Skyward Sword focuses on the very first Link and Zelda and provides valuable insight into the original source of evil that has threatened to take over Hyrule time and time again. The game is unique in design, gameplay, and story, making it an enjoyable experience for many gamers. Not all Zelda fans are in agreement when it comes to the game’s merits, however.
Some loved the softer design and colors of the game, and enjoyed the unique gameplay. Others found the motion controls to be incredibly frustrating and didn’t care much for the art style. Despite mixed reviews though, the game was a commercial success and features its fair share of interesting facts and secrets that some players might have missed.
Updated September 3, 2021 by Tom Bowen: Skyward Sword was an incredibly divisive game when it was first released back in 2011. The motion controls often felt forced and gimmicky, and the decision to split up the explorable areas rather than providing players with one large open world didn’t sit well with some Zelda fans. One decade on, however, and the release of Skyward Sword HD has helped to bring the game to a new generation of players, while also fixing some of the issues that blighted the original release. A lot of things have changed, though these facts about the development of Skyward Sword remain just as interesting as ever.
20 There Are Real-World Inspirations
Skyloft is a very unique city since it is literally floating in the sky. While we may not know why that’s the case or how an island can be floating, it does provide for a very unique design as well as some fantastic visuals. What many people might not realize though is that Link and Zelda’s home had some real-world inspiration.
If you look at some of the early concept art for Skyloft, you may notice something familiar about the design. Earlier versions of Skyloft were actually heavily inspired by the French city, Mont Saint Michel. This city is essentially its own island with buildings built around a monastery at the top of the mountain. It’s also been the inspiration for locations in other media, such as the kingdom in the movie Tangled.
19 Hey, That’s A Familiar Face!
If you go to the local Bazaar on Skyloft, you’ll be able to interact with all sorts of interesting people selling their wares and services. You can buy items, get equipment upgrades, make potions, and a whole lot more. One of the shop owners is Rupin, who as well as being your main source for bombs, arrows, and shields, also bears a striking resemblance to another Zelda character.
This may be more of a fan theory than anything else, but it would definitely make sense. Fans have theorized that Rupin is actually the ancestor of the Happy Mask Salesman from Majora’s Mask. There are certainly some similarities between them to back this up. They both have that ever-present grin on their faces, they look similar, and they have similar mannerisms. It’s a fun idea that could definitely be true.
18 It’s Still Too Dangerous To Go Alone
The original Legend of Zelda game famously coined the iconic phrase “it’s too dangerous to go alone.” It was originally uttered at the beginning of the first game as the old man tells Link this and has him take the sword in order to fight. Observant players will probably have noticed that this phrase has also shown up in later Zelda games as well.
In Skyward Sword, one of the side quests has you looking for a missing girl named Kukiel. Upon finding her with the monster Batreaux, she tells Link that Batreaux has told her that “it’s too dangerous to go out alone” at night. This was pretty much a direct reference to the original game and a great homage to the unforgettable adventure that started it all.
17 Where Are Rose And Jack?
As you travel around the desert ocean in the Lanaryu desert, you’ll come across Skipper’s Retreat, a cabin that used to belong to the robot captain of a ship that you will eventually board. The cabin contains Skipper’s belongings and gives you several glimpses into his life. As you further explore the cabin, you’ll notice some familiar artwork hanging on the wall.
One of the pictures portrays two robots standing at the front of a giant ship. One robot is holding the other with its arms out, which is of course a reference to the famous scene in Titanic where Jack holds Rose as she holds her arms out on the ship’s bow. It’s a funny reference to a classic movie that can be easily missed if you’re not looking hard enough.
16 Gratitude Crystals Have A Sweet Inspiration
One of the big quests in Skyward Sword involves helping a monster named Batreaux to turn into a human. The only way for this to happen is to gather 80 Gratitude Crystals, which can be obtained by completing side quests or found scattered throughout Skyloft at night. But did you know the source of the inspiration for the design of these crystals?
The design of the Gratitude Crystals is actually based on a candy that’s made in Japan. It’s called Konpeito, comes in many different flavors and colors, and is shaped like little stars. Apparently, the star bits from Super Mario Galaxy were also inspired by this candy, which serves as proof that inspiration can sometimes come from the most unlikely of places.
15 Everyone Loves A Secret Kitten Pile
If you’ve ever wandered around Skyloft, you’ve likely come across a few adorable cat-like creatures named Remlits. During the day, these creatures are so cute it’s almost unbearable. Sadly, the same isn’t true at night. But did you know that there’s a hidden area in Skyloft that has a bunch of Remlits just chilling?
You can only gain access to the place once you have the clawshot. If you go near the Goddess Statue in Skyloft and look to the left, you’ll see a clawshot target. Hook onto that and go over the wall. There, you’ll see an area with five adorable Remlits, ready to shower you with affection. It’s a fun little secret area that gives you a chance to play with kittens! That’s pretty awesome.
14 A Familiar Melody Is Hidden In One Of The Songs
Skyward Sword has some absolutely beautiful music, as it’s all fully orchestrated. For example, one of the main songs, the “Ballad of the Goddess,” has a gorgeous sound that creates the feeling of being free in the sky. It’s a beautiful melody that gives the game its beautiful atmosphere. But did you know that this song is actually based on a familiar song from Ocarina of Time?
If you play the Ballad of the Goddess backward, you’ll find that it is actually the song “Zelda’s Lullaby” from Ocarina of Time. You’d likely never notice it unless you actually played the song backward, but upon doing so, it’s surprisingly obvious. It’s a beautiful way to honor a previous game, while still making a song that feels unique to the current game.
13 It’s Still A Secret To Everybody
In the original The Legend of Zelda game, you may come across a Moblin who, instead of attacking you, will give you rupees. He then tells you that “it’s a secret to everybody.” This is a phrase that has shown up several times in the various Zelda games over the years, and Skyward Sword is no exception.
In one of your quests to find the flames that will strengthen the Skyward Sword, Link must get help from the Kikwi Hermit, who knows the location of one of the flames. As you talk to him, he agrees to tell you where the flame is, but then he says, “But remember, it’s a secret to everybody.” This is another great reference to the original game and a phrase that has also become iconic within the Zelda fanbase.
12 It’s So 19th Century
The art style of Skyward Sword is fairly unique when compared to previous Zelda games. It has realistic proportions similar to Twilight Princess, but has much brighter colors like those found in Wind Waker. In general, the game has a much softer feel to it with its design and characters, but where exactly did the inspiration for this particular style come from?
Well, apparently, Skyward Sword took inspiration from 19th century Impressionism. Specifically, the art style was inspired by the Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne. It makes sense, with the softer lines and brighter colors. So the next time you play the game, remember that it was modeled after an Impressionistic style.
11 Flex Your Musical Muscles
The Goddess’ Harp is the instrument of choice in Skyward Sword and is used often to call upon great power. It was originally Zelda’s, but she gives it to Link to use pretty early on in the game. Throughout the game, you use the harp in certain areas and situations, but there is one more time that you can use the harp that you probably didn’t know about.
When you beat the game, the credits will start to roll. But instead of just sitting through them, you can instead press a button and actually play the harp along with the music that’s playing with the credits. It’s a fun way to incorporate the harp into the game one last time and can keep hold of your interest throughout the credits (since there are a few extra scenes at the very end).
10 They’re More Technologically Advanced
Despite the fact that, canonically, Skyward Sword is the very first Zelda game, it actually makes a lot of use of futuristic technology, specifically in the Lanaryu Desert. This is based on the fact that there was a civilization that had advanced technology many centuries ago. By using special Timeshift Stones you can get a glimpse into the past and use some pretty interesting technology.
One of the elements that’s used often is electricity. In fact, Skyward Sword is the first game that uses electricity on such a wide scale. Previous games rarely used this element, except for in lightning. In Skyward Sword, however, many puzzles directly involve the use of electricity, particularly in one of the dungeons in the Lanaryu Desert. It’s an interesting way to incorporate a more modern element into a game that hasn’t really done it before.
9 Time Doesn’t Really Flow Here
In the previous 3D console Zelda games, time has flowed fairly naturally where day and night alternate on their own. There were ways for you to manipulate time, but regardless of your actions, it still flowed on. Majora’s Mask took this idea to the next level by having everything happen in three days, with time manipulation playing a huge role in the game as a result.
Things are a little different in Skyward Sword though. Unlike the previous 3D console games, time in Skyward Sword doesn’t flow on its own. There are still day and night states, but to switch between them, Link will need to sleep in a bed. It’s an unusual game mechanic, but it does make things a bit more interesting as certain things, like finding gratitude crystals, can only be done at certain times of the day.
8 He’s Less Superhuman This Time
In previous Zelda games, there was no real limit on how long Link could run, climb, or swim. He could climb for hours and swim for ages and still have more than enough energy to fight off any monster that came his way. That all changed quite a bit in Skyward Sword though.
This particular game was the first one in the Zelda franchise to introduce the stamina meter, giving Link a finite amount of stamina for certain actions like running and climbing. This introduced an additional layer of difficulty in the gameplay, though that was eased somewhat by the presence of fruits and potions that could restore stamina.
7 Wait, This Can’t Be The End!
Every game is bound to have a few glitches here and there. Some are minor, while others could potentially cause a few problems. The original release of Skyward Sword actually has a pretty major glitch, however, and it’s one that can prevent you from completing the game, essentially forcing a complete restart.
After you complete the Thunder Dragon Quest, if you talk to Golo the Goron outside the Lanaryu Mining Facility twice, he will then tell you that he’s jealous of your discovery. This is where the glitch happens. From here on out, you can’t progress any further in the game and the events that are supposed to happen don’t. The good news is that after this glitch was discovered, Nintendo helped players get past it by releasing “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Save Data Update Channel.”
6 Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
Most Zelda games have a fairly long development period, especially the 3D console games. There’s a lot of work that goes into these games, so the process can take a while. The average development time for a Zelda game is a few years, although Majora’s Mask was developed in record time, taking only one year. Up until Breath of the Wild, however, Skyward Sword had the longest development period of the games.
Development began in 2006, but wasn’t completed until 2011, making for a total development period of five years. The only Zelda game that took that long was later Breath of the Wild, which also took five years to complete. Looking at both games, it makes sense why they took a long time. Both games incorporate very different gameplay than their predecessors, and the visuals are also beautifully presented. With that in mind, most would argue that they were well worth the wait.
5 Skyloft Residents Had A Unique Model
Skyloft is home to many great people who are all interesting and quirky in their own way. What makes them really unique though is what exactly their design was based on. You might not guess by looking at them, but according to Hyrule Historia, the people of Skyloft were loosely based on birds.
The designs of some characters are more obvious than others (Groose’s hair, for example, clearly resembles a bird’s plumage), but a lot of the characters’ names are also inspired by birds. For example, Pipit, shares his name with a small songbird that looks like a lark and Groose sounds a lot like “Goose.” It arguably makes sense to take inspiration from birds, since they are quite literally living in the sky.
4 A Family Heirloom Passed Down?
We’ve talked about the Goddess Harp a bit before, but let’s take another look at it. It’s one of Zelda’s most prized possessions, but she ends up gifting it to Link before traveling back in time. This harp then becomes an invaluable tool to unlock the power of the Goddess Hylia. What you may not realize though is that the harp is likely the same harp that Sheik carries in Ocarina of Time.
Granted, this theory isn’t confirmed, but it would fit within the timeline. Skyward Sword is canonically the first Zelda game, and it could be argued that the Zelda in Ocarina of Time is likely a descendant of the Zelda in Skyward Sword. It would therefore make sense that the Zelda in Ocarina of Time would have the Goddess Harp, as it would’ve been handed down through the generations.
3 Gossip Travels Fast
Those who played Ocarina of Time may remember the Gossip Stones that were placed randomly throughout the areas. Depending on the different actions you performed near them, you could get some interesting results or information. They were an interesting addition to the game and made their return in Skyward Sword.
Throughout the game, you will come across areas where butterflies have flocked. If you play the harp in these spots, a Gossip Stone will appear. These stones are meant to help you out on your journey and often provide items or information. This is yet another great example of how Nintendo incorporates elements from previous Zelda games into Skyward Sword.
2 The Owl-Like Headmaster Gaepora
Headmaster Gaepora of the Sky Academy is a good man who is wise and understanding, if a bit stern. If you’ve played Ocarina of Time though, you might find something familiar about both his name and appearance. This is because Headmaster Gaepora is connected to the famous (or infamous) Owl Gaebora from Ocarina of Time. This owl was there to give Link information, and sometimes a lift, though quickly became a hated character due to his unskippable lengthy lectures.
How exactly these two characters are connected isn’t entirely clear, but they do share plenty of common features. The owl also mentioned that he was a reincarnation of a wise old sage, which could be a direct reference to Headmaster Gaepora. Gaepora also ends one of his statements in one of the cutscenes in Skywar Sword with a “Hoo, Hoo!,” further solidifying this link.
1 Don’t Forget Where You Came From
The Silent Realm had a bit of a polarizing effect on players: you either loved it or you hated it. It became a difficult element of the game that also probably caused a ton of anxiety for players (the part when the Guardians wake up and chase you is seriously freaky). But did you know that the Silent Realm was loosely based on elements from previous Zelda games?
More specifically, this element of Skyward Sword took inspiration from Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past, and Phantom Hourglass. It borrowed the gathering of tears/petals from Twilight Princess, the concept of alternate worlds from A Link to the Past, and the Guardians from the Phantoms in Phantom Hourglass. It’s interesting to see how previous games can influence elements in later ones, even if it’s just bits and pieces.
NEXT: Skyward Sword HD: Secrets You Might Have Missed In Skyloft
