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[EatChildren]

It's still a month away, but we've got the first, and the thread will be kept updated as more pour in over the next few weeks.

First up, courtesy of XDDX here, is ONM;

ONM review score is 98%. That's the highest they've given to a Wii game. They also say it's the best Zelda game ever made.

Link here.

98%
~35 hours to complete the main quest. Around double to collect all bugs, upgrade all items, discover all secrets, etc.
Best Zelda ever, yadda yadda.

Update: EDGE is in. See here.

10/10
"A triumph."
"How apt that this ultimate tale of hero-making should see Nintendo’s hardware become the console it was always meant to be."

Update 2: GamesTM magazine reviews are in, see here.

9/10 - "Playing the Wii out in style."

Early Review Compilation

EDGE - 10/10
Game Informer - 10/10
ONM - 98%
4News.it - 97/100
VideoGamesZone.de - 93%
Gamepro Germany - 93%
GamesTM - 9/10

Reviews Below Here Are Post Embargo/Not Exclusive:

Guardian - 5/5
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technolog...d-of-zelda-skyward-sword-review?newsfeed=true

Giantbomb: 4/5

"Skyward Sword is simultaneously a very good Zelda game and a rather great adventure game. It has some of the most inventive dungeons the series has ever known, sports the most impactful changes to the combat since Z-targeting, introduces wrinkles to the Zelda mythology that will force fans to rethink the entire series, and will have you gawking at it constantly, 480p 'n all. But the series finds itself facing an identity crisis, as it flirts with expanding what has defined the series without abandoning its charming but waning simplicity. Zelda doesn’t need to become something else to maintain relevance, but at a certain point, when “a brand-new great Zelda game” isn’t enough, there’s reason to pause."

G4TV - 4/5

COME AT ME, GAF

CCC 5/5
http://www.cheatcc.com/wii/rev/thelegendofzeldaskywardswordreview.html#.TrzV_vK3N2K

1UP (B+)

http://www.1up.com/reviews/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-wii

4.5/5 from Joystiq

There's a 16/20 on some French site called jeuxactu.com.

rage @ link

Chris Kohler gave it a 10:

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/11/skyward-sword-review/

IGN gave it a 10!

http://wii.ign.com/articles/121/1212220p3.html

Shacknews - Recommended
http://www.shacknews.com/article/71054/the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-review

GamePro review: 4/5

EGM - Review (8.5)
http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/egm-review-the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/

CVG - 9.8
http://www.computerandvideogames.co...word-review/?cid=OTC-RSS&attr=CVG-General-RSS

French reviews:

Jeuxvideo.com: 18/20
Gameblog : 4/5
Gamekult : 8/10

10 from NintendoWorldReport.

Metro - 10
http://www.metro.co.uk/tech/games/8...elda-skyward-sword-review-hyrulian-revolution

Should You Buy The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword? Yes.

http://kotaku.com/5858515/should-you-buy-the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword-yes

Got another 9 from Gamesrader.

http://www.gamesradar.com/legend-zelda-skyward-sword-review/?page=2

Is it better than...
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess? No

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker? No

=/

Zelda: Skyward Sword - review 93/ 100 (Videogameszone)

Nintendo-Universe
http://www.nintendo-universe.co.uk/2011/11/11/review-the-legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/
98%

Cubed3 - 10/10

 

[blamite]

As if I wasn't hyped enough already.

 

[ThatObviousUser]

The only review I guess I would really pay attention to is Eurogamer's. The rest will either hype it up because it's Nintendo, or score it low because lol waggle SD.

 

[VariantX04]

But I thought Arkham City was the best Zelda game ever.

 

[Hot Coldman]

35 hours? Sweet, nice to see that confirmed

 

[walking fiend]

yada yada
will wait for Edge review.

 

[Chet Rippo]

35+ hours is noteworthy at least.

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Awww shiiit...Best use of Nintendo License ever?!

Edit: Oh someone used Arkham City joke already

All aboard the hype train w/ spirit tracks!

 

[ThatObviousUser]

I wonder what Famitsu will give it.

Spoiler

Are most of Nintendo's moneyhats going towards actual games these days?

 

[friskykillface]

0_o 35 hours, whoa thats good news

fuck let it be next month already please

 

[WrenchNinja]

. Around double to collect all bugs

There better be a chart saying which ones you already have from which locations.

 

[Jimrpg]

35 hours standing up??

 

[dwu8991]

The only review I guess I would really pay attention to is Eurogamer's. The rest will either hype it up because it's Nintendo, or score it low because lol waggle SD.

Eurogamer rules!!! They are very kind to Nintendo in their reviews, none of the bitterness of what's not going to happen.

 

[The Dutch Slayer]

98%
~35 hours to complete the main quest. Around double to collect all bugs, upgrade all items, discover all secrets, etc.
Best Zelda ever, yadda yadda.

Why so low?

But seriously I hoped for more hours , but I think I'm alright took me almost 100 hours to get 100% in TP.

 

[Salsa]

98%
~35 hours to complete the main quest. Around double to collect all bugs, upgrade all items, discover all secrets, etc.
Best Zelda ever, yadda yadda.

 

[cosmicblizzard]

Best Zelda ever only deserves a 98!?

Anyway, super hyped. Got to try it at NYCC and it's pretty amazing.

 

[Mistle]

That's a fantastic score. Man I cannot wait. I'm sure I'll get much more than 35 hours out of it, too.

 

[VariantX04]

Skyward Score

 

[Oni Link 666]

35 hours standing up??

It's not a Kinect game.

 

[EatChildren]

Why so low?

But seriously I hoped for more hours , but I think I'm alright took me almost 100 hours to get 100% in TP.

With all due respect, you're definitely an exception to the norm if it took you ~100 hours to get everything in Twilight Princess. I'd say on average Twilight Princess would take ~50 hours to get absolutely everything, maybe a little less. It's a huge game to be sure, but I cant imagine spending 100 hours on it.

 

[ampere]

Waiting for the media blackout to pay off

I know very little about this game, it will be surprising and I'm sure I'll have a blast playing it.

 

[Shahadan]

I completed TP's main quest in about 27 hours. Guess it'll be the same for SS. Oh well. I wanted more.
At lsat the side quest should be interesting this time.

 

[Medalion]

Hype begins

w00t w00t

 

[:Motorbass]

35 hours standing up??

Have you ever played a Wii game?

 

[VariantX04]

98%? haha, Uncharted 3 got a 9.9, suckaz. I know what I'm spending my money on and it's not common sense.

 

[The Dutch Slayer]

With all due respect, you're definitely an exception to the norm if it took you ~100 hours to get everything in Twilight Princess. I'd say on average Twilight Princess would take ~50 hours to get absolutely everything, maybe a little less. It's a huge game to be sure, but I cant imagine spending 100 hours on it.

I'll fully admit that I'm not that great at video game playing.
And TP took me a long time because I wanted to do most of the extra things on my own without a guide or anything.

 

[Danielsan]

Sounds good to me, wouldn't mind if it ended up a bit shorter. I need my time for Skyrim.

 

[Sardello]

Mumble mumble... I'll say something obvious, but ONM is not the most reliable review source for a Zelda Game

 

[Chittagong]

what's the two point deduction??

* cancels preorder *

 

[Sloane]

~35 hours to complete the main quest.

Doubt (and hope) that's not true but sounds like a publisher's quote anyway. 15-20 hours would be more than enough for me.

 

[dwu8991]

what's the two point deduction??

* cancels preorder *

H D

 

[neoanarch]

Doubt (and hope) that's not true but sounds like a publisher's quote anyway. 15-20 hours would be more than enough for me.

For a Zelda game that is awful. Hopefully the 'double' time to complete everything is true.

 

[Always-honest]

35 hours standing up??

You play standing up? Why?

 

[nofi]

OH MAN.

I need this game. NEED.

 

[Tenbatsu]

I don't think it can replace Xenoblade for my Wii GOTY, but we shall see.

You play standing up? Why?

Dick standing up

 

[Sloane]

For a Zelda game that is awful. Hopefully the 'double' time to complete everything is true.

Which Zelda game's main quest took longer than 20 hours to complete? I can't think of one.

 

[abstract alien]

35 hours standing up??

Yep! You should try to shit while standing next!

 

[Heretic]

I hope most of that time isn't spent flying from place to place... but I love me some Zeldas. Day 1 no matter the reviews!

 

[SkyMasterson]

But I thought Arkham City was the best Zelda game ever.

Nonono, this is how you do it.

After playing Skyward Sword, Arkham City seems rather terrible.

 

[Scuba Steve]

 

[Kard8p3]

Which Zelda game's main quest took longer than 20 hours to complete? I can't think of one.

Twilight Princess took me about 25 hours to finish the first time through. I've seen others say it took them much longer than that.

 

[Medalion]

what's the two point deduction??

* cancels preorder *

Not on a hardcore gaming platform or iOS device

 

[hosannainexcelsis]

After playing Arkham City, Ocarina of Time seems rather terrible.

This is how you really do it.

 

[Sadist]

Nonono, this is how you do it.

After playing Skyward Sword, Arkham City seems rather terrible.

I chuckled

 

[abstract alien]

Twilight Princess took me about 25 hours to finish the first time through. I've seen others say it took them much longer than that.

TP took me about 40 hours, but I really took my time and didn't rush through it at all.

 

[ivysaur12]

It'll take a lot to beat out Xenoblade right now. We'll see.

 

[Redrum_82]

In all the events where it was shown the pr people always insisted on playing it standing up.

That's the main reason I haven't preordered it yet.

 

[Social]

oh my... this is great. In Zelda we trust!!

the wait... 28 days left for my collectors edition... aaaah!

Already took days of from work for it

 

[GrotesqueBeauty]

What matters to me more than length is that there's minimal filler. I can replay a short streamlined game over and over again, but games that pad out the main quest with simplistic mundane tasks are likely to remain on my shelf after I've beaten them once. I really hope Skyward Sword's world is interesting and varied enough to make something like bug collecting fun, because scouring TP's blandscape for creepy crawlies was boring as sin.

 

[Medalion]

98 is the new 8.8