Skyward SwordFollow

Awesome so far. Beat the first area, just starting the second. Really enjoying the gameplay and the story so far.

SpoilerCan't figure out how to destroy the plug on the lava flow in the start of the mountain area :(.

My main complaint, and the reason I don't want to get it.

If that becomes the case, then I'll likely pick it up. The story really does interest me, and it is still a Zelda game.

It's just... motion control. I... I can't.

The motion control is really well done, and you can get over it. But yes, it is required, and actually very necessary (I honestly don't know how they could emulate the game without it, so much stuff already requires directional strikes).

Actually, I completely disagree (that you can easily get over it). I've been playing it all morning (since I accidentally fell asleep playing Skyrim and my controller needed to recharge). I felt like I was fighting the controller nonstop. The game itself is great--it's light, nice graphics (that I really wish were HD but whatever), I'm interested in the story so far, and the stamina system looks to be a cool new feature to make gameplay more strategic.

But the motion controls. I HATE the motion controls.

When I try to do a vertical strike, I almost always end up with a horizontal one. If I'm not paying active attention to being sure not to move the nunchuck, I'll do a spin attack when I didn't want to (which uses most of your stamina). Flying the bird was just painful. And the game has acutally implemented systems across the board to resync the wiimote, which I've made use of way too often. The game is just too fast-paced for the Wii. Maybe this wouldn't be annoying if I was already used to doing it from playing other games--IDK--but the point is that I shouldn't have to.

SpoilerAnd when you need to lift the sword up right after getting it, it literally took me nearly 2 minutes to finally get the Wiimote into a position that the game would accept as the sword being aloft. Protip--it wasn't straight up.

I'm going to trudge on and hope that I get to the point where they don't bother me. But to anyone who hates motion gaming, don't fool yourself into thinking that this game is magically better than the rest in that department. It isn't. And there are certainly things that are going to be irritating throughout the game (like using your wiimote to look around, which make trying to move on a thin ledge way more annoying than it should be).

For everything Zelda-related, it seems to be a great addition to the series (though I'm not that far in). If they had implemented the ability to use a gamecube controller, I would have been ecstatic. I'm not going to let the motion controls stop me, but they definitely detract from the game.

Oh, and you start with 6 hearts.

[EDIT]

Obviously, I'm biased against motion gaming (in that I don't like it). But this review is really only for people like me--if you like motion gaming, these obviously won't be issues for you.

If you have a Wii and are a zelda fan, I'd say go for it. The motion controls are annoying, but it doesn't eliminate all the fun from the game. But go in assuming they are going to be really annoying, and you'll either match your expectations or be pleasantly surprised that they aren't as annoying as you thought they'd be.

Either way, don't go in pretending like they'll magically not be an issue. Because they will.

In some cases, they're fine. Like if you are just trying to do a horizontal slice--fairly easy. But rolling is just annoying--you need to (for some asinine reason) shake the nunchuck while dashing to roll. That doesn't increase my immersion, and it could have just as easily been a button. The end result is just clunky and obnoxious. And since you have to dash to do it, simply aiming at the tree (or whatever) can be irritating.

Edited, Nov 21st 2011 3:10pm by idiggory

I'm fairly certain that Ganon isn't a thing yet. Zelda chronology is really, really loose. But Skyward Sword is supposed to be the earliest game in the series, afaik. The Master Sword doesn't even exist yet at the start of the game (according to interviews I saw when they announced the game, at least). Ganon definitely isn't in the game, but they might be establishing the system by which he becomes the primary antagonist for future games.

Hehe yeah I was editing my post when you posted that. Great, now my interest in the game is increasing. Still no where near the interest I have in Skyrim so all is good.

Nintendo supposedly does have a set "time line" but does not wish to inform players that way they (the players) don't feel they have to play the games in any certain order.
I like one of the parallel universe theories, where the split happen at Ocarina of Time and the idea of reincarnation of Link/Zelda and an evil force.

 
So like this? 
 
                    -------> Majora's Mask --> Twilight Princess 
                   / 
Ocarina of Time --<                              -------> Phantom Hourglass 
                   \                            / 
                    -------> Wind Waker -------< 
                                                \ 
                                                 -------> Spirit Tracks 

I just finished the "Starter 3" Temples and I figure I throw my impression of the game I've played so far. Let's start with the bad

1 It feels very easy and the game feels very tight. Not the open world feeling I am use to from a zelda. The fact that flying in the sky offers little resistance other than the occasional crow with a rupee or octopus spitting rocks at me makes it for a rather boring flight.

2. Although I really enjoy how do the the surface areas(More on that later), the fact there apart of what use to exclusively happen in dungeons(Puzzles and stuff) so they shorten the actual dungeons. Making the dungeons feel way to small and easy.


3. I found the bosses felt easier as I've gone so far. The hardest boss being the first one I fought. Then the fourth, second then the third one being **** easy. I feel the first one definitely should of came later. Seriously tests your sword play abilities.

Gonna mention this last one just for people who do not enjoy motion controls. All I am gonna say is I don't want to be in the same room as Idiggory when he tries to open a boss door since they now require puzzle keys involving the motion controls. Even though i take to motion controls much more willingly and I guess aptly Spoiler(Only took me two seconds to successfully perform a skyward slash O.o) I had some difficulty turning the key the way I wanted to to solve the puzzle.

There are good things. I do really enjoy the trecks to the dungeons. Have it not be a simple trek from point A to point B with platforming and monsters being the only obstacles until you get to the temple.

I love the upgrading system and couldn't believe I was excited to find a tumble weed.

Even though they are apart of the whole experience the various areas offer several things to explore and enjoy.

I love the new "Gold skellata" system that's attached to just helping random people around town.

I feel the story a little better in terms of characters. I could care less about random npcs in the previous titles but now everyone feels a lot more vibrant and charismatic.

I am enjoying the game and will be playing just as soon as I am down here but there still some points I am weary about. Lot's hope act 2 puts my worries to rest.

Btw, apparently there's a major glitch in the game at some point closer to the end of the game. I wasn't told too much, but basically at some point you have the possibility of Spoilergoing back to any of the 3 areas in any order in Act 3... however, if you go to Lanaryu (or possibly the volcano) before Faron, it can cause the game to never trigger a certain event, making it impossible to continue on in the game.

Sorry I don't know more than that, but basically try to Spoileralways go to Faron first.

edit: Spoilers contain no spoiler information other than names of the major places in the game.

Edited, Nov 29th 2011 10:52am by Vataro

So here is how to make sure you don't get effected by the glitch.