Overview
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is an action-adventure game, HD remaster of the 2011 Wii game developed by Nintendo and Tantalus Media and published by Nintendo, released in 2021. I played it on Nintendo Switch.
Story and world
Link lives in Skyloft, a floating island above a sea of clouds. When Zelda, his childhood friend, is swept down to the surface, he sets out to find her, guided by Fi, the spirit who inhabits his sword.
The story is original. I really enjoyed discovering the origins of the Zelda legend: Skyward Sword sits at the very start of the series' official timeline, and tells, among other things, the birth of the Master Sword.
Some of Fi's interventions are a bit repetitive.
Gameplay
The sword gameplay is original: you use a Joy-Con to strike vertically, horizontally or diagonally, and enemies guard depending on the angle of the attack. The remaster also offers a button-only control scheme, where the sword is handled with the right stick.
The items are just as original, from the remote-controlled Beetle to the Whip, alongside the classic bow, Clawshots and bombs.
It has good longevity.
Graphics and music
The art direction keeps the style of the Wii version, inspired by impressionist painting, with soft colours. The remaster displays the game in HD and at 60 frames per second.
Verdict
An original story that tells the origins of the series, original swordplay and inventive items, all with good longevity. Apart from a few slightly repetitive interventions from Fi, the game is great.