The reviews are rolling out…
We recently reported the changes between the upcoming Skyward Sword HD remaster and the original, alongside briefly detailing the first review for the title. Well, more reviews have since been completed, and we are going to take you through a few of them here. If you are more interested in the specific changes between the two games, see the previous article.
Video Game Chronicle – 5/5
“While even an excellent remaster such as this can’t make Skyward Sword a perfect Zelda game, this is such a drastically improved version of one of the most overlooked entries in the series, and Switch owners simply mustn’t overlook it a second time around.” – Chris Scullion. (Full Review)
The Verge
“…this port is improved in all of the expected ways. It runs smooth, the graphics look cleaner (despite a few muddy textures here and there), and the new control scheme makes it a more accessible version of Skyward Sword. There are even some nice little tweaks, like a slightly less chatty talking sword that serves as your guide. The biggest barrier is your expectations. Yes, it can feel dated after Breath of the Wild. But for me, at least, the fantastical world, clever puzzles, and challenging dungeons made it worth pressing through. And given that the still-untitled sequel to Breath of the Wild looks like it’ll feature a similar sky-themed world, this could be just the thing to hold you over until its release.” – Andrew Webster. (Full Review)
Game Informer – 8/10
“In some ways, Skyward Sword was the end of an era. It follows the pattern Nintendo established back in 1998 with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and it was the last game in the series before Nintendo reconceived the series with Breath of the Wild. In some ways, Skyward Sword perfects Ocarina’s template, but that formula also feels well-worn and stuffed with unnecessary junk. Despite all the ways Nintendo updated this package, Skyward Sword remains far from my favourite entry in the series, but this is clearly the best way to play this blemished gem.” – Ben Reeves. (Full Review)
GameSpot – 7/10
“The various quality-of-life tweaks that Nintendo has implemented here, welcome as they are, don’t fix Skyward Sword’s biggest issues, and it remains the most uneven 3D entry in the Zelda series. Even so, the improvements in this Switch remaster make the overall experience more enjoyable, and the characteristic Zelda magic ultimately outshines the game’s faults.” – Kevin Knezevic (Full Review)
The Guardian – 4/5
“Nintendo has done an unconvincing job of trying to position this remaster as a kind of prototype Breath of the Wild, and it sets newcomers up for disappointment–and undersells Skyward Sword’s unique charms. It’s hard to think of two Zelda games less alike: one a celebration of unbridled freedom and emergent thrills, the other an on-rails rollercoaster built by Nintendo’s brainiest puzzle architects. Somewhere in the middle, there is a potent compromise – and the skydiving in the forthcoming sequel to Breath of the Wild suggests it may have been found. But until then, Skyward Sword is doomed to feel less ambitious. After Breath of the Wild, though, what game isn’t? A backward step it may be, but Link still holds that sword arm high.” – Matthew Castle. (Full Review)
Famitsu – 34/40
As reported previously, the first review was done by Japanese publication Famitsu, with western reviews still a few hours away from publication at the time of writing. Famitsu’s scoring system is different from the typical. Four different reviewers rate the game out of ten; in this case, the magazine’s reviewers opted for scores of eight, nine, nine, and eight, resulting in an overall score of 34/40.
The general consensus seems that if you expect a Breath of The Wild calibre game, you will be quickly disappointed, as the formula is more reflective of older classic Zelda games. However, the remaster seems to have corrected a lot of the tedious mechanics players found vexing in the original, and despite the controls not being perfect, it is seemingly still a good edition in the Zelda franchise and the perfect game to sink your teeth into until Breath of The Wild 2 comes around. Of course, I have not played the game myself, so my voice is formed through a collection of reviews, not by my own experiences. I will have to wait to play it before taking you guys through how I perceived the game. It is due to be released on July 16th (for £49.99), and I cannot wait for another dose of The Legend of Zelda.
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