‘The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD’ Review Roundup: Here’s What Critics Are Saying
After finally being announced during the franchise’s 35th anniversary event in February, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is nearly here. First released in 2011 for the Nintendo Wii, Skyward Sword follows Link as he travels between the floating island of Skyloft and the mysterious surface below it in his journey to rescue Zelda.
While the original Skyward Sword was praised by critics for it’s storyline, dungeons and visual design, it received criticism for its clunky motion controls and the amount of backtracking between Skyloft and the overworld.
Skyward Sword’s HD version brings the game up to a smooth 60fps with improved graphics, as well as introducing a button-only control scheme for players who’d prefer not to use the Joy-Con motion controls. The enhanced version also introduces several quality of life improvements such as auto-saving, skippable cutscenes and skippable dialogue. Below are some excerpts of what reviewers have to say about the game.
VGC – 5/5
“Skyward Sword HD is a superb remaster of the decade-old Wii game that not only gives it a much-needed visual upgrade but also throws in so many quality of life improvements (not least of all a free camera) that it immediately makes the original version obsolete.” – Chris Scullion
GameSpot – 7/10
“These elements outweigh the game’s flaws and make it a worthwhile adventure. The various quality-of-life tweaks that Nintendo has implemented here, welcome as they are, don’t fix Skyward Sword’s biggest issues, and it remains the most uneven 3D entry in the Zelda series. Even so, the improvements in this Switch remaster make the overall experience more enjoyable, and the characteristic Zelda magic ultimately outshines the game’s faults.” – Kevin Knezevic
Game Informer – 8/10
“In some ways, Skyward Sword was the end of an era. It follows the pattern Nintendo established back in 1998 with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and it was the last game in the series before Nintendo reconceived the series with Breath of the Wild. In some ways, Skyward Sword perfects Ocarina’s template, but that formula also feels well-worn and stuffed with unnecessary junk. Despite all the ways Nintendo updated this package, Skyward Sword remains far from my favorite entry in the series, but this is clearly the best way to play this blemished gem.” – Ben Reeves
GamesRadar – 4/5
“Skyward Sword HD gives one of the most misunderstood Legend of Zelda games a second chance. It’s an under-appreciated gem, one that finds the space to really breathe with a more reliable and relaxing method of control embedded within it. Skyward Sword has its fair share of problems, but it makes up for many of them in moments of true brilliance and defiance against established series conventions. Say what you will about Skyward Sword, but it’s good to be out on an authored adventure with Link again – saving Hyrule one inventive dungeon and challenging boss battle at a time.” – Josh West
Nintendo Life – 9/10
“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD introduces a raft of technical improvements and quality of life updates that reinvigorate and revitalise this ten-year-old game. With motion controls more precise than ever before, an alternate button control scheme that totally works, crisp HD graphics, smooth 60fps gameplay and a bothersome sidekick who’s been streamlined into something altogether more useful, this really does feel like Skyward Sword as it was meant to be experienced. Yes, the locking off of instant travel behind the official amiibo is a misstep, but beyond this one issue what’s here is a sublime experience, a technical triumph and an absolute must-play for Switch owners and Zelda fans.” – PJ O’Reilly
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD releases on July 16 for Switch.
