With the Nintendo Switch 2 just on the horizon, it feels likeThe Legend of Zelda’s time on the Switch is coming to a close. It was a great era for the franchise, with not only blockbuster titles likeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdombecoming some of the best-selling games in the franchise, but also smaller victories like various classicZeldagames being released on Nintendo Switch Online, and other small releases likeThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD. The latter’s presence may not seem like a big accomplishment, butSkyward Sword HDachieved something with a decade-oldZeldagame.
The originalSkyward Sword, released on the Wii in 2011, received plenty of acclaim in its day thanks to its various experiments and wholehearted embrace of motion controls. Unfortunately, when the new MotionPlus peripheral or a new element like the stamina wheel or shield durability didn’t work for someone, it really didn’t work.Skyward Sword HDhasn’t solved every issuewith the original game, but it’s made the overall experience easier to appreciate, and the transition out of aZeldageneration defined byBreath of the Wildis the perfect time to seeSkyward Sword’s highlights.
Skyward Sword HD Is Refreshingly Linear Compared To Recent Zelda Titles
At the top of the reasons to replayThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDin 2025 is how it contrastsBreath of the Wild,Tears of the Kingdom, and evenEchoes of Wisdom’s design ethos.Skyward Swordis a linear game, almost to a fault at times, but that linearity allows it to hone in on different strengths than the open-world sandboxZeldagames enjoyed. Hand-crafted, narrative-infused sequences that players progress through and solve in specific ways are frequent occurrences, like in classicZeldagames, to the point ofSkyward Sword’s overworld even feeling like the open-air dungeons theBotWduology sometimes attempted.
Skyward Sword’s Dungeons Still Stand Strong
Speaking of which,Skyward Swordis considered to have some of the best-looking and best-designed dungeons in theZeldafranchise, and that’s a far cry from whereZeldahas been in the past few years. Complete with iconicZeldadungeon items, many taking advantage of the controls in engaging ways,navigating throughSkyward Sword’s dungeonsis a blast. Once again, this is in contrast with the controversial Divine Beasts and elemental Temples of the open-worldZeldagames, which either lacked a spark of genius or crumbled to certain options in Link’s arsenal. It’s a good reminder that great dungeons are still very possible in the modernZeldalandscape.
Skyward Sword Has Different Interpretations of Later Games’ Features
There are an abundance of differences betweenSkyward Swordand the games inBreath of the Wild’s lineage, but the similarities between them, and what they mean, shouldn’t be dismissed either.Skyward Swordintroduced the stamina systemand finite equipment durability that later games double down on, though it had its own take on these that set it apart. Arguably,Skyward Swordis the classic-leaning counterpart toEchoes of Wisdom, aBotW-leaning hybrid of open-world and classicZelda. Now is a good time to examineSkyward Sword HDalongside its contemporaries to make some calls about what balance the series could eventually strike.
Skyward Sword HD Is Accessible, But Still Unique
With all of that said,Skyward Sword HDjustifies a modern replay by simply being itself. There is no otherZeldagame that looks or feels quite like it, and that’s something to be treasured. Even its combat, whetherusing the originalSkyward Sword’s motion controlsor the remaster’s new controller option, is some of the series’ most involved. From its story, to its bazaar gameplay loop, to its horror-tinged stealth sequences,The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDhas a lot of strengths that some players may have forgotten, and 2025 is the perfect chance to experience them all over again.
