The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Reviews
Skyward Sword was already a fun title for those that were able to play it, and now it's become even more accessible with the movement away from the forced motion controls.
Skyward Sword has always sat a little apart from the others, because while all other Zelda games give the impression that you're experiencing current events through your Link-avatar, Skyward Sword instead leaves the impression that you're witnessing the retelling of a great legend of antiquity.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD offers some much needed enhancements that result in a better game. Whether it's your first or second time exploring Skyloft, you will definitely find some charm in revisiting the story where everything started.
Review in French | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is an excellent remaster of an underappreciated Zelda title.
Playing through Skyward HD on Switch we felt less frustrations than we did 10 years ago, while there was nothing inherently wrong with the original game, we found ourselves breezing through everything at a much more efficient speed. We weren’t getting bogged down with Fi and her dry exposition and the temperamental Wii controls, Skyward Sword HD has taken a buffer to the original game and helped it finally spread it’s wings, anyone who felt frustrated with the controls, the characters or just the overall slog of the original could find themselves finally enjoying what really is a deserving entry into the Zelda series.
Despite a slow start, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD proves worthy of its place in the series. While a bit of trimming at the start would make a stronger game, once it got going, I never wanted it to end. If you like Zelda games and haven’t played Skyward Sword, you owe it to yourself to try this one. For veterans of the game, you’ll find a ton of quality of life changes making this the definitive version. Even if you were put off by the original release, you might find this time that you fall for this legend.
The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword HD opens its arms to anyone who wants to enter the unique world of the series, in the best possible circumstances. An enchanting journey and a captivating experience, especially in its second half. It may not be the best in the series, but it was distinguished by the amount of ideas in it that are not found in other parts.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Zelda Skyward Sword serves its purpose. A second chance that has been great for the saga. A colorful, friendly game with personality that has managed to convince me that it has nothing to envy to other games in the series.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is an absolutely incredible game so if you haven't played it yet, this HD iteration makes for a great excuse to finally give it a go. Those who still own it on Wii might want to hold out, though, because it's surely not a huge step up.
Skyward Sword HD is definitely the best version of the game with vastly improved visuals and new control options, but I can't help but feel it's lacking as a Zelda rerelease. There's no new content, and I doubt the changes are enough to win over those who have problems with the game's overall design. It certainly didn't need to be a good game in its own right, but the lack of accessibility options and only somewhat reduced dialogue makes it difficult to justify the price.
An almost mandatory recovery for those who have been struck by Breath of the Wild and equally essential for those who threw in the towel in 2011.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Gaming enthusiasts whose time is too limited to sample every hot Nintendo classic might want to move along. However, those among us who can still devote ample hours to our favorite franchises (and can tolerate a few terribly repetitive angles) will find a lot to love here. That’s the most I could hope for from Skyward Sword HD, and indeed, it has delivered.
A simple control scheme concession elevates this new version of Skyward Sword from simple HD remaster to essential playing for anyone that dismissed the original for its love affair with waggle. Here's a top-tier 3D Zelda, freed of its shake-to-win shackles and ready to be appreciated anew for its timeless tale and awesome adventuring.
What Skyward Sword HD does best is make a 3D Zelda once thought limited to a unique console playable in perpetuity (hopefully). Along the way, enough changes and tweaks are made to improve the adventure, whether it's streamlined tutorials or satisfactory button controls. It wasn't known at the time, but this represents the final chapter of Nintendo's 3D Zelda design that started with Ocarina of Time. With hindsight, Skyward Sword HD serves an interesting coda that paved the way for Breath of the Wild. The linear ebb and flow of Link's earliest chronological story might be rooted in the past, but it's still an engaging and cozy adventure in the present that's well worth playing or revisiting.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is a solid game that in several respects makes it clear that the original was released 10 years ago. But don't be discouraged – you will experience a decent and rewarding gameplay.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Overall, the Skyward Sword HD remaster is an excellent game worth playing despite some of it’s flaws. There are some quality of life improvements throughout that may not stick out as obviously as you would expect, but they really help the game play a bit more like a modern game despite the janky controls. It may not be as beloved as Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time, but Skyward Sword is absolutely a game worth your time.
Besides the obvious visual improvements, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD offers a clearly enhanced experience compared to the original Wii title. First and foremost the button controls offer a near-perfect alternative to the formerly mandatory motion controls, making the game more accessible. Beyond that, many of the original's hand-holding has been removed, leading to fewer gameplay interruptions. The game still has other flaws, but the HD version does a lot to bring out the good of the game.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
It's the only Zelda game that I recommend you play only once, if only to experience the blue skies and sunshine that this game has on the outer layer.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is a fantastic Zelda adventure that's aged like wine, even if Wii-era motion controls still aren't great.
The most uneven of the 3D Zeldas but its highs soar well above its immediate contemporaries and while the motion controls are still hit or miss at least there's now an alternative.