The Emotional Wisdom of Skyward Sword
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 เม.ย. 2024
- This is a retrospective on Skyward Sword that chronicles my decade-long journey with the game, how it has run parallel with the development of my own wisdom, and how its messages about love remind me of why I continue to fight.
Thumbnail Art by Kemple_T: / kemple_t
Graphic Design by @hotcyder
Special thanks to Wolfalous and @KingKlonoa for always believing in me.
Also huge thanks to zeldadungeon.net for being an excellent resource as always!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
10:00 Admiration
46:43 Conflict
1:23:30 Love
1:48:58 Wisdom
Sources:
Beach Bowl Galaxy footage from Typhlosion4President • Super Mario Galaxy Wal...
gamedeveloper - Opinion piece from 2012 bringing Skyward Sword’s issues to light www.gamedeveloper.com/design/...
Zeldadungeon - Why Skyward Sword Failed www.zeldadungeon.net/the-lege...
www.nintendolife.com/news/201...
Skyward Sword E3 2010 • Zelda: Skyward Sword -...
Skyward Sword Trailer 2011 • Wii - The Legend of Ze...
Nintendo World Report TV - A Defense of the Imprisoned • A Defense of the Impri...
Zeldadungeon - Zelda and Philosophy: Fate and Free Will www.zeldadungeon.net/zelda-an...
Iwata Asks - Course Select www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Asks...
Nintendo Support - Skyward Sword Save Data Update Channel en-americas-support.nintendo....
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Be sure to check out Last Life, a community and forum for thoughtful video game discussion! www.last-life.net - เกม
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!
I too made this mistake, thanks for the honesty and not leaving a fan out there a lone over thinker 😂😂
Another Fun one I learned about with the Moblins, you can sprint up its shield and jump over them scoring some easy hits on its back! That's the best part of these games, thinking outside the box can work!
As a 2D Zelda fan, have you tried TUNIC?
If you go to don’t do Faron 3 before meeting Lanayru, you don’t even need to fight Imprisoned 3 in the boss rush, and you still get the Hylian Shield since it’s the second-to-last reward before Imprisoned 3 and Demise in Hero Mode
@@thew00dsman79 Forgot to mention this, excellent point! Makes the boss rush more fun
Realizing the titles of these videos were building up to a trilogy makes your Zelda videos even more legendary.
One could say that something… Links them… 😏
Trilogy? He’s done every Zelda game
@@skibot9974 These last 3 videos about wind waker, twilight princess and now skyward sword have had courage, power and wisdom in the titles, like the triforce
@@fayev1360 oh
@@skibot9974 he has not done every Zelda game lmao
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
Zelda herself, I agree. But I cared for the kids in Ordon a lot too. Just like little siblings because Link is clearly like a big brother to all of them.
Spot on. 👍 In the end, Mr Aonuma (bless him) can do all the ''different'' and 'massively Open-world/Air' trend all he wants in the Post-modern Zelda games - but Zelda games will _never_ be about that. You don't just put over 30 Years of Legacy and Legend in the bin. Skyward is a typical modern-day Zelda; flawed in gameplay but for me, a 9/10 Zelda game.
Breath is barely a 7/10 Zelda game and that's me being generous! Zelda is about the Characters, plot & Dungeons 1st.
I have great news, friend. As a Skyward Sword fan myself, I have never felt so invested in saving Zelda as in ToTK.
@@bloodbond3 Yes! Thankfully Tears largely delivered, it's a _Beautiful_ game. It's not Perfect in incorporating all the traditional Zelda stuff but it's such a vast improvement on Breath and so involving and interesting. Themed Dungeons with real Bosses, exciting plot. They really poured their souls into the game.
@@bloodbond3 I've been playing it myself, I can also confirm 👍
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.
I always loved her so much as a character, just wished she didn't spoil puzzles, a issue that was thankfully resolved in the HD remaster
She is Iconic; people that claim themselves as 'fans' and don't place her alongside the likes of Navi are simply slaves to the Nostalgia Siren - not true Zelda fans!
Fi proved Nintendo can use a totally refreshing and unexpected approach in generating playable lore & real emotion.
@@netweed09 You don't have to like every single aspect of the series to be a true fan. My problem with Fi is how they handled her as a guide. They made her really annoying with the amount of times she appears to hold your hand and tell you obvious things you had already known or were told 2 seconds ago by an NPC. And it keeps repeating for things you've done before. Even just her telling you to heal because you are low on health is annoying as fuck. I know, I can hear the beeping, you don't have to repeat this every session I play.
If they at least allowed us to turn her automatic hand-holding off, it would have been much better. She is still nowhere near as good as Midna or Ezlo for example, but at least I wouldn't outright despise her now.
@@Raziel_Zero ''You don't have to like every single aspect of the series to be a true fan'' ~ Ok, but I'm pretty sure I never said something like that nor implied it. It just saddens me that people jump on the Breath bandwagon and because they claim to love that one - they have ''Graduated'' as a 'harcore Zelda fan' - so my phrase was really a rebuttal to those sort of 'fans'. Fi I feel matters whether a fan would like it or not simply because She is the ''Navi' of the _very 1st_ chronological Zelda game.
@@Raziel_Zero Re - I loved Ezlo for sure. Strangely, Twilight Princess was my ''love/hate 50 50'' Zelda lol; I hated it after Zant was shafted and they decided to just make it ''all about Grandadorf'' all over again - that deeply saddened me as otherwise it would easily be my top3 Zeldas. But it's all subjective. Midna; well my opinion isn't popular as I'm one of her overall detractors - I just found her disposition annoying: that's the funny thing. Fi I actually found very humble and 'serving'.
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.
very much the same for me. also i think overall it has the best music of any zelda game.
@@RobertF-zj2rm agreed i never got to play the original release Twilight princess was the last Zelda i played till Botw came out. Getting Skyward sword on Christmas on switch gave me the same thing i craved the traditional Zelda vibes i missed in botw though i did enjoy it. I'd love the sequel a lot more if the old and new were used in a grand scale new type of dungeon/temple theme
@@RobertF-zj2rm skyward was the first Zelda I shelled out cash for its soundtrack.
I was talking about this with my gf. For me personally. BotW is a good game it's just not a Zelda game in my eyes. Yes it has the feeling but it doesn't have core of Zelda for me. (I understand that I'm in the minority in this.) I mean the dungeons and different items also the linear story is what Zelda is for me. Now. Can Zelda be open world? Yes it can. I think if they tweaked what they did with BotW in a more tradition new Zelda. Like making the core traditional Zelda and combining it with the game designs of BotW.
Sorry if I'm making no sense. Just waking up
@@luvdisneyv feel the same way!! I put it into its own category. I love the game, but I don’t put botw in my top 5. Amazing game still!! Love how it has brought a new generation to the series.
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?
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.
Girahim is to Demise what Fi is to Link. He is the weapon.
@@sherifmaghraby8842 The weapon to surpass metal gear.
Girahim is basically Iago while Fi is like the Geine.
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 can definitely relate to this! i was also a non-native-english-speaking pre-teen when i got this game, but not only that, it was also the first proper video game i ever got to own. i had absolutely 0 video game experience, so fi was my savior! i absolutely loved hearing her little chime and listening to her hints. i used to call her from the sword for no reason and have her analyze random objects just because her knowledge fascinated me so much. she was a godsend, and she saved me from countless frustrating puzzles that i just couldn't figure out on my own.
Where are y'all from?
I definitely didn't appreciate Fi and hearing that some people did is very nice. I'm glad she has fans out there lol.
💯
Love this!
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.
Yes. The better is so amazing i want it so bad in future Zelda games. It allows you to explore areas so much better than any other Zelda, developers can put hidden items and passages so much better with it.
My favorite was the sand vacuum, the beetle is a close second tho
it even has an upgrade that can make it go significantly faster. in the HD version at least, idk if that was added or not
Same. It has so much utility, I always used it to scout new areas and try to find hidden stuff. Would love to see it return (maybe as a rune) in Tears of the Kingdom, I think it would work really well in an open world format.
It reminds me of the remote control batarang in the batman arkham games
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.
I thought groose was the biggest ass at first it's amazing how I grew quite fond of him come the third imprisoned fight lol
@@retrogameroom9019 he really fell on
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.
It’s almost as if this is a dedicated, non-comedy-centric retrospective about Skyward Sword while Sequilitis has always been a comedy-first series with elements of game analysis.
Sorry if that came off as overly aggressive, I totally agree that Arin’s mini-rant on Skyward Sword in his LttP vs OoT video heavily damaged the view of the game. But it is nice to see a more thorough, truly analytical take on Skyward Sword’s flaws. I genuinely never understood why Arin hates Bomb Bowling, it’s a completely natural progression of 3D Zelda bomb mechanics. Way better form of ground-moving bombs than fucking bombchus.
@@MrLegendofLP Yeah it is a more comedy oriented show, but it's still really hard to ignore how much that video tainted Skyward Sword's image and how people still repeat the arguments in that video.
Except the beetle. That criticism ruined the video for me. 😑
If you think about the timing of that video too, it really did play a huge roll in the SS hate train. While so many of arin’s points are valid….he also was one of the most influential creators of the time making a very long critique of the series as a whole…something that was not the most common in TH-cam at the time. The video is brilliant, but led to a lot of band wagon it.
I listen to his point while taking them with massive grains of salt.
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.
Lol for sure the tension really made you feel you was actually in Link's shoes on a very unstable track that could at any moment cost him his life if he doesn't keep himself balanced in the cart.
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.
Everyone has their favorite Zelda and their own personal experiences with this franchise, that's what I love the most of these games
I played this game first time on switch with the hd version. My favorite gaming experience ever. Sure people can say negative stuff about anything. But the overall experience with the story, music, emotion, and fun puzzles and gameplay - it was the perfect mix for me. It really made me want to finish it and I’m glad I did. It will always be special to me and hard to top.
I’m glad it made you that happy
The game itself is amazing, its just the controls and the silly focus on the sword movements that completely ruins it for me in terms of bothering to play it again. It is as if someone managed to write a book that burned your eyes as you read it but the video game version and it is honestly such a sad thing to me
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.
+nworder4life Hey glad to see you again.
And yes we are both mourning the loss of The Bad Guy Razor Ramon AKA Scott Hall. One of my all-time favorites.
But yes Zelda is a tapestry. Nintendo has a loose-tight structure with this series.
Seemingly unrelated stuff suddenly reveals itself to be related throughout the lore. That's why Zelda Theory is so rampant.
Skyward Sword is one of my favorites not only for its gameplay but its MANY Lore Bombs.
Just loaded PACKS of information that contextualize the entire series. Cannot wait for DeeBeeGeek to start playing this.
He's been on a Zelda journey since Breath of the Wild going through the 3D Zeldas & Skyward Sword is the last one to play.
Skyward Sword is also a game that's unprecendented in that it has Call Backs as well as Call Forwards.
It references older games made before it BUT ALSO informs future games made AFTER it.
That cloud barrier where Farosh, Naydra, & Dinraal escape to in the sky may very well be the same one from Skyward Sword.
Fi is the Goddess Sword AKA the Master Sword. What's her fate with the corrosion seen in haircutted Eiji Aonuma's sly reveal discussing BOTW2's delay? And does this mean Ganondorf the Man will contend with Demise the Demon inside him?
If Fi is free, does that mean Demise is free? And what does that mean for Hylia's avatar Zelda?
Skyward Sword is slowly its getting its just due respect much like Metroid: Other M will down the road.
Wii was caught up in gamers being scared to try something new. PlayStation & XBox got them used to stagnant controls.
Nintendo knows that the console only survives by keeping the CONTROL aspects fresh, innovative, & new.
@@johnlucas1543 Hey what's up bro. I'm glad somebody else gets it! Yea I'm excited to watch DeeBeeGeek's play through as well. I think Fi is fine cause if you notice in the clip, the yellow gem is unharmed and that's obviously where Fi resides since she has a gem on both her chest and forehead. Demise should be dead because At the end of Skyward sword Demise was already sealed in the blade for thousands of years and Impa was watching over the seal to make sure his consciousness vanished. So with BOTW 2 taking place bare minimum hundreds of thousands of years after skyward sword, pretty sure Demise no longer exist except through his curse and incarnation.
Man I really want the next Zelda game to have a more involved cinematic story like skyward sword again. If they are able to combine botw/totks big open worlds with an involved cinematic story that would be my dream Zelda game. More lore plz
@schmecklin377 Agreed, finding memories has already worn out it's welcome. Please STOP me in the huge open world and tell me where to go if I want to continue the story, it's not hard.
I really love that you chose to use the scene from Ocarina of Time to demonstrate that the Ballad of the Goddess is Zelda's Lullaby spelled backwards. You took a piece of information that I internalized when I was 11 years old, before this game even came out, and presented it to me in a way that *redefined* this entire game for me. Now, instead of a being tied to a piece of whatever trivia in my brain, the Ballad of the Goddess represents free will and love. I love these videos so much
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.
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.
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
What a nice comment. Music has always been in my life and been important to me, and reading this genuinely made me really happy 😊
Skyword Sword’s music is so good. The game itself is excellent but when you sprinkle that music on top it creates an awesome experience.
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
Ugh, Game Grumps.
I get that everyone has their own opinion, but Arin's treatment of Skyward Sword and it's fans just leave a bad taste in my mouth.
@@jtlego1 yup. Arin’s opinions and his demeanor in general are entirely too obnoxious for me. Which is sad cause I have heard him and Dan or Jon be incredibly funny and entertaining. But basically since 2015 I have felt mostly cringe listening to anything with Arin involved.
@@ChiefXuligan Fair enough, opinions are opinions. But I find them genuinely hilarious and always have and honestly don't care much what people think, especially someone like Arin who says not to give a shit what he thinks. Even so, him getting angry at skyward sword was funny if anything
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.
Playing on Switch on 0 issues with the motion controls. They were rough at first but after some time I have become natural at them
@@rac1equalsbestgame853 I agree with your user name
@@_NekOz Thanks
I-is that a hot take?
@@NuiYabukoapparently it is. I find it rare for peope to say anything good about skyward sword. Particular point of hatred are often the motion controls... which work just fine when properly calibrated
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.
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.
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 completely agree. I often have to split my expectations between both linear and open world games because both of them provide a different kind of experience. Not that open world games are unenjoyable, just that I have to be in a different mindset to play them.
The problem with ss is that the linearity borders on suffocating and blatant padding with the water dragon, the flooded woods and repeated dungeon really hurt the pacing. I dread that 1-2 hour stretch of nothing new happening, and I shouldn't...but it's just not very fun. I understand wanting this link to do "everything" his later incarnations end up doing in varying degrees, but that's just checking the boxes at that point. While tp isn't innocent on backtracking either (it's the worst early on), the teleporting to _any_ of the portals you gained access to at least makes up for a lot of it. Ss is a lot more restrictive and i _really_ wish they streamlined the teleporting from the bird statues. Like as long as you were teleporting to another bird statue in the same region, it should of immediately brought up the map of the entire region, let you choose a statue and off you go, shaving off the entire scene of appearing the skies above, calling your loftwing, slowly turn enough to jump back off the loftwing, for the map to finally pull up and _then_ decide where you want to drop to. Also Skyview temple desperately needed the bird statue at the spring registered to skip doing the whole dungeon a second time or at least allow us to get the special water on first visit.
@@ShadowSkyX I definitely agree with your perspective too hmmm. There was excessive padding in the last few sections of the game and I honestly didn’t like the water dragon part either but overall I enjoyed the direction of the game and the quest it sent me on. Perhaps I’m blinded by nostalgia as this was the second Zelda game I ever played haha.
That's why Twilight Princess is my favourite Zelda game. It has enough exploration to make me feel free, but the quest was always there.
I like a variety. Just like some days I like apples, oranges, or bananas the most. with apples (linear game) being one of my favorites!
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]
It seems you copied the summary from Wiki, so you should know that it's not an old Chinese tale, but was written by Akutagawa around 100 years ago.
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~!
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
Watched this video at the oncologist today 🙃 hope you’re doing well these days!
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!:)
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
How many games don't have those?
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 TH-cam, 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
Chopping his toes makes this Dan Schneiders favorite boss
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.
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.
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
Beat ALL twice? Wow man, you have been dealt a tough hand. Congrats though on beating it twice, can't imagine what that must have been like.
@@vffa hey, thanks for the comment, im way better nowadays
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 :)
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
The way you narrated Skyward Sword's story really touched me. I had forgotten just how much I love this game, thank you!
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.
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.
I love the work you do on every one of your videos. Still my absolute favorite video essay creator on the site.
Just saying, your videos always put me in a great mindspace nearly immediatly, its a phenomanel skill of yours. Your work in these videos does not go unappreciated. Great stuff man
You are such a brilliant essay writer and storyteller! I was absolutely getting emotional and feeling chills in the section where you're telling the story. It was such a fantastic way for me to re-experience what I feel is a very beautiful plot. Thank you for all of the hard work you put into making these video essays. Your immense passion for the Zelda franchise is made crystal clear by the high quality of your content. Keep up the great work!
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.
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 think this might be one of my favorite videos. The insight you provided from your personal life and your experience with the game, alongside the lore and narration of this video made for a very powerful and inspiring message.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us, and excellent work on this video!
Man I love good content. These long format videos you and other channels like EmpLemon and several other people make that dive fully into a particular topic are always so... good, leaving the viewer thinking after the video has ended.
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.
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.
Liam, these retrospective videos are truly something special. Thank you for sharing your own unique context as well, that’s never easy. You’ve struck a real chord for many people with the personal touch attached to these videos!
So glad I finally made time to watch this. I so appreciate you sharing the circumstances of when you first experienced the game. Keep up the incredible work and thank you for the reminder to cherish the times of peace.
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
Other than wind waker, I don't like zelink as a pairing. Even skyward sword and botw I prefer them as friends.
homestack
Excuse me?……..
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.
I’ve seen and followed your Zelda videos and I’ve finally felt provoked to comment, your videos perfectly encapsulate why I love each entry and why I hold this series so dear. you put it so vividly I really appreciate your work Liam, thank you and blessings from Chicago!
Your videos never cease to inspire me and give me newfound love for my favourite video game series of all time. Your commitment to each video is astounding and your emotional input adds a personal, irreplaceable flair to each video that every video of yours that I watch is always bound to get me feeling something by the end. Please keep making these videos, I love every second of them
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.
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
On God I love how you add sources you used into your description. Sometimes during retrospectives like these some yt would just make statements but dont include where they heard that from, and when I want to read the original source it never exists or is cited. So thanks for citing them sources
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
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😂😅
Perfect timing. I just beat Skyward sword hd yesterday.
i’m only at the beginning portion of the video so far, but it’s telling how close this video is to your heart. i really appreciate your one of a kind analysis on a game series we all hold love for. thank you for taking the time to share both yourself, your critiques, and the lessons you’ve learnt with us. keep it up liam
I love these videos so much. They're so well thought out, but also so touching and emotional... Thank you so much, Liam, your work brings light to the darkness 😊
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.
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!
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). 😬
Man, I don't have the words to describe your Zelda videos. They're just too amazing. You even manage to make me teary-eyed and that is really an accomplishment. Great job!
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.
Man I've been anticipating a new video for so long. The editing makes each one such a professional project and they feel like they'd be behind some kind of subscription service
Bravo! I can't believe I'm saying this after having seen your other videos... But this is probably the best one you have ever done. You have a knack, my friend. Not just great talent, but the ability to make sound judgements without overwhelming bias while also showing great appreciation for things even when you don't see them as something all that great in the first place. This Zelda is indeed one of my favorites and this has to be one of the most thorough and fair reviews I have ever seen. Especially when it comes to major criticisms such as the controls where you made especially great arguments for why and how people feel so strong about it and yet it's almost entirely impossible to enjoy the game to its fullest without them. Anyway, I am gushing and rambling on but i just wanted to let you know that I appreciate your work and that I think you are an inspiring critic/analyst.
Hey guy, this video is way too long.
Your videos are all excellent, and the ones on the Zelda games have all been masterpieces. You've dropped these at a point in my life where I'm trying to educate myself further and hone my creativity, in the hopes of making similar videos of my own. Thank you for these :)
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!
Omg... I just love your videos... I watch them or listen to you on the background for hours... I've played most Zelda games from ocarina of time to completion several times! And you make me want to play them all more! Thank you so much!
Been hoping for a skyward sword video welcome back man!
This was awesome and so in-depth, so much that I had to comment twice (now that I finished the video). A lot of work you put in here - looking forward to your other video essays.
Hey Liam just wanted to say that I love all of your videos (not just the LoZ ones), and as someone who struggles with depression and anxiety there has been many a night where I couldn't sleep, but I've thrown on one of your videos and am finally able to do so. Thank you for all your hard work on the videos and know that if anything you're using the power of Wisdom to help someone find some peace in the moments he has none
I'm glad I discovered your channel, I'm in a difficult moment of my life and your videos about my favorite video game franchise are helping me up alot. Thank you.
Man I just keep rewatching your vids just for the nostalgia of those games and how you describe the feeling you got while doing those discoveries in game is great
this video is absolutely incredible man. Amazing story you told too, glad to hear you're recovered and healthy. The editing on this is on another level, I can only imagine how much time and effort this took to put together. Bravo! Thank you for sharing and making this! I just finished my second play through. SS HD is a huge step up from the original title. No more Wii motion plus! LIt was a truly wonderful experience to play again. SS always has a special place in my heart as the first Zelda Game i ever actually played myself and beat start to finish (growing up I was the youngest and often watched older brothers play the games until i took the "courage" to play one myself) lol. That was 2012. Since, I have Played every single main Zelda title since (all handhelds and some more than once) and to play this game again years later was a super nostalgic and fantastic. experience during these holidays. Glad to see I'm not alone in reflecting on aspects of my life depending on where I am when I progress through a Zelda game. Best series of all time. TP is still the superior game in my opinion but SS is still a solid game. It was cool re living some dungeons but other aspects were completely erased from memory, weird how memory works. Also, since I'm a much more experienced Zelda player, I picked up on way more detail of the story and main Zelda themes with a MUCH stronger grasp. Wicked video again dude. Cheers
This was really inspiring. Not only in your own struggles and the lessons you learned, but also the lessons you gained by giving the game a fair analysis. You criticized its weak points and praised its strong points, while simultaneously reflecting on what you personally gained from the experience. I've been struggling with getting lost in the funk but hearing your reflections on this game encourages me to stay focused on what is most important and keeping at it even when it's difficult or wearying. Cheers.
This is amazing, Liam. I'm so impressed by your insightful retrospectives. I'm 42 years old and have played Zelda games since the 80's but I still have stuff to learn, grow and mature through your work.
Thank you for all of the hard work and passion you put into your content, Liam. This was once again a joy to watch. You're deserving of all the success!
Absolutely love you’re videos. Please continue❤️ I’ve always loved the legend of Zelda series and you’re insight on the game has been amazing to listen to
Glad to see a new piece, was looking forward to it. Keep up the great work Liam
Wow man, this video was amazing!
My history with this game is very different. It came out at just the right time where my family all had time to enjoy video games together, and I remember having such fond memories of watching my dad and brother play it, and then failing to do it myself, lol. I couldn't help but smile while you talked about the music as it was just that memorable upon revisiting it.
And the section you did on the theme of the story… I felt that in my chest. I had never thought of it that way, and hearing it was just so powerful.
I'm not the biggest Zelda fan out there, but the amazing times it has given me with my brother will always link it to my heart in its own special way.
Liam I just want to say thanks, these videos are so difficult to create and they have such a quality, Zelda is very special to me as it is to so many others and you find so much beauty in these games that I never saw in my play thru, and that's embarrassing. again thanks so much for all you do!
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.
I love these videos so much. Thank you for making them!
Just as I'm in the middle of rewatching all of the old Zelda videos, this drops. Fantastic as always.
Liam, I don’t know how you do it, but your videos always make me feel things. And I don’t fully know why, but this video’s subject matter, with you focusing on your experiences with serious illness, combined with me just kind of being emotional the past couple days, brought me to real tears multiple times throughout this video. You’re passion and expert story-telling combined with my own nostalgia for Skyward Sword (despite never beating it myself if memory serves me correctly), especially Skyward Sword’s music, just… it got to me. Like, I was sobbing a couple times, even in places that really didn’t warrant it. Fi’s theme broke me when you reached that point of the narrative analysis, and your breakdown of Skyward Sword’s theme of love really moved me. The most impactful moment though was your analysis of Zelda’s goodbye and how it affected Link. That scene is so heartbreaking, but even more than that, it’s a poignant demonstration of how you can use unexpected change and loss as a motivator rather than wallowing in grief. I’m not usually one to break down crying, and maybe me not having access to my depression medications for a couple days is making me weepy, but regardless, this video is genuinely a masterpiece, as are all of your Zelda retrospectives, and I can’t wait to see how you breakdown and analyze Link Between Worlds and Breath of the Wild, both individually and in how the former was clearly a step to ease fans back into a more open, exploratory design philosophy after the series had become more and more linear.
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 :)
Man this was a really good video, loved it.
You exposed very well your problems and the things you like about the Game + relating it to personal experience.
Really good stuff.
Also good to see more people liking the game since I thought that it was mostly hated by the fandom
Had no clue you were diagnosed with leukemia. I’m so happy you beat it and are here. I’ve only recently found your videos, but I’ve watched and rewatched so many of them. You do an amazing job. Thank you.
Really enjoyable video, watched it over weeks here and there. Great job!
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
I love your videos man, i throw em on and listen to them while i work.
I love these Zelda videos. Great job they are always an amazing watch!
The way how you tell your story's are amazing. Keep it up Liam!
I adore this game, and your criticisms are absolutely valid! I wish we could just have one imprisoned fight! I wish we had more different regions to explore but at the end of the day, the incredible characters/narrative, the killer soundtrack, the gorgeous art style and the immersive combat are just too good to let it down my experience. Awesome video! 💚💚💚👍🏻😊
The flip note was making me SCREAM it’s really so 2011 ALSO I’ve been like binging your Zelda video essays which first I must say, so thoughtful and detailed, but also! I really appreciated and admired you being vulnerable about your own experiences and how it impacts your perception of the games - I think it’s well agreed personal circumstances really inform how much a game resonates - ESPECIALLY in times of illness which I understand all too well. Again I love these analyses and thank you for taking the time to make them! :)
I'm currently playing Skyward Sword HD for the first time after getting the original when it came out my first year of college. Thank you for the sweet memories. This video was so touching and, as always, excellent quality.
Hi! I'm not sure if you'll see this, and it's a bit unrelated to the larger theme of wisdom, but I wanted to share.
In 2011, I was diagnosed with lymphoma, another form of cancer. I wasn't a fan of Zelda at the time, as I was but a young child, but having now played many of the games, I can feel exactly the emotional connection these games can have on a person. For Breath of the Wild especially, clawing your way up through (sometimes grueling) trials to reach completion, I know have a major love for this series and will be probably be following it for years to come.
Your retrospectives have all been insanely thorough and intelligent, logically and emotionally! As a fellow cancer survivor, I am really moved by all of your personal stories, points, and clear love for Zelda. Thank you so much for sharing, and I can't wait to see more!