GameInformer Preview - The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Review

Phil Kollar: It’s still two weeks until the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, and I can’t post the full review until next week. Since our December issue will be in subscribers' hands soon, though, we wanted to share our score and a few impressions here rather than let it get spoiled for you on some forum.

Here’s the big news: Skyward Sword is one of those rare treasures, a 10/10 game. In fact, it’s the first 10 that I’ve ever given out in my two years at Game Informer. While you’ll have to wait until next week to read my full review and see all the reasons why, here are a few paragraphs to get you started.

[Optical_Matrix]

Dat GoTY

[Pikajew]

The game looks so good and fun. It will be the GOTY, no one saw coming

[-Alpha]

I agree. And you know what, at the end of the day, the games that I enjoy most are the ones I never had any expectations for

I always feel hype really kills a game because they never deliver on all promises and expectations. There's always that 1 game that slips by you and catches you off guard, Skyward Sword is really looking to be one of them

[Danteh]

WIN!! I knew it, Skyward Sword will be this years GOTY! (and this is probably the best year in gaming... ever)

@pikajew no one saw that coming? not if you are a new-gen gamer, but this is ZELDA for gods sake :P

[Danteh]

@alpha seriously how can you be "caught off guard" by one of the biggest franchises in gaming? :O

[DigitalAnalog]

I saw it coming.. a mile away!

[ABizzel1]

I'm rooting for Zelda and Uncharted for GOTY. I won't be upset if either lose, but they are my 2 favorite video franchises of all time.

If I want an action packed thrill ride, Uncharted is it (and God of War a close 2nd)

If I want to get lost in a fantasy world, Zelda is it.

[theonlylolking]

Zelda is going to get 8+ scores because it is zelda, not because it is good. Zelda is a 6 game at its best. Mario makes zelda eat its dirt when it comes to quality and sales.

[Game3s]

Have you ever played a Zelda game?

[ronin4life]

Oh, lol king, you make me lol with your silliness....
Zelda is a great franchise. If you don't like them, don't play them.
But just because you don't like Zelda that dosen't mean it deserves lower scores from critics.

[meganick]

It's funny how comments like this always come from people with only one bubble.

[AWBrawler]

lol wow! I hate GTA and God of War, but I know they're good games, just not my style. lolking went a bit overboard

[SnipeySnake]

Yeah you definitely sound like you've never EVER played a zelda game before.

[Drake117]

Lol really you didn't see this coming? what do u live under a rock. Zelda was destined for atleast a GOTY candidate regardless if it was better than the last, worst than the last, best game ever, or a let down. People will completely ignore the flaws in games like zelda and mario just because they are zelda and mario. Sorry i just said something you people don't want to hear.

[AWBrawler]

They don't ignore the flaws. If anything they're more critical because they expect more from them. Reviewers are always nagging about lack of voice acting or repeated dungeon, get item, fight boss style.

The thing is that the positives usually outweigh the flaws. Could you imagine what score that Zelda shown at E3 would get if it had voice acting, cinematic cut scenes, undid zelda cliches, and was all around perfect???

[Drake117]

Ya but its not all around perfect and this guy just gave it a 10/10 point proven.

[AWBrawler]

what game is perfect. you just cherry picked that one line out and proved nothing

[Drake117]

Im just trying to say people don't downgrade the game for those reasons at all, they just ignore them. Pretty much every game that comes out today would be severely downgraded for not having voice acting, not having hd graphics, having the same repetitive gameplay and story. And btw im not a zelda hater i will be getting this day 1 im just trying to make a point.

[Titanz]

Did anyone one else get a "restriction" for approving this article?

This place is ridiculously bias towards anyone who doesn't worship, "Sony".

[-Alpha]

What are you talking about? Maybe you got banned, try to approve something else?

No one should be approving this anyway, not until the submitter gets rid of the PS3 and 360 tags

[ronin4life]

Alpha, I've seen plenty of Sony stories with Nintendo tags on them over the years.

[GameTavern]

Hey, I got one as well! Get to sit on the time-out table for a bit.

[LordMegatron]

This game is going to be amazing

[Alos88]

I refuse to read up on this game, it's one of the few I've had to willpower to resist reading too much about so it will be an entirely new experience for me when I play it.

[MasterCornholio]

Visuals are poor compared to many games this year. But who cares it's Zelda which is always a blast to play. This ga me will get some awards for sure.

BTW if I buy a used Wii should I get the special edition of this game with a nunchuck or should I buy a Wii new and just get the standard edition?

XperiaRay

[Theyellowflash30]

I disagree about the visuals. I think they are actually quite good. Actually having the game in front of your face is a much better way to see Skyward Sword's graphics.

[MasterCornholio]

Im pretty sure that once the WiiU comes out it will provide better graphics than both the PS3 and 360. But I fail to see how Skyward Swords meets today's standard of visuals. But that really really isn't a reason to buy the game it's the story and gameplay that more than makes up for its failings in the graphics department. However if you said that the game has a very good art style then I would agree with you.

XperiaRay

[GameTavern]

I think from a technical standpoint point, obviously it doesn't live up.

But from an artistic style, its one of the better looking games this year to me at least (Rayman is still king!)

[ronin4life]

I don't like the whole graphics holdup the industry seems to be stuck on. But then again, I simply don't get it.
Take halo. I hate the graphics in halo 2. But most people still think they are an improvement over the original, which I do like, because of the upgraded tech.
The specs and power don't matter to me: only the end result. Which is why halo 1 looks "better" than halo 2, and why this new zelda looks better to me than skyrim, for example.

[batguyz]

Right on,the visuals are artistic and great for a wii game.i dont know why people put visuals before content,maybe because visuals is the first thing they see.There are so many games this generation that have better visuals but dont deliver on content.i think people should look at skyward sword not from a visual point of view first but more of content or look at it as a whole game.look at mario galaxy.
i think skyward sword is a great game,the graphics,art skyle and game play seem to add up and that to me is GOTY contender.

[Admiralsombrero]

How can you compare a wii games graphics to xbox & ps3 graphics, it makes no sense to me. Skyward Sword may not be as graphically good looking as Uncharted, but the art style, and the graphical techniques they use, makes look better in my eyes.

Also, just so you know, the the special edition comes with gold wii remote plus, not an nunchuck.

[schlanz]

Art direction matters more than HD resolution.

[Khordchange]

awesome for zelda

[Acquiescence]

Would certainly give my long dormant Wii something to do. Very iffy about spending £50 for the compulsory inclusion of MotionPlus though. I don't like to give Nintendo more money because of their own inadequate devices. Especially when I know I won't be using MotionPlus ever again once the game is finished.

[KonaBro]

it's going to get 10/10 not because it's a good game but because AAA Nintendo games (especially a Mario or Zelda game) tend to get reviewed with rose-tinted glasses on as if Nintendo can do no wrong.

[Joegrine20]

Well u are just plain negative. Ppl forgot the metroid other M incident. Nintendo can DO Wrong!. But when miyamoto makes the game you knw shits goin down :)

[majiebeast]

Nostalgia googles activate. Twillight princess was far from the scores it got.

[Game3s]

Just like the early reviews of Uncharted.

[Admiralsombrero]

Maybe it's getting good scores, because it's, you know...GOOD!
Nostalgia has nothing to do with it, and It's wrong of you to say a game doesn't deserve the scores it's getting when you haven't even played it.

[ronin4life]

Seeing as how the internet was exploding over "Nintendo is doomed, Nintendo is crap" articles earlier this year, I don't think people are as "rose tinted" in their professional criticism of Nintendo as you think.

[Theyellowflash30]

No actually the Mario and Zelda games are really quite good and get the review scores they deserve. It the age of Bloody screens and regenerating health its a breath of fresh air to play a classic Nintendo game.

[cemelc]

Zelda games are always GOOD not cos reviewers are fanboys but because nintendo but a lot of effort in making them and Mario Galaxy 2 is one of the best if not the best plataformer of all times.

You might not like them, but you got to respect a good game when you see it.

[Chuk5]

Skyrim vs Skyward Sword for Goty, wouldn't be to surprised.

SS is one of the best looking games, from a visual standpoint, this year.

[PygmelionHunter]

Wait, what? A pro motion control hating magazine giving SS a 10? If that doesn't scream GOTY, nothing will.

[AWBrawler]

So fricken ready to play this now!

[Shnazzyone]

Wii is goin out with a bang.

[AWBrawler]

DragonQuest X will be the last big game for Wii unless Xenoblade and Last Story come to US