While Nintendo’s lineup for the remainder of 2020 remains a mystery, rumors involving the company’s most prominent franchises abound. From speculation regarding the 35th anniversary of the Mario series to the presumed Metroid Prime HD collection, fans continue to induce theories regarding Nintendo’s future. Another rumor circulated the Internet on Sunday by way of a surprising Amazon UK listing. According to the reports, the Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword could be coming to the Nintendo Switch. On the surface, the rumors appear legitimate, but a Skyward Sword release could be challenging. Let’s dive in.
A Difficult Motion to Control
In a surprising entry on the Amazon UK website, Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword became momentarily available for pre-order. Retailing for 69.99 euros, the 2011 Wii title immediately set Twitter ablaze by trending worldwide. As fans hypothesized about the possible release, most news outlets chose to focus on the authenticity of the listing.
However, the prospect of a Skyward Sword port to the Nintendo Switch might be more difficult than expected. The original gameplay revolved exclusively around the Nintendo Wii’s precise motion control technology. Mechanics, such as enemy behavior and attack patterns, required players to use the Wii Remote to swing the Master Sword at specific angles. Although the Nintendo Switch features a curtailed version of motion control technology, the success has been erratic.
- The World Ends With You is one of the few games to rely exclusively on the joy-con pointer. Due to the fickle motion controls, the game is nearly unplayable in docked-mode; therefore, fans have opted to play in handheld mode by using the touchscreen.
- ARMS also utilizes motion controls; however, the response time is wildly inconsistent. Therefore, most players chose to use a standard controller.
While smooth gyro controls are a staple of the Nintendo Switch controllers, precise motion control inputs are lacking in comparison to the Nintendo Wii Remote.
A Complete Overhaul
Although a complete gameplay overhaul of Skyward Sword is highly unlikely, Nintendo must take several factors into consideration:
- The increasing number of Nintendo Switch Lite users suggests that the port must be playable in handheld mode. This paradigm suggests that gyro controls remain a viable option; however, Nintendo must completely overhaul the motion controls to increase accessibility.
- Skyward Sword features several of the most iconic boss fights in Zelda history, and the encounters focus on precise sword angles using the Wii Remote’s motion control technology. If Nintendo chooses to forego motion controls, the Zelda team must redesign every boss and enemy battle.
- Gyro controls remain a feasible possibility, but Nintendo must carefully select the gameplay mechanics to augment. Aiming certain weapons, such as the Beetle and Slingshot, allow for a seamless transition to gyro mechanics. But other items, such as the Whip and Bombs, are more suitable for traditional controls.
Overhauling gameplay mechanics is a costly endeavor; however, Nintendo has few options concerning a Skyward Sword port to the Nintendo Switch. Considering that the 2019 remaster of Link’s Awakening sold over 4 million units worldwide, a Skyward Sword release could easily surpass the Wii’s lifetime sales of 3.5 million units. The question that remains is how much time and money Nintendo is willing to put into the project.
Conclusion
But we want to know what you think. Do you believe that the Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword is coming to the Nintendo Switch? How do you think Nintendo will change the gameplay mechanics? Let us know in the comments below or the social media links on the right. Also, check out our other news items on Activision, Final Fantasy VII, Animal Crossing, Modern Warfare, and more.
Want to dive deeper into your favorite games? Be sure to check out our editorial columns, such as On This Day in Gaming and Music that Moves articles. Also, subscribe to our social media links below or click on one of the links in our soundcloud. Trust us: You will not want to miss a thing!
Finally, we are starting to stream every night and are looking to add to our community. Be one of the first 100 followers on Twitch for a chance to win a free GamingROI tee-shirt. All you have to do is click the links above and select “follow”. We will also announce the winners at the end of each month. Until next time, enjoy!