Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword FAQ

So Skyward Sword is out. Maybe you’re on the fence about it, maybe you’re not familiar with Skyward Sword, maybe you’re unfamiliar with Zelda as a whole, maybe you live under a rock and don’t know what a Wii is. Fact is, you haven’t purchased your copy of the game yet. This mostly spoiler-free FAQ is here to make sure you know enough to make your choice (protip: you should buy it). It’ll cover from the stupidest, silliest questions to the more informative and relevant ones. Which is which? Well, try to find out.

 

1.       What is Skyward Sword?

It’s the latest game in the Legend of Zelda franchise.

 

2.       Well that didn’t help. What is Legend of Zelda?

The technical term is “Action-Adventure”, but that is a very vague term and doesn’t explain a thing. Legend of Zelda is a series set in a fantasy world, where the hero must explore dungeons, obtain items, fight enemies and solve puzzles. It doesn’t sound like much, but it really is a one-of-a-kind experience. You have to play it yourself to understand it.

 

Oh and you get to fly a bird this time.

 

3.       Who makes those games?

Nintendo is the one that develops and publishes them, save for a few exceptions (Capcom used to collaborate with Nintendo on a few handheld titles). Skyward Sword is not one of those exceptions.

 

4.       What platforms will Skyward Sword be available on?

Skyward Sword will be available only on the Nintendo Wii.

 

5.       So… no chance of a 360, or PS3 version?

Considering it’s made by Nintendo, and both the 360 and the PS3 are Nintendo’s competition, no, there is no chance.

 

6.       Do I need Wii MotionPlus to play?

Indeed you do. Either a Wii MotionPlus accessory, or a WiiRemote Plus, which is your standard Wiimote, but with MotionPlus built in.

 

7.       Do I get one when I buy the game?

There are two versions available at retail right now: the standard edition only includes the game, but the limited edition includes a special, Zelda-themed golden Wiimote Plus.

 

 

Here's a look at the bundle.

 

8.       What is the “Zelda Music CD” that comes with the game?

It’s a CD featuring the orchestrated version of the series’ classic tunes, played by the Legend of Zelda Orchestra, who were on tour playing the songs you can now listen to in this very CD. While the CD comes with both the standard and the limited editions, it will only be available for a short amount of time. After that, it will be removed from both editions of the game.

9.       Who is the main character?

You play as Link, the silent-yet-charismatic lad in green tunic. 99% of moms think his name is Zelda, ignoring the fact that Zelda is a girl’s name.

 

10.   Then why the hell is the series called “Legend of Zelda”?

Because Princess Zelda is in it. You see, in Zelda mythos, Link is never referred to by his name (in fact, you can rename him at the beginning of the game). It’s always “the hero of time” or “the hero of winds” or something that not “Link”. He’s the nameless hero that saves all. But all the legends have another constant: the princess of the land of Hyrule, named Zelda. So while each Link and Zelda are different people living in different eras, the name Zelda and the mysterious hero in green are the constants that tie everything together.

 

Link and Zelda just chillin'. They're kind of an item.

 

11.   Where and when does it take place?

The game starts off in Skyloft, a land above the clouds, where Link, Zelda and a bunch of other people live their happy lives. Below the clouds is the land which will later become the Hyrule from the other games. Skyward Sword is the first game in the timeline, preceding all other games released so far. It will work as an origins story, explaining a lot of what later would become part of the series’ mythos, like the Master Sword, Ganondorf, and the royal blood (Zelda isn’t a princess in this one. She’s just another girl in the school everyone attends to).

 

12.   You just brought up Ganondorf. Who is the villain this time?

No, it’s not Ganondorf. The main villain this time around is the Demon Lord Ghirahim, an androgynous figure with some really good swordfighting skills. And you’ll cross blades with him more than once throughout the adventure, so you better get good at it.

 

This dude. And he's totally FABULOUS.

 

13.   Is the Skyward Sword the same as the Master Sword?

In a way. Skyward Sword is, among other things, the tale of the creation of the Master Sword, and the Skyward Sword itself plays a big role in it.

 

14.   What are some of the major changes in the game? What does it bring new to the table?

I’ll try to remain as spoiler-free as possible here. Skyward Sword brings many changes to its formula (considered beaten by some).

-The progression has changed: you no longer get in a dungeon, get the item there, use that item to beat the dungeon and move on to the next one. Dungeons will require your entire arsenal, including things you do not yet possess, meaning you will find yourself returning to dungeons often.

-There is now an upgrade system, where you fetch items in the world and use them to make your gear (like your shield, for example) more powerful.

- Combat has been given a layer of depth, and is much more challenging: enemies block your moves, which you must counter appropriately; enemies deal much more damage, meaning you will often have to rely on health items; your shield has a bar of its own, meaning you can’t just block whenever you want.

 

15.   Why motion controls? Couldn’t you just use a standard control scheme instead?

The game is built around motion controls like never before. This means that not only combat requires more of you (as previously mentioned), but puzzles, items, everything has been done as to work with them. The near 1:1 accuracy of the MotionPlus makes tasks you will be doing often in the game to be impossible to port to traditional controls, but especially the swordplay. Motion is no longer a waggle-based button mapping, it is a key feature that defines what the game is. Stripping the motion from the game would be stripping the game itself from everything that makes it what it is.

 

You see what i mean?

 

16.   How does Skyward Sword compare to Skyrim?

It doesn’t. Like, at all. Skyrim and Skyward Sword try completely different things. Hell, they’re not even in the same genre: Skyrim is an RPG. Zelda is an Action-Adventure. Each game has its own strengths and weaknesses, but while they hold a few similarities (dungeons, swords, quests, the word “sky” in the title), they do not compete against each other, they are not trying the same things.

 

17.   Are you buying it?

If I’m buying it? Of course I am! In fact, my copy is already paid, but shipping has been delayed. Still, expect a review soon!

 

Bruno Sampaio, NoobFeed.