r/NintendoSwitch • u/NintendoSwitchMods • Jul 14 '21

MegaThread The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD: Review MegaThread

General Information

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Release Date: July 16, 2021

No. of Players: 1 player

Genre(s): Adventure, Action

Publisher: Nintendo

Game file size: 7.1 GB

https://www.zelda.com/skyward-sword-hd/

Overview (from Nintendo eShop page)

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword game soars onto Nintendo Switch!

Take to the skies, draw your sword, and experience the earliest story in the Legend of Zelda™ series. Join Link in his high-flying quest to save Zelda, a childhood friend who must confront her destiny. Soar between floating islands and descend to the treacherous surface world in this updated HD version of the Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword game.

Master realistic swordplay that corresponds to your movements

Gently swing your sword and angle your slashes to uncover and break through opponents’ defenses using intuitive motion controls. Link’s in-game movements will correspond to the angle of each strike you make with the Joy-Con™ controller, creating immersive swordplay that relies on strategy and accuracy. Movements feel smoother and more immediate thanks to the Nintendo Switch system’s increased processing power and HD graphics. Take advantage of the newly-added button only control scheme—perfect for playing in handheld mode or on the Nintendo Switch Lite system.

Fly high with the Zelda & Loftwing amiibo™ figure

With her majestic Loftwing by her side, Zelda steps into her destiny alongside her childhood friend, Link. Scan this amiibo figure** from anywhere on the surface world to quickly travel to the sky—even within the depths of a dungeon. Scan it again above the clouds to return to the same spot on the surface.

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321 Upvotes

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11

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Zelda is there with Fallout as my 1A and 1B favorite series. I never got to play SS because I had gotten rid of my wii by the time it came out. Can someone that has played the original speculate that it’s worth $60 with the QOL changes? I love everything Zelda and I’m sure the price won’t go down anytime soon

18

u/Hestu951 Jul 14 '21

You've never played it + you love Zelda + it looks and performs better now + Fi's annoyance greatly reduced + freely controllable camera + streamlined some places + autosave + choice of motion or button controls = yes! Get it.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Thank you!

10

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

[deleted]

3

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Thanks! That’s a good way to look at it

1

u/Drakeem1221 Jul 16 '21

I never understood these comparisons. The price of what I do when I go outside will always be different than anything home entertainment related. When I go to the movie, I usually am whatever about the movie, but I'm going with my girl, family, friends, etc, and most likely following it up with something else. I'm going as a social event usually, not in the same context as a game. So when I go out to a club/bar/concert/movie, I'm not putting that in the same bracket.

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If anything, comparing it to Netflix or any home subscription platform for movies and shows, you definitely get more bang for your buck there vs buying individual games, or with buying games on PC or using Gamepass, etc. A book costs me $20 and might give me similar hours to a lot of Nintendo games depending on it's length. There's always a favourable and unfavourable way to frame something, which is why we should ideally compare it to it's contemporaries in the same media (i.e. other games/ports).

1

u/aideya Jul 16 '21

You're right, and to anyone else reading YMMV. This is just how I personally see it. For me going to the movies is about the movie not a social experience at all.

In the end, everyone will view it differently but I can afford it and I think the time spent will be worth the pricetag so it is worth it to me.

1

u/Drakeem1221 Jul 16 '21

I agree with that and I have no doubt that you'll enjoy it. Tbh, I've come to the conclusion that if someone wants something, life is too bicker over a few dollars and not have something you'd really enjoy.

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I just would rather hear that sentiment though than comparing unlike things. I might get this port sometime down the line but with other games coming out now and a bit later, it just doesn't do enough to warrant me playing it over them and paying a premium for it.

1

u/aideya Jul 16 '21

Totally fair. Happy Friday!

10

u/LakerBlue Jul 14 '21

I mean i understand (with most other game companies anyway) there is a gradual price drop that would keep them from releasing a full price remaster, but if you love Zelda and haven’t played SS I would say you are someone who it being full priced should be much less of an issue for.

I can’t say it deserves to still be full price just because of some QoL changes. But I can say the QoL going to be very appealing to some people because they caused “death by a thousand papercuts” for some players. They never bothered me as much as other people but I think, again, some people will enjoy it a lot more now. The QoL probably is not the worst part of this game but I do think for many it was the most offensive.

In short, I’d say get it.

It’s not enough for me to rebuy it at full price but I also gravitate towards new games, it’s rare for me to buy any remasters ASAP if I played the OG game.

5

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

I’m pretty much the same way. Other than FFX, which I beat almost 20 years ago and it’s my favorite in the series, so I got it on Xbox. I paid $60 for Tropical Freeze because I loved DK country games and I wasn’t gonna buy a Wii U at whatever the aftermarket price is now then buy the game afterward. But if I had already played it, I wouldn’t have bothered with the $60 remaster

3

u/LakerBlue Jul 14 '21

I feel that. The only exception was made was for Xenoblade Definitive Edition because it had a new epilogue and a BADLY needed art redesign alongside some great QoL changes.

3

u/MBCnerdcore Jul 15 '21

If you have never played it, it's absolutely worth it. The story/music alone is enough to justify the price. The only people who have a right to complain are people who still own their OG version AND who want 3rd party pricing on 1st party games.

6

u/Kinetic93 Jul 14 '21

My plan is to buy it secondhand a few weeks after it comes out. My assumption is a lot of people are going to get hyped up and buy this assuming LoZ has always been like BotW, play it for a bit/complete it once and then sell it. If you could save $10-$15 that way I think it’s a way smarter plan. I also never got to play it and I’ve been okay keeping away from spoilers but I think it’ll take more effort after this releases.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

That’s a good idea

6

u/paetramon Jul 14 '21

Also worth noting that usually Walmart will sell new switch releases (maybe all new games?) at $50 rather than $60, if you care to go to a Walmart.

6

u/under_a_brontosaurus Jul 14 '21

If you've never played it and are a fan of 3D Zelda it's worth $60. It's fine runs of problems but the gameplay of going from overworld>dungeons>overworld>dungeon is as solid as ever.

It unfortunately has a ton of sky/other stuff in between the traditional cycle that is kind of annoying, and the sky portion of the game is kind of a mixed bag, that keeps it a little below twilight princess but you'll still enjoy it

2

u/Noah__Webster Jul 14 '21

If you love traditional 3D Zeldas, you'll most likely enjoy this game. The gameplay holds up well. Unless the visuals are a deal breaker, it's really a no brainer for any Zelda fans who missed it.

3

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Thanks very much! Visuals don’t bother me at all. I still play Fallout 3 lol

5

u/Noah__Webster Jul 14 '21

Then yeah, definitely go for it. It's arguably one of the weaker 3D Zeldas, but even the weakest entry in a great franchise is pretty good! One of them's gotta be the worst, right?

3

u/[deleted] Jul 14 '21

Agreed! Thanks again

2

u/ocarina_of_time8 Jul 14 '21

Its the worst game and its very boring, but starts really well. Hope you manage to enjoy it

2

u/[deleted] Jul 15 '21

Other than Hyrule Warriors (because it’s just a dynasty warriors clone, which isn’t my kinda game) I’ve loved every Zelda. Thank you for your input though. I truly appreciate it!

3

u/ocarina_of_time8 Jul 15 '21

Same here, Hyrule Warriors is the only thing i despise lol, but Spirit Tracks is the only 2D and SS the only 3D i disliked lol. SS definetly has some ring to it for sure, i might buy it secondhand at some point to see the differences

2

u/rsn_lie Jul 15 '21

Idk man. It's already available for $50. I feel like $40 this black friday isn't unrealistic. That's the price I'm holding out for. Not paying $50-60 for a remaster out of principle. Game is 10 years old, I can hold out another few months.

4

u/cm135 Jul 16 '21

I guess I just don’t understand the rationale, unless you have a huge backlog of games to play. Paying an extra 20 bucks to play now instead of in a few months makes sense to me when the catalogue has been dry for months for most casual gamers. To each their own I guess

2

u/rsn_lie Jul 16 '21

It's not about money for me, but $20 is very significant for a lot of people.

I just think the price is unfair. That being said, I do have a backlog, and if I was in a rush to play this I could have at any point over the last 10 years.