Skyward Sword Game Overview

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Justin Caldwell

Justin is a gaming writer who enjoys all things Zelda. From the OG Legend of Zelda on the NES to Breath of the Wild and  Hyrule Warriors on the Switch, Justin has spent countless hours wandering through Hyrule and lands beyond. Justin started out as a games tester on mobile devices and has since graduated to writing about Legend of Zelda games, characters, and weapons. When he’s not playing Legend of Zelda, Justin spends time with his wife and four children.

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Skyward sword is a grand adventure filled with memorable characters, great action, and a rich world.

Skyward Sword tells the story of Link as he is tasked with saving Zelda from the evil land below the clouds, known as The Surface. Like all other incarnations of Link before him, our hero must travel from the floating city of Skyloft to The Surface and defeat the evil forces that threaten the people and land of Hyrule.

While it’s easy to compare this game with Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess, it is an entirely different experience altogether. We see an essential character in Link’s history take shape as we learn about Zelda and her mysterious past.

On a side note, this is the first 3D Zelda to take place in the same world as A Link To The Past. Nintendo has never been shy about showing their love for A Link To The Past, and it’s lovely to see elements of Hyrule from that classic adventure make way into Skyward Sword.

Bottom Line Up Front

Skyward Sword is a fun Zelda game for those who like linear storylines and don’t want to choose which path to take. However, it may not be the right choice for those who like open-world games or want to play on a different console beside the Wii U.

Storyline

Like all Zelda games before it, Skyward Sword is a story about a boy, a girl, and evil forces seeking to control the world. But there’s something much deeper going on here in this title.

Zelda struggles with her past throughout the game, and it affects everything significantly. Link himself is forced to relive his childhood multiple times throughout his quest, which ties into the main story nicely.

A new character is introduced in this game, Groose. Groose plays a rather significant role within the first few hours of gameplay and is integral to Link’s adventure. Throughout the game, you will interact with him many times, and he adds a lot to an already impressive cast of characters.

The game looks fantastic. While it can’t compare to the likes of Uncharted or The Last Of Us, Nintendo has done a fine job pushing the Wii’s graphical power even further than what we saw in Twilight Princess. Link’s world is vivid and colorful this time around. There are also some real cinematic moments here that rival anything put out by Naughty Dog.

Game Inspirations

There are several references to Ocarina of Time that fans will pick up on early on. As the game progresses, we see a few nods to A Link To The Past and even a hint at a future adventure involving Link.

The creators of Skyward Sword also took inspiration from a variety of other Nintendo games. You’ll find a ton of references to past and present characters throughout the game, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to enjoy it if you’re not a die-hard Nintendo fan.

Music

Another area where Nintendo shines is in their sound department. Whether you play this with the plastic instrument Wii remote or with the more traditional GameCube controller, you will be treated to some beautifully orchestrated songs. It is very immersive and adds so much to the game.

Composer Ryo Nagamatsu has done an incredible job here. His music is complex and beautiful, bringing out the best in each piece. He manages to raise the bar on what we expect from video game soundtracks.

Controls

The biggest hurdle to overcome with Skyward Sword is learning to use all of the new sword techniques. In the beginning, this game feels a little bit awkward as you try to figure out everything from scratching enemies to using your spin attack at just the right moment.

But once you have played for a few hours and start to master Link’s swordplay, this game will reach the next level in terms of gameplay.

Some new wrinkles are added to the combat system, and fans may be split on how they feel about these changes at first, but once you get used to them, this game becomes so much more enjoyable than any other 3D Zelda title.

One of the biggest gripes with this game is that it’s so linear. Many gamers love games with multiple paths to take, and you can choose to go left or right at certain key moments. That isn’t what we get here as players pretty much follow a straight path from beginning to end. There is a little bit of exploration to be had, but not as much as we would like.

Gaming Consoles

Skyward Sword is available on both the Nintendo Wii and the Nintendo Wii U. If you have a Wii, you can purchase it new for around $50-60 or pre-owned at retail stores like GameStop for even less than that. There is also an option to get it digitally if you’re interested in that type of thing.

There is also a special edition available for those who want to give themselves a challenge, but it will set you back about $100. It comes with all of the standard components like the game itself and a gold Wii remote plus along with an orchestral CD and a few other goodies.

This is a great game to add to your Wii collection, and it looks fantastic on a large screen TV. The sequel to Skyward Sword is called Skyward Sword: Legends of the Hero and was released for the Nintendo 3DS in September 2013 but is only available as a digital download from the Nintendo eShop. It costs about $20-30.

Notable Battles

The first significant battle in Skyward Sword is against Ghirahim. He starts as a strange-looking creature with an evil grin and razor-sharp teeth, but towards the end of the fight, Ghirahim changes into his human form. He is one of our significant villains throughout the game, and he’s up to no good in this battle either.

This is also the first time you get to play with your new friend, Fi. I won’t spoil the surprise of how she becomes Link’s companion, but once you meet her, you will be spending a lot of time together throughout your adventure.

Another battle to note is the one against Demise. He is the big bad boss in the game, and to defeat him; you have to use all of your sword skills. This is also when Zelda is stabbed by her evil doppelganger just before Link manages to defeat Demise. It’s a great final battle for this game and makes up for some of the lack of battles in the beginning.

Another mentionable battle is against Ghirahim at the end of the game (at least if you’re playing on normal mode). Once you defeat Demise, Ghirahim is released, and he tries to take over Zelda’s body with his evil magic. Ghirahim is a good mini-boss throughout the game as you fight him multiple times on different parts of your adventure.

The final battle is against Demise once again, and you have to beat him with light instead of swordplay this time around. It’s not as epic as the other battles, but it’s still a pretty intense fight nonetheless.

Alternatives

If you like Skyward Sword, you may also want to try other games. Here are some great alternatives.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii and GameCube)

Twilight Princess is another excellent game in the Zelda franchise. It’s probably one of the most popular installments to come out recently with a very similar art style and gameplay. It was initially released on both the Wii and GameCube, but you can play it on newer consoles.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64, Virtual Console)

Ocarina of Time is one of the most popular games in the series, and for a good reason. It was released on the N64 first, but then it was ported over to GameCube later on. You can play it now on both the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Game Boy Advance)

A Link to the Past is another game that is considered a must-play for any fan of The Legend of Zelda. It was initially released on the Super Nintendo, but you can also play it on the Game Boy Advance with updated features.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons (Game Boy Color)

These two games are only available for the portable Game Boy Color. They were released separately, but both have similar art styles and gameplay elements to Skyward Sword. They are also somewhat similar to Pokemon, so if you like collecting creatures and exploring the world with them, this may be something of interest for you.

Link’s Awakening DX (Game Boy Color)

Link’s Awakening DX is a remake of Link’s Awakening for the Game Boy Color. The entire game looks very similar to Skyward Sword, and it has a similar art style, but the gameplay itself is different from the previous titles. There are no dungeons in this adventure, but instead, you have to find musical instruments on your quest.

The Legend of Zelda (NES, Virtual Console)

The original Legend of Zelda was released on the NES, and it can be played now on the Wii U Virtual Console and the Nintendo Switch if you subscribe to the online expansion pack.

The game is very different from Skyward Sword in terms of its art style and goal, but there are some similarities here and there. It’s one that old-school gamers should look into trying if they like Skyward Sword’s art style.

FAQ

If you’re a fan of Zelda games but you’re not sure which one to try next, here are some frequently asked questions that may help you make a better decision.

The Verdict

Skyward Sword is a good but not great Zelda adventure. It has its share of issues that longtime fans will pick up on right away, and they may be disappointed by some of these problems. 

More related overviews:

Ocarina of Time Game Overview

Twilight Princess Game Overview

A Link to the Past Game Overview