The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Limited Edition Gold Wii Remote Bundle

Skyward Sword is simply a majestic experience, and certainly one of the best games I have ever played. The title above is the best way I can explain in short how I feel about this game. It truly does feel like you are privileged to experience Link's adventure, which becomes your personal adventure. It's one of those games where you easily forget that anybody else is playing the game, as it seems like it's just for you.

First off I should say I'm a huge fan of the Zelda series. That doesn't mean, however, that I'm a fanboy who's blind to flaws. That said, of the 14 hours or so of Skyward Sword that I have played I have encountered very few flaws. It is shaping up to be a true masterpiece.

I was openly sceptical of the combat using the Wii motion plus when I initially heard about it. Now, I love it. It is not absolutely perfect, as has been suggested in some reviews, but I can tell you now it's incredibly impressive. If you put some effort into your sword strokes, and don't just waggle your wrist sitting down, the sense of controlling Link's blade is responsive and rewarding. Occasionally you do find Link is pointing his blade in completely the wrong direction, but a quick sheathing of the sword and getting it out again quickly sorts this out. Every item incorporates motion controls well and feels intuitive, but it is the added immersion that the swordplay provides that really stands out here.

In terms of aesthetics, Skyward Sword is sublime. The art style is so assured and consistent that I find it hard to imagine it looking any better given the Wii's power limitations. Whilst great attention has been given to detail, the occasionally rough textures do sometimes let this down. The environments are nothing short of beautiful, however, and as tightly designed as you may expect from a Zelda game. The slight lack of islands to explore above the clouds, however, aside from the beautiful Skyloft where you begin your journey, is somewhat disappointing. If there were a few more islands inhabited by more than a handful of people then this would have greatly improved the scale of the game, which does at times feel slightly limited compared to past Zelda games. Some people may prefer this, but personally I love the exploration element of adventure games.

There is plenty to collect throughout your journey, although I must admit I haven't yet found the need or indeed had sufficient resources to upgrade any of my items. This isn't through lack of trying, but it takes time to gather things, and even then shields can break surprisingly quickly. That said, maybe later on in the game this will become more pressing as the challenge increases, although it is already quite considerable for me. Enemies frequently take a whole heart off if they hit you (you do start with 6 hearts this time instead of the standard 3, however), and demand quick thinking and accurate sword-work to defeat.

A special mention must go to the NPC characters, who are so colourful and yet somehow completely believable, that they are truly endearing. Many people will be able to empathise with the woman who is bored sick of her tedious job, and down-in-the-dumps because of it, for example. The characters expressions seem to have improved dramatically from previous entries in the Zelda series. This is no L.A. Noire, but the subtle expressions of Link and Zelda in particular really convey meaning. The lack of voice-acting still isn't an issue here, as the characters are so brimming with personality that, along with the charming expressions, the player can readily give them their own voice without conscious thought.

In summary, everything in Skyward Sword is polished to near-perfection and really shows the fruit of 5 year's labour. The environments and characters are as caringly designed as ever, and the gameplay has experienced a huge overhaul with the motion controls. Further, the storyline is surprisingly tight for a Zelda game. If there was only a little more to explore both above and below the clouds, then Skyward Sword would be extremely close to being the perfect adventure game. This is a game you simply must experience for yourself. I'd heartily recommend getting this Limited Edition pack, as the orchestral 25th anniversary CD is incredibly rousing, and the gold Wii motion-plus controller is a nice and worthwhile addition.

Time will tell if Skyward Sword can truly be crowned the best Legend of Zelda game in the series, but I can assure anyone wondering that it is certainly right up there. It's too early to say whether it will have the longevity and astonishing replay value that Ocarina of Time has, but I'm not counting it out, and neither should you. If you are on the fence about getting this game, then get out your Wii (or buy one cheap - it is worth it, I promise), grab this pack, and have the adventure of the decade. 9.5/10

I'm really pleased with this bundle!

The CD with orchestral music is really great - there's a lot music that will be recognized by the older Zelda fans, and it's just a nice soundtrack to get with the bundle! If you're not already a fan of the Zelda series, though, you might be less excited than I was. ;)

The Wii-mote controller is great - the gold and zelda-themed decals make for a nice addition to the experience of playing the game! And it's a great way to get hold of a Wii-Motion Plus controller without paying out the nose for it! One small minus - though (at least, if I have understood it right): as I understand it, you can NOT play this game without a Wii-Motion Plus Wii-mote? I think they should do more to make this obvious to people who buy the stand-alone game. I've seen it laying in stores, and I never understood that from the covers - so some people might come home and be disappointed that they need to buy more peripherals for their Wii before they can even use the game?

The game itself? I have only played for around an hour - but (as always with Zelda) I am already loving it. The increased precision that the Wii-Motion Plus technology adds to the sword handling really also makes you feel more IN the game. Great!

So - doesn't matter if you are a returning Zelda-fan, or a new-comer to the franchise: if you like adventure games, you'll love this game. :)

Short quick review...

I'm 38 years old and have been playing Legend of Zelda games since the Super Nintendo way back in the early 90s.

Zelda games have always been challenging and immersive, especially "Link to the Past" and "Ocarina of Time".

Skyward Sword is of epic proportions and by far my favourite so far, and potentially one of my favourite games ever. Everything from the storyline, musical score, Wiimotion plus 1:1 sword control and of course the puzzles and dungeons in this game make it really stand out from the rest. I can highly recommend it.

My 6 year old son loves this game too and watches it as if it's a Cartoon Network TV program!

If you're looking for a game that doesn't take a genius to get into, but is an adventure rather than a throw away Wii party type game, then look no further than Zelda Skyward Sword!