Many have been complaining about the price of Skyward Sword HD, the high-definition remake of the Wii classic. Nintendo is pricing it at $59.99, which is the standard price for a Nintendo Switch game. Those complaining are wrong and hypocritical. Skyward Sword HD is getting a whole new makeover in HD, most likely some added features we don’t know about yet, and it’s now getting regular button-control support. Yet people still find something to complain about. They never complained about Twilight Princess HD or The Wind Waker HD being sold at full-price. Or Ocarina of Time 3D or Majora’s Mask 3D, who both got a massive makeover. Yes, Skyward Sword was a divisive game. While it’s my second-favorite Zelda game, it’s not perfect. The motion controls were never a problem for me. In fact, my golden WiiMote still works perfectly and I still don’t have the calibration issues many people claim to have had, after 10 years. The only reason why people are giving Nintendo a hard time over Skyward Sword HD is because of the motion controls.
The funny thing is, no one is complaining about Miitopia being released on the Switch for $49.99, which is essentially the same game as the 3DS version with a little more kick. Many games that have been released on the Wii U have now been released on the Switch for full-retail price, and while some have complained, not everyone has. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, New Super Mario Bros. U, Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 1+2, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition all released on the Nintendo Switch at full price, ported over from the Wii U. The latest offender is Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, which came out last week to wonderful reviews and is being sold at full-price. This doesn’t bother me though. The Wii U sold about 13.6 million units, a very poor install base. The Switch has an install base of 80 million gamers. From a business standpoint, it makes a lot of sense to come out with these games on Switch, as they were very good games and Nintendo is able to make their money back on them. Super Mario 3D All-Stars is the only one I’d question the price of, but it came with Mario Galaxy in HD, so I can’t complain much. People even complained about Link’s Awakening HD, a full-blown remake of the original, being sold at full-price. Nintendo can never win.
Skyward Sword sold almost 4 million units, which is mediocre for a Zelda game, but it came out at the end of the console’s life cycle. This hurt its sales. It wasn’t going to rake in the number that Twilight Princess did, which launched with the console. If Amazon is any indication, Skyward Sword HD is a very-much sought after game. It currently holds the number one spot in video game (fifth overall, the first few are cards) sales on the platform. The new Skyward Sword Joy-Cons pre-orders were sold out within minutes. This shows the hype behind the game, no matter what anyone tells you. Twitter is not real life. Facebook is not real life. Skyward Sword in HD not only looks amazing, but because of the improved quality of the Switch Joy-Cons, the controls should be even more precise than before. It also gives players options, as those who don’t want to play with motion controls don’t have to and can use a standard controller. It can be played on the go. This is especially important to Switch Lite players, who literally cannot play it with motion controls. Skyward Sword HD seems to be the perfect compromise, and has the best story of any Zelda game. It also set the foundation for Breath of the Wild with concepts such as the Sail Cloth, a stamina gauge, collectible materials, and weapon upgrades.
This alone warrants the $59.99 price, and we don’t even know what Nintendo is adding to the game. I admit I am a bit biased, but everyone who has been following the rumors of any Zelda 35th Anniversary Collection knew that Skyward Sword HD would be a standalone game, and be sold at full price. It’s an incredible game, an immersive experience, and it’s a shame that so many online are going out of their way to bash it. The thing is, the internet isn’t real life. People are very excited for Skyward Sword HD, especially those who never got the chance to experience it on the Wii either because they were too young or because they weren’t Zelda fans until Breath of the Wild. The Switch is in the middle of its life cycle too, so sales will not be an issue.
Skyward Sword HD is the game we deserve, and the one we need right now.