All we know so far

Fans were expecting an update on Breath of the Wild 2 during the Nintendo Direct, but Nintendo made it clear that they have nothing to show for the rest of the year. Instead, they had another surprise for Legend of Zelda fans. They announced an HD remastering of the Wii 2011 Skyward Sword game for Nintendo Switch.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was the last major Zelda game released for consoles before Breath of the Wild. But the two games couldn’t be more different. Although Skyward Sword has the reputation of being the “black sheep” of the franchise, it remains a fairly classic Zelda game. Older fans of Breath of the Wild who have never played another Zelda game may be shocked at the cultural differences. However, in Breath of the Wild you will find many ideas and mechanisms that originated in Skyward Sword. Therefore, this is the best game to introduce new fans of the game to Breath of the Wild. It is the perfect game to introduce new fans to the classic Zelda games.

With that in mind, here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Nintendo Switch.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: SWORD RELEASE DATE: JULY 16, 2021

Nintendo Direct has announced the release date for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD Remaster. This year they are releasing an HD remaster of the game for Nintendo Switch to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the series. The game will be released on July 16, 2021.

In addition to the new Zelda game for Nintendo Switch, fans can also get their hands on some awesome controllers.

Joy-Con controllers with a special design dedicated to The Legend of #Zelda: #SkywardSword HD will also be released along with the game on 7/16! The right side of the Joy-Con features the master sword motif, while the left side features the hylien shield motif. #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/vvuobumO5w

– Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) February 17, 2021

The game will be released simultaneously with a pair of Joy-Cons in the Skyward sword design. The Joy-Con on the left features the Hylian shield and the Joy-Con on the right features the master sword. There is no price yet for these Joy-Cons, but judging from the previous special edition Joy-Con, they should sell for around $80-90.

THE PLOT AND THE GAME

Since this is a remastering, you won’t notice any major differences in the story and gameplay of this new version. The Skyward Sword explores the origins of the Zelda legend. There’s a lot waiting for you in this game. This also explains the cyclical nature of the series. Why do we still have different versions of Link and Zelda? Why does Ganondorf always come back? Expect to find answers to these questions in the game.

In terms of gameplay, Skyward Sword is more reminiscent of the old Zelda games and a little less reminiscent of Breath of the Wild. Although Breath of the Wild is an open sandbox, the classic Zelda games are not so open. Exploration is always the core of the game, but don’t expect the same freedom you experienced in Breath of the Wild.

HAS MODERNIZED THE CONTROL SYSTEMS WITH CHEERFUL, PROFESSIONAL CONTROLLERS.

Skyward Sword was embarrassed when it came out for the Wii because of its unusual controls. The game required players to use motion controls with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. This inconvenience was compounded by the Wii console’s awkward motion detection. As a result, many players did not bother to finish the game.

Too bad, because Skyward Sword is a great game. We’re sure Nintendo understood that, and that’s why they adjusted the controls for the Nintendo Switch version.

Fans of motion control can still experience swinging and lifting shields with the Joy-Cons, and thanks to the upgraded hardware, motion control has been greatly improved. This should make motion control really fun for once.

Most importantly, motion controls are no longer necessary. Instead, you can now play the game entirely with a joystick. We’re just mourning a missed opportunity. We know they are releasing a few Joy-Cons to promote the Skyward Sword motion control system. But can we also get a professional controller? Please, Nintendo. Make this happen!