Though many game franchises stick rigidly to a formula,The Legend of Zeldahas never been afraid to go in bold new directions, from the 2D sidescrolling ofZelda 2to the motion-controls of 2011’sSkyward Sword.Link’s adventures across Hyrule and beyond have been delivered using plenty of different mechanics and control schemes, wrapped in unique art styles each time, and fans are never quite sure where the series will go next. Many saySkyward Sword’s unique design was a bridge too far, but the upcoming sequel to 2017’sBreath of the Wildcould give it a sorely needed redemption.
Skyward Sword’s Nintendo Switch portbrought a number of quality-of-life changes in 2021: Gameplay was refined, textures updated, and the often criticized motion controls were dampened to better suit the Switch hardware. It was a significant step to rehabilitatingSkyward Sword’s reputation, and Nintendo seems to be taking some cues from the Wii’s only exclusive mainlineZeldatitle withBreath of the Wild 2. It’s apparent that the company is not willing to give up on the game, and the upcoming release could be a chance to prove it correct.
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Skyward Sword Has a Story Worth Telling
The yet-untitledBreath of the Wildsequel may be more narrative heavy, withdevelopers having discussed Rockstar Games’Red Dead Redemption 2as a possible influence. Not only would this improve one of the few drawbacks ofBreath of the Wild, but it also plays to the strengths of Nintendo’s background, asSkyward Swordhas arguably the best story in the series to date. The 2017Zeldatitle feels cryptic in comparison, and merging the strengths of the two would giveSkyward Sworda more legacy that it deserves.
As was apparent from theE3 2019 announcement trailer,Breath of the Wild 2looks to bring players a tale worthy of the iconicZeldaname. Strong writing was a huge component ofSkyward Sword’s critical praise, and its availability on the Switch makes a return trip to Skyloft feel all the more enticing. It helps that many feelSkyward Swordpresents the best take on both Zelda and Link in years.
Skyward Sword Represents Nintendo at its Most Experimental
As mentioned,The Legend of Zeldahas a tendency to make significant tweaks on the trail to forging something great. WhereBreath of the Wildreshaped the way games beyond Nintendo’s scope approach open-ended level design and physics-based gameplay,Skyward Sword’s changeswere decidedly less revolutionary.
There was a time when motion controls were thought to be the future of the medium, and thoughthere are several modern games that could benefit from motion controls, new hardware uses it minimally. The Switch remaster ofSkyward Sworddoes well to keep to the times, offering a more traditional control scheme without losing its quirky, unique charm. It was Nintendo at its most innovative, and the Nintendo Switch version’s refinements could provide the perfect springboard forBreath of the Wild 2.
Keeping up an open-world formula could set a dangerous precedent for the series, as the universal acclaim forBreath of the Wildmay have stifled the potential for more traditional, linearZeldagames. Thankfully, theSwitch remake of 1993’sLink’s AwakeningandSkyward Sword HDhave done well to break up the release schedule, and prove thatZeldadoesn’t have to be exclusively designed with an open world in mind. The changes between each release means there’s something for everyone to love, which is a trend that will likely continue. The impact thatSkyward Swordhas had on the upcoming title may be small, but Nintendo not giving up on it has the potential to pay off in a big way.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDis available now on Nintendo Switch.
