Daily Debate: Is Skyward Sword the Best Story of the Zelda Series?
Posted on July 30 2021 by Chakell Herbert
When I was 8, Ocarina of Time was quite literally the most awesome game I had ever played. I mean, you could transform from innocent child Link to angsty, teenage Link. You could ride an adorable horse (which is a plus from a little girl who loved ponies) and you got to go on a quest to help a princess (who was secretly a cool ninja) take down a super-terrifying bad guy. What an epic story!
But that was just the start of my journey with The Legend of Zelda series. Since then, I’ve loved diving into more games and fantastical tales as the years have gone by. And I’ve realized that what makes this series special and what tugs at my heart strings and keeps me coming back for more is always the story. Forget the art styles, the boss battles, and yes, even the coveted Hookshot. For me, the stories that encompass each Link and each Zelda’s growth are what make this series my all-time-favorite.
But can I just say, without a shadow of a doubt, that the best story–the one that completely took me off guard and brought all the feels for me–is Skyward Sword.
This game has gotten such a bad rep in the past (darn those glitchy motion controls!), and I admit that I was skeptical, myself. Before I picked it up again in the form of Skyward Sword HD, I had heard plenty of negative feedback that made me second guess how I felt about the game. I have never been more wrong in my entire life! With the new high-definition release, I hope that every Zelda fan gives it a play-through, because it is an absolute masterpiece.
Skyward Sword is the starting point of our hero and princess. My absolute favorite part of this game (and the series) is watching them both start out as normal, naïve teenagers who become literal legends as the story unfolds. Their individual journeys are oh, so heart-wrenching, satisfying, and phenomenal. And Groose. Don’t even get me started on my love for Groose.
Honestly I don’t have a bad thing to say about Skyward Sword. This epic, yet charming and evocative adventure takes the podium for the best executed story of the franchise, and it’s beyond deserving of this improved remaster (that’s my not so subtle nudge that you should be grabbing yourself a copy).
But what do you think? Do you agree that Skyward Sword has the best storyline of the series? If not, which Zelda adventure has it in your opinion? Let me know in the comments!
Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
