When Nintendo announced The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword HD for the Nintendo Switch the blowback online was immediate. Fans of the series and haters alike took to Twitter to complain the game wasn’t “HD” enough or doesn’t offer enough upgrades to warrant its price. While there might be some truth to Nintendo overpricing their classic titles, it actually turns out there are more quality-of-life improvements included in this HD remaster than we originally thought. And don’t worry, not all of them are locked behind amiibo.
One of my favorite new features (or should I say omissions) from Skyward Sword HD comes from the ability to silence your companion, Fi. (Yes, Fi! I know my batteries are running low. No, Fi! I don’t need any advice on this new area.) In the HD version of the game a separate menu exists that allows you to seek out advice or hints from Fi on your own time. Thank goodness for that!
Shut the F#$% up, Fi!
Other enhancements include a new control scheme for handheld play, the ability to fast-forward dialogue, skippable cutscenes, and one of my favorites, no detailed explanation of items every single time I pick up one. (For the love of god, I know what a Rupee is! You don’t need to tell me every time I pick one up!)
Besides that, Nintendo has been announcing new quality of life features little by little as we approach the release day of Skyward Sword HD. Just a few days ago, Nintendo confirmed that auto-saves will be present and that you can skip many of the game’s tutorials. Perfect for players who are well-versed with Skyward already.
Some changes have been made to the opening hours of The Legend of #Zelda: #SkywardSwordHD to make for a smoother play experience, and to get you on your grand adventure to the surface world sooner! Here’s one example where mandatory advice from Horwell has been adjusted. pic.twitter.com/KofowPZwn4
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 11, 2021
However, one new addition was just unveiled that takes the cake. Skyward Sword HD now allows players to have full control of the game’s camera. Due to the limitations of the Wiimote with the original release, camera movement was severely limited. Thanks to the dual analog sticks, which are standard on the Nintendo Switch, this is no longer a problem. Out of everything announced so far, this is probably the biggest upgrade to date.
【カメラのみまわし】#スカイウォードソードHD では、カメラを自由に回せるようになりました。いろいろな角度から世界を見渡してみてはいかがでしょうか？
（Joy-Con 2本持ちならRスティックを回す。ボタン操作ならLボタン＋Rスティックを回す。） pic.twitter.com/I4g94H2SNi— ゼルダの伝説 (@ZeldaOfficialJP) July 13, 2021
While, for some of you, this may not be enough improvements to justify the title’s $60 price point, as a die-hard fan of the original Wii release, I’m beyond excited to replay this game with these fresh new features! The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD releases on July 16th.
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Written by Jason Ganos
Nintendo super fan since birth, Jason is the creator of Amiibo News and editor-in-chief at Nintendo Wire. One of his life goals is to provide the latest Nintendo news to fellow gamers with his natural know-how.
