Support NeoGAF

[The Lamonster]

It can hold your hand too much, and there's a couple bad fetch quests but it's still one of the better zelda games. Better than Wind Waker and Twilight Princess anyway imo.

I'd love to derail this thread over your comment but I'm not that kind of poster

Like someone said above, the most important question is if the OP likes motion controls.

 

[JWong]

You should at least play Zelda 2, the best Zelda.

Got no puzzles. All skills.

 

[Rahxephon91]

the feeling of traveling a huge world is conspicuously missing from Skyward Sword, if that's your intent. It's the most compact and least 'huge' feeling world of any 3D Zelda title. If you want that feeling, you're probably better off going for something like Twilight Princess

It dosent have to actuallybe big, just feel like traveling a world. I like FInal Fantasy X and that game is very linear, but it feels like I'm traveling a world. I know this is very vague talk.

 

[Rahxephon91]

SS doesn't have what I'd call an overworld, there are a few separated areas which you travel between (by flying). These areas are quite linear and more like stages than a connected world. I doesn't feel like travelling in a game world (though I do think it feels like an adventure - others don't.).

Would you say it's like the FFX of Zelda?

 

[The Lamonster]

It dosent have to actuallybe big, just feel like traveling a world. I like FInal Fantasy X and that game is very linear, but it feels like I'm traveling a world. I know this is very vague talk.

Twilight Princess if you like washed out colors and horseback.

Wind Waker if you like sailing and awesome visuals.

Both have large worlds you get to explore at your will. The Wind Waker world is more straight forward and the TP world is more segmented but still huge and awesome.

 

[Prinny]

It's the best 3D Zelda, get it.

 

[Gregorn]

Go ahead if you want, but please don't let this game sour you on the rest of the series.

Most of the other Zeldas are amazing.

Not to say that Skyward Sword is anything but amazing but this is true, if you don't like it don't say "that's it, I'm never playing another Zelda again" because contrary to popular belief most Zelda games are pretty different.

 

[peakish]

Would you say it's like the FFX of Zelda?

Haven't played any FF games, sorry. You do visit different areas of the world but they're few and you return between them instead of continuously exploring new stuff. I don't know how much that tells you...

 

[Kard8p3]

I'd love to derail this thread over your comment but I'm not that kind of poster

Like someone said above, the most important question is if the OP likes motion controls.

There's no reason to anyway. I love both wind waker and twilight princess I was just saying that I like skyward sword better.

 

[Hylian7]

Holy McBomba! I would say why the hell not. There is generally something for everyone in Zelda games to enjoy.

 

[Medalion]

It's the best 3D Zelda, get it.

Nope, but still pretty good in its own right.

 

[Red UFO]

Gonna keep it simple and say: Yep.

 

[Amir0x]

It dosent have to actuallybe big, just feel like traveling a world. I like FInal Fantasy X and that game is very linear, but it feels like I'm traveling a world. I know this is very vague talk.

Well the thing is the actual areas are probably not as diverse as even FFX, really. You're not really traveling the 'whole world over', at least I have to imagine the world is much larger than a desert, a forest and a volcano. It has one central hub town and you'll continually be revisiting the three core areas for the rest of the game.

It's still a decent game, but if huge exploration is your thing it's the least compelling of Zelda's. To me it's the least compelling of console Zelda's for a variety of other reasons, but I'm just riffing off what you're giving me.

 

[Davey Cakes]

It's the best 3D Zelda, get it.

You say it's the best. Amir0x says it's the worst. Who to believe?

Point being, I think the decision of the OP needs to be made on some other ground.

I myself have only beaten the first dungeon in Skyward Sword, so I can't say much. However, it's obvious that motion controls are a significant part of the game, so if you're open to motion controls and interested in how they're implemented into a 40-hour game, then that's a reason to give SS a consideration above anything else.

Twilight Princess is a strong choice in its own right, though. You can get it for a good price now that it's a Nintendo Selects title.

 

[Out of Working Order]

I am at the end of Skyward Sword right now, and I'd actually say the game feels rather a lot lighter on the puzzles than the other 3D Zelda's I've played. Twilight Princess was a monster when it came to huge, complex dungeons, and for me, SS comes nowhere near close to that level of complexity.

I'd say this is the most action-orientated Zelda yet. No surprise when you consider that the game makes motion controls so integral to the game.

Still, I doubt it's for you if you don't like puzzles.

 

[BurntPork]

Also, how the hell is that on clearance? It's like, a week old. o_o;

The Legend(ary Flop) of Zelda: Skyward Bomb

 

[Hylian7]

I am at the end of Skyward Sword right now, and I'd actually say the game feels rather a lot lighter on the puzzles than the other 3D Zelda's I've played. Twilight Princess was a monster when it came to huge, complex dungeons, and for me, SS comes nowhere near close to that level of complexity.

I'd say this is the most action-orientated Zelda yet. No surprise when you consider that the game makes motion controls so integral to the game.

Which dungeon are you on? You are going to love the last one.

 

[BurntPork]

Well the thing is the actual areas are probably not as diverse as even FFX, really. You're not really traveling the 'whole world over', at least I have to imagine the world is much larger than a desert, a forest and a volcano. It has one central hub town and you'll continually be revisiting the three core areas for the rest of the game.

It's still a decent game, but if huge exploration is your thing it's the least compelling of Zelda's. To me it's the least compelling of console Zelda's for a variety of other reasons, but I'm just riffing off what you're giving me.

Wow. That must have hurt after all of your hype. I guess from this point you're going to be more "wait and see" with Zelda?

 

[Amir0x]

Wow. That must have hurt after all of your hype. I guess from this point you're going to be more "wait and see" with Zelda?

well, no. I feel the variety of problems that this new Zelda has could be fixed with relative ease, and the drop of motion controls. It's fetch questing, padding, handholding and the bad type of backtracking along with the motion controls that makes this Zelda (for me) essentially unreplayable... a first ever for console Zelda titles.

I'm not REALLY worried yet, since it's only one misstep on the console side in a historic non-stop awesome trajectory, and I feel Wii U is automatically going to remedy one of the problems and that there is no way Nintendo would be retarded enough to revisit the insanely shitty amount of fetch questing/padding, so I'm not really concerned.

If anything, only handholding is now becoming worrying. Each Zelda game seems to be worse for Nintendo, so I'm concerned because Wii U has yet another new control scheme that they're going to spend 2/3rd of the game in tutorial mode with another shitty sidekick giving away all the answers.

 

[Sinthetic]

Definitely get it. It's the most newbie friendly with regards to hand holding. The variety will give you a good idea of what you have missed prior to the game (ideal for when you want to backtrack to previous games). It's got epic music, great sword fights and unique items.

Puzzles are a piece of piss too and that's coming from a puzzlephobic.

Do it without hesitation.

 

[Out of Working Order]

Which dungeon are you on? You are going to love the last one.

I've done all the dungeons! I am on *boss spoiler*

Spoiler

what looks to be the final battle with Ghirahim

.

I did love the last dungeon. It was definately the most puzzlely of them all. The whole idea of

Spoiler

rearranging the rooms to access different paths was genius.

 

[Roto13]

Skyward Sword is an excellent game, and canonically it's actually the first game in the series. But you shouldn't play it because you're Rahxephon and you hate great games.

 

[Ezalc]

I've been wanting to make this thread for a while but never could. Now that somebody has made it I'll happily ask this:

Never played a zelda game here either, which one should I start with GAF? I have a SNES, N64, DS lite, and Wii. So any Zelda that can be played on one of those systems is fair game.

 

[Thoraxes]

I think the game is much bette rif you don't try to rush through the game and play at a nice steady pace. I've been slowly working through the game as my schedule permits over the last couple weeks, have 40+ hours in the game now, and am about 1/3rd of the way through, and I completely disagree with a hefty majority of the criticisms in this thread.

Since MM I have been waiting for a really great Zelda game, and for me, Skyward Sword is the first game to surpass that greatness that I felt when I played it.

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

Yes. Listen, I know you hate puzzles, but there aren't many games out there like Zelda. You might end up liking it.

None of the puzzles in these games are horrible, anyways.

I've been wanting to make this thread for a while but never could. Now that somebody has made it I'll happily ask this:

Never played a zelda game here either, which one should I start with GAF? I have a SNES, N64, DS lite, and Wii. So any Zelda that can be played on one of those systems is fair game.

I would suggest either the Minish Cap or The Wind Waker. Those are the ones that I started out with, at least. Pretty much everyone is going to tell you to go for Ocarina or A Link to the Past, but Ocarina's visuals haven't aged all that well, and I gave up on ALttP when I was 3/4 of the way through or so. MC and WW are great entries for beginners to the series.

Especially if you have never played one! Its great and you wont be annoyed by tutorial stuff.

Great point.

 

[Satchel]

Skyward Sword is probably a good place to start since the game ffectively won't let you get lost.

 

[trinest]

You say it's the best. Amir0x says it's the worst. Who to believe?

They are both right.

Skyward Sword has some problems with it which are very noticable and makes the game badly designed more than the others.

On the flip side, many will enjoy it highly. Thus the best.

 

[decoyplatypus]

Would you say it's like the FFX of Zelda?

I don't think the two make a useful analogy. They are both more linear than their predecessors, but FFX is more linear in service of a particular narrative, while SS is more linear in service of a more "puzzle-like" overworld where each step necessarily has to be done in a certain sequence. There is still some feeling of adventuring over a wide world, but, as Amirox* pointed out, much less than in previous console games.

*Full disclosure, I also agree with his assessment that it's just not as good a game as the other console Zeldas, but my reasons are slightly different.

Honestly, if you're looking for a good starter Zelda with an open world and a great sense of adventure, play Wind Waker. It might have the greatest sense of adventure since the early games. The puzzles are probably the easiest in the 3D games, and there are tons of wonderful characters and locations. Plus, it's still got the best graphics and controls in the series.

Never played a zelda game here either, which one should I start with GAF? I have a SNES, N64, DS lite, and Wii. So any Zelda that can be played on one of those systems is fair game.

My inclination is usually to suggest LttP or OoT since they are the foundation--and still the best--of the modern series (though I think their similarities can be overstated). LttP has the benefit of being 2D and so having perfectly attractive graphics while, for some, OoT can be tough to look at today. OoT is easier and more like the recent games. They're also both harder than recent games, so if that worries you, absolutely go for Wind Waker.

 

[Salih]

my GOTY. nuff said.

 

[MisterHero]

Only if you want a long-ass game.

Because there's a ton of content and things to do, not because of exaggerated reports of padding.

But if you're not a Zelda fan the final part might not be as super awesome for you.

You should also play Virtual Console OoT, VC Majora's Mask, and the discounted TP, which, put together, almost cost as much as Skyward Sword. No time to whine, more time to play the games you want to play.

You can't lose with any of them

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Nope, buy MGS4 instead.

Spoiler

jk BUYward Sword. Those special editions are selling for twice that price...

 

[Crash Station]

Probably not if you don't like puzzles. Of course other aspects of the game are also amazing.

 

[DarkWish]

Get it for the gold Wii Remote Plus and soundtrack. For that price, totally worth it. If you don't like the game, no loss... you still have a controller and CD which is basically the cost of what you're paying anyways.

 

[FreeMufasa]

it's the worst console Zelda to start on by a country mile but if you're going to start, might as well start at the bottom

haha wow. And how hyped you were for the game too.

Let this be a lesson to all of you.

 

[Divvy]

Wait wtf, you found a collector's edition in clearance? Those are going for quite a bit on ebay.

 

[Neki]

haha wow. And how hyped you were for the game too.

Let this be a lesson to all of you.

keep expectations in check and motion gaming is the end of all gaming as we know it?

 

[Levyne]

For me, none of the 3D Zeldas are hugely better or worse than any of the others. It should be a fine pick up to start in the series.

 

[apana]

I would probably play Ocarina of Time first and then Skyward Sword. Although story wise it may be interesting to play Skyward Sword first since it is the first in the timeline, I think. I'm a Zelda fan and at the last boss of Skyward Sword right now, I absolutely love this game. There are a lot of puzzles but I honestly didn't think they were too hard, the biggest problem is overthinking it.

 

[Lionheart1337]

Play the other Zelda games. Skip SS.

 

[CoffeeJanitor]

haha wow. And how hyped you were for the game too.

Let this be a lesson to all of you.

What is this lesson? Is Amir0x's opinion a special case that we should focus on?

 

[GrotesqueBeauty]

I'm amused by the fact that Amirox turned from being Mr. "I only care about dungeons" while defending TP to decrying the lack of a connected overworld in SS. Honestly, between a needlessly huge empty and generally boring overworld and a truncated, segmented overworld with greater density and activity I think it's a wash at best. They both have their problems, although at the point I'm at in SS (3rd dungeon), I'd personally take the latter, if only because I haven't been bored out of my mind yet. I do think the lack of exploration hurts though. Frankly, Majora's Mask was the last Zelda game where they didn't didn't drop the ball on the overworld. And I'm not one to deify OoT, but imo WW and TP multiplied all its sins tenfold.

 

[Rahxephon91]

So I just decided to try it. Might as well and it's a good deal considering it comes with a controller.

I thank GAF for it's opinions. I may not like puzzles, but a lot of you are right that there's always the internet. Besides some of you mentioned that the puzzles are not very hard.

As for the world elements. That could easily go anyway, so I'll see for myself.

If anyone is in the Chicagoland area. It was the Homewood Target. They had one left.

 

[Neki]

Play the other Zelda games. Skip SS.

don't do this, if you're going to play a Zelda game, play SS. If you can stand a long intro, I'd recommend TP. OOT/MM are kinda hard to go back now, because they haven't aged well graphically.

 

[Mato]

Good choice Rahxephon91, best game of the generation imo .

 

[PaddyOCanager]

The structre of Darksiders was ok, but I was expecting a big overworld that connected the dungeons. Maybe there was one, but I wouldn't know as I don't think I got past the first boss, Timat was it?

The puzzles that game had didn't bother me(if you consider those puzzles), but I mostly quit because it didn't really seem like an adventure, which is what I was looking for. I didn't feel like I was traveling in a game world.

Motion controls or not something I'm sure of. I've really only played Sin and Punishment and the No More Heroes games as far as big Wii control games go. They were fine.

Ok so you didn't like Darksiders but didn't even get play long enough to get through the introductory dungeon, in which afterwards the game opens up and lets you roam the entire game world? Then definitely don't play Zelda, good lord.

 

[Anasui Kishibe]

You say it's the best. Amir0x says it's the worst. Who to believe?

believe me. It's the second best 3D Zelda

 

[Poyunch]

If you want a cohesive overworld you're not going to get on in Skyward Sword. I suggest Twilight Princess or Wind Waker. Even though it's too late, I'd say you should try those other two games out if you don't enjoy Skyward Sword.

I wouldn't suggest Skyward Sword to people trying to get into the series because it's not representative of the series as a whole. But as a standalone game it's fine.

 

[Jocchan]

So I just decided to try it. Might as well and it's a good deal considering it comes with a controller.

I thank GAF for it's opinions. I may not like puzzles, but a lot of you are right that there's always the internet. Besides some of you mentioned that the puzzles are not very hard.

As for the world elements. That could easily go anyway, so I'll see for myself.

If anyone is in the Chicagoland area. It was the Homewood Target. They had one left.

Even though I suggested you to not get it, going by your first posts, good purchase. It's a great game.

 

[FreeMufasa]

What is this lesson? Is Amir0x's opinion a special case that we should focus on?

Extreme hype is dangerous. If you followed Ami's post you'd have seen how hyped he was for this.

 

[Franklinator]

Man, you just got the deal of forever. It's easily a collector's item, and the price on it has already shot up. Enjoy the game!