The Emotional Wisdom of Skyward Sword 

Just so I don't get a bunch of comments, at 19:00 I've been told that you can just underhand roll and it'll make it across the sand. I overcomplicated that process. Of course. I also completely forgot to talk about the fact that you can upgrade items at the Baazar like the Beetle, Bow, Slingshot, etc. This was a huge part of what I loved about it, but I completely forgot to mention it! Overall, I have learned so much more about this game both from making this video and from people commenting. There's so much depth to Skyward Sword that I know I'll continue to discover new things about it as the years go by. Thank you all so much for watching the video, and a huge thanks to all of the talented artists that submitted sketches and ideas for the thumbnail!

The one thing that will always set Skyward Sword apart from the other Zelda titles I've played is the amazing storytelling and character building. By the time Ghirahim showed up and kidnapped Zelda, I genuinely cared for her character and was compelled to go on the journey just to save her and not just to play the game. Skyward Sword was the first and, so far, the only Zelda game that made me care for Zelda on that level

Realizing the titles of these videos were building up to a trilogy makes your Zelda videos even more legendary.

I was very lukewarm on Skyward Sword when I first played it, but returning to it on Switch gave me a whole new perspective. I think living in a post-BOTW world helps its case, since I was really craving some of that traditional Zelda structure.

is it just me that prefers linear games? I like having a direction to go to feel like I'm making progress. With open-world games I often feel lost and unsure of what I'm meant to be doing and it creates distance between me and the story that I want to be immersed in. Idk just want to see if anyone else feels this way?

I love how the theme of 'love' contrasts and battles with the idea of Ghirahim so much. Ghirahim is supposed to represent selfishness and egoism. One could argue that he loves his master, but I think it's a little far from that. Ghirahim portrays Demise as his only reason to live. He could have spent his time on earth doing whatever he pleased; however, he was so attached to Demise that the Demon Lord portrayed his worth onto his master. And I find that a really interesting topic. Ghirahim and Link weren't all that different from one another when they first met. They were in search for someone familiar to them which they so happened portrayed their worth upon. At the end, Ghirahim's egotism 'killed' him, while Link found something important in himself. *By ego, I mean ethical egoism, meaning that he acts on self-interest, at the expense of others. This doesn't mean that he favors himself over Demise. Ghirahim believes that bringing Demise back is more important than a surplus of lives.

I know so many people hate Fi as a partner character, but she's definitely one of my favorites. She starts of so cold and distant, what with basically being an AI, but as the game goes on she actually forms a bond with you and her goodbye at the end.... It just always makes me sad.

Skyward sword was my brother’s and my introduction to the Zelda series when we were kids. We loved it immensely and we now even share a switch on which we both play botw. My brother’s English at the time we played Skyward Sword wasn’t good enough to understand everything in the game. Mine was better, but far from what it is now which is why we played together. He controlled Link as he’s more familiar with video game controls, and I translated/pointed him towards the direction I thought he should go. I can understand why you think Fi can be seen as annoying and intrusive to players, but to our pre-teen non-native English speaking brains she was amazing. So in that sense, I think Nintendo increased accessibility by including a character like Fi. But this is, as you pointed out in the video, just a subjective interpretation of one aspect of this game. But I feel like it adds the dimension of accessibility through simplifying some puzzles by giving hints if you didn’t pick it up from earlier dialogue for younger/non-native English speaking players. Thought another perspective on that might interest you :) Anyway, great video I sat through it all in one go. Hope this comment improves the algorithm and take my like

I've never heard such an emotional take on the Zelda franchise, certainly the music and story had an impact on me but I'm always amazed at how seriously people are impacted by video games. Of course your situation is easier to understand because of your hospitalization and thank God you were able to overcome your hardship. You articulated your conflicts with the game well but I still feel like a lot of your issues never bothered me at all. I never found Fi tedious even in the wii version, I never found the linear world to be constricting or boring and I never found revisiting the 3 regions repetitive since they are either changed up or you take a different path. Well finding the sacred water for Faron was annoying because that was definitely a retread but yea overall I just didn't have any issues with the game, amazingly on the switch motion controls are harder, on my wii they were near perfect. For me, my infatuation with the series is less emotional and more technical. You see I view Zelda as a complex tapestry, each of the games being connected in obvious ways and not so obvious ways. Skyward Sword is the biggest piece of the puzzle, it connects all the games not only by explaining the origins of the myths and lore in the other games but also leaving not so obvious clues all around. For example in Ocarina of time you can see Death mountain behind the temple of time and in SS you can see the mountain that will become Death mountain in the future where the sealed temple is. The Goddess harp look familiar? It should it's passed down by the royal family and it's what Sheik uses in Ocarina of time. "Wait the royal family? Then that would mean Zelda and Link in Skyward Sword start the royal family of Hyrule?" Absolutely look at the loftwing that's on the royal family's crest in all the other games. Did you enjoy getting the Triforce in the silent realm? Well guess what that's what Ganondorf is gonna turn into the dark world in a future timeline because the silent realms are without a doubt the sacred realm which we get a glimpse of in Ocarina of time with the chamber of sages. How do we know? It's because the Triforce can only be in the sacred realm. You literally are walking and collecting the Triforce in the golden land spoken of in the opening of A Link To The Past....the area even turns golden when you collect all 3 Triforce pieces! Hey were you shocked to see the double claw shots? Since they were a reward from the Goddess it's not hard to imagine they somehow got separated and put into chests for the hero in Twilight Princess but even if you consider that a stretch TP has so many connections to SS it''s not even funny, from simple things like pumpkins to TP Link getting his tunic from his spiritual awakening and wow it's chain mail armor just like SS Link! What about *FORCE* have you ever stopped to look into that in several four swords games and Minish Cap? Hey well Skyward Sword talks about force too and through that you can understand that Hylia's power and even the power of the golden goddesses are all related to FORCE! That's what Zelda in Breath of the Wild awakens, it's the same light force from Minish cap's princess zelda. THIS is why I love the Zelda franchise, the huge tapestry all the games are woven into, 1 story that keeps repeating but evolving and branching. Skyward sword is A LOVE LETTER to people like me, give me more lore, give me more connections! (trust me I haven't even scratched the connections SS has to the other games) Anyway I appreciated the video and your love for the series, you got a subscriber out of me today. I hope I was able to show you a different side of looking not only at Skyward Sword but the franchise as a whole. Thank you for the video.

Hot take: Arin's Sequelitis episode bashing Skyward Sword undermined this game to the ground, it's so common to see Skyward Sword haters just repeating the arguments in that video at exhaustion. This is one of the reasons I loved your take on criticizing Skyward Sword, your points were much more well articulated.

The Beetle is my favorite item in the entire series. I loved setting my little buddy to go scout out and cause distractions. The speed didnt really bother me until Lanayru Desert's thousand bomb puzzles.

When I played this game again last year, I interpreted the game as just a story about relationships How they can blossom from unlikely sources (Groose) How they WILL go through hard times (Zelda) And how you have to come to terms with the fact that, most of them, are only there for periods of your life (Impa, as after their quest is over she passes) I like this version of the message from you Liam a whole lot more, though.

Ah, my favorite Zelda game. What a beautiful adventure. When I played the Switch version last year, it was just as magical as when I first played it on Wii! ...But things aren't always so simple. Here's my little backstory with Skyward Sword. It was Christmas of '11. My family got the game for me, and I can't remember how excited I was, or if I was even looking forward to this game, but they knew I loved Zelda. I fired it up the next day on my beloved Wii. And at first...I didn't like it. Not even because of the motion controls either, the game just...felt different than what I expected from the series. But, I didn't have much else to do at the time, I was still on winter break, so I kept playing. As I progressed through Skyward Sword, the game grew on me over time. I started appreciating the game for what it was. It absolutely charmed me with its gorgeous presentation, engaging combat, wonderful soundtrack, brilliant dungeons and puzzles, epic bosses, lovable characters and surprisingly deep and emotional story. It even ended up becoming my favorite game in the franchise! A decade later, when the Switch port came out, I immediately rushed out to get it, and re-live the wonderful memories of playing and re-playing this masterpiece, coming home to play after eating some Panda Express orange chicken and sipping soda during each session of the game while I was alone in the house during the summer...Good times. I don't care what the haters have ever said, I love Skyward Sword, and it's still one of my favorite games of all time. The hours of fun I had playing around with its motion controls and intricate game world are now an irreplaceable memory. I still revisit Skyward Sword at least once every year or two.

That's a helluva long video, you mentioned you were working on it before so congrats on getting it all done! You're probably sick of hearing it but hell yeah for beating that crappy disease, it must have been a lot for you at that age and you seem to have come a long way, congrats man! Been watching Game Grumps playing this again so nice to see some positivity about the game haha

This might sound exaggerated, but it's not... This game made me like music. I never concidered myself a fan of any music. To me it was just noise, i didn't see the purpose. For some reason, the music in Skyward Sword awoke something it me. Made me understand what people felt. From there i started listening to every type of music, loving them all for their unique takes on whatever essence music conveys to us on such an emotional level. I'll forever be grateful to it for that

Skyward Sword is one of my personal favorites but I'm fully aware of its negative feedbacks. So I'm really glad that you made another really good and fun video outta it! I always look forward to watching your retrospective videos of the Legend of GROOSE~!

It's been a few days since I've discovered your channel and I just can't emphasize enough how much your work struck me. I've played my first Zelda game when I was only 10, I'm 22 now, I loved the franchise for many years but at some point I just started thinking that all this history, all my childhood memories, that everything that Zelda meant to me was actually kinda dumb and not worth it of my time anymore...But now that I'm older I realized how much I missed those games, how much I missed Link...So now I'm playing it again, finally getting to Breath of the Wild and rediscovering my ultimate childhood passion, I'm having a magical experience and watching your videos doesn't just makes everything so much better, but also helps me see how much I was blind back then to neglect something I once loved so much. I've never seen someone talk about The Legend of Zelda with so much passion, so vividly and with so much life! This needs to be praised and for that I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Thank you for making those videos, I hope your channel grows tremendously and that you get the recognition you deserve! My best regards Liam, hugs from Brazil.

Hot take, I really like Skyward Sword. Even when I first played it, the motion controls didn't frustrate me. The story and aesthetic was good enough where I didn't care.

I just played Skyward Sword a couple months ago on the Switch and loved it. I did feel the repetition in it felt like padding but seeing where it ended, made it feel like the idea of repetitive cycles occurring was done intentionally.

34:08 It's obviously a bit different, but one of the dungeons in Phantom Hourglass was a ghost ship so it wouldn't surprise me if some of the concepts were reused there from Wind Waker 58:45 I actually didn't know you could chop his toes until years after I beat the game when I saw it on RU-vid, the boss fight still sucks either way lol This was a great retrospective, I think like most people I have my issues with this game, but the story especially wins me over everytime. I've always said that while Skyward Sword is my least favourite 3D Zelda, it's still a fantastic game

59:25 I'm so glad that it seems MANDATORY to make Link do the shoulder shimmy while going up the hill on the minecart.

Don't and will never understand the hate towards linearity. Why do people feel so annoyed by it, especially in Zelda where every single game has been linear to an extent (except BOTW)? Seems very weird to me, but to each their own.

I couldn't play the original version because I literally can't hold a Wiimote due to a disability. I could play the HD one though and I was a little upset how long it took to experience my favorite thing in this game: flying low enough to have Link fall off the Loftwing and hits the groud, arms and legs splayed as one of the "ow" noises he has rings out. It's the best.

28:00 the Ancient Cistern is hands down the best water level in the history of videogames. By which I mean it's actually good. Any other opinion on the matter is now wrong, thank you.

Amazing video, chills about the leukemia. So glad you made it through and are able to make videos like these for all of us zelda fans to enjoy.

This game has legitimately frustrating moments and annoyances but it is a game with incredible heart and undeniable charm. I absolutely love this game despite its faults and it is absolutely special to me

29:05 this comes from an old Chinese story of the spider silk to get out of hell. The entire point of the story is that you should not be selfish, and if you try to get out alone or shake others off, you will always fall back to hell, because you're a bad person.. Kind of weird that they used it like this. Still great for a video game though. The story; Shakyamuni is meandering around Paradise one morning, when he stops at a lotus-filled pond. Between the lilies, he can see, through the crystal-clear waters, the depths of Hell. His eyes come to rest on one sinner in particular, by the name of Kandata. Kandata was a cold-hearted criminal, but had one good deed to his name: while walking through the forest one day, he decided not to kill a spider he was about to crush with his foot. Moved by this single act of compassion, the Buddha takes the silvery thread of a spider in Paradise and lowers it down into Hell.[1] Down in Hell, the myriad sinners are struggling in the Pool of Blood, in total darkness save for the light glinting off the Mountain of Spikes, and in total silence save for the sighs of the damned. Kandata, looking up by chance at the sky above the pool, sees the spider's thread descending towards him and grabs hold with all the might of a seasoned criminal. The climb from Hell to Paradise is not a short one, however, and Kandata quickly tires. Dangling from the middle of the rope, he glances downward, and sees how far he has come. Realizing that he may actually escape from Hell, he is overcome by joy and laughs giddily. His elation is short-lived, however, as he realizes that others have started climbing the thread behind him, stretching down into the murky depths below. Fearing that the thread will break from the weight of the others, he shouts that the spider's thread is his and his alone. It is at this moment that the thread breaks, and he and all the other sinners are cast back down into the Pool of Blood.[1] Shakyamuni witnesses this, knowing all, but still with a slightly sad air. In the end, Kandata condemned himself by being concerned only with his own salvation and not that of others. But Paradise continues on as it has, and it is nearly noontime there. Thus the Buddha continues his meanderings.[1]

1:48:07 that feeling... when I finally thrust my blade into his chest, hearing the chilling pained screams of the enemy, the atmosphere of that moment... that was so unmatched as a kid.

This game is so dear to me. It's what made me really fall in love with character design and concept art as a whole since I got the hyrule historia which went so in depth on the design process behind it. Really funny that I only got to actually play the game last year. It's my favorite Zelda and it has my favorite Zelda :)

That scene with Zelda before she goes to sleep HURTS. EVERYTIME!!! I can't not cry its just so WELL DONE. Links poor face the animations are perfect. Wake me up when this is all over..okay?

damn, I really liked this video. skyward sword is my favorite zelda that I've played thus far (the others being ocarina of time, twilight princess and botw), and though I acknowledge its flaws, it still holds a dear place in my heart. I do understand that many dislike the linearity and repetitivity, but I actually like them most of the time (though too much is too much, I'm looking at you imprisoned). revisiting old areas made me discover something new every time, and it gave me the same feeling as walking around in your hometown and noticing a new restaurant. it also made sense theme and plot wise, like you said. the hd version really improved the game though, I despised fi in the wii version but the remaster made her bearable, even likeable. I also adore the soundtrack, like I do with super mario galaxy as well. these two really were my childhood games, and I still love them to this day.

When I was younger I had severe aplastic anemia and spent most of my time in the hospital in the hematology oncology unit amongst other aplastics and leukemia patients. Loved your content for genuine years and thank you for sharing. Always encouraging

as a twice survivor of acute lymphoid leukemia and long time zelda fan myself this video feels very personal to me even tho SS wasnt as important to me, it helps to know other people that have been through the same experiences as we have, and that we are not alone, thank you Liam

So hyped for this video, I set aside 2 hours before I went to bed just to watch it. And I have to say, it was 100% worth it. Amazing video, great job man. I’m so glad you beat your illness that way you can 1. Be alive in general and 2. Be able to bring us these awesome videos. I love the Zelda series, but have personally not played skyward sword. Only watched my younger brother play it. After seeing this. I think I may just go and find myself a copy to play.

when i was a kid playing skyward sword back in 2011, i actually did have a crush on peatrice, sorta. i thought she was cute and i was always the type to stray more towards pairing link with side characters instead of zelda. the story that involves her father becoming overprotective was funny, from what i can remember. i honestly enjoyed the little side quests in this game more than the main story, since... well, i had to fight the imprisoned for the third time, and i got sick of it at that point

I was in the audience at the E3 demo of the motion controls. After I completed my review article of Nintendo's panel my editor made me scrap it and redo it based on the shotty performance of the controller

1:42:35 Man, this part about Link's reaction to Zelda being sealed is so intense and, to be honest, if it were me, I'd take WAAAAY longer to copy with all of this. I'd cry. I'd scream of anger. I'd get pissed. I'd probably question everything and everyone about how that was not fair before accept and move on. Wow... it's crazy how this single scene triggers a amount of self-reflection I truly wasn't expecting.

The way you've embraced Wind Waker's flaws is exactly what I've done with Skyward Sword. For the longest time I had a hard time accepting that a flawed game was my favorite Zelda game, which would also make it my favorite game in general. Now I can acknowledge Skyward Sword's flaws (linearity, repetition, mundane fetch quests), but knowing its highs are higher than anything I've experienced in any video game. I LOVE the dungeon design, the combat (and yes the controls), the graphics, the music (OMG) and above all, the story is the best one in the series. Never have I cared so much about Link and Zelda on a personal level and the scene where Zelda seals herself away is the only video game moment that ever made me cry. I absolutely love this game and won't be ashamed of it. This video enforces that feeling, thank you!:)

So far I only played two games Botw and SS. And I really love SS Link so much. To me he's a real person and I viewed my play through as his personal journey. I really appreciate his character when I came to know that he's progenitor of all Links. And he is always reborn to fight the curse he's unable to stop

This game will always have a place in my heart. I was 18 when my mom died in November 2011 after a battle with ovarian cancer. I was shattered and lost myself to drugs and depression. Come Christmas time, I didn't really have much hope or drive for life let alone gifts. But my amazing mom had pre ordered the game and got me a special edition of one of my favorite book series before she passed. My dad gave me the gifts on Christmas Eve and we stayed up all night laughing and crying playing this game.

When r we gonna meet Zelda and links offspring.....dads pretty tired it's the least he could do is save the world a few times for his gippur

I love the work you do on every one of your videos. Still my absolute favorite video essay creator on the site.

The way you narrated Skyward Sword's story really touched me. I had forgotten just how much I love this game, thank you!

I did not know the hero's ballad is Zelda's Lulliby backwards. At first I thought the video was way too long, but I really enjoyed listening to the points that you offered. I am glad your friend encouraged you to pick the game back up and try again, because Skyward Sword is definitely toward the top of my favorite Zelda games.

While I never even beat the first dungeon, one of my best memories of Skyward Sword is within its walls: Figuring out the eyes. Eyes have been a common indicator of a particular mechanic in Zelda games for quite a while now: You see an eye, you shoot it with something, be it the Slingshot or the Bow. So when I saw an eye in Skyview Temple, I thought I knew what to do. But as you might have figured, this failed on both counts. I then thought that maybe I should hit it with a Skyward Strike. This, too, was not the solution, but having my sword out let me notice that the eye was watching the tip of the sword. I figured, well, if it's going to watch my sword, why not give it something to watch while I figure out what I'm supposed to be doing? I began making figure-eights before finally stumbled upon what the game wanted: Circles.

Happy to see you've revisited it. It's my favorite Zelda game of all time even despite it's annoying elements that were repaired in the revision. It's soundtrack, level design, graphical design, and general happy feelings are unmatched. You did a fantastic job describing it beautifully.

I just recently got my wife into gaming (using Hollow Knight as the catalyst, she loved Hollow Knight) and I've been thinking for weeks about what Zelda game would be the best to introduce her to the series. After rewatching your videos about the games, I've settled on Skyward Sword HD being the one I want to introduce her with. Yes, I know its faults keep it from being the perfect experience and it's far from my personal favorite game in the series, but between it setting up the other games in the series as the first in the timeline and its incredible narrative I really think itd be a great introduction. I also think, since her only experience with games has been those polished to perfection like Hollow Knight and Mario Galaxy, it could teach a valuable lesson that even imperfect experiences can be meaningful beyond expectation. I'm very excited to have her play through it, and I'm going to try to start her on it tomorrow while she's still on winter break.

I remember it being the first ever Zelda game me and my younger brother played when I was 9, and we got stuck on the desert area and gave up on the game. We finally beat the game tho now...10 years later just before I left for university😂😅

I'll always appreciate videos like these, because they help me break out of my own head and my own opinions a little bit. Skyward Sword has gotten a lot more love recently, and it rightfully should. It has amazing visuals, great music, interesting mechanics, and a pretty good story. That being said, I just... don't like this game. I found the controls frustrating and visiting the same three locations grated my nerves (it's not an issue with linearity, TP is my favorite Zelda lol). But it's great that so many people found so much enjoyment in it. And it's still fun to really dig in deep and see all the good this game has to offer. I used to bash on it when I was younger, and in the same vein of this video I came to realize the older I got that this game isn't bad. I just don't like it. And that's fine. I'm glad there are plenty out there who love this game to death.

Opening with a dictionary definition is so middle school

That speach when Zelda is being crystallized almost made me cry man.. I think the only thing that would have made it perfect would have been using "Fi's theme - call of destiny" which gives me THE EXACT feeling you mentioned about wanting to get things back to how they used to be but have no choice but changing and going forward.. Also Fi is DEFINITELY still alive haha! With the recent new footage of BOTW2's trailer.. A big theory came out stating that we might see her again in BOTW2!! (which I pray to GOD we do see her with a more developed personality after seeing all the Links she's been with before..she's probably the most hated companion in the series but I personally like her so much, Even more than Midna.. For some reason lol)

another amazing video, i didn't think i could appreciate the ballad of the goddess any more but i guess i can. Thank you Liam for sharing your story of illness, as someone with a disability, i found it quite beautiful.

About Skyward Sword's motion controls... People forget that The Legend of Zelda's bedrock is formed from its first 2 games. The Legend of Zelda & Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Freeform Exploration of Zelda I & Intricate Mechanics of Zelda II. Every other game in the series mixes the souls of these two very different games together in different ways. Skyward Sword has A LOT of Zelda II energy. Zelda II's combat is WAY more complex than Zelda I's was. Zelda II had formal JRPG mechanics with leveling up & all. You don't button mash your way through Zelda II like you did in Zelda I. When I saw the Bazaar's crafting system & the game's puzzle-like combat mechanics, I smelled HEAVY Zelda II's influence. The motion controls fit right in with the more intricate mechanics that Skyward Sword set out to have. Wind Waker has a lot of Zelda I energy. Ocarina of Time is a mix between Zelda I & Zelda II. Majora's Mask slides a little more to Zelda II. Twilight Princess is very Zelda I-like in its combat even if it can be made more like Zelda II. A Link to the Past & A Link Between Worlds are definitely more towards the Zelda I style. Phantom Hourglass & Spirit Tracks have a lot of Zelda I feel with a taste of Zelda II underneath especially Spirit Tracks. The Minish Cap is very Zelda I-styled. Link's Awakening has a lot of Zelda I with slight Zelda II underpinnings. Oracle of Ages & Seasons have obvious Zelda I feels with some slight Zelda II elements. Four Swords & Four Swords Adventures are very Zelda I in their combat even if a whole new thing in area progression. Triforce Heroes is also Zelda I-ish but with Zelda II flavor on its costume/outfit mechanics. Breath of the Wild is a nearly perfect blend of both Zelda I AND Zelda II energy. The formula of those elements shifts with each game & those who like 1 style over the other will be annoyed when a game leans heavily into the style they don't favor. Those who may be annoyed at Zelda II will most likely be annoyed at Skyward Sword. The original Legend of Zelda is the foundation of the series & it's understandable that games built more in this style get popular favor. But you would have NEVER HAD Ocarina of Time if Zelda II didn't exist. The Chanbara combat mechanics were a 3D version of what they trying to achieve in 2D side-scrolling Zelda II. Even Link's knockback animation matches. But like I said Ocarina of Time was a more even mix while Skyward Sword leans more into Zelda II's style distinctly. Zelda II is simply harder than Zelda I all day long. And that's part of what makes both Skyward Sword AND Breath of the Wild so good. Breath of the Wild gets its praise from being a very balanced mix of both games. I WELCOMED the motion controls because I'm not perturbed by Zelda II & I liked what Nintendo set out to achieve with Wii & DS. The challenge didn't bother me because I LIKE the intricacy of those mechanics. I don't like to button mash. I like to master controls. It's funny now that BOTW is out that Skyward Sword is getting its just due. Everybody now misses those dungeons. Hahahaha! The Zelda Cycle will never fail.

Perfect timing. I just beat Skyward sword hd yesterday.

Been binging your videos - all excellent ! Been watching a few while I play Hyrule Warriors which I hope you make a video on one day :)

Every time I find out a new musical Zelda secret I get overwhelmed with emotion. I love the way they find new ways to reuse classic music while still making an epic soundtrack that is unique from its predecessors.

I often feel like I'm the only one who liked this game upon launch.

I think even though it's my least favorite 3D Zelda game I think it has my favorite story. Even though I really wish Link and Zelda had a more fleshed out relationship I still really appreciate Zelda feeling like such an important character. I think ultimately it suffers the same problem as BOTW in that you just don't get enough time with Zelda even though she is delightful. I hope future games have more characters that aren't someone you're just rescuing or see in a flashback/cutscene. Great video though, I honestly agree with mostly all of your opinions on the game.

I've always loved Skyward Sword, it was the first Zelda game I beat and I always thought it was underrated. But you've given me a new perspective and I love this game even, more as well as this series thanks Liam.

Coming from someone who hated this game, I loved the story, the desert temples, and even the silent realm trials. I find hints of fun in this game but on the whole it was just too repetitive and hand holdy for me. Also felt like a lot of the items were bland but your videos always give me a new lens to look through. Maybe if i tried the HD version Id have a better time but no clue until then. Love your videos a TON regardless, this was a great watch! Your work always shines!

Even though I wholeheartedly agree on your point of repetition, there *is* a thematic reason for it as Link has to temper himself in the aspects of the Triforce so he can gain a balanced heart and fulfill his quest. That doesn't make it a good gameplay experience but at least there is a reason other than laziness from the devs.

I absolutely loved & appreciated such a fair look at Skyward Sword. It's my favorite Zelda game of all time, but I know not everyone has the nicest things to say about it. It has my favorite story, dungeons, characters, & even character models out of the entire series! I think the motion controls are super fun & I quite liked the button controls on the Switch version, too.

Hey i just wanted to say i also had ALL at 5 but my game didnt end up being zelda for me it was mario galaxy and its one of if not my favorite game of all time to this day i just think its crazy how we both could be in that almost exact situation only a year apart and has shaped alot of our veiws on both gaming and life as a whole keep up the good work man

Finally people are appreciating the masterpiece of skyward sword

With all the ups and downs and changes of my life right now, and the fact that I am *still* struggling with Skyward Sword, this hit me so hard in the feels. A really good breakdown. I can't believe I missed it when it first came out. But I think I needed to watch it *now* rather than then. Since the rerelease I've made a big move, I had two big break ups, lots of health scares on my part, my mother's, my father's, and my little buddy's. Those challenges, and this vid essay, really helped put the game into a context that feels like possibly helped contextualize the challenges I went through, too. I really resonated with the message of love and it's effects. Well done, Liam. Really insightful and touching. Skyward Sword isn't my favorite; that's Spirit Tracks--the first Zelda game I ever beat on my own, and the first game I ever bought for myself. It is, however, the most emotionally impactful. Now if I could just finish the silent realm on Skyloft >:C

Hey guy, this video is way too long.

Something I noticed about Demise when I recently beat this game is that he's almost like a warped, twisted version of Link, or "the chosen hero." That's really cool as it not only fits into the whole "fate" aspect of the story, but it's like a super beefed-up version of Zelda II's final boss, where you have to fight an evil reflection of yourself. Demise has an almost tunic-like waistcloth, uses a large and dark Master Sword, and his long and flowing fiery hair almost feels like an imitation of the iconic long cap we always see Link in wearing. He's like a perversion of the legend of the hero, and that brings up a lot of intriguing implications to me. What even was Demise's history, aside from being darkness incarnate or whatever else?

at 19:00 into the video you can actually roll the bomb and it will make it far enough if done at an angle!

Another great video, Liam! Glad you were able to find the strength to overcome your own trials. Two things about this Zelda game stuck out to me when I played it: 1. The last fight may be my favorite in a Zelda game. 2. I enjoyed exploring with and using the beetle (and maybe I'm one of the few). 😬

Been hoping for a skyward sword video welcome back man!

It's a funny thing, but Skyward Sword is a game whose criticisms I understand, yet I'm enthralled with it all the same. The sword controls on the Switch (I use button controls) were tough to get used to, and the game is rather contained with its limited areas and padding, but it's still a heart-pounding adventure game that I'm into every step of the way. One of my favorite Zelda stories, too, specifically because of Link and Zelda's amazing relationship. Great review! Also, your tangent about your health issues and how they tied into your experience with the game reminded me that we shouldn't take anything in our life for granted. Beautiful video, thank you!

I didn't love this game. The lack of exploration potential, the anticlimactic story line (just barely not reuniting with Zelda every single time) and the repetitive combat (swinging one certain direction with the crappy motion controls, and just shield blocks. That's basically it.) just didn't do it for me. Coming out 5 years after twiligt princess, this just didn't live up to the name. A big plus however is that Zelda really is a lovable character in this game.

Twilight primcess has always been my fav zelda game and my fav game of all time but skyward sword is my 3rd each place u visit was wonderfully designed and felt unique And the art style is beautiful and ive never been a fan of item dursability in games and i HATE it strongly in botw but i always found it enjoyable in SS, it allows u to upgrade shields, repair shields with potions, gives u a self reparing shield and well timed blocks wont hurt ur shield at all then u have the unbreakable hylian shield...imo the durability was actually fun and flawlessly executed vs botw where everything breaks like tooth picks

I never got to finish Skyward Sword originally, my Wii bricked when I was in Sky Keep so I never got to finish; Skyward Sword HD was a huge blessing for me, since I finally was able to finish the game; The ost is so good, I got the gold box version for my birthday that year, and I still have the symphony CD that came with it, as well as having gone to the Symphony of the Goddess in Seattle in 2012. That was an amazing experience, and was where I got my 100 passes in one day in Streetpass on my 3DS, I love this series so much

Repetition only for repetition is the worst thing you can do in any game. The first one for me would be diablo 3, was looking forward to the release for over a year. Only to get a shtty game where you repeat everything twice because the devs wer to lazy to make more game world. It still suprises me till this day, who the f... thought it was a good idea? and that person should still be fired for thinking that.

I was worried that these Zelda retrospectives would start dropping in quality after the Wind Waker video, however they have consistently been amazing. Keep up the great work!

well you said you had other videos besides Tak and you got me to become a fan of your channel as well as learning more about DOOM despite me loving it prior and learned some things about Sonic games I didn't know and you even got me to become a Zelda fan

Just found your videos yesterday, I watched your Twilight Princess one, it's actually one of my favorites in the franchise,especially story wise. I just gotta say I love the way you articulate yourself in your videos, they are very relaxing. Second, I love Skyward Sword, especially the story, I also enjoyed the ability to upgrade items and didn't mind the material farming (I'm used to playing grindy games and stuff ), it was one of my big reasons I enjoyed the game. I thought it was really innovative with the dungeons, i loved the different ways you had to solve the puzzles but the story is what grabbed me, I feel that Skyward and Twilight did really well story wise. There were some very repetitive parts but overall the game was enjoyable and absolutely beautiful. I hated it at with my initial playthrough but, like you, I went back and played it when I got older and found that I really loved it and am glad I gave it a second try and was able to appreciate it :) anyways keep doing what you do, gonna go on a watching spree now xD

This game never asks you to figure things out on your own because Fi exists to tell you as soon as you walk in. I liked this game a lot, but honestly would have been great without Fi telling you every answer as soon as your camera caught a glimpse of puzzle. Totally down for accessibility options. But they should be options. Even if she was on full help mode automatically I would have been fine with just turning her off ASAP. It actually diminished the ending for me like "oh thank God she's just a sword now and I get some FREAKIN peace and quiet"

I played this game just once, ONCE! And I had enough with it. That is outrageous for me, I usually play the videogames I buy 2 or 3 times, specially if they're LOTZ games, but skyward sword? I just played it one time and forget about it. I tried to revisit it a couple of years later but it became unbearable once Fi started harassing me over doing some specific thing. I just realized how limited I felt. The maps were too small and with little to no details, traveling was annoying, exploring was slow, there were no interesting characters to talk to. Everything and everyone had one only gimmick and that was it. I remember spending hours on Windfall Island, talking to their citizens, knowing them better, trying to help them, or just simply enjoying my time there. It had meaning my existence there. As for Skyloft? Noone was memorable enough for me to care about their needs, specially that stupid task of obtaining "gratitude crystals", that felt so out of place that completely took me of the immersion. Even Twilight Princess was way more interesting to talk to the citizens of Hyrule castle despite watching them from a fixed camera.

Skyward Sword is my favorite Zelda game and my most replayed except maybe Link to the Past back in the day. The story is wonderful and very touching to me. Easily the best narrative in the series. The music is incredible, i love all the boss fights, particularly the last one which is the most epic fight i have ever experienced in any game. The repetition didn't bother me because i liked seeing how things changed in the zones. All the side quests added a lot of fun, and seeing the monster become happier as time went on was great. The combat is fun and unlike all the other modern Zelda games, the game is actually challenging. i can't get anough of it, especially with the HD upgrade which fixed my only two real issues with the game:Fi's constant talking and stating the obvious and all the stupid item pickup cinemas playing EVERY time you turned the game on after a break🤦‍♂️ Seriously, what the hell, Nintendo. The HD is truly gorgeous too.

Skyward Sword has amazing Dungeons, Music, Characters, and Lore. I didn’t like the controls at first but after I got used to them the game actually became really fun and I actually thought the flying mechanics weren’t all that bad. Discovering treasure in this game is a lot of fun and some of the side quests and games are really fun and memorable as well like bamboo island, Fun Fun Island, and Pumpkin landing. The relationship between Link and Zelda is extremely close and meaningful which makes the story more intriguing and it arguably has the best version of Zelda.

Really hoping for another Ghirahim esque villain in BotW 2. Really missed having that interaction/rivalry in BotW.

Phew this is gonna be a long one. Imma get some snacks for this.

I still don't really see an issue with linearity for TP or SS when compared to the earlier 3D zeldas. Like even back in OoT you still had to do major story beats and dungeons by and large in order short of using gliches to sequence break. Having not played Zelda 1 I think Link to the Past was the only time I ever had a choice in dungeon order I was conscious of in a zelda game and even then I was just like "Oh neat, this one's open too." If anything I think the lack of linearity was what made the 'dungeons' of botw lackluster for me. They couldn't be overly complex in case it was the first one you found.

It hit me about halfway through that skyward sword was a small game that was expanded beyond what it could fill. There's a ton of things done right in the story, overworld, combat, and the unique item subsystems, but they're overshadowed by monotonously trudging through the same areas again and again. If skyward sword was a third shorter it would be a better game Either that or the developers needed more time to put a fresh coat of paint on things, because reframing an objective can make it seem much more fresh than it really is. Come to think of it, BotW is the first complete zelda game unhampered by time restrictions since what, OoT?

Wow, just wow. You're spitting not only facts, but wisdom as well. It's refreshing to hear someone else learn valuable life lessons through other means. Different path, same lesson, weird experience. Thank you for sharing your story and being open and honest, I really, really appreciate it :)

Good to see some positive views on my favorite zelda game! Though yeah quite repetitive. I am glad the Nintendo switch and hero mode for skyward sword allow you to skip those cutscenes cause oh my I don't need to watch fi dance for me just in different colors 3 times. But I just love the fights, flying and exploring when not part of the main quest. I will admit that my archery in game got quite an improvement thanks to punkin dude

The narrative is and always will be the most amazing thing about Skyward Sword. The amount of time the game gives you to understand Link, Zelda and their relationship does more to attach you to the characters than I think any other Zelda game.

This video is honestly incredible. I really don't care what anyone else says: Skyward will _always_ be more cherished for me than than Breath of the Wild. Skyward is for me at once a Masterpiece but also flawed gem (to what it could have been with much less linearity.) But you Champion all it's strongest points. It's an extremely underrated celebration of the whole Traditional Zelda series in general. But as you point out in another post; you even did not get to mention the Upgrade system.

Skyward sword is my #1 Zelda game simply because of the relationship between Link and Zelda that you dont ever get in any other Zelda game. It almost felt like i saw their connection grow since they were little kids. Links protection for Zelda in this game comes from Love. Not Destiny.

It's always a good day when a Liam Triforce video is uploaded. Time to watch this two or three times.

This game took me a decade to beat. I got the game for my Wii when I was but a wee degenerate, but ultimately got stumped by the Eldin silent realm and lost both my Wii and my copy of the game not too long after. Then, last year, I committed a crime and emulated the HD remaster on my computer and finally, after 10 years, beat the game. Absolutely worth the full price I initially paid for it.

People hate motion controls because it hurts people with disabilities(or left hands)… but people also hate DS Zelda- 2 criminally underrated games which allow you to use no hands. Tape a stylus to your nose and do it that way if you want. People hate that, too.

You know I kinda want to see what it would look like if Hyrule was actually called Grooseland…

I was really looking forward to playing this game when I picked it up, but the motion controls killed it for me. They were so unresponsive. I got half way through the first dungeon and I noped out of there because I couldn't get link to do what I wanted him to do. It was frustrating.

I resonate with your struggle for health and how it impacted your initial view of this game. I have a back that will never function the way I want it to. I used to dance, I used to play hockey, I used to water ski. But all of that has been stolen from me permanently because I have a knee that dislocates at the drop of a hat, and a spine that will one day need fusion surgery due to a vertebra being pushed out and eroding a disc. It forced me to take up more activities that required less movement, I traded dancing for crochet, hockey for sewing, and skiing for making malas and beaded necklaces, and it ripped me apart mentally for a while. I didn't play the original skyward sword, but I did buy the HD. I went into the game with an open mind, I've adapted to varieties of motion control in other games and I knew how responsive the joycons were. But...this game is not made for people who cannot stand for long periods of time. And even after putting honest effort in learning how to use both analog and motion controls, going so far as to look it up and spend an entire day trying to adapt, I couldn't do it. It wouldn't respond while I was sitting, and I couldn't get the analog control schemes to function in a way that allowed it to feel natural and smooth. I have zero complaints about any other aspect of this game....but in the end the controls even on the HD destroyed the experience for me. This is the only game I played to completion then immediately returned to my local gamestop. I loved exploring the overworld, I fall asleep to the music pretty regularly, visually the game is stunning, and the story was heartfelt and I did cry when Fi went to sleep. It had everything I should've loved but the controls were what ruined everything for me. I had to tag team this game with a friend to simply reach the end. It solidified the opinion I had towards the end that this game was not designed for anyone who was unable to stand or function actively for long periods of time, even with the improvements that the HD release made. That being said I sincerely thank Skyward Sword for existing, because it helped make one game that has legitimately saved me from myself when I was at my absolute lowest; and the zelda game I replay at least once a year and go back to just to be in that world. Breath of the Wild. Without Skyward Sword we wouldn't have that game and I wouldn't have fallen back in love with the zelda franchise. Since then I've been scrambling to catch up with zelda games I missed out on growing up, and even replayed a few that I did have. I feel that conflict of yours pretty deeply. Thank you for this video, listening to your perspective helped me clarify my thoughts on the game, even if I still can't make a case for the control scheme.

U appreciate so much more of the lesser liked entries once youve played BOTW and TOTK....i mean zelda 2 is moving up on my what gane should I play now list

This video made me subscribe. Thanks. Interested to see your thoughts on the 2 newer Zeldas. I put down BoTW and never cared to finish it. - fellow blood cancer survivor

I would just like to say, in regards to the Wii, my mother would not have let us get it if it hadn't been popular with less gaming focused options. Like she just didn't like video games at all.