Highlights
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a significant improvement over Breath of the Wild , but it doesn't acknowledge past games like Skyward Sword enough.
- The Great Sky Island in Tears of the Kingdom lacked variety and identity, missing an opportunity to include familiar places from Skyloft.
- Skyward Sword 's Skyloft had a whimsical atmosphere that could've made the Great Sky Island a more memorable starting area.
With more mechanical upgrades, a heavier emphasis on story, and endless potential for enjoyment, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was big leap forward from Breath of the Wild, a game that reset the standard for open-world experiences. The success of each has provoked a commitment from Nintendo to continue the new Zelda formula moving forward, which is an exciting thought, but one that could render previous games as retro far quicker than anticipated.
However, some not only stand as tall as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but have components that the latter should absolutely take cues from. Skyward Sword did a lot right, even though it stumbled in some key areas, but Skyloft was a place that had a whimsical feeling and a lot of value to the series as a whole. It was somewhat disheartening to know, then, that the 2023 release didn't capitalize on what it started.
Skyloft in a Different Time Could Have Been Fascinating
With The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword being a largely self-contained experience, and one that isn't as well-loved as the likes of The Wind Waker or Majora's Mask, it's a tough ask for Nintendo to make too many callbacks to it. However, while the jury is still out on its use of motion controls, Skyloft was a place that most found enjoyment in. The uplifting (no pun intended) atmosphere was a nice break from the story's serious moments, and frequently returning to check in on side characters felt like Link had something positive to fight for.
Both of the Switch mainline Zelda games show Hyrule's Castle Town in a state of ruin, showing the land has seen better days, which gives the setting an immense sense of geographical and historical scope. It's a charming touch, as plenty of older fans will remember traversing the area in Ocarina of Time. Not having the Great Sky Island exhibit any noticeable parallels to Skyloft feels like a wasted opportunity, especially as Skyward Sword is the game that kicks off the often-confusing Zelda timeline.
Tears of the Kingdom’s Great Sky Island Lacked Identity
The Great Sky Island in Tears of the Kingdom wasn't tonally or aesthetically different from the other floating land masses scattered across Hyrule's skies. It shared that yellow tint that most had, which was a good way to differentiate the islands from the ground below. However, while the opening hours are spent on it, once players have access to the full map, it's clear that the presentation is shared elsewhere, making the starting area simply feel like a smaller version of the rest of the word that players would explore. The lack of variety between each one was a small, but valid disappointment.
This isn't dissimilar to the Great Plateau in Breath of the Wild, but as Tears of the Kingdom makes so many advancements across the board over its predecessor, it's a shame to see Nintendo using a familiar format to prepare Link for the adventures that await him. There could have been so much more narrative weight in the Great Sky Island by dipping into the franchise's toy box. Installing some familiar places from Skyloft like the Bazaar, Knight's Academy, and the Lumpy Pumpkin -- be it in perfect working order or long abandoned -- could have been a huge and worthwhile payoff for people who have followed Link for years.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available now on Nintendo Switch.
