Zelda: Skyward Sword game-breaking bug confirmed

In 25 years, Link has proven to be an adventuring juggernaut, unstoppable in his quest to save Hyrule and Zelda. But a simple bug in Skyward Sword is capable of doing what Ganon never could, putting a premature end to Link's quest.

As reported by fan site Zelda Informer and confirmed by GameSpot with a Nintendo customer service representative, a bug in Skyward Sword's Song of the Hero quest can render the game unfinishable for players if they perform a series of tasks in a specific order.

The bug crops up if players go to the Lanayru Desert, then speak with Golo the Goron in the Lanayru mine before finishing the Thunder Dragon's event, and once again after completing the event and receiving the Thunder Dragon's song (but before visiting the volcano or forest areas). Nintendo said players can avoid the bug by collecting the Water and Fire Dragon songs before going after the Thunder Dragon song.

If the bug conditions are met, scripted events in the forest and volcano areas will not happen, leaving players unable to progress any further. If the game is then saved, the bug will likewise be preserved, leaving players only the option of starting over from the beginning of the game or going back to an earlier save file and progressing from there.

Nintendo said that it is "documenting all feedback on the issue."

For more on Link's latest, check out GameSpot's review of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.