15 Years Ago, Zelda Told its Most Memorable Story with its Worst Gameplay

Fifteen years ago, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword delivered one of its most unforgettable stories despite its clunky gameplay. On the surface, the game presents a captivating storyline with memorable characters, including Link, Zelda, Fi, and the menacing villain Demise. However, the motion controls that were integrated into the game's premise proved to be a major stumbling block for many players, causing frustration and detracting from the overall experience.

The game's director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, and producer, Eiji Aonuma, built the motion controls into the game's premise as part of Nintendo’s Iwata Asks series, but this decision ultimately led to control issues that caused many players to write the game off. Despite these gameplay challenges, the story in Skyward Sword is truly remarkable, featuring a young Link as he prepares to graduate from the Knight Academy on Skyloft and embarks on a journey to rescue Zelda.

Along the way, players face off against a variety of enemies, from the comical to the terrifying, and witness some of the best encounters in the series. The game's final villain, Demise, is aided by the flamboyant Ghirahim, whose confrontations feel like a movie scene. One of the game's standout features is its sweeping orchestral score, which perfectly complements the story and gameplay.

The music even includes a secret: Zelda's Lullaby played backwards, linking the Goddess and Zelda together in a timeless melody. Despite the control issues, Skyward Sword stands out as a game that delivers a powerful story, even if its mechanics are less than perfect. The game's remaster, Skyward Sword HD, addressed some of the gameplay issues with autosave, a player-controlled camera, skippable cutscenes, and a button-only playing experience.

The remaster's success on the Nintendo Switch is a testament to the game's enduring appeal, proving that the story behind Skyward Sword truly is unforgettable.