Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Catch-All

Demyx wrote:
Citizen86 wrote:

I just got to the section in the desert where you drive the boat. Holy draw distance, Batman. I appreciate them keeping the FPS high, but that was crazy.

I loved this segment so much, one of my favorite scenes of modern videogaming. I guess it's just the right combination of joy and melancholy for me. I like how you just get a glimpse of what Once Was but never really get to see it.

I loved that part, too. I couldn't tell if it was a technical limitation or not (the draw distance doesn't seem to be that short in other places, but it's also a more open area), but if so, that's a novel solution. If not, it's just a really beautiful idea.

Is that what was going on? I did notice the colors underwater that changed closer as you got to them, I figured that was part of the "Once Was" idea. It's a nice way to look at it though.

I did really like that section as well though, looking for an invisible ship and booting around on a speedboat in a Zelda game was tons of fun

For the imprisoned it's about timing and managing your sprint. I typically tried to keep myself between the path of the legs, but not between them as that's zapping territory. Best thing to do seemed to be get an early head start on the front if possible and focus on one foot at a time.

The Imprisoned is the stupidest boss fight ever included in a Zelda game.

Spoiler:

That they chose to include it not once but three times is really rather remarkable.

4xis.black wrote:

The Imprisoned is the stupidest boss fight ever included in a Zelda game.

Spoiler:

That they chose to include it not once but three times is really rather remarkable.

I agree. It's really poorly designed.

mrtomaytohead wrote:

For the imprisoned it's about timing and managing your sprint. I typically tried to keep myself between the path of the legs, but not between them as that's zapping territory. Best thing to do seemed to be get an early head start on the front if possible and focus on one foot at a time.

No really. Forget the dang toes and JUMP ON ITS HEAD! It does get harder later on, but it's still doable.

Mantid wrote:
mrtomaytohead wrote:

For the imprisoned it's about timing and managing your sprint. I typically tried to keep myself between the path of the legs, but not between them as that's zapping territory. Best thing to do seemed to be get an early head start on the front if possible and focus on one foot at a time.

No really. Forget the dang toes and JUMP ON ITS HEAD! It does get harder later on, but it's still doable.

That's just silly (but effective). I didn't find knocking out the toes to be so hard as to have to resort to doing that.

mrtomaytohead wrote:
Mantid wrote:
mrtomaytohead wrote:

For the imprisoned it's about timing and managing your sprint. I typically tried to keep myself between the path of the legs, but not between them as that's zapping territory. Best thing to do seemed to be get an early head start on the front if possible and focus on one foot at a time.

No really. Forget the dang toes and JUMP ON ITS HEAD! It does get harder later on, but it's still doable.

That's just silly (but effective). I didn't find knocking out the toes to be so hard as to have to resort to doing that.

I didn't even know you could jump on the stupid thing Like tomayto, I just went for the toes. You have to be fairly quick about it though, especially on the 3rd repetition and when he adds shockwaves to the mix. Spin strikes seem to be the best of way to clear the feet quickly. Sprinting and dodge rolling I think are how I managed to get through the feet fast, along with good timing. Definitely don't try sneaking around it or you'll get pinned against the wall or knocked off the edge (I think Demyx got knocked off the edge once during a cutscene?).

Those fights are pure padding though, and one of the lowlights of the game. Fortunately, the 3rd iteration is pretty easy.

EDIT: Oh, and I still think LttP is the best Zelda I've played so far. Link's Awakening is a close 2nd.

shoptroll wrote:

EDIT: Oh, and I still think LttP is the best Zelda I've played so far. Link's Awakening is a close 2nd.

I'munna eatchoo!

IMAGE(http://zeldadungeon.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10002/normal_Majora__s_Mask_by_KurkoBoltsi.jpg)

I really, really hate the Imprisoned. Shop can attest to the fact that I was moments away from lodging the Wiimote into the wall.

Demyx wrote:

I really, really hate the Imprisoned. Shop can attest to the fact that I was moments away from lodging the Wiimote into the wall.

Agreed, so much. The worst part is it didn't really play any sort of part in the actual story. I mean, yeah I get that somehow it and the main boss guy are related. But really, it played almost no real part in the story. Just a giant copout by Nintendo for no apparent reason. Its worst issue though, in my opinion, is its lack of adherence to Zelda tropes. The trope I'm speaking of "get a new item, beat a new boss with a novel mechanic". Finding out how to use a new item to beat a boss is half the fun of those boss battles. In the Imprisoned fights it was just "whack it with a sword" until it dies. Maybe they outsourced this boss fight like they did in Deus Ex 3.

I don't mind the Imprisoned, and I like it in terms of its place in the narrative, but I agree that repeating it three times was a bit much.

maverickz wrote:

Its worst issue though, in my opinion, is its lack of adherence to Zelda tropes. The trope I'm speaking of "get a new item, beat a new boss with a novel mechanic".

Makes me wonder if you didn't do all three.

maverickz wrote:

Agreed, so much. The worst part is it didn't really play any sort of part in the actual story. I mean, yeah I get that somehow it and the main boss guy are related. But really, it played almost no real part in the story. Just a giant copout by Nintendo for no apparent reason. ...

Um, did you finish the game? Because he's kind of necessary for the whole end-bit there.

major spoilers below

Spoiler:

He's Link's mirror-image. The Imprisoned is your opposite number on the other team, and that monologue-spewing ponce that I bet you've tagged as the real boss is actually just Fi's opposite. As you go through things, you're more and more infused with the power of the Goddess/Triforce, and by the end it's infused with the power of Gannon. You guys duke it out, and then peace reigns again. IMHO it doesn't get much more Zelda than that.

They could've gotten that point across without terrible gameplay mechanics. Which I think was the main complaint there.

Demyx wrote:

They could've gotten that point across without terrible gameplay mechanics. Which I think was the main complaint there.

I wasn't arguing about the mechanics. Saying he's unnecessary to the story and not Zelda-like is different than cursing his )@&%@!) toes.

Spoiler:

Edit - besides, if we're going to complain about game mechanics, how can you have finished the game and not be purely livid about the mowing-the-digital lawn bit, which was a whole lot worse than this to me. ;)

I don't even know what you're referring to so it couldn't have ticked me off that badly :p

Demyx wrote:

I don't even know what you're referring to so it couldn't have ticked me off that badly :p

Possibly the horde leading up to the 2 final enemies? I've seen an article going on about how it totally destroys everything the game was working up to by that bit.

mrtomaytohead wrote:
Demyx wrote:

I don't even know what you're referring to so it couldn't have ticked me off that badly :p

Possibly the horde leading up to the 2 final enemies? I've seen an article going on about how it totally destroys everything the game was working up to by that bit.

Good to see games writers are keeping up with sports writers in the hyperbole department.

I didn't mind the Imprisoned in the story. All 3 fights were pretty easy, and a nice change of pace.

I wouldn't say the same for fighting the damned thing in Boss Rush or whatever it was called, though.

I liked the horde bit as well. It went on a bit too long, but it was good fun smashing basic mobs right left and centre when powered up. I thought that it added a sense of build up to the final confrontation.

The horde wasn't brilliant game design or anything, but it was fine. It didn't take too long and made a certain amount of sense.

I just finished the 2nd fight. I did the trick that was mentioned up above, it made it a little easier, IE less sword swinging, but I still failed the first time. I guess I took too long trying to get into position, and then he would fling me off his back anyways.

I'm not super against or for the Imprisoned fights, but I know there is 1 more to go, and I have a feeling it will have worn out it's welcome by then.

The third mixes it up. I wouldn't sweat it.

I agree. I loathed the first two and was relieved when the third turned out to be the least frustrating.

That's cool, something to look forward to!

And I gotta say, I haven't played Zelda since OoT, so this game has been so much fun. Of course, I want to get it finished now that Xenoblades arrived yesterday....

momgamer wrote:
maverickz wrote:

Agreed, so much. The worst part is it didn't really play any sort of part in the actual story. I mean, yeah I get that somehow it and the main boss guy are related. But really, it played almost no real part in the story. Just a giant copout by Nintendo for no apparent reason. ...

Um, did you finish the game? Because he's kind of necessary for the whole end-bit there.

major spoilers below

Spoiler:

He's Link's mirror-image. The Imprisoned is your opposite number on the other team, and that monologue-spewing ponce that I bet you've tagged as the real boss is actually just Fi's opposite. As you go through things, you're more and more infused with the power of the Goddess/Triforce, and by the end it's infused with the power of Gannon. You guys duke it out, and then peace reigns again. IMHO it doesn't get much more Zelda than that.

I did finish the game, though it's entirely possible that I missed that part in the endless exposition. I tagged as the real boss the guy with the funny pants that I fight at the very end, with the lightning and all. Did I miss something? Gonna have to disagree with you though about the "doesn't get much more Zelda than that" bit. That's what I've been trying to argue all along, it's not the plot that makes Zelda, it's the game world and the exploration thereof. Plus the tropes they've managed to put together in the years since LoZ.

Blind_Evil wrote:

I don't mind the Imprisoned, and I like it in terms of its place in the narrative, but I agree that repeating it three times was a bit much.

maverickz wrote:

Its worst issue though, in my opinion, is its lack of adherence to Zelda tropes. The trope I'm speaking of "get a new item, beat a new boss with a novel mechanic".

Makes me wonder if you didn't do all three.

I'm not sure what you mean.

You've been making that argument, but not effectively. Employing hyperbole ("endless" exposition) and citing simple personal preference isn't the best way to sway people, if that's your intent (if so, with me you're barking up the wrong tree - I made my evaluation of Skyward Sword and that evaluation was GOTY 2012, though I'm having a hard time finding the thread as of now, which always seems to happen with Clocky's threads).

You're right, exploring the world and the traditional game mechanics are a part of Zelda. I don't see why the plot can't be a part of that as well. As the medium matures and the developers get more ambitious, the scope of the narrative is bound to grow. As I hinted and mrtomaytohead demonstrated, Zelda has been scooping out small, efficient dollops of lore since Link to the Past. Each game presents its own story and builds slightly onto the lore, which I do prefer to be as loosely defined as it is. If you don't like the games because of it, don't buy any more. But I'm not convinced that a solid backstory is a bad thing.

I'm completely, swooningly caught up in the romance between Link and Zelda in this one. The rest of it is a lot of fluff and filler.

Blind_Evil wrote:

You've been making that argument, but not effectively. Employing hyperbole ("endless" exposition) and citing simple personal preference isn't the best way to sway people, if that's your intent.

Oh, definitely not trying to sway anyone. Just expressing my own opinion, I'm happy to keep it to myself.

Blind_Evil wrote:

You're right, exploring the world and the traditional game mechanics are a part of Zelda. I don't see why the plot can't be a part of that as well. As the medium matures and the developers get more ambitious, the scope of the narrative is bound to grow. As I hinted and mrtomaytohead demonstrated, Zelda has been scooping out small, efficient dollops of lore since Link to the Past. Each game presents its own story and builds slightly onto the lore, which I do prefer to be as loosely defined as it is. If you don't like the games because of it, don't buy any more. But I'm not convinced that a solid backstory is a bad thing.

I guess to me Zelda is more about escapism and putting myself into the role of Link, rather than being told a story about a guy named Link and all this adventures. This probably has more to do with my own preferences in fantasy games than anything else. I want worlds to explore rather than stories told to me. I generally read books when I want a story. This is also the reason why I was so sad to stop playing WoW, they wouldn't let me explore the world without all that grinding of levels. Anyway, I dig it that people want to know more about the world in Zelda and Link's role in it as envisioned by Nintendo. I still enjoy the games, I just wish the gameplay was less affected by the plot and story, which is really my main bouf. Again, not really trying to change anyone's mind, just expressing what my thoughts were on the game. I'm sure I'll be playing the next one as well, cause.. I mean.. come on.. it's Zelda.

edit: I like a good solid story too, I'm just not sure how solid the one in SS is.

edit2: By the way, when I tried to get into a deep discussion of the issues, I believe your response was "No, I really don't feel like it. Sorry." So... you know...

maverickz wrote:

edit: I like a good solid story too, I'm just not sure how solid the one in SS is.

It's no masterpiece (few games get there), but I like how snugly it fits in with all the disparate pieces that have been slapped onto the series over the years.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

I'm completely, swooningly caught up in the romance between Link and Zelda in this one.

We talked about that closer to release, it's odd how simply yet effectively they handled it all. I suppose it's all in the emotive faces. You definitely feel for Link on more than one occasion through the journey.