The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is launching on Nintendo Switch this Friday, adding a shiny coat of paint to a Wii classic. While loved by many, the original game had a fair amount of flaws that put a considerable number of players off the first time around – so is this remaster worth the money?
Reviews for the game have now been published, including our very own. Below, we've rounded up a selection of quotes and review scores from a number of different outlets to see just how well the title's gone down with the media ahead of its launch.
Before we dive in, we'd naturally like to encourage you to check out our very own review:
Right, now you've read through our final verdict, let's see what other critics had to say.
We'll kick things off with VGC, who gave the game a perfect 5/5:
"Skyward Sword HD is a superb remaster of the decade-old Wii game that not only gives it a much-needed visual upgrade but also throws in so many quality of life improvements (not least of all a free camera) that it immediately makes the original version obsolete."
Gamespot awarded the game a 7/10, saying that the Switch release is "more enjoyable" than the original:
"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."
In an in-progress review, IGN says Skyward Sword remains "as charming as ever":
"I still have a ways to go before I’m done, but so far Skyward Sword remains as charming as ever, even if it’s also still dominated by clunky controls and odd gimmicks that are exactly as weird as you remember them. Unsolved control issues aside, this airborne adventure is everything you might expect it to be, for better or worse."
The Guardian gave the game 4 stars out of 5:
"This remastered game from the Wii-era remains a wildly imaginative and magical experience created by Nintendo’s brainiest puzzle architects."
GamesRadar also went with a score of 4/5, calling it an "under-appreciated gem":
"Skyward Sword HD gives one of the most misunderstood Legend of Zelda games a second chance. It's an under-appreciated gem, one that finds the space to really breathe with a more reliable and relaxing method of control embedded within it."
And finally, Game Informer gave the game an 8/10, describing it as "a game of dramatic peaks and valleys":
"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 favorite entry in the series, but this is clearly the best way to play this blemished gem.
Zelda: Skyward Sword HD launches on 16th July and is available to buy either digitally from the Switch eShop, or physically at retail. Are you looking forward to playing the game this Friday? Let us know in the comments.
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The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
