Is Skyward Sword HD Worth It If You Already Played The Original?
As a long-time Legend of Zelda fan who has played and enjoyed both the original Skyward Sword for the Wii and the new Nintendo Switch HD version, I can confidently say that Skyward Sword HD is absolutely worth revisiting if you enjoyed the base game.
The visual improvements, quality of life enhancements, and gameplay tweaks culminate into an adventure that looks and feels significantly better tuned to modern tastes. It retains the magic that made the story and characters so iconic while smoothing out many of the nagging issues that hampered the original experience.
For Zelda fans with fond memories of guiding Link through the sky and down to the surface world the first time around, the HD remaster offers the perfect excuse to dive back into the epic origin story. The refreshed graphics alone give great reason to return. But it‘s the sensible improvements that make gameplay much more intuitive and less frustrating that seal the deal.
However, more casual fans or those who really disliked Skyward Sword originally for its lack of exploration freedom or repetitive padding should consider waiting for a sale. The upgrades are fantastic but primarily geared towards appeasing veterans, not converting skeptics. I‘ll elaborate more on the key enhancements below.
Reinvigorated Visuals That Pop on Modern Displays
Back in 2011, seeing a Zelda world rendered in "HD" graphics for the first time on the Wii was groundbreaking at the time. But looking back now over a decade later, it understandably shows some rough edges on today‘s 4K displays. Skyward Sword HD goes a long way towards remedying this visual aging.
Running at 1080p resolution and a buttery smooth 60 FPS framerate, the game looks fantastic whether docked on a TV or in handheld mode. Visuals across the board have been retouched to look sharper and cleaner. Rebuilt textures breathe new life into the painterly art style, making the fantastical world wonderfully vibrant and appealing.
As a long-time fan, I was stunned by how fresh the introductory flight sequence through the floating islands of Skyloft looked. It felt like seeing Ocarina of Time converted to HD for the first time – a classic given a new modern sheen. Crisp definition and enhanced draw distances help capture the original vision in a way the Wii couldn‘t fully deliver.
Lighting and particle effects have also been reworked beautifully. Sparks glimmer brighter, flames look livelier, and goddess rays beam with greater brilliance. The moody interplay between light and shadow builds ambience and amplifies the cinematic moments throughout the adventure.
Welcome Quality of Life Improvements Reduce Frustrations
Aging graphics can be forgiven, but antiquated design principles become harder to ignore with each passing console generation. Features standard in modern games that were absent in the original Skyward Sword have been smartly incorporated into the remaster.
The ability to skip through dialogue by button mashing is a godsend. I lost count of how many times I impatiently tapped through Fi‘s excessive explanations just to get the hint and move on.
Being able to save anywhere outside of main story battles via the Olvia statues is incredibly liberating too. No longer are players forced to finish a lengthy segment just to manually save their progress. The original‘s mandatory wait to record checkpoints always felt outdated.
Other frustrations like bothersome stamina management and constantly gathering resources have been generously adjusted as well. Small tweaks add up to make repetitiveneeds less invasive to the core adventuring.
Speaking to someone who loved Skyward Sword but recognizes its flaws, these are the types of intuitive improvements that address lingering annoyances without compromising the core vision.
Tweaked Swordplay and Combat Are Far More Responsive
One of the biggest gripes about the original Skyward Sword was the finicky and unreliable motion-based swordplay that relied on the Wii‘s MotionPlus accessory. It sounded great on paper but felt imprecise and inconsistent in practice.
I‘m happy to report that swinging a Joy-Con translates Link‘s sword strokes far more accurately thanks to improved motion tracking tech. Direction and angle of slashes feel perfectly 1:1 which allows dispatching enemies smoothly. The new responsiveness restores the immersive fun that motion-based combat can provide when it works properly.
For those who still prefer button-based controls, a new alternative scheme has been added as well. Adapting the swordplay entirely to buttons still feels a bit odd to me as someone who enjoys the tactile motions. But it‘s wonderful that both options are now available to suit every player‘s preference.
Other combat improvements include adjustable camera controls while locked on, more reliable shield timing, refined enemy targeting, and extra buffs to keep sword skills potent in late game. Combined with the graphical boost, combat encounters both large and cinematic have never looked or felt better.
Hero Mode Satisfies Series Veterans Seeking a Challenge
In addition to smoother swordplay mechanics, Skyward Sword HD imports the Hero Mode option first seen in Twilight Princess HD that provides a stiffer challenge for Zelda veterans.
Just like in Twilight Princess, Hero Mode doubles all damage taken from enemies while disabling heart drops from grass and downed foes. The only way to restore health is through potions and goddess cubes.
Removing the ability to heal freely forces far more careful resource management and deliberate combat. Each enemy becomes a genuine threat when they can KO Link in just a few hits. This ratchets up the stakes compared to plowing through standard difficulty.
Between the amplified damage and limited healing, Hero Mode demands tight mastery of all of Link‘s sword skills and items. Knowing when to raise your shield, dodge, or roll now becomes crucial. Mashing the attack button carelessly will cut your quest short fast.
Veterans like myself yearn for legitimately challenging combat from the Zelda series, and Skyward Sword HD‘s Hero Mode finally delivers. I felt a genuine sense of accomplishment after conquering bosses without taking a scratch.
Extra Content and Options Expand Replayability
In addition to the graphical overhaul and gameplay refinements, Skyward Sword HD folds in new supplemental content and options to increase replay value.
The quality of life enhancements already lend themselves well to revisiting the adventure thanks to reduced tedium. But new reasons to replay have also been smartly incorporated.
Support for Zelda-themed amiibo figures like the Link and Zelda figures from Smash Bros. or the Wolf Link from Twilight Princess HD provide fun new collectibles and outfits to discover. I enjoy scanning my various amiibo to see what cosmetic extras I can unlock.
Being able to instantly teleport between the major regions via the bird statues also amplifies freedom of exploration during subsequent playthroughs. The world feels more open when you can zip to wherever you wish.
Having both motion and button-based control schemes grants an entirely fresh style of play for repeat runs. I‘m currently reliving the game solely through button inputs as a novel challenge.
Core Structure and Pacing Remain Largely the Same
For all the visual and gameplay improvements Skyward Sword HD provides, it‘s important to address the aspects that remain wholly unchanged. As a remake, the core progression structure and story content stay faithful to the original release.
This means the same divisive pacing issues and repetitive content that hampered enjoyment for some players have not been remedied. The adventure still involves frequent segmented backtracking between the limited central regions.
Unlocking new areas is still primarily gated behind revisiting old environments over and over to complete freshly introduced challenges. For those who found the original Skyward Sword too padded out through familiar locales, the streamlined tweaks probably don‘t eliminate enough tedium.
Personally, I was invested enough in the characters and story to power through the slow parts for the rewarding dungeons and boss fights. But I fully understand players who feel the series hallmarks of world freedom and open exploration are missed here.
An Easy Recommendation for Fans, Wait for a Sale If You‘re On the Fence
In closing my thorough breakdown, I wholeheartedly recommend The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD to fans of the original release who have been craving an excuse to revisit the epic origin story. The visual enhancements paired with the smart quality of life improvements create an exemplary remake.
For only $60, you get 50+ hours of refined Zelda gameplay with enhanced swordplay, new challenge options, and supplemental content that make Link‘s inaugural outing worth diving back into. I‘ve smiled ear to ear reliving my favorite moments looking better than ever.
However, I advise more casual Zelda fans or those unsatisfied with Skyward Sword‘s structure originally to wait for a discount unless you are really compelled by the story and characters. The streamlined tweaks might not be enough to overcome personal gripes.
But for faithful fans eager to re-experience one of the most emotionally resonate and lore-rich Zelda adventures, Skyward Sword HD is a phenomenal update that shows reverence for the past while gracefully enhancing gameplay for the present. I hope you enjoy revisiting the origins of the Master Sword as much as I have!