The swordfighting is excellent and is probably the highlight of
the game. The Wii Motion plus has a much more sensitive sensor than you
might expect. You can make it through parts of the game by swinging
wildly, but for the bigger battles and specific enemies, you have to
think about how you’re moving. Vertical strikes, horizontal strikes,
diagonal slashes, thrusts and blocking are all important parts of
choosing how, exactly, to fight off your next enemy. The only downfall
in terms of accuracy is that the controller has to be recalibrated often
enough to pull you out of the game at times.
I won’t give away plot details except to say that the game has two
separate worlds baked into it — one in the sky and one on the ground —
and the game ties it all together by making your fast travel work
through the power of flight. Link rides a giant bird known as the
Loftwing, which you steer with the Wiimote. Flying is a fun experience,
though at times I found myself wanting to use the joystick instead of
tilting the remote in the name of control.
The world is not as
large as in previous Zelda titles and the dungeons lack some of the
labyrinthine quality of previous games. But the puzzles themselves don’t
disappoint and you find yourself having to work out brainteasers across
the world as opposed to just in dungeons. Link also has to revisit the
same areas of the world in order to advance through the game. Some
players could find that tedious, but I found myself impressed with the
richness of the streamlined environment.
The overall atmosphere of
the game is fantastic and can really pull you into the plot and the
world. From the facial animations to the witty banter between characters
— particularly the new sword guardian character, Fi — this game is
almost as fun to watch as it is to play.
While it’s not perfect,
“The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword” is a must-have for fans of the
series and for those looking for a strong, new title for the Wii. The
title launches on Sunday, Nov. 20, and will cost $49.99.
