a rather large bird, racing after another large bird which has a statue strapped to its foot. You are not alone though, there are others from Skyloft that are out to bully Link and foil his attempts to win the prize of the race: the Beautiful Zelda, who is just another inhabitant of Skyloft, not of royal blood. The controls in this demo were very fun; the Wii remote is moved up and down in a pseudo-flapping motion, which causes your avian transport to rise in altitude. This allows you to gain more speed by diving back down, and also the ability to dodge items being thrown at you. The Nunchuck’s control stick is used to dictate the direction in which your bird flies. This mode was a bit short, but it did a good job of setting up the atmosphere we will probably all experience at the beginning of Skyward Sword's story, once it's released.

The next mode I was able to sample was the “dungeon battle”, which basically gives you an idea of what a typical dungeon atmosphere will be like. What I like best about this new game is the inherent difficulty in it, which owes its existence entirely to the new motion control advancements of the Motion Plus accessory. Standard enemies block your every move, leaving only small areas open that you have to strike in precisely and quickly before they attack you. The game no longer lets you frantically shake the Wii remote at the TV screen, praying that you kill things. Rather, it makes you think and plan to utilize certain actions against your enemies, such as slicing from an angle or dashing in from the side. You will also have to actually use your shield to block, deflect, and stun enemies before they swarm you. Luckily, weapons and items are much easier to change out and use in Skyward Sword, to compensate for the higher difficulty level. The item menu is gone, and in its place is a small wheel with items arranged around it, brought up by pressing the “B” button.

The final mode available for trial at this demonstration was the “Boss Battle”, which is exactly what it sounds like. In my opinion, this boss was far more difficult than any other in recent Zelda history, partially because he would grab onto the blade of my sword, which was only counterable by instantly drawing back the Wii remote to try and dislodge it. The swift pulling motion would free up my weapon, but by then he would have already charged up an attack: a series of projectiles which I would have to deflect with a quick shield bash. Teleportation, quick movements, and relentless sword attacks were the nature of this boss battle, leaving me with little option but to quickly dash around to his new location, Z target him, and utilize my shield bash to stun him in midst of his furious sword slashing.

All in all, Skyward Sword will be one of the most difficult Zelda games in years, and it will be all the better for it. Not only has the difficulty of old returned, but the fun and satisfaction has as well. It has already attracted the attention of Zelda fans, both new and old, and is currently one of the most anticipated games of this year. From what I saw of it, this game will not disappoint them. The only complaint I had with the demo was that it ended, and entirely too quickly at that. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will release this holiday season in North America, exclusively for the Nintendo Wii.   

Submitted by: Corey Hall (Employee)