Skyward Sword HD Has “a Smoother Play Experience” in the Opening Hours

Anyone who’s played The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will remember that excessive handholding turned huge chunks of the game into a very railroaded experience, with players being forced to sit through unnecessary tutorials and dialogue at times. In particular, this was an issue that the game was plagued by in its opening hours, but it seems Nintendo is addressing this with the upcoming Switch re-release of the game.

In a recently published tweet, Nintendo said that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD makes some changes here and there in its opening hours “to make for a smoother play experience” and to “get you on your grand adventure to the surface world sooner”. A clip showing an example is also shown, where a mandatory tutorial from the beginning of this game has been made less overbearing and shorter. Take a look below.

This, combined with the rebalancing of tutorials in general and the implementation of various quality of life features, does give encouragement that Skyward Sword HD isn’t going to get getting in its own way- or at least not as much as the original game did back when it launched a decade ago.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is out for the Nintendo Switch on July 16.

Some changes have been made to the opening hours of The Legend of #Zelda: #SkywardSwordHD to make for a smoother play experience, and to get you on your grand adventure to the surface world sooner! Here’s one example where mandatory advice from Horwell has been adjusted. pic.twitter.com/KofowPZwn4

— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) July 11, 2024