The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lengthy list of official improvements for specific games from Nintendo, but the console has quietly improved the motion controls ofThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDsignificantly. Fans are beginning to notice that some Switch 1 games that don’t have official upgrades or notes about improvements are still performing better than Nintendo appears to be suggesting.Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition, for example, loads much faster and has a stable frame rate.
In a video byGVGon YouTube, the content creatordemonstrates how significantly the Switch 2 motion controls have been improvedfor a few titles, but the big one isSkyward Sword. During the demonstration, GVG actively tries to offset the Joy-Con 2’s gyro with a lot of sword swinging, bow shooting, flying, and shield parrying, but the gyro remained centered throughout and the motion controls appear to be remarkably improved over the Wii and Switch 1 in general, at least for this particular game.
How Switch 2’s Controls Have Improved
Much More Stable And Accurate Motion Movements
It’s no secret amongZeldafans thatSkyward Swordis one of the most polarizing entriesin the beloved series. The game was praised for its story, characters, art style, and fun factor, but its controls, linearity, and repetition ofZelda’s traditional formula divided fans. The HD remaster on Switch 1 ofSkyward Swordaimed to correctmany of the original release’s flaws, to varying degrees of success. For Switch 2, though, it seems like the controls have gotten even better.
By all appearances, the gyroscope in the Joy-Con 2 controllers and the Switch 2 ProController have been greatly enhanced, which will likely improve any Switch 1 or Switch 2 game that relies on motion controls. According tominecrafter3448on YouTube,Nintendo used"an accelerometer in the Switch 2 controllers to continuously adjust the gyro automatically, meaning it can never get out of sync.“The user discovered this information because of a motion control explanation in thecontroversialNintendo Switch 2: Welcome Tourgame.
Why Skyward Sword Is Underrated
A Game That Tried To Be Everything And Keep Its Roots
Skyward Sword’s story, which details the origin of the entireZeldatimeline, is often regarded as the best narrative the long-running series has ever had, butthat’s about the only thing fans can mostly agree on. The game’s motion controls, when they worked, were great fun, opening up precision sword dueling and shield blocking and capitalizing on the Wii’s major gimmick. The HD Switch 1 port added a new button control layout, providing the opportunity for fans who don’t enjoy motion controls to play the game in a different way.
While the game is very linear, and a lot of fans were growing tired of the series' formula (leading in part toBreath of the Wildcompletely reinventingZelda), the game remains one of the most underrated titles in the series, in my opinion, for its great dungeons, stellar story, and willingness to be different. With improved motion controls on the Switch 2, as well as still having access to the button controls, it might be time for fans to tryThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDagain as we await the next majorZeldainstallment.
