# Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 11, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640 "2011-11-11T21:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![iamnotbatman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@iamnotbatman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamnotbatman)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/81 "2011-11-29T18:27:47Z")
Sorry to double post, but I just encountered a similar control problem fighting Ghirahim. It was clear I had to hold my sword on one side, and then quickly strike from the other direction to avoid him grabbing the sword. But if I held my sword on the right, and then tried to strike from the left, then moving the sword to the left in order to strike from the left caused me to actually strike from the right (the opposite of what I wanted to do). Get it? How do you quickly change the direction of sword strike without actually striking the sword from the opposite direction of your intention? Is there a button you can hold to prevent Link from striking his sword while you reposition? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/82 "2011-11-29T18:38:40Z")
> [@iamnotbatman](#): > > Sorry to double post, but I just encountered a similar control problem fighting Ghirahim. It was clear I had to hold my sword on one side, and then quickly strike from the other direction to avoid him grabbing the sword. But if I held my sword on the right, and then tried to strike from the left, then moving the sword to the left in order to strike from the left caused me to actually strike from the right (the opposite of what I wanted to do). Get it? How do you quickly change the direction of sword strike without actually striking the sword from the opposite direction of your intention? Is there a button you can hold to prevent Link from striking his sword while you reposition? I did this by approaching him holding the sword to my left (controller horizontal pointing to the left). Then in one quick motion I rotated the controller to point at the ceiling then to the right then directly at the tv and back pointing left again. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/83 "2011-11-29T18:38:52Z")
I’m only a short ways in (making my way through the lava fields in Eldin), but I haven’t had much trouble with the controls. The rope walking mechanic took some practice, but is pretty simple if you hold the remote straight up and down as you do it (swaying left and right if Link starts to lean too much). I haven’t had to fight at all while on a rope, as everying I’ve run into has been something I could deal with before I started rope-walking, or shake off with the remote. The loftwing took a bit of work as I didn’t catch how to flap to gain altitude, so I was mostly diving and climbing to build speed and charging on the climb (which doesn’t really work). A moment in the spent in the instruction booklet fixed the problem, though. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/84 "2011-11-29T18:39:36Z")
> [@iamnotbatman](#): > > Sorry to double post, but I just encountered a similar control problem fighting Ghirahim. It was clear I had to hold my sword on one side, and then quickly strike from the other direction to avoid him grabbing the sword. But if I held my sword on the right, and then tried to strike from the left, then moving the sword to the left in order to strike from the left caused me to actually strike from the right (the opposite of what I wanted to do). Get it? How do you quickly change the direction of sword strike without actually striking the sword from the opposite direction of your intention? Is there a button you can hold to prevent Link from striking his sword while you reposition? I’m getting better with the controls the more I play, walking on the rope took some time, but I found the more I tilted the wii remote the other way when I was falling, the better I could stay on… (it doesn’t help holding the wii remote as steady as possible, you have to tilt it to if you find yourself slipping). I saw a youtube of someone fighting Ghirahim perfectly, with no hits or sword grabbing. I had a hard time with him. I wish there were more enemies outside of the dungeon that so I could practice more. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/85 "2011-11-29T18:48:08Z")
> [@Red\_Barchetta](#): > > Are you holding the Wii Remote straight-up, before tilting it side-to-side? It shouldn’t be too difficult. > > Same goes for the Skyward Strike–just point it upward and it’ll “lock” into place before charging. Ooooh, no, I wasn’t holding it straight up. The little help icon on the screen had me thinking I just needed to tilt the controller left or right, not that the vertical position of the Wiimote mattered. Maybe my sensor bar isn’t in the right place for Skyward Strike? It doesn’t think I’m holding the sword up unless I stretch my arm really high. I did the lead up to the Fire Temple yesterday, was much more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/86 "2011-11-29T18:52:49Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Maybe my sensor bar isn’t in the right place for Skyward Strike? It doesn’t think I’m holding the sword up unless I stretch my arm really high. I don’t think the sensor bar plays a role in this; it’s all about the Wii Motion Plus/Wii Remote Plus when it comes to sensing directions. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/87 "2011-11-29T19:17:59Z")
I’ve found the remote doesn’t need much in the way of major wide swings or repositioning. You could actually play the entire game with your forearm on an armrest. All you need is your wrist to pivot the remote around the x-y-z axis, occasional twisting left and right when pointing at the screen, and the occasional shake or jerk. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/88 "2011-11-29T19:28:25Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Does this game work with the original Wii setup, or do you have to have the motion-plus thingy? Does anyone have a definitive answer for this? It seems to me that it does require the motion plus, but I can’t tell if it’s required or just a strong suggestion. I don’t have one of 'em, so that would make buying this game another $20 more expensive for me. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/89 "2011-11-29T19:48:38Z")
You need Motion-Plus ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/90 "2011-11-29T20:37:51Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > You need Motion-Plus Oh. So was the Wii basically an incomplete system when it was released? Is the upgraded motion-plus thingy included now in the purchase of a new Wii? ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/91 "2011-11-29T20:55:04Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Oh. So was the Wii basically an incomplete system when it was released Well most games don’t use Motion-Plus. I guess it’s only “incomplete” if you were expecting this kind of gameplay from the beginning. > [@](#): > > Is the upgraded motion-plus thingy included now in the purchase of a new Wii? Yes ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/92 "2011-11-29T20:57:33Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Oh. So was the Wii basically an incomplete system when it was released? Is the upgraded motion-plus thingy included now in the purchase of a new Wii? It requires the nun-chuk add-on also. The original Wiis did not have this included either. ---
**Author:** ![MentalGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/439d5e/32.png) [@MentalGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MentalGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/93 "2011-11-29T21:25:20Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > It requires the nun-chuk add-on also. The original Wiis did not have this included either. I got a Wii shortly after release and it had both a remote and a nunchuk. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/94 "2011-11-29T22:51:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Oh. So was the Wii basically an incomplete system when it was released? Is the upgraded motion-plus thingy included now in the purchase of a new Wii? Sure, if the Kinect made the 360 incomplete at launch, or the Move made the PS3 incomplete at launch, or the RAM Expansion Pak made the N64 incomplete at launch, or the SuperFX chip made the SNES incomplete at launch…hardware makers always try to extend the life of their hardware or improve it as technology evolves. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/95 "2011-11-29T23:05:30Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > It requires the nun-chuk add-on also. The original Wiis did not have this included either. > [@MentalGuy](#): > > I got a Wii shortly after release and it had both a remote and a nunchuk. I bought my Wii within two months of launch and it came with a nunchuk as well. I’m pretty sure all Wiis included one right from launch day, as the boxing game on the pack-in Wii Sports requires a nunchuk. EDIT: [Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii#Hardware) confirms that nunchucks have been bundled with the Wii since day one. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/96 "2011-11-29T23:14:30Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Ooooh, no, I wasn’t holding it straight up. The little help icon on the screen had me thinking I just needed to tilt the controller left or right, not that the vertical position of the Wiimote mattered. > > Maybe my sensor bar isn’t in the right place for Skyward Strike? It doesn’t think I’m holding the sword up unless I stretch my arm really high. The sensor bar shouldn’t be affecting it–it’s only used to occasionally recaliberate the controls, otherwise you should pretend it’s not even there. There should be no need to stretch your arm at all: the game uses gravity to determine when you’re holding it straight-up. That is, you can simply tilt it upward so it faces the ceiling, without moving your arm at all, and Link will begin charging his sword. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/97 "2011-11-30T01:21:29Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Sure, if the Kinect made the 360 incomplete at launch, or the Move made the PS3 incomplete at launch, or the RAM Expansion Pak made the N64 incomplete at launch, or the SuperFX chip made the SNES incomplete at launch…hardware makers always try to extend the life of their hardware or improve it as technology evolves. Oh, I know. If it comes with current Wii’s and isn’t all that expensive to add to regular ones, it is a minor point. It’s cheap, right? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/98 "2011-11-30T01:27:37Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Oh, I know. > > If it comes with current Wii’s and isn’t all that expensive to add to regular ones, it is a minor point. It’s cheap, right? $20 new. Several games include it for free. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/99 "2011-11-30T16:44:22Z")
I found ropewalking initially impossible. I always just let myself fall and grab the rope, slide across some, climb back up to not drain my stamina and fall again. I haven’t fallen since I gave up on tilting the controller at all and just flicked it a few times to the left when I start leaning to the right and vice versa. Later though was a part that was so frustrating I wanted to break the controller. I’m still annoyed by it: You have to ride a rail cart, leaning into the curves to stay on the track. The concept is easy. But there were so many times that I was holding the remote tilted to the left and Link would tilt to the right for no reason that it took at least 15 minutes per track. It was basically a matter of getting lucky enough that the controls didn’t respond to input I didn’t give them. Also in case anyone doesn’t know, holding down A speeds up dialog. It’s still a pain, but tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640/100 "2011-11-30T18:04:49Z")
Is anyone else getting horizontal lines across the screen? It almost looks like old school CRT interlacing (though not as fine), even though I’m running the signal through component cables into an LCD HDTV. I’m pretty sure it’s not my TV or receiver, since this is the only game that does it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/legend-of-zelda-skyward-sword/602640.md?page=6)