My Favorite Game Of All Time

By Johnny Ngo on November 18, 2014

I vividly remember playing The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on the Nintendo GameCube. I was in third grade when I played it and I had so much fun. The cartoon-themed animations were great, the soundtrack was exciting and using the Wind Waker to dominate the Great Sea made me feel like the most powerful conductor in the world. I once asked my band teacher in high school if I could conduct a piece for fun, just because I wanted to feel like young hero himself.

Image via http://www.vgu.tv/

Nine years later, the announcement of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword made its way into stores all over. Skyward Sword was the first game I ever preordered a special edition copy of. It is also the only game I have ever picked up the day of release. Following the day I beat Wind Waker, I felt obligated to play as many Zelda games as I could and Skyward Sword was no exception.

Skyward Sword takes place before all other Legend of Zelda games chronologically. It explains how and why things happen in every game released before it. Many Zelda fans were looking forward to the release of this game mainly for the new story and to see where it all started. With that in mind, I was more pumped to play this game than any other game in my life.

The storyline was nothing less than spectacular. The game told the story in a way that was easy to understand, yet with a depth that explained the origins of everything from Skyloft to the cuccos. I was so absorbed in the story that I stayed up all night playing it. The small references to other games brought a nostalgic feel to players. In Skyward Sword, the hookshot hasn’t been developed yet. The hookshot is an item that Link acquires in most other Zelda games, mostly used to pull Link to something or vice versa. The item you obtain is the Clawshot, which is a pre-evolved form of the hookshot. I hardly see these connections in any other game series, and the little things go a long way.

Image via zelda.com

One of the most notable things about the game was Link’s sword control. Link’s sword pointed in the direction of your Wii remote, and your nunchuk acted as your shield. Although it was awkward at first, after getting comfortable with it, the controls felt real. You were indeed Link. When I first started the game, I was very excited for the moment I’d receive the Practice Sword purely because of these new sword controls.

I never got physically tired from playing the game. It took a bit of time to get used to, but the satisfaction of swinging the Master Sword to slay Demise at the end of the game felt even better than stealing Baron Nashor with Janna’s Howling Gale.

Image via zeldainformer.com

Most games do not emphasize any interaction with your character’s weapon the way Skyward Sword does. The introduction of the Skyward Strike was one of the most satisfying things about the game. Holding your sword skyward, which meant pointing your Wii remote at the ceiling, and charging up enough power to perform the strike made me feel like I could take on the world. Most of the interaction you had with the Master Sword in previous games was pressing the A button at an altar. Knowing that you really were in control of the hero of time with his power felt epic.

Image via ign.com

In Skyward Sword, you wield the Goddess Sword which is inhabited by Fi, a spirit that lives within the blade. She guides you through the game without saying “Hey! Listen!” in every other dungeon room. Fi’s existence was quite unique and mysterious. The idea of a spirit living in a sword that you used in combat was very exciting for me, knowing that I could essentially talk to my sword for any kind of guidance and advice.

Image via zeldadungeon.net

Right next to the experience of the game itself, the soundtrack is marvelous. There hasn’t been a single Zelda game whose soundtrack I didn’t enjoy. Skyward Sword has one of my favorite soundtracks, right next to Wind Waker’s. The orchestral sounds that are featured behind the harp are absolutely gorgeous and soothing. It fits the game well, drawing me even more into the land of Hyrule. “The Ballad of the Goddess” is one of the most beautiful pieces I have ever heard. Never has a song made me want to fight off bad guys while sounding as delicate as the ballad.

When you are watching a cut scene in any video game and you find yourself on the verge of tears, you know there’s something special about it. It can have such an emotional impact on you that you would play it over and over again if you could.

For me, Skyward Sword does exactly that. The game itself is a breathtaking adventure where you are indeed the chosen hero of the goddess. For as long as a hero is needed, Link will be there, and so will I.

Image via nintengen.com

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