The long wait is over for the next Legend of Zelda game. Skyward Sword has a playable level available and it is breathtaking. Let's firstly start with the graphics. It seems that Nintendo have taken the best that WindWaker and Twilight Princess had to offer and merged them together. The serious style of graphics remains but with the cel-shading approach of WindWaker. I'll happily admit that I was much more of an admirer of the serious style of Twilight Princess than I was of the cartoony graphics of WindWaker. So to see both styles incorporated into the Skyward Sword is a step in the right direction.
Backgrounds are hugely detailed and immersive, and one of the greatest things about the levels is the different ways that you can progress to achieve your goals. In the demo level it is possible to follow several different routes; through the main path of enemies, climbing around using vines and platforms, or if you leave the beaten track you can find a series of rope swings that completely avoid enemy encounters below. There is so much to see and do beyond the main objectives and the Zelda world is becoming more vast.
Beyond the adventuring and puzzle solving, the other biggest element of any good Zelda game is the combat. Twilight Princess used the Wiimote brilliantly so that you felt more in control of Link's sword fighting. Now with the Motion Plus controls the fights in the game have taken on a whole new level of skill. Link responds exactly to your Wiimote gestures, so holding your hand directly up in the air makes Link present the Master Sword skywards. Waving the wiimote up and down at your side makes Link do a bird impression with his sword. Skyward Sword has been designed to allow much better reaction to horizontal, vertical and diagonal strokes, all adding to the feeling that you are actually taking part in the fights for Link.
As well as improvements to the attacks Link can do, his defensive abilities has also been improved. Using the nunchuck to wield your shield you can quickly raise or lower it during a battle and a swift flick of the controller will ram your shield towards an enemy, stunning them or knocking them backwards. With attacks needing to be much more accurate now and defence being just as important, battles are now more challenging and fun.
And if you didn't think that was enough innovation for you how about this; the inventory system is being changed as well! There will now be quick access to all of Link's inventory by pressing the B button and cycling through all of his inventory. Potions will now need to be used in real time so you will need to make tactical decisions about when is a safe time to drop arms and swig down the life saving red or green drinks.
All in all, if the current screenshots and trailers are anything to go by, this is going to be the best Zelda yet. Time to dig out your Wii and buy a Motion Plus sensor if you don't already have one!
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