With one release, Nintendo justifies the existence of Wii MotionPlus.
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/28400/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-review
Scroll down to the bottom for a video review.
I’ve always seen the 3D Zelda games as following a clear progression, or at least attempting to. The triumph of those games is that they improve the formula over time, whether it’s the leap in combat (Ocarina being quite basic, Wind Waker adding parrying, and Twilight Princess adding even more layers) or the streamlining of gameplay (Command Melody in Wind Waker vs. the Dominion Rod in Twilight Princess). Those types of improvements are integral to the latest Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, which carves its own path as the next great game in the series.
However, not only is Skyward Sword the next great Zelda game, it is also the ultimate proof of concept for why motion controls should exist. Simply put, Wii MotionPlus adds a whole lot to the experience that, at first glance, seems superfluous. The sword combat early on can be rough, since it requires you to be much more aware of the direction you swing the Wii Remote/sword, but the game is designed to ease you in. It gives you time to learn the mechanics and rules, clearly laying them out to you at a fine pace. Eventually, you’ll be mowing down enemies at a nice clip without taking hits. It’s a challenging system, especially when you have to deal with shields that can weaken and break if you mistime your parry with the Nunchuk.
The weapons you gain all have their own nuance to them as well. Bombs can be thrown or bowled, and MotionPlus even reads subtle tilt, allowing you to play Bowling for Bokoblins. Because of the flexibility of the weapons you acquire, there are often multiple ways to solve puzzles and fight enemies. One person might use the beetle to flip a switch, while another might use the slingshot. You can use the sword to slice Deku Babas, toss a bomb at them so they eat it and explode, or fly the beetle at one to cut its stem. If you love a weapon, chances are you can upgrade it using the new forging mechanic. It’s totally optional, as you don’t have to upgrade a single weapon throughout the story, but the upgrades are meaningful, adding new functionality to your items. For example, the slingshot gets a scatter technique that fires off multiple seeds at once.
The line between the world and dungeons is blurred throughout all of Skyward Sword. Each of the game’s main adventuring areas are like dungeons in themselves, as you’ll have to solve puzzles, fight enemies, and fight mini-bosses before you even make it to what older games would label a dungeon. This setup allows the dungeons to be significantly trickier and much more focused. The amount of creativity expressed in the dungeons and the overworld is wondrous. It falters at times, especially as you revisit areas multiple times and complete numerous fetch quests that sometimes feel like padding, but the game holds up very well over a 35+ hour experience.
The bosses, for one of the first times in the series, don’t seem to slavishly follow the typical three-hits-to-kill pattern. With the exception of a few duds, the bosses are an excellent mix of spectacle and challenge. Some highlights include a (highlight for boss spoilers)battle with a giant sea monster on a pirate ship, and a high-flying battle against a parasite-infested flying whale. The final series of bosses are suitably epic as well.
The bosses are quite challenging, but if you get stuck, don’t fret. Nintendo’s use of the Super Guide in Skyward Sword is nothing sort of masterful. Basically, you have access to a multi-layered FAQ in the game. Your Navi-esque character, Fi, gives you vague hints initially. Then, after some time, she spells it out a little more clearly. And if you get really stuck, you can back out to Skyloft and view teasing hint videos at a Shiekah Stone.
I won’t go too deep into the game’s story, but I will say it does indeed link to the series as a whole. It doesn’t have moments that rival the gravity of Wind Waker, but it tells a coherent story that features well-directed cut scenes and fantastic dialog. The localization team at the Treehouse outdid themselves, as there are quite a few sly series and pop culture references.
Skyward Sword is an epic, the sort of epic you call out of work or school for a few days to complete. A focused playthrough will take you north of 30 hours, and if you try to 100% the game, there is a 50+ hour quest to go through. Throw in the second quest, dubbed Hero Mode, and there is a lot of game to play.
Not only is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword the ultimate Zelda game, it’s also the ultimate Wii game. You can see bits and pieces of nearly every other Zelda game and any game Nintendo has worked on with motion controls, from Super Mario Galaxy and Wii Sports Resort to Wii Music and Animal Crossing. If you bought a Wii, you owe it to yourself to get this game right away. After all, isn’t one-to-one swordplay what made us all excited about the Wii in the first place?
Based on some grumblings on the Connectivity audio show, I didn't expect the game to be awarded the highest score.
Based on some grumblings on the Connectivity audio show, I didn't expect the game to be awarded the highest score.
Kinda hard to go by that though. Connectivity like NewsCast before it always seems to have a negative and mainly complaining slant to it in general. Complaining about games isn't a bad thing but when it seems like that is the majority stance all the time I can't help but notice it and wonder why some even bother doing the show. Mix messages do indeed get sent. It's why I stopped listing to NewsCast and why I've stopped with Connectivity after a few episodes.
I came for the review, I left fucking dissappointed at the second screenshot of the review that contains a huge spoiler. I kind of figured a Nintendo site wouldn't spoil such an important game to their fans so willingly.
I try to avoid paying full price on games whenever possible, but for this, an exception will absolutely be made. My usual approach to Zelda games is to savour them - I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if I clocked over 50 or 60 hours the first time through. Work assignments be damned!Broodwars is buying it used in protest to NoA not releasing the Operation Rainfall games.
Broodwars is buying it used in protest to NoA not releasing the Operation Rainfall games.
Good thing Super Mario Land is supposed to be short. :DIs it?
I can't wait 9 more days. I want this game so badly. On another note, this game is receiving 10s everywhere.
I can't wait 9 more days. I want this game so badly. On another note, this game is receiving 10s everywhere.
Everywhere (http://www.1up.com/reviews/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-wii), huh? That 1up review brings up some troubling issues with the game's pacing and a somewhat arbitrary nature to the game's mechanics.
I believe that was just Broodwar making a commentary on blanket statements. Which holds true that the use of blanket statements in a discussion is like using a word to define itself.
I went though that review looking specifically for what he didn't like and it boiled down to this.
The Phantom Hourglass/Spirit Tracks segments which I can definitely see as being frustrating and Fetch quests being used more then warranted.
I can see why he knock the game down if those weren't his cup of tea. I do have to agree about the fetch quests. They are needed but, eventual they hit a threshold where there just filler and annoying.
Undoubtedly the 1up review of A for Uncharted 3 is justified though.
B+ would be what the equivalent of a 8-9. What was the game here that got like a 6 where ever else it was getting 9 and 10.I believe that was just Broodwar making a commentary on blanket statements. Which holds true that the use of blanket statements in a discussion is like using a word to define itself.
I went though that review looking specifically for what he didn't like and it boiled down to this.
The Phantom Hourglass/Spirit Tracks segments which I can definitely see as being frustrating and Fetch quests being used more then warranted.
I can see why he knock the game down if those weren't his cup of tea. I do have to agree about the fetch quests. They are needed but, eventual they hit a threshold where there just filler and annoying.
The review score comes across as flame bait with the B+ score. Nothing really in that review justified dragging the score down that far. Now in regards to the fetch quests, maybe Neal can clear that up, are they any worse then other Zeldas?
Whether you like it or not, when you give a game a perfect score you are declaring that the game is flawless, that there is no room for improvement.
To carry on the school metaphor, if you got a 100% on an essay, does that mean there's no way it could have possibly been any better?
As for Neal's review specifically, though, I would have appreciated a more detailed review with a closer examination on the game's pacing (since that's a major issue I've had with Zelda games since Wind Waker), but that's really my only fault with it.Neal's stated that his review was going to try to be spoiler free. That was part of the reason he was doing the other entries. No to mention I think he's still embargoed on talking about the end.
...
It's not long. There are just three bottleneck days. 11/4, 11/11 and 11/20. It's worded like "don't discuss anything up until XX"This was in regards to me asking a question about the NDA size so, as you can see he is still not able to talk about the whole game yet.
When will we be seeing the Floodgates of Info opening?Friday is review day. I think we can talk about the second act of the game then. Then, final embargo is up on release day.
I have given out three 10s in my tenure with site (Punch-Out!!, Kirby's Epic Yarn, Skyward Sword). I am always very hesitant in giving a game that score, but it obviously has happened.
In Skyward Sword's case, I have issues with the game. I talk about them in the review. But as I thought about it more, the issues didn't sully the experience. It was still an excellent game. I loved it. I wanted to play it again right after beating it, and I plowed through this game faster than I ever have played a Zelda game before.
I could easily pick apart the game (the pacing does drag in some spots, the fetch quests are sometimes lame, tightrope walking is awful), but none of those issues really hurt it in my eyes. Obviously, it did for some people. It didn't for me. I honestly don't know if I can go back to other Zelda games and enjoy them as much as I did after playing this game. That sounds ridiculous, but its true.
The pacing and fetch quests aren't really anything different from past games. I would say my issues with the pacing come from trying to beat the game in a short amount of time. If I didn't have that constraint, I don't think I'd have a problem with it. I can think of about two examples where the fetch quests annoyed me. Other than that, I didn't mind them. It's more exploring the environment than it is "collect three things to pass," though they use that as the setup.
And the Silent Realm parts are some of my favorite moments in the game, though I'm glad they are limited to a few instances.
I don't think any long game has ever been without them, just as long as it isn't triforce hunting similar to what was found in Wind Waker. Now that was a poorly implemented fetch quest and padding.
...And ruins my chances of ever finishing that game and I soo want to because of the final fight...
I don't think any long game has ever been without them, just as long as it isn't triforce hunting similar to what was found in Wind Waker. Now that was a poorly implemented fetch quest and padding.
I had very strict teachers on grading back in high school and college, so yes that's exactly what that meant when I was in school. Taking into account the relative knowledge and skill expected of students my age, of course.I would argue that granularity also matters. It's easier for a game to get a 10/10 than a 100/100. Your strict teachers are closer to ONM, which gave this game a 98, their highest score ever for a Wii game.
I honestly don't know if I can go back to other Zelda games and enjoy them as much as I did after playing this game.
...I am now imagining a bear rocking his cage back and forth.
That is seriously high praise. I believe I may be experiencing frothing demand for the first time in quite a while.
I don't think any long game has ever been without them, just as long as it isn't triforce hunting similar to what was found in Wind Waker. Now that was a poorly implemented fetch quest and padding.
Don't forget all the business where you had to go and check all the statues or collect all the Twilight Tears in Twilight Princess. Or the forced stealth section in Wind Waker's Forsaken Fortress. Or the Temple of the Ocean King in Phantom Hourglass. Yeah, Zelda's had some really bad padding issues over the years. Hopefully, the Silent Realm sections in Skyward Sword are mercifully short and don't require you to be a stealth savant.
Undoubtedly the 1up review of A for Uncharted 3 is justified though.
To me, a 10 is the goal that every game strives towards, but very few are worthy of receiving and it should be an event when it does. I personally would probably only have ever awarded one to Chrono Trigger. I'm not taking any specific issues with Neal's review and I'm not insinuating this is something he did, but I think in general our industry is way too eager to hand out 10s just because they want the acclaim or infamy of giving a certain game a perfect score.
I think the reason Twilight Princess got so many great reviews is because the game was indeed the best launch title for the Wii, and its motion controls were actually new and interesting. Save for Wii Sports (which came with the system anyway), what other game at launch was this full and interesting? Red Steel was a disappointment for many, and the rest of the launch titles were PS2 titles with tacked on waggle. So Twilight Princess came as an impressive game that did its stuff really well. It wasn't until the hype of the Wii died off that people finally saw the game for what it was, and thus gained the reputation of being the most disappointing in the series.
There are definitely people who have changed their opinion about Twilight Princess.
To carry on the school metaphor, if you got a 100% on an essay, does that mean there's no way it could have possibly been any better?
I had very strict teachers on grading back in high school and college, so yes that's exactly what that meant when I was in school. Taking into account the relative knowledge and skill expected of students my age, of course.
As I said, that's just my personal philosophy when it comes to game reviews and game scores, if you're going to have scores at all. I can understand that it's not one that other people may share.
I think the reason Twilight Princess got so many great reviews is because the game was indeed the best launch title for the Wii, and its motion controls were actually new and interesting. Save for Wii Sports (which came with the system anyway), what other game at launch was this full and interesting? Red Steel was a disappointment for many, and the rest of the launch titles were PS2 titles with tacked on waggle. So Twilight Princess came as an impressive game that did its stuff really well. It wasn't until the hype of the Wii died off that people finally saw the game for what it was, and thus gained the reputation of being the most disappointing in the series.
Twilight Princess got great reviews because it is a great game and is still regarded as a great game by most people. Nobody changed their opinion on it, the vocal minority who b!tched about it just wouldn't stop b!tching about it, while people who actually enjoyed the game didn't care to keep arguing the same thing for year after year and eventually just stop trying to argue anymore.
Because if this, it gives the impression that more people hate the game now than actually do because the people who don't like it will post a million times why they hate it and never stop, while most of the people who liked it will usually only post a few times on why they liked about it and leave it at that.
There are definitely people who have changed their opinion about Twilight Princess.
That actually seems to be a trend. I stopped playing Ocarina at the Forest Temple too. It's worse with Twilight Princess though since it's right up front and the whole beginning drags.
Timely (http://www.gametrailers.com/video/modern-game-journalism-the/723924).
Mario gets this a lot, too (the real Mario; not spinoffs). So does Blizzard. Phantom Hourglass has an 88.91% average on GameRankings. That game with it's wonky controls and annoying Temple of the Ocean King would have gotten ripped apart if it was not a Zelda game. But it got great reviews (though not as great as Zelda often gets).
The "bad" review of Skyward Sword at least gives the impression that the reviewer did not allow "OMG IT'S ZELDA!!" to cloud their judgement. Of course they could also be contrarian just because.
There are definitely people who have changed their opinion about Twilight Princess.I think the three-day opening is one of my least favorite things in any Nintendo game ever. It's almost inexcusable. At least with the Wind Waker Triforce quest, you can go off and do side missions during it to spice it up.quote]
I can live with the 3 day opening. To me it wasn't its fatal flaw. Its halfway through the game and the story drops out from under it, where I felt pretty driven to go forward before I know instead feel like whats the point? Also how the world was laid out. I found the fishing when I was literally at the end of the game.Agreed. The opening is probably the sole reason why i will never replay twilight princess.There are definitely people who have changed their opinion about Twilight Princess.I think the three-day opening is one of my least favorite things in any Nintendo game ever. It's almost inexcusable. At least with the Wind Waker Triforce quest, you can go off and do side missions during it to spice it up.quote]