The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD - What We Know So Far

Fans on Twitter may have felt disappointment at the lack of any Breath of the Wild 2 announcements in the latest Nintendo Direct, but that doesn't mean the presentation lacked Zelda news entirely. Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, made a special announcement that a familiar Zelda title will arrive on the Nintendo Switch later this year.

Aonuma shared that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will appear on the Nintendo Switch later this year. Unlike 2019's Link's Awakening, which completely reimagined and changed an older Zelda title, Skyward Sword HD appears to be a remastered version of the original game, with updated motion controls and sleeker graphics. 

Skyward Sword is technically the first story in the very confusing Legend of Zelda timeline, and it details the creation of the Master Sword, one of the most iconic items in Zelda history. Nintendo has actually provided a staggering amount of details about Skyward Sword HD. Here's what fans know so far.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD will be available on Nintendo Switch on July 16, 2021, along with specially themed Joy-Con controllers. Preorders for Skyward Sword HD are available now in the Nintendo eShop.

While any Zelda news is good news to some extent, Aonuma seemed to acknowledge fans' potential disappointment by first apologizing for the lack of Breath of the Wild 2 news. He also went on to explain that Skyward Sword actually had quite the influence on Breath of the Wild. Skyward Sword shares several similarities with the latest Zelda console game, like the use of a glider, a stamina bar, and a mechanic that allowed players to collect items in order to alter gear. 

Players can most clearly see how Breath of the Wild came to be by looking at the features included in Skyward Sword, and though an analysis of previous Zelda games might not satiate all fans looking for new announcements, this port may provide an interesting interlude while gamers wait for Breath of the Wild 2.

Nintendo shared a trailer for the remastered Skyward Sword during its Nintendo Direct event on Feb. 17. The trailer shows the beautiful updated graphics of Skyward Sword, including Link skydiving through the clouds, fighting famous baddie Ghirahim, and wielding the Goddess Sword with intense precision.

The trailer highlights some of the most interesting aspects of Skyward Sword, including a more casual version of Princess Zelda, her hair in braids framing her face. Notably, Skyward Sword is one of the few games where Link can choose to romance someone who's not Zelda. Though not shown in the trailer, Peatrice plays a significant role in Skyward Sword, and offers fans the chance to wonder what might happen if Link didn't end up with a princess for once.

Many gamers took to Twitter to voice their dissatisfaction with the trailer, but overall it seems like a faithful remaster of a Zelda game that some people may have missed when it first came out.

Skyward Sword broke technical boundaries with it first released in 2011. The original game utilized the Wii MotionPlus, an attachment that improved the Wii Remote by allowing for more precise movements. The Wii MotionPlus allowed players to essentially wield Link's sword in real time, with the onscreen movements matching the Wii Remote's movements. In the original game, players paired the Wii Remote with the Wii Nunchuk controller to simulate a sword and shield combo. The innovative controls of the original Skyward Sword will also appear in Skyward Sword HD, but better than ever before.

In the Nintendo Direct, Aonuma explained that the motion controls have been improved upon for the Nintendo Switch, which has a greater level of accuracy than even the Wii MotionPlus controllers. Aonuma described the adapted controls as "more intuitive" than the original version. Of course, one of the most appealing aspects of the Switch is that it's portable. The Zelda team didn't want players to miss out on the portability aspect of the Switch, so Skyward Sword HD will include modified controls for situations where motion controls are not possible. In button-only mode, Link's sword direction will be controlled by the right joystick.