SKYWARD SWORD
Okay, after not being at home on the day this the newest installment of Zelda was actually released, what was I thinking attending cultural events instead of release parties my first response is this:
*flails* AFFFFYONLGL PTTFTLEINH GLRL WHY have I not seen more love!? Oh, you’re all too busy PLAYING TO RANT AND RAVE. I SEE.
My second response is this:
I honestly didn’t believe IGN and those punks when they said that Ocarina of Time had met its mach. Like, at all. …And yet a couple hours into gameplay, I think I do.
1.) At first, I wasn’t a huge fan of the graphics. But, after having explored the environment a little bit, and having seen the way they shift and the way the background fades in an impressionistic, colorful blur, I think the graphics are totally baller. Not to mention very expressive and wide-ranging. The character animation is excellent, and the style suits them perfectly. And did you see the creepy monster mouth-thing at the very beginning!? I don’t think it would have been as horrifying in the more realistic style of TP!
2.) The music, while perhaps not as immediately memorable as that from earlier installments, is perfectly suited to the atmospheres. The theme when you initially follow Fi up to the top of Skyloft is gorgeous and makes that scene feel like playing a dream or a fairy tale. Also, Zelda singing in some crazy proto-Hylian language!? Yes please.
3.) I admit I was very apprehensive about a story that came before OoT, because in my mind, that is the beginning of everything - the first Link and Zelda, etc. But… Yeah, so far I’m intrigued. This is making connections out of everything from the beginnings of Hyrule to the Master Sword to the Sky temple from TP to the origins of Link’s uniform, as it were. And yet even in this early game they're STILL talking about the "old ways," hinting at further history to be revealed. That’s pretty awesome. Discussions of this will surely follow once I’m further into the game because I’m a geek who likes to discuss Zelda chronology.
4.) Usually this is not the case, but I love that Link has a little bit of a background and a personality, here. He’s total a dreamer, a little awkward, a little simple, and maybe even with a reputation of laziness, but he’s as determined as ever and surprisingly… I dunno, athletic? I don’t think there’s been as much wall climbing/jumping in a Zelda game as I’ve seen in the very beginning of SS. Anyway, I think this Link is darling.
5.) Zelda herself, without a doubt, earns her name as the title character in these first few scenes alone. She’s sweet, very pretty, and also a feisty little badass. (I loved when she got all up in Groose’s grill and was like, “Bitch please. Think you can pick on my man?”)
SPEAKING OF WHICH THE UNIVERSE WAS LIKE, OH HI, HAVE SOME ADORABLE ZELINK - OH WAIT THAT’S RIGHT DESTINY IS A BITCH.
So, I am issuing an all-call for love and general squeeing. Please? You know you wanna. ;D
[x-posted to zelda_lovers]
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Also, I am at the 70% mark for NaNoWriMo.
This weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Night of Writing Dangerously, put on by the Office of Letters and Light... If I can sneak away some more time today, I'll write up a blog on it...