The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
Guide Link between the sky and the surface in search of Zelda, using directional sword strikes and newly acquired items to overcome enemies and solve puzzles.
- AI score · out of 10
- 8.8 / 10
About this game
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD follows Link's search for Zelda across the sky and the land below. Ride a Loftwing through the skies, then explore surface regions including forests, volcanic terrain and desert. Combat asks you to direct sword strikes around enemy defenses, while acquired items introduce new approaches to puzzles. The remotely controlled Beetle, for example, can activate mechanisms beyond Link's reach. The HD edition offers both motion and button-only controls. Motion play uses two detached Joy-Con controllers in TV or tabletop mode; button-only play directs the sword with the right stick. These options retain directional swordplay while allowing different ways to perform it.
Collected in series
The Legend of Zelda is Nintendo’s action-adventure series, which began in 1986. Link’s journeys often bring him together with Princess Zelda and into conflict with Ganon in the land of Hyrule. Exploration, puzzles and combat lie at its heart, with a curious detour often leading to a new discovery.
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Nintendo Switch
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
A fit for players who enjoy treating sword combat and exploration as problems to solve.
Directional strikes can make reading an enemy's defense as important as choosing to attack. Tools that change puzzle-solving approaches offer another kind of experimentation, while the control options let players choose how to perform the sword movements.
Strengths
- Sword direction gives attentive players a concrete feature of enemy defenses to consider.
- Tools such as the Beetle can encourage thinking beyond Link's immediate position.
Weaknesses
- Players seeking a simple attack-button approach may need to adapt to directional sword input.
Who it is for: Players who enjoy item-based puzzles, deliberate swordplay, and traveling between contrasting regions.
Play notes: Motion controls require two detached Joy-Con controllers in TV or tabletop mode; handheld play uses button-only controls.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension New items changing puzzle approaches can make progression feel like learning additional ways to interact with the world. | Reviewed | 8.6 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Directional swordplay and remote tool use could satisfy players who like examining an obstacle before acting. | Reviewed | 8.8 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The contrast between airborne travel and forest, volcanic and desert regions may strengthen the sense of a journey for exploration-minded players. | Reviewed | 9.3 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Button-only controls provide a practical alternative to detached-Joy-Con motion play, though sword direction still needs to be learned. | Reviewed | 8.4 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Release date
- Jul 16, 2021
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- www.nintendo.com
- Offline minimum players
- 1
- Offline maximum players
- 1
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Adventure · Primary genreAction
- Tags
- Linear LevelsStory-drivenExplorationReal-time CombatEquipment-driven ProgressionPuzzle Solving
- Supported game languages
- SpanishGermanSimplified ChineseFrenchJapaneseEnglish
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- ESRB: E10+
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Third person
Release editions
- Nintendo SwitchWorldwideJul 16, 2021
Game gallery
Sources
- www.nintendo.comSource revision: 1
- www.nintendo.com