The Legend of Zelda celebrates its anniversary today with another remaster, and no matter how much some of y’all insist it was a stinker, I still love Skyward Sword. It’s got some ugly bits, sure, but there’s a lot to love there when you’ve given it a couple of hours. Skyward Sword is still home to my favorite portrayal of Princess Zelda herself, and its use of soft, striking colors turned it into one of the series’ best art directions. Now, after I’ve buttered it all up for you, I will reveal one of my more frustrating gripes – Fi kind of annoyed me sometimes. She’s great, brilliant even, but man, she could really talk a lot, and that’s why I’m so thankful for the new release. Skyward Sword’s HD port has made me appreciate Fi way more now, and yes, it’s mostly because you can tell her to stop talking so much.
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Before I start spouting off about Fi’s lengthy list of motor-mouthed crimes, let me first explain that I do love her. If you’re playing Skyward Sword for the first time too, I think you’ll be charmed by her for many of the same reasons. The whole beginning sequence when you meet her kept me enchanted, even years ago playing for the first time on Wii. It’s late-night, and Link is stumbling through Skyloft after hearing a strange, ethereal call. In his confusion, Link discovers that it’s actually Fi crying out, leading him to discover the Master Sword and setting him on the path to live out his destiny.
Anyway, the whole moment is touching, especially since this Zelda really seems to nail the sense of scale and stakes in this world. Zelda and Link both start out on a more equal playing field, and no one immediately feels larger than life. Then there’s Fi, and she’s telling you that this is how you’re going to save Zelda after a weird series of events earlier.
As much as I have always loved that moment, Fi’s presence would still slowly wear on my nerves. She wants to tell you about damn near everything in Skyward Sword, making too much of the game feel like a massive tutorial. “Link, here’s an upgrade to this weapon. Link, did you know about this random piece of history? Link, this is the enemy’s weak spot. Link, wash your hands after using the restroom. Link, brush your teeth before bed.” So on, so forth. Life with Fi is kind of rough.
That’s why I love this version of Skyward Sword – you can now mute Fi. You could take back your 60 fps, improved controls, and fast travel – if just left with the ability to tell precious Fi to hush, I’m happy. Now, Fi will zip it unless I call upon her, keeping her long-winded speeches contained to cutscenes.
I’m not at the end of Skyward Sword HD yet, and I’m not going to ruin it for you, but touching moments don’t pack as big a punch if you’re already wildly frustrated with one of the characters. But as I approach those final moments again, I’m not sick of Fi. I truly adore the little spirit, and now when I think back to her references in Breath of the Wild, my heart hurts. Nintendo did her dirty when they made such a darling little companion an incessant tutorial mule, but this HD release of Skyward Sword certainly makes up for that. Sorry it took so long for you to get your moment to shine, Fi, but now I think folks may remember you more fondly.
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