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Zelda: Skyward Sword unsheathed November 20

Nintendo readies Link's latest adventure on Wii; European launch confirmed for November 18.

144 Comments

Zelda fans have been eagerly awaiting Skyward Sword since it was first mentioned by Shigeru Miyamoto a little over two years ago. The wait is almost over, as Nintendo today announced the game will launch in Europe on November 18, with a North American debut following on November 20.

Link will return just in time to save gamers from a long Thanksgiving weekend spent with family.
Link will return just in time to save gamers from a long Thanksgiving weekend spent with family.

Designed around Nintendo's Wii Remote Plus (or Wii Remote with MotionPlus accessory), Skyward Sword features a new combat system that approximates one-to-one controller-to-sword motion. Beyond giving Link new ways to cut up the usual assortment of carnivorous plants, disembodied eyeballs, and orcish monsters, the game features new gadgets and abilities for the lithe protagonist to employ.

Link can now roll bombs like bowling balls, channel his inner Indiana Jones with a whip attack, or retrieve hard-to-reach items with a remote-control flying beetle. Players will also get a new form of transportation, as Link will be able to ride a bird through the clouds to get from place to place.

Despite those tweaks, Skyward Sword will retain many of the distinctive traits of the series, including its standard breakdown between puzzle-laden dungeons and a sprawling overworld. Nintendo is touting Skyward Sword as "the biggest game in the series yet," with a story that serves as a prequel of sorts to the Nintendo 64 classic The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (recently remade for the 3DS).

For more on The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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Avatar image for Valt-Dweller
Valt-Dweller

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@Boochie I never said that the release of Skyrim and Uncharted 3 will in anyway lessen the sales from Skyward Sword. I'm just saying November is a huge release month for big blockbuster games, and the fact that i am going to be buying Skyrim, U3, and Zelda is gonna be a huge amount of cash spent on video games in a month. And by the way your comment was all over the place. What does "people no enjoying Mario" have to do with the release date of Zelda. Read your comment a few times before you submit it.

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coop36

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I hope it lives up to expectations (for everyones sake). If not, I still havent played WInd Waker yet.

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NightFox313

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@bloodyrooster I know, right. Now I'll be having cuccos for Thanksgiving dinner instead of turkey.

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janderdarkmoon

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Haven't touched my Wii in a year, how fitting the first and last games I play on it will be Zelda titles.

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Acetoxic

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[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

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bloodyrooster

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I love how this game is labeled as the savior from thanksgiving families

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ShadowofSonic

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@Trickymaster --But this is a Wii game. Not Wii U.

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Trickymaster

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I'm so tired of my Xbox360. Btw. that thing ibroke down 2 months after the guarantee expired. Skyward Sword will be my first Wii U title. Zelda is one of the last few games that make me feel like I'm visiting a new world. F**k MW 3 and Halo. I like the graphical style they used. It is a great way to hide the limits of the hardware. Do you think they will make a Wii U version with upgraded graphics? @Chico_Azteca C'mon. Ask someone for $1 every day and you'll have $74 by November. :D

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ForgottenJedi

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I think the reason this game will be so great is that it is not just another generic first-person shooter. I know an almost foreign concept in today’s world of the call of duty the halo and the battlefield videogames. However, Nintendo has always been one to push boundaries and not make games like the call of duty... I have forgotten what number they are up to and if I look it up, they will have a new one before I post this and you read it. Furthermore, I can guarantee that it will be remarkable similar to the game before it. Unlike Skyward Sword where it will be remarkably different in many aspects from Twilight Princess because Nintendo still has some originality in their ideas.

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deactivated-5ca532262d747

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i didnt like this art style at first.but as usual its growing on me

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WR_Platinum

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I want this NOW!

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Masta_Rix

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The only reason I still have a Wii is coming... Let my wipe off the spider webs. Wheres the multiplayer wii motion plus fighting games. make like dota nintendo 5 vs 5 with motion plus support air combos n stuff. Before I die of boredom.

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killer690

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F*ck Yeah!!! YEs I am a Fanboy.

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Chico_Azteca

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My body is ready My wallet is not

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superfakerbros

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@grbolivar How do you know there's limited scenery, lack of innovation, etc.? Ntm, you're complaining about the graphics. I personally don't know what's wrong with it, I can't complain about the graphics AT ALL. Besides, Nintendo themselves have said they're going to change up things such as combat, dungeon format, adventure formula, etc. and Zelda will always remain as one of the best, top notch, innovative games of all time.

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cierraroxs

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Finally. I bought a Wii just for the purpose of getting this game. I'm pumped. :D

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Henninger

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A prequel to OOT huh?? Hmm this will b interesting. I already pre-ordered it so i guess i'll just have 2 patiently wait 4 it 2 drop.

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grbolivar

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I was looking to the headline of this news with the huge photo of Skyward Sword along the headlines of other games like Uncharted 3 and Battlefield 3.... and that photo looked sooo 2001 (graphically speaking) that I didn't realize it was about the new Zelda until I read the title. This game doesn't belong to 2011, it's at most a 2005 game: dated graphics, limited scenery, ugly character design... Oh Zelda! What has Nintendo done to you?? You once were one of the best, top notch, innovative games of all time...

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AvnKnight

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Cant wait to plug in my wii for the first time in years, hope it didnt get fat from not getting to play 60 everyday.

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hdi67

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OoT will always be the best, but I have a feeling that this is gonna be really great. :D

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Tedd_216

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Why would there be voice overs, i couldn't imagine Link with an actual voice. How would they make him.

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Rottenwood

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@LordelX As someone who has played every Zelda that has ever existed, I'll go out and say that the series would only be made worse with voice-acting and a continuous storyline. Look at how many entries there are... how could there be an over-arching story at this point? Does Ganon come back to life 14 times? Or does Hyrule just have a new Rent-A-Villain every three years? Nintendo is amazing at gameplay, and generally useless at plot... let 'em stick to their strengths. And I doubt I'm the only gamer who likes Zelda characters BECAUSE they never talk to me. Say what you will about Link, but unlike Squall/Tidus/Bubsy/etc., he's never made me want to reach into the T.V. and punch him in the yambag. See Metroid: The Other M for what happens when iconic Nintendo characters start trying to have plots and monologues - it sucks. The series could use an artistic shake-up, sure, but their traditions are a strength.

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theslimdavylp

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Now with HD graphix and voice over! Oh, nevermind :P

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LordelX

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@Supabul I've finished more Zelda games than you even know exist, maybe that's why I'm finding them a bit stale... and Zelda will not take GOTY. No Zelda game has since 2003. With console adventure RPG's like Skyrim out there, Zelda has to really rethink it's design and scope. I'll still play Skyward Sword and really enjoy it, but it won't be much different than when I played Twilight Princess five years ago...there'll still be no voice overs, half of the same subweapons and a storyline that doesn't matter because it refuses to connect to the other games in the series in any meaningful way.

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Megavideogamer

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Glad I finally bought a wii. So this latest installment should be awsome. The first Zelda game actually designed for the wii. I played Zelda Twilight princess. but that was a Gamecube port. Skyward sword has been a long time coming. So it will be worth it.

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Rottenwood

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Wow, a reason to see if my Wii still works. I think my wife has been cutting vegetables on it..

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rigzzsy

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really looking forward to this, but i'm disappointed they haven't fixed his tree trunk legs, and i hope there's a way to get rid of the giant controller on the screen

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x-2tha-z

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To everyone complaining about release dates, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY EVERYTHING ON RELEASE DAY.

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warhawk-geeby

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Niiiiice. It's probably just me not owning a Wii but Nintendo kept this quiet didn't they? Looks good :)

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franzito

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Zelda is changing. I hope is for the best. Great vid, can't wait!

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dxdevilex0

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Day one purchase,will try to save as much money now to get this and the other 3DS Mario games.

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Wormkid_64

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Man this time of year is tough on the paycheck.

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D3dr0_0

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Less than 10 days away from Skyrim, damn it my wallet is is going to suffer in November.

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CTR360

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great news so many awesome games coming this fall

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Solid_Sterb

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Sounds great. I can't wait for it to be released.

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Pete5506

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Great news, just more money I will have to spend come fall :(

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ale_gamr

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pants make link looks badass and not ancient.

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wooooode

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I will finally pick up the motion + adapter and play my Wii again.

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Flint247

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Finally, a date. :)

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glimpus

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@crazymario1 All Links have been left handed up until the wii version of Twilight Princess. Link is supposed to be left-handed, but they changed him to a righty for the use of the wiimote. (I still say the GameCube version is better because that's mainly how the game was designed to be played. Plus the world was mirrored in the wii version.)

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glimpus

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@theJBlounge I actually don't mind Nintendo re-releasing some games. When it's a game as important as Ocarina of Time, one which many consider to be the best game ever, it's pretty neat. This way they can show a whole new generation just how great the game was, and veterans get a shiny new 3D version. The only real problem with it is it takes away resources and development time to new titles. Other than that, if they're remaking games like Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, I don't mind. But when it's something like Pikmin, which was a good game, but nowhere near the importance of the first two, then I think they're just wasting their time.

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Iridescent406

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Another soon-to-be fantastic game coming November? Why developers can't use December as a release month is just ridiculous.

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ANUBISZER0

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Finally!

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Regulus27

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Why do all of the good games come out at the same time! I wish the games of this year were more spread out.

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xblane

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Excellent :D

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TheYoshster

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Forget Modern Warfare 3! This game is gonna be far more worth my time buying!

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JonythanD

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November 20th? thats my birthday!!!

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ad1x2

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I guess this is going to cut into my BF3 and MW3 time.

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Rovelius

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Awesome. Can't wait.

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