Fi was incredibly annoying, with frequent unskippable dialogue sequences that often told the player how to solve the game’s puzzles. When the title first released, players grumbled about the backtracking, tacked-on motion mechanics, and constant hand-holding from Fi (a spirit who guides the player through the experience), and I could never really argue against any of those complaints. Not even the Nintendo apologist in me can defend some of this game’s greatest failings. It’s a near-masterpiece with the most glaring and undeniable flaws. Having replayed the HD remaster for Nintendo Switch, I’ve largely come to the same conclusion I did the first time around: Skyward Sword is the worst great game ever made. Centering the entire experience around motion controls and a detailed narrative, Skyward Sword may well have been Nintendo’s most ambitious Zelda game when it first released on Wii in 2011-though many of its attempts to expand its audience turned away longtime fans, many of whom loathed the title’s linearity, easiness, repetition, and endless tutorials. It’s easily the most polarizing entry in the series: Most people love it or hate it, with detractors calling it the lowest point of the franchise and supporters viewing it as a necessary step forward. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword has the most complicated legacy of any game in the decades-old franchise. Also: I’m not going to explain every little part of the game’s story or progression (or the history of the franchise), so Google all of that if you want to know more. These notes will include some story spoilers, but be honest: This game came out 10 years ago.
Welcome to Punished Notes, Volume 17! For this edition, I will examine the HD remaster of one of the weirdest games Nintendo has ever made.