The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD brings the classic RPG from one of Nintendo's biggest franchises to the Switch and with it, a number of visual improvements, but it also includes a number of quality of life changes as well. The changes brought with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD help bring the game closer to modern standards. The game feeling more modern helps it be more approachable to new players who possibly just started getting into the series with the release of Breath of the Wild, but it also makes the remaster the definitive way for fans of the game to go back and play it again.
The game also has a number of connections to Breath of the Wild, making it a great next step for players who loved Breath of the Wild. There are even many ideas that originated in Skyward Sword and went on to be very influential for Breath of the Wild, including the game's stamina system. However, the new remaster gives Skyward Sword even more modern features, some of which would even be welcome improvements in Breath of the Wild 2.
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Fi is one of the most recognizable characters from Skyward Sword. She lives inside Link's sword and offers players guidance throughout their adventure. However, many players come to find Fi more than a little overbearing by the time they reach the end of Skyward Sword. This is especially true for players who have played the game before or even multiple times. Thankfully, Nintendo listened to this frequent criticism of Skyward Sword and modified Fi in Skyward Sword HD to give players the option for her to not bother players as much. The change has been very welcome by the community and many Skyward Sword fans think it is a big improvement for Nintendo who usually doesn't want to alter its older titles.
However, players who do not want to be bothered by Fi's interruptions throughout the game can still see her tips if they end up needing them. Skyward Sword HD also added an entire section of the menu that just houses Fi's information so that players can check it at any time. This is also a great change as it lets players play without Fi's interruptions while still having the information if they need it. It also lets players recheck the information if they have to, which could be a pretty timely and cumbersome process in the original release of Skyward Sword. Of course, for players who still want to see the meme of Fi in action, that's still an option in Skyward Sword HD as well to preserve the original experience.
One of the biggest criticisms levied towards Skyward Sword by fans of the series was the requirement for players to use motion controls. Since the game was a flagship title for the Wii, Skyward Sword leans heavily into the motion controls. This was successful in giving it unique mechanics and combat, but the Wii controller could often be frustrating and unwieldy to use for many players. However, Skyward Sword HD updates the controls with the more precise motion control of the Switch so that it is easier for players to be accurate and perform moves like Skyward Sword HD's spin attack.
For players who have a Switch Lite, or just don't want to flail their arms around, Skyward Sword HD also adds an optional control scheme that removes the motion controls entirely. Instead of utilizing motion controls, the setting sees players controlling the sword using the right analog stick. The set-up can be a bit unwieldy at first, but it is nice to have the option for any players who can't use the motion controls or don't want to. It also can provide some extra challenge for experienced players as performing moves like Skyward Sword HD's fatal blow can be pretty tricky to pull off with the stick. Skyward Sword HD also adds the ability for players to freely control the game's camera, which is a great addition for players to explore the game's environments. However, it also can be a bit tricky to use without motion controls enabled.
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Two of the last big quality of life improvements will undoubtedly be enjoyed by longtime fans of the game. Chiefly, these include the new auto-save feature. When Skyward Sword was released players had to return to specific statues to save, which often led to players losing hours of gameplay to an unlucky death. This could be extremely frustrating and demoralizing, but Skyward Sword HD has addressed this issue by adding an autosave feature. Players are still able to make manual saves at the statues, but having an autosave to act as a safety net is a very welcome addition, and is one of the best additions to Skyward Sword HD.
Another big addition comes in the form of skippable tutorials. Of course, many new players would be wise to not take advantage of this feature on their first playthrough, but it is surely a welcome change for fans of the game who are already well versed in how to handle its challenges. Being able to skip the tutorials will help players get through the game's early hours much faster so that they can get to the good stuff, like Skyward Sword HD's dungeons.
Of course, there are a lot of differences made in Skyward Sword HD, but it is great to see how well received the game has been by its dedicated community. It is always great to see an older game get a breath of new life, and it seems that Nintendo has done a great job doing so with Skyward Sword HD. Hopefully, other The Legend of Zelda titles will see similar treatment in the future so that new and returning fans can access them all conveniently as well.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is out now for Nintendo Switch.
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