<s>
is	O
a	O
2011	O
action-adventure	O
game	O
developed	O
and	O
published	O
by	O
Nintendo	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
high-definition	O
remaster	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Skyward	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
HD	O
,	O
was	O
co-developed	O
by	O
Tantalus	O
Media	O
and	O
released	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
in	O
July	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
mechanics	O
and	O
combat	O
,	O
the	O
latter	O
focusing	O
on	O
attacking	O
and	O
blocking	O
with	O
sword	O
and	O
shield	O
,	O
are	O
reliant	O
on	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
MotionPlus	B-Application
peripheral	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
mainline	O
entry	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
series	O
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
is	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Zelda	O
timeline	O
,	O
and	O
details	O
the	O
origins	O
of	O
the	O
Master	O
Sword	O
(	O
created	O
from	O
the	O
Goddess	O
Sword	O
)	O
,	O
a	O
recurring	O
weapon	O
within	O
the	O
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Development	O
took	O
around	O
five	O
years	O
,	O
beginning	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
in	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Multiple	O
earlier	O
Zelda	O
games	O
influenced	O
the	O
developers	O
,	O
including	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
,	O
Ocarina	B-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
and	O
Majora	B-Application
's	I-Application
Mask	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
implementation	O
of	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
proved	O
problematic	O
for	O
the	O
developers	O
,	O
to	O
the	O
point	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
nearly	O
discarded	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Announced	O
in	O
2009	O
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
was	O
planned	O
for	O
release	O
in	O
2010	O
but	O
was	O
delayed	O
to	O
2011	O
to	O
further	O
refine	O
and	O
expand	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
2021	O
remaster	O
sold	O
a	O
similar	O
number	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Feedback	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
later	O
influenced	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
the	O
next	O
entry	O
for	O
home	O
consoles	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Breath	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Skyward	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
is	O
an	O
action-adventure	O
video	O
game	O
in	O
which	O
players	O
take	O
on	O
the	O
role	O
of	O
series	O
protagonist	O
Link	O
through	O
a	O
series	O
of	O
overworlds	O
populated	O
by	O
monsters	O
and	O
navigating	O
dungeons	O
featuring	O
puzzles	O
and	O
further	O
enemies	O
including	O
dedicated	O
bosses	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Link	O
is	O
controlled	O
using	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Remote	O
and	O
Nunchuk	O
,	O
and	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
MotionPlus	B-Application
expansion	O
device	O
is	O
required	O
to	O
play	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Link	O
's	O
sword	O
movements	O
are	O
mapped	O
to	O
the	O
direction	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Remote	O
is	O
flicked	O
by	O
the	O
player	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
moves	O
include	O
a	O
forward	O
thrust	O
and	O
a	O
stab	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
raising	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Remote	O
,	O
the	O
sword	O
gathers	O
energy	O
which	O
can	O
be	O
unleashed	O
in	O
a	O
Skyward	O
Strike	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Spin	O
attacks	O
and	O
Finishing	O
Blows	O
are	O
activated	O
by	O
swinging	O
both	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Remote	O
and	O
Nunchuck	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
takes	O
place	O
at	O
the	O
beginning	O
of	O
the	O
Zelda	O
continuity	O
:	O
according	O
to	O
legend	O
,	O
three	O
ancient	O
Goddesses	O
bestowed	O
a	O
great	O
wish-granting	O
power	O
:	O
the	O
Triforce	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Demon	O
King	O
Demise	B-Application
,	O
a	O
deity	O
who	O
had	O
conquered	O
time	O
itself	O
,	O
laid	O
waste	O
to	O
much	O
of	O
the	O
land	O
seeking	O
to	O
take	O
the	O
Triforce	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Goddess	O
Hylia	O
gathered	O
the	O
survivors	O
and	O
sent	O
them	O
into	O
the	O
sky	O
,	O
allowing	O
her	O
to	O
launch	O
a	O
full-scale	O
offensive	O
against	O
Demise	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Link	O
draws	O
the	O
sword	O
,	O
showing	O
himself	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
prophesied	O
hero	O
who	O
will	O
finally	O
destroy	O
Demise	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Link	O
also	O
encounters	O
Ghirahim	O
,	O
a	O
self-proclaimed	O
Demon	O
Lord	O
working	O
towards	O
freeing	O
Demise	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Link	O
then	O
has	O
to	O
defeat	O
the	O
Imprisoned	O
,	O
a	O
monstrous	O
form	O
of	O
Demise	B-Application
attempting	O
to	O
reach	O
the	O
Sealed	O
Temple	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
old	O
woman	O
shows	O
him	O
a	O
second	O
,	O
albeit	O
dormant	O
,	O
Gate	O
of	O
Time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Activating	O
the	O
Gate	O
of	O
Time	O
and	O
traveling	O
to	O
the	O
past	O
,	O
he	O
finds	O
Zelda	O
and	O
learns	O
that	O
she	O
is	O
the	O
mortal	O
reincarnation	O
of	O
Hylia	O
;	O
Hylia	O
could	O
not	O
kill	O
Demise	B-Application
and	O
was	O
too	O
weakened	O
from	O
their	O
battle	O
to	O
fend	O
him	O
off	O
again	O
,	O
so	O
she	O
created	O
the	O
Goddess	O
Sword	O
and	O
reincarnated	O
as	O
a	O
mortal	O
to	O
find	O
someone	O
who	O
would	O
fulfill	O
her	O
duty	O
by	O
using	O
the	O
Triforce	O
to	O
wish	O
Demise	B-Application
's	O
destruction	O
,	O
as	O
only	O
mortals	O
can	O
use	O
the	O
artifact	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zelda	O
then	O
seals	O
herself	O
inside	O
a	O
crystal	O
to	O
strengthen	O
Demise	B-Application
's	O
seal	O
,	O
granting	O
her	O
power	O
to	O
the	O
Goddess	O
Sword	O
and	O
upgrading	O
it	O
into	O
the	O
Master	O
Sword	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Link	O
locates	O
the	O
Triforce	O
on	O
Skyloft	O
and	O
uses	O
it	O
to	O
destroy	O
Demise	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Demise	B-Application
dead	O
,	O
Zelda	O
is	O
freed	O
,	O
but	O
Ghirahim	O
arrives	O
and	O
kidnaps	O
Zelda	O
:	O
though	O
Demise	B-Application
is	O
dead	O
in	O
the	O
present	O
,	O
Ghirahim	O
intends	O
to	O
use	O
Zelda	O
as	O
a	O
sacrifice	O
to	O
resurrect	O
him	O
in	O
the	O
past	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
then	O
defeats	O
Ghirahim	O
,	O
who	O
turns	O
out	O
to	O
be	O
the	O
spirit	O
of	O
Demise	B-Application
's	O
sword	O
but	O
is	O
unable	O
to	O
prevent	O
Zelda	O
from	O
being	O
used	O
to	O
reincarnate	O
Demise	B-Application
's	O
humanoid	O
form	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Groose	O
guards	O
Zelda	O
's	O
body	O
while	O
Link	O
challenges	O
Demise	B-Application
:	O
Link	O
triumphs	O
and	O
absorbs	O
Demise	B-Application
's	O
essence	O
into	O
the	O
sword	O
,	O
but	O
not	O
before	O
Demise	B-Application
curses	O
Link	O
and	O
Zelda	O
's	O
bloodlines	O
to	O
be	O
haunted	O
by	O
his	O
reincarnated	O
rage	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Skyward	B-Application
Swords	I-Application
development	O
began	O
in	O
2006	O
,	O
after	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Twilight	I-Application
Princess	I-Application
for	O
GameCube	B-Application
and	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Its	O
producer	O
was	O
Eiji	O
Aonuma	O
,	O
a	O
major	O
contributor	O
to	O
the	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
main	O
preoccupation	O
during	O
these	O
early	O
stages	O
was	O
whether	O
the	O
developers	O
could	O
continue	O
creating	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
games	O
using	O
the	O
same	O
development	O
mindset	O
that	O
had	O
been	O
used	O
up	O
to	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
's	O
director	O
was	O
Hidemaro	O
Fujibayashi	O
:	O
previously	O
working	O
as	O
assistant	O
director	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Phantom	I-Application
Hourglass	I-Application
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
DS	I-Device
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
was	O
his	O
first	O
project	O
for	O
home	O
consoles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
began	O
work	O
on	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
after	O
finishing	O
Phantom	B-Application
Hourglass	I-Application
,	O
and	O
continued	O
working	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
alongside	O
his	O
work	O
on	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Spirit	I-Application
Tracks	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Spirit	B-Application
Tracks	I-Application
was	O
finished	O
,	O
Fujibayashi	O
and	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
development	O
team	O
transferred	O
back	O
to	O
working	O
on	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Aonuma	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
's	O
starting	O
point	O
for	O
development	O
was	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
version	O
of	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
:	O
feeling	O
they	O
had	O
not	O
fully	O
realized	O
their	O
goal	O
of	O
creating	O
a	O
vast	O
and	O
realistic	O
world	O
with	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
,	O
they	O
used	O
their	O
previous	O
work	O
as	O
a	O
foundation	O
for	O
the	O
next	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
sought	O
to	O
create	O
a	O
memorable	O
experience	O
equivalent	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Ocarina	I-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
,	O
by	O
that	O
time	O
considered	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
most	O
memorable	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fi	O
was	O
created	O
before	O
the	O
implantation	O
of	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
when	O
she	O
was	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
part	O
of	O
some	O
different	O
undefined	O
gameplay	O
concepts	O
unrelated	O
to	O
motion	O
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Ghirahim	O
was	O
designed	O
to	O
be	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
Dark	O
Link	O
character	O
from	O
Ocarina	B-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
:	O
he	O
could	O
read	O
Link	O
's	O
movements	O
,	O
requiring	O
players	O
to	O
think	O
strategically	O
to	O
defeat	O
him	O
rather	O
than	O
simply	O
swinging	O
Link	O
's	O
sword	O
around	O
randomly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
final	O
version	O
was	O
referred	O
to	O
as	O
a	O
balance	O
between	O
the	O
cartoon	O
styling	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Wind	I-Application
Waker	I-Application
and	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
,	O
where	O
the	O
cartoon	O
shading	O
was	O
transferred	O
onto	O
an	O
older	O
version	O
of	O
Link	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
pieces	O
of	O
gameplay	O
experimentation	O
meant	O
that	O
the	O
development	O
was	O
"	O
a	O
more	O
fundamental	O
ground-up	O
process	O
"	O
than	O
earlier	O
games	O
such	O
as	O
The	B-Application
Wind	I-Application
Waker	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Their	O
earlier	O
games	O
had	O
involved	O
lifting	O
elements	O
from	O
earlier	O
games	O
and	O
pasting	O
them	O
into	O
a	O
new	O
entry	O
,	O
but	O
for	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
the	O
developers	O
wanted	O
to	O
add	O
a	O
new	O
play	O
structure	O
to	O
avoid	O
fans	O
seeing	O
it	O
as	O
more	O
of	O
the	O
same	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
original	O
concept	O
for	O
gameplay	O
using	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
MotionPlus	B-Application
was	O
proposed	O
by	O
Fujibayashi	O
at	O
a	O
point	O
when	O
the	O
team	O
was	O
already	O
developing	O
the	O
gameplay	O
around	O
the	O
console	O
's	O
standard	O
Wii	B-Device
Remote	I-Device
and	O
Nunchuk	O
control	O
scheme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
first	O
proposed	O
,	O
Aonuma	O
was	O
highly	O
enthusiastic	O
,	O
and	O
his	O
wish	O
to	O
change	O
to	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
meant	O
that	O
work	O
on	O
the	O
game	O
needed	O
to	O
begin	O
all	O
over	O
again	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
use	O
of	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
proved	O
challenging	O
for	O
the	O
developers	O
to	O
implement	O
,	O
to	O
the	O
point	O
where	O
at	O
one	O
point	O
Aonuma	O
seriously	O
considered	O
dropping	O
it	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
entirely	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Wii	B-Application
Sports	I-Application
Resort	I-Application
,	O
the	O
team	O
saw	O
how	O
motion	O
controls	O
could	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
swordplay	O
:	O
after	O
talking	O
with	O
the	O
development	O
team	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
able	O
to	O
borrow	O
the	O
technology	O
and	O
used	O
it	O
to	O
create	O
the	O
motion-driven	O
swordplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
implementation	O
of	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
meant	O
that	O
the	O
enemy	O
artificial	B-Application
intelligence	I-Application
needed	O
to	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
counter	O
it	O
,	O
adjusting	O
their	O
stances	O
depending	O
on	O
the	O
position	O
of	O
Link	O
's	O
sword	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Having	O
sword	O
fighting	O
relying	O
on	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
freed	O
up	O
other	O
buttons	O
on	O
the	O
controller	O
,	O
allowing	O
the	O
addition	O
of	O
the	O
Dash	O
sprinting	O
option	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
menu	O
for	O
Item	O
access	O
was	O
also	O
redesigned	O
around	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
team	O
also	O
created	O
the	O
world	O
based	O
on	O
their	O
experiences	O
with	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
:	O
feeling	O
that	O
the	O
overworld	O
and	O
dungeons	O
were	O
too	O
large	O
with	O
puzzles	O
too	O
thinly	O
dispersed	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
both	O
sought	O
to	O
compact	O
areas	O
and	O
have	O
environmental	O
puzzles	O
in	O
the	O
overworld	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
sky	O
was	O
initially	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
presented	O
similar	O
to	O
the	O
course	O
selection	O
screen	O
from	O
the	O
Super	B-Application
Mario	I-Application
series	O
,	O
but	O
this	O
was	O
changed	O
to	O
an	O
overworld	O
with	O
its	O
own	O
quests	O
and	O
population	O
so	O
Link	O
had	O
a	O
place	O
where	O
he	O
could	O
prepare	O
for	O
his	O
adventures	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
continual	O
movements	O
and	O
routines	O
of	O
Skyloft	O
's	O
people	O
were	O
modeled	O
after	O
similar	O
time-driven	O
mechanics	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Majora	I-Application
's	I-Application
Mask	I-Application
,	O
with	O
similar	O
links	O
between	O
character-specific	O
side	O
quests	O
and	O
the	O
main	O
narrative	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
the	O
Lanayru	O
Desert	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
created	O
three	O
different	O
overworld	O
zones	O
due	O
to	O
its	O
unique	O
time-shifting	O
mechanics	O
,	O
triggered	O
with	O
Time	O
Shift	O
stones	O
:	O
this	O
shifting	O
between	O
different	O
zones	O
was	O
inspired	O
by	O
similar	O
systems	O
in	O
Ocarina	B-Application
of	I-Application
Time	I-Application
and	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
they	O
had	O
experimented	O
with	O
indestructible	O
enemies	O
in	O
Phantom	B-Application
Hourglass	I-Application
and	O
Spirit	B-Application
Tracks	I-Application
,	O
but	O
this	O
time	O
it	O
was	O
changed	O
by	O
restricting	O
Link	O
's	O
options	O
and	O
actions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Longtime	O
series	O
composer	O
Koji	O
Kondo	O
had	O
a	O
supervisory	O
role	O
,	O
only	O
composing	O
a	O
single	O
piece	O
by	O
himself	O
:	O
the	O
music	O
accompanying	O
the	O
prologue	O
video	O
describing	O
the	O
mythical	O
origins	O
of	O
Demise	B-Application
and	O
Hylia	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
helped	O
in	O
arranging	O
the	O
other	O
composer	O
's	O
pieces	O
,	O
using	O
an	O
electric	O
piano	O
and	O
a	O
Mac	B-Device
computer	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Any	O
previous	O
orchestral	O
elements	O
in	O
Twilight	B-Application
Princess	I-Application
,	O
which	O
amounted	O
only	O
to	O
one	O
track	O
,	O
were	O
handled	O
by	O
their	O
Tokyo	O
division	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Something	O
new	O
they	O
did	O
for	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
was	O
producing	O
unique	O
themes	O
for	O
specific	O
characters	O
such	O
as	O
Link	O
and	O
Zelda	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
positive	O
reception	O
of	O
the	O
orchestral	O
score	O
within	O
the	O
company	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
25th	O
Anniversary	O
Symphony	O
Concert	O
,	O
a	O
celebratory	O
concert	O
featuring	O
orchestrated	O
versions	O
of	O
classic	O
Zelda	O
themes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Miyamoto	O
later	O
confirmed	O
at	O
the	O
2008	O
Electronic	O
Entertainment	O
Expo	O
(	O
E3	O
)	O
that	O
a	O
new	O
Zelda	O
was	O
in	O
development	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
announced	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
use	O
of	O
Wii	B-Application
MotionPlus	I-Application
,	O
along	O
with	O
its	O
planned	O
2010	O
release	O
window	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
noted	O
that	O
his	O
wish	O
to	O
focus	O
on	O
the	O
new	O
game	O
meant	O
that	O
the	O
release	O
date	O
of	O
Spirit	B-Application
Tracks	I-Application
was	O
shifted	O
to	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
2009	O
rather	O
than	O
its	O
initial	O
projected	O
release	O
in	O
early	O
2010	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
was	O
released	O
in	O
all	O
regions	O
in	O
November	O
2011	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
as	O
both	O
a	O
standard	O
edition	O
and	O
a	O
limited	O
deluxe	O
edition	O
that	O
included	O
a	O
gold	O
Wii	B-Device
Remote	I-Device
Plus	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Once	O
revealed	O
,	O
Nintendo	O
issued	O
instructions	O
on	O
avoiding	O
it	O
and	O
set	O
up	O
a	O
special	O
channel	O
on	O
their	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
site	O
in	O
Japan	O
to	O
gain	O
feedback	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
offering	O
to	O
manually	O
repair	O
corrupted	O
save	O
files	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
later	O
re-released	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
U	O
via	O
the	O
Virtual	B-Application
Console	I-Application
on	O
September	O
1	O
,	O
2016	O
,	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
30th	O
anniversary	O
celebrations	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Skyward	I-Application
Sword	I-Application
HD	O
,	O
a	O
high-definition	O
remaster	O
for	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
on	O
July	O
16	O
,	O
2021	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
Joy-Con	B-General_Concept
pair	O
themed	O
after	O
the	O
Master	O
Sword	O
and	O
Hylian	O
Shield	O
from	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
released	O
separately	O
on	O
the	O
same	O
date	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aonuma	O
stated	O
in	O
June	O
2016	O
that	O
it	O
might	O
be	O
possible	O
to	O
create	O
an	O
HD	O
remaster	O
of	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
for	O
then-current	O
hardware	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Years	O
prior	O
,	O
during	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Breath	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
,	O
Nintendo	O
experimented	O
with	O
an	O
HD	O
version	O
of	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
running	O
on	O
Wii	B-Device
U	I-Device
development	O
kits	O
when	O
trying	O
to	O
settle	O
on	O
a	O
graphical	O
style	O
for	O
the	O
new	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
ultimately	O
led	O
to	O
the	O
production	O
of	O
The	B-Device
Wind	I-Device
Waker	I-Device
HD	I-Device
,	O
whose	O
success	O
encouraged	O
the	O
Zelda	O
team	O
to	O
pursue	O
other	O
high-definition	O
remasters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aonuma	O
recognized	O
the	O
interest	O
in	O
a	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
remaster	O
,	O
though	O
a	O
spokesperson	O
from	O
Nintendo	O
would	O
later	O
clarify	O
to	O
Eurogamer	O
that	O
there	O
were	O
no	O
plans	O
to	O
bring	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
at	O
that	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
August	O
2020	O
,	O
Amazon	B-Application
UK	I-Application
had	O
listed	O
a	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Switch	I-Application
version	O
of	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
,	O
though	O
it	O
was	O
delisted	O
soon	O
after	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
remaster	O
features	O
two	O
control	O
schemes	O
,	O
one	O
of	O
which	O
aims	O
to	O
replicate	O
the	O
functions	O
of	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
Remote	O
Plus	O
and	O
Nunchuck	O
through	O
the	O
motion	O
controls	O
of	O
the	O
Joy-Con	B-General_Concept
,	O
while	O
the	O
other	O
aims	O
to	O
replicate	O
a	O
traditional	O
control	O
scheme	O
by	O
using	O
the	O
right	O
analog	B-Device
stick	I-Device
to	O
control	O
the	O
previously	O
motion-controlled	O
sword	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
secondary	O
control	O
method	O
allows	O
the	O
game	O
to	O
be	O
played	O
in	O
handheld	O
mode	O
,	O
on	O
a	O
Pro	B-Device
Controller	I-Device
,	O
and	O
on	O
the	O
Nintendo	B-Device
Switch	I-Device
Lite	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
new	O
features	O
include	O
autosave	B-General_Concept
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
save	O
to	O
any	O
of	O
the	O
three	O
save	O
files	O
instead	O
of	O
just	O
the	O
original	O
file	O
(	O
which	O
also	O
now	O
includes	O
giving	O
Hero	O
Mode	O
its	O
own	O
slot	O
upon	O
unlocking	O
it	O
as	O
a	O
New	O
Game	O
Plus	O
feature	O
when	O
saved	O
into	O
a	O
file	O
)	O
,	O
many	O
of	O
Fi	O
's	O
hints	O
now	O
being	O
optional	O
,	O
the	O
ability	O
to	O
skip	O
dialogue	O
boxes	O
and	O
cutscenes	O
,	O
and	O
item	O
descriptions	O
no	O
longer	O
appearing	O
after	O
the	O
first	O
encounter	O
with	O
an	O
item	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
Gratitude	O
Crystals	O
being	O
the	O
lone	O
exception	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
Amiibo	B-Device
figure	O
is	O
supported	O
,	O
being	O
a	O
figure	O
depicting	O
Zelda	O
and	O
a	O
Loftwing	O
enabling	O
fast	O
travel	O
between	O
the	O
sky	O
and	O
the	O
surface	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
received	O
critical	O
acclaim	O
;	O
it	O
has	O
a	O
score	O
of	O
93/100	O
on	O
the	O
aggregate	O
site	O
Metacritic	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
81	O
reviews	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
the	O
site	O
's	O
10th	O
highest	O
scoring	O
game	O
of	O
2011	O
,	O
and	O
ranked	O
as	O
the	O
6th	O
best-reviewed	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
was	O
the	O
third	O
Zelda	O
game	O
and	O
the	O
sixteenth	O
video	O
game	O
to	O
receive	O
a	O
perfect	O
score	O
from	O
Famitsu	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
gave	O
it	O
similar	O
praise	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
"	O
it	O
's	O
truly	O
worthy	O
of	O
being	O
called	O
'	O
epic	O
 '	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Jose	O
Otero	O
,	O
writing	O
for	O
1UP.com,	O
praised	O
the	O
developers	O
for	O
putting	O
effort	O
into	O
moving	O
away	O
from	O
Zelda	O
tradition	O
and	O
called	O
it	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
better	O
games	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
but	O
said	O
that	O
those	O
detrimental	O
elements	O
that	O
remained	O
such	O
as	O
side	O
quests	O
and	O
some	O
item	O
usage	O
made	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
"	O
a	O
weird	O
middle	O
ground	O
filled	O
with	O
genuine	O
surprises	O
,	O
inessential	O
carry-overs	O
,	O
and	O
copy/paste	O
quest	O
structures	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Destructoid'''s	O
Jonathan	O
Holmes	O
called	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
his	O
new	O
favorite	O
3D	O
game	O
from	O
the	O
series	O
,	O
but	O
noted	O
that	O
its	O
exclusive	O
use	O
of	O
motion	O
controls	O
would	O
put	O
off	O
potential	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Game	O
Informers	O
Phil	O
Kollar	O
echoed	O
both	O
general	O
praise	O
of	O
the	O
gameplay	O
and	O
presentation	O
,	O
and	O
minor	O
issues	O
experienced	O
with	O
the	O
motion	O
controls	O
:	O
he	O
concluded	O
by	O
saying	O
that	O
Nintendo	O
had	O
fulfilled	O
its	O
initial	O
promises	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
with	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
GameTrailers	O
noted	O
that	O
,	O
despite	O
its	O
many	O
strengths	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
believable	O
relationship	O
between	O
Link	O
and	O
Zelda	O
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
represented	O
the	O
series	O
 '	O
"	O
first	O
gray	O
hairs	O
"	O
due	O
to	O
some	O
of	O
its	O
mechanics	O
feeling	O
dated	O
in	O
the	O
modern	O
gaming	O
landscape	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
's	O
Richard	O
George	O
felt	O
that	O
the	O
game	O
returned	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
to	O
being	O
a	O
revolutionary	O
series	O
in	O
the	O
gaming	O
industry	O
,	O
praising	O
almost	O
every	O
aspect	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
except	O
for	O
the	O
soundtrack	O
,	O
which	O
he	O
felt	O
did	O
not	O
live	O
up	O
to	O
series	O
standards	O
despite	O
its	O
quality	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Following	O
its	O
release	O
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
won	O
numerous	O
awards	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
IGN	O
's	O
"	O
Best	O
of	O
2011	O
"	O
awards	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
awarded	O
"	O
Best	O
Game	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Graphics	O
"	O
,	O
"	O
Best	O
Sound	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Story	O
"	O
in	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
category	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
Digital	O
Trends	O
 '	O
similar	O
awards	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
named	O
as	O
"	O
Best	O
Action-Adventure	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
Exclusive	O
"	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
nominated	O
for	O
the	O
site	O
's	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
RPGamer	O
's	O
own	O
"	O
Best	O
of	O
2011	O
"	O
awards	O
named	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
"	O
Best	O
Console	O
and	O
PC	O
Game	O
"	O
and	O
awarded	O
it	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Music	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
also	O
received	O
"	O
Game	O
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
awards	O
from	O
Electronic	O
Gaming	O
Monthly	O
,	O
GameSpot	O
,	O
Edge	O
and	O
Nintendo	B-Application
Power	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
At	O
Spike	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
won	O
awards	O
for	O
"	O
Best	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
Game	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Best	O
Motion	O
Game	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
has	O
since	O
been	O
ranked	O
among	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
developed	O
for	O
the	B-Operating_System
Wii	I-Operating_System
.	O
</s>
<s>
Upon	O
its	O
Japanese	O
debut	O
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
sold	O
nearly	O
195,000	O
units	O
,	O
reaching	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
sales	O
charts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
UK	O
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
was	O
the	O
seventh	O
best-selling	O
game	O
of	O
November	O
in	O
the	O
multiformat	O
charts	O
,	O
stated	O
as	O
impressive	O
given	O
the	O
waning	O
popularity	O
of	O
the	O
platform	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
also	O
the	O
region	O
's	O
top-selling	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
game	O
during	O
its	O
week	O
of	O
release	O
,	O
supplanting	O
the	O
previous	O
week	O
's	O
top	O
seller	O
Just	B-Application
Dance	I-Application
3	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
failed	O
to	O
reach	O
the	O
top-five	O
best-selling	O
Wii	B-Operating_System
games	O
for	O
that	O
year	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
According	O
to	O
Nintendo	O
of	O
America	O
president	O
Reggie	O
Fils-Aime	O
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
was	O
the	O
fastest-selling	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
series	O
at	O
that	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Pre-orders	O
for	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
HD	I-Application
sold	O
out	O
on	O
Amazon.com	B-Application
and	O
it	O
was	O
listed	O
as	O
the	O
best-selling	O
game	O
on	O
the	O
US	O
version	O
of	O
the	O
site	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
,	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
HD	I-Application
has	O
sold	O
3.91	O
million	O
units	O
worldwide	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
development	O
started	O
on	O
the	O
next	O
home	O
console	O
Zelda	O
game	O
,	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Breath	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
,	O
the	O
developers	O
wanted	O
to	O
improve	O
on	O
what	O
they	O
had	O
achieved	O
with	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
and	O
the	O
feedback	O
it	O
received	O
from	O
both	O
fans	O
and	O
critics	O
,	O
along	O
with	O
creating	O
a	O
non-linear	O
world	O
based	O
on	O
player	O
complaints	O
about	O
the	O
linearity	O
of	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Aonuma	O
's	O
said	O
that	O
his	O
wish	O
with	O
Breath	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
was	O
"	O
to	O
expand	O
and	O
make	O
a	O
better	O
Skyward	B-Application
Sword	I-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Various	O
publications	O
noted	O
that	O
the	O
sequel	O
to	O
Breath	B-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Wild	I-Application
,	O
The	B-Application
Legend	I-Application
of	I-Application
Zelda	I-Application
:	I-Application
Tears	I-Application
of	I-Application
the	I-Application
Kingdom	I-Application
,	O
contains	O
influences	O
from	O
Skyward	O
Sword''	O
.	O
</s>
