It is apparent that Nintendo's risky and unconventional Wii console has come full circle. Without a doubt, the best game to grace the fledgling motion control-based machine during its inaugural year was the flagship title The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. As the company prepares its next generation of hardware, support for their current one has waned. It is only fitting then, that the best game to appear on the platform in what is likely its last relevant year on the market, is the next installment from that storied franchise. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is an absolute triumph.

Although there are a multitude of games in the Zelda franchise, the company has been tight-lipped about how each entry fits into a single time. Regardless of how each entry is related (if at all), Skyward Sword's tale provides a deep and evocative origin story. With Link and Zelda as lasting childhood friends (their relationship is one of many highlights), it is only natural that he would set off to find her when she goes missing. Naturally, there is more to each character than what you see on the surface, so his quest to rescue her also involves helping keep the fate of the world in balance.

Steeped in tradition, the Zelda series has always been reliable in terms of story. With clean cinematics and compelling dramatic performances, Nintendo has applied modern storytelling techniques to their newest entry. The story may be simple at times, but it is the characters that are the real draw here. There is a spectacular sense of humor courtesy of your spiritual advisor, and each nonplayable character is uniquely distinct and memorable. It is telling that even with a lack of voice acting (an element that I believe the Zelda series will never need), emotions shine believably. It isn't difficult to become invested in these characters and their wellbeing. Connecting to these characters likely wouldn't have been possible without the stellar presentation.

Skyward Sword is absolutely gorgeous. While the visuals of previous Zelda installments on consoles varied – The Wind Waker opted for a cel-shaded cartoon-like look, while Twilight Princess strived for more realism – Skyward Sword found a beautiful balance by marrying the strengths of both. It may not be apparent in static screenshots, but in action, the game's colorful painterly strokes and fluid feel make it appear as a dazzling Impressionist painting in motion. A stunning feat considering the substantial size of the game.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is not comparable to entries in the recent open-world sandbox genre, but the world here is impressively large. Past games would feature a large mainland that would split off into smaller areas and plentiful dungeons, and that latter would make up the bulk of the game. Now, your time spent in each area is more balanced – traveling to each dungeon takes more time than usual, but those environments are packed with content, and the dungeons themselves are more compact and designed to make use of each of your unique gadgets. Thanks to the new tools that you acquire at a calculated pace, even when you're required to backtrack through familiar settings, the action remains fresh. The world is small enough to avoid being daunting, but large enough that the encouraged exploration is nothing short of epic.

I have always been a proponent of motion controls that innovate the way we play games in a natural, beneficial, and entertaining manner. Few games have been able to achieve those lofty conditions, but The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword realizes them with ease, especially thanks to the more accurate Wii MotionPlus controls. In combat (sword-fighting, rolling bombs), puzzle-solving (pulling switches with the whip), and basic exploration (controlling your mechanical beetle), the motion controls are implemented perfectly.

You cannot go into Skyward Sword's combat flailing impulsively with the controller and mashing buttons wildly. Doing so will guarantee a frustrating play time thanks to the intelligently programmed enemies. You won't often die, but your actions require thought and strategy. Combat necessitates patience and deliberate motions – you must watch your opponents' unique movements to discover their vulnerable openings and strike at the appropriate time and angle. Even over the course of the lengthy journey, the requisite motion controls never grow tiresome. 

Since the Wii's inception, many companies have experimented with what motion-related mechanics really work in a non-mini-game setting. Fortunately, the only problems here are related to the rare need to recalibrate the controller and some slight camera issues, but these are negligible in the grand scheme. Retooling the tried and true controls and level design of the Zelda franchise, Nintendo has established the game as both an evolution for the series and a magnificent example of motion-controlled gaming fully realized. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is an unmitigated success that must not be missed.

GameDynamo's Score for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

	Score	Description
Graphics	97	This game is neither too cartoonish nor too realistic. Amazing character animations make the cinematics so believable.
Sound	95	Music is grand in scope, and it matches the series' high standards.
Gameplay	100	Utilization of Wii's improved MotionPlus controller makes every action intentional and real, avoiding anything remotely gimmicky.
Play Value	100	Even though the game features dozens of hours of play, the pacing is impeccable. Gameplay is a layered, rewarding experience.
Final Score	100	The polish on display here is outstanding. Everything is unforgettable and enchanting.

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