Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword has set the standard for the Zelda franchise, and ranks as the last great Wii title.
Unlike Twilight Princess, which was great but felt like a Gamecube title with motion controls on it (which it was), Skyward Sword feels like it was built for the Wii. Motion controls are used a lot in this game, and you'll use it to slice, spin, and finish off enemies with your sword. You can also use it for swimming and flying. These work surprisingly well, and make the game a lot more fun to play. My one reservation is that sometimes the motionplus won't respond very well and certain points, leaving me to constantly go to the Wii control menu, which irritated me to no end. Still, be patient, and the payoff in this game will help.
Basically, the plotline is a departure from previous Zelda's. The relationship between Link and Zelda is stronger, probably considering they're younger in this version. Anyways. Zelda gets kidnapped by a giant tornado, and it's up to Link to try and find her (again). At one point in the game, he does, but she inexplicably has to follow orders from some other freak! On top of that, this tool named Groose will annoy you to no end!
Skyward Sword incorporates a boatload of new features to set itself apart from past Zelda titles. The save feature is the best for a Zelda game, because instead of simply starting from a dungeon, there are numerous SAVE POINTS throughout the game! You can also use these save points to fly in the sky and exit dungeons, as well as choose what save point you want to go to. Speaking of flying, you'll do that a lot in this game. Your red bird will fly you towards many levels and secret areas. The overworld is huge and to be honest it's exhilarating when you fly at massive speeds!
Dowsing is a key feature in this game. You'll use it to explore hearts, key pieces, or even find Zelda. It's a lot better than I expected, and you'll want to use it to find secret treasures in the game. You'll also get a sidekick named "Fi," who speaks in some weird gibberish that reminded me of Jake's girlfriend from Adventure Time. She's quite memorable, as are most characters in this game.
So how is the game? Really good. In fact, not many Wii games can hold a candle to Skyward Sword. The pacing is perfect and the game never feels boring. The dungeons are spectacular, and my favorite has to be the desert area. The puzzles are only moderately difficult, and the dungeons tend to be shorter than those you'd find in most Zelda games, which is great considering you have to revisit some of them later in the game. Combat is even more fun than it once was, as the enemy patterns are focused more in this game. It's satisfying to find an enemy's weak spot and crush their pathetic life as a result. Each dungeon incorporates new ideas and never seem forced or uninspired. The bosses are also a beauty, and one involves a giant fire breathing monster chasing you up a hill. I also love that you don't even have to pause to get potions, you can just run around and drink one up! The beetle guy is awesome, considering he'll help hit hidden switches and drop bombs on your foes.
The sidequests are also great. One involves doing a bunch of jobs to pay for a ceiling fan that YOU BROKE. It's a lot more fun than it sounds, by the way. Another involves rescuing this kid from a devilish freak, who turns out to be a rather nice guy, and wants to be human. Wonderful! Really, I could go on about how great this game is, but this review would be too long, so I'm just going to shorten it for now.
The graphics are the best I've seen from the Wii. The unique art style looks cel shaded but at the same time completely different from Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. Each and every object is carefully detailed and the environments are cleverly imaginative. The music is also some of the best, and this game even comes with a bonus soundtrack disc!
Overall, Skyward Sword ranks as one of the best games of the early 2010's, and the Wii has never been better realized than this. Nintendo went all out on this game, and the quality shows. Some critics have gone as far as to say that this is even better than Ocarina of Time, a claim that is well deserved. Skyward Sword is near perfect in every regard, and it'll be difficult to name a better game in its own genre.
Gameplay: 10/10: Very fun. Tons of new features don really well. Motion controls rule, and each and every dungeon is incredibly fun to play.
Graphics: 10/10: The best from a Wii title. Stylish and artistic to boot. Smooth framerate throughout and huge expansive areas.
Sound: 10/10: Amazing. The best music from a Zelda title. I'm not kidding.
Value: 10/10: Ever since I got Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword for Christmas, I've loved it and held it in high regard. So will you once you start playing. You're not a true Wii owner if you don't have this game. Get it.
Final Score: 10/10 (A+)