Skyward Sword Stuff - Mostly Spoiler-Free
Skyward Sword is overall awesome. I caught up with Zelda (who you try to track down for most of the game), and it was heartbreaking...the poor girl. She's stuck with a destiny she doesn't really deserve, but bears it nobly and even apologizes to Link for ruining his life with all this adventuring bullshit. I was starting to tear up a bit, in no small part due to the beautiful rendition of Zelda's Lullaby playing in the background (all the music is orchestral in this game).
The Master Sword is beautiful as ever, and means a lot more when you have to earn it the way you do. It's more significant to the story than just a MacGuffin this time. The storytelling in this game will change the way you look at the sword in other Zelda games. And not just the sword: I feel more a part of the story, more a part of the Zelda mythos, than ever before. I see where they're going with the whole prequel/creation of Hyrule angle, seeing every little detail that belongs in Ocarina of Time taking shape. It's something special, and I can't wait to see the ending.
However, there are the usual share of frustrations. I ragequit tonight on the third battle with the same damn boss--not my third try, but the third time it happens in the story, in the same place, and the second time I fought it in a single night of playing. There are story reasons, and there are differences between fights, but it's getting aggravating. I'm stuck on a part where you get one shot, and missing is game over. It's so unlike the rest of the game to be that unforgiving all of a sudden. It ain't the final boss or anything, it's just dickish.
Also: The minigames in this one suck ass. Ugh. Many are completely randomized, which is no fun and a waste of time and money (diving onto the wheel of fortune-type thingy, and a glorified Minesweeper game). Others are tedious and un-rewarding (bug catching, pumpkin carrying), some are just kind of bland (pumpkin shooting). Some have horrendous controls (bamboo cutting, and especially the bar singing accompaniment game)! Or you can use the Gust Bellows to basically vacuum some other guy's mom's house whenever you want for a tiny sum of rupees! Yay...?
The Master Sword is beautiful as ever, and means a lot more when you have to earn it the way you do. It's more significant to the story than just a MacGuffin this time. The storytelling in this game will change the way you look at the sword in other Zelda games. And not just the sword: I feel more a part of the story, more a part of the Zelda mythos, than ever before. I see where they're going with the whole prequel/creation of Hyrule angle, seeing every little detail that belongs in Ocarina of Time taking shape. It's something special, and I can't wait to see the ending.
However, there are the usual share of frustrations. I ragequit tonight on the third battle with the same damn boss--not my third try, but the third time it happens in the story, in the same place, and the second time I fought it in a single night of playing. There are story reasons, and there are differences between fights, but it's getting aggravating. I'm stuck on a part where you get one shot, and missing is game over. It's so unlike the rest of the game to be that unforgiving all of a sudden. It ain't the final boss or anything, it's just dickish.
Also: The minigames in this one suck ass. Ugh. Many are completely randomized, which is no fun and a waste of time and money (diving onto the wheel of fortune-type thingy, and a glorified Minesweeper game). Others are tedious and un-rewarding (bug catching, pumpkin carrying), some are just kind of bland (pumpkin shooting). Some have horrendous controls (bamboo cutting, and especially the bar singing accompaniment game)! Or you can use the Gust Bellows to basically vacuum some other guy's mom's house whenever you want for a tiny sum of rupees! Yay...?