In 2011, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii. The game earned widespread critical acclaim at the time of its launch, earning an impressive 93 rating on Metacritic and a respectable 8.1 user score. Recently, Amazon UK leaked the existence of a possible Skyward Sword Switch port, which garnered a mixed reaction from the Zelda community.
While it was well-received at launch, time hasn’t been kind to Skyward Sword‘s reputation. For a variety of reasons, some fans don’t look back on the game quite as fondly as they do other 3D Zelda games, and so some expressed disappointment about the leak, hoping for Nintendo to bring a different classic Zelda to Switch instead. But while there are many fans who may not be excited at the possibility of a Skyward Sword Switch port, it seems to make the most sense at this time.
Here is the case for bringing The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to the Nintendo Switch.
2021 marks 35 years of The Legend of Zelda franchise, as well as 10 years since the launch of Skyward Sword for the Wii in 2011. Nintendo often marks its franchise anniversaries with special releases, and it seems likely that it will do the same for The Legend of Zelda franchise. Since 2021 is an anniversary for both Skyward Sword and The Legend of Zelda franchise in general, releasing an HD remake or remaster of the game seems only fitting.
Most Zelda games stick Link with a companion that’s there to give players tips during their adventure. Some are remembered fondly, but others are looked back on with disdain, and Fi from Skyward Sword definitely falls in the latter camp. Fi has a penchant for constantly stating the obvious, and her constant-talking can bog down subsequent Skyward Sword playthroughs. Being able to limit Fi’s tips would arguably help with Skyward Sword‘s pacing quite a bit, but it’s just one example of how Nintendo could improve the game with a remake.
One of the main criticisms of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii was its use of motion controls. Some gamers simply do not like motion controls, even when they’re done well, and so many didn’t even give Skyward Sword a chance for that reason. The Switch’s Joy-Con controllers mean that Nintendo can retain Skyward Sword‘s motion controls if it ever decides to bring the game to the new console, but perhaps including a more traditional control scheme would be a good move as well.
By including both the motion controls and a more traditional control scheme, Nintendo can appease both fans of the original Skyward Sword as well as those who dislike motion controls. Since this is one area where many agree Skyward Sword could be improved, it seems like this reason alone makes the game a remake worth pursuing.
When it comes to 3D Zelda games on console, all of them have been remade, with the exception of Skyward Sword. Nintendo 64 classics Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask have both been remastered for the 3DS, whereas Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were given HD overhauls for the Wii U. Skyward Sword is the only 3D Zelda stuck on a much older console (discounting the Wii U eshop release), and so hopefully Nintendo plans on changing that at some point in the near future.
That isn’t to say that Nintendo shouldn’t bring the other 3D Zelda games to the Switch. In fact, it would be very surprising if Nintendo didn’t bring the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess Wii U ports to the Switch at some point down the line.
Another common criticism in Skyward Sword reviews was that its world wasn’t satisfying to explore and that there weren’t really any good reasons to stray from the beaten path. A Skyward Sword remake for the Switch could go along way in addressing this complaint, adding extra content for players to complete, whether it’s through the form of worthwhile collectibles or the addition of brand new side quests that better flesh out the game world.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword came out at the end of the Wii’s lifespan, with many gamers already looking ahead to Nintendo’s next console or having dropped their Wii in favor of PS3 or Xbox 360. Not only that, but Skyward Sword required the Wii MotionPlus accessory, meaning that it had an even smaller audience than the Wii install base. Despite these hurdles, Skyward Sword sales were strong at first, with it becoming one of the fastest-selling Zelda games of its time. Unfortunately, its overall sales have been much less than other Zelda games, meaning it’s one of the most underplayed games in the entire series.
For comparison’s sake, Skyward Sword sales were about 3.6 million units or so at last count, whereas Nintendo recently confirmed that Breath of the Wild‘s sales have hit a staggering 18.60 million worldwide. The argument could be made that Skyward Sword‘s motion controls could have drove off some potential customers, so if Nintendo implements an optional, more traditional control scheme, perhaps the millions of Breath of the Wild fans that didn’t play Skyward Sword could be convinced to give the game a chance.
And finally, another reason that Nintendo should re-release Skyward Sword for the Switch is the simple fact that Breath of the Wild 2‘s release date is nowhere in sight. A re-release of Skyward Sword for Switch (especially considering not many have played it compared to other games in the series) could be a great way for Nintendo to tide fans over while they wait for more information on the much-anticipated Breath of the Wild sequel.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is out now, exclusively for the Wii, with a Switch port rumored to be in development.
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