The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is defined as the first Zelda game in the original timeline, which means it contains many interesting stories. We can assume this marks the first incarnations of Link and Zelda, and they need to stop Ghirahim from undoing Hylia’s hard work of sealing Demise. Halfway through this adventure, I can’t help but think about the nature of Skyloft and how several elements of it don’t make sense if you think beyond the choices made for the sake of the game’s design needs.
Sword to the Sky begins on a floating island called Skyloft, where the Hylians live at this time, rather than on the surface, where they will live in the future. Hyrule has not yet been establishedbut the game’s opening puts you in the middle of the day that celebrates Hylia. Although the celebration leads to Zelda falling to the surface, you still have the opportunity to explore Skyloft, which you can consider similar to the portions of Sky in Tears of the Kingdom if you have already played both games or if you are not familiar with them Sword to the Sky.
Skyloft’s design cannot sustain a population
It’s very small
When it comes to games, I like to criticize elements that don’t make sense in the grand scheme of the game. Of course, I did the same thing for Sword to the Sky while exploring Skyloft, and I came to the conclusion that would not be a viable option for a population to live on, especially if they don’t have additional islands or Surface available to help support them. Increasing the population would be nearly impossible if the Hylians remained in Skyloft. There is simply not enough space to build the necessary structures for the population and have space for food production.
The biggest problem with growing and sustaining the population in Skyloft is its size. It represents a problem not only in terms of housing, as there is only so much space for people to live, but also in terms of food supply. The small amount of space that Skyloft has available would need to be divided so that there is enough housing to provide shelter for the population, but also enough land to use for agriculture and livestock. Then there is space for schools, shops and other leisure activities, and all the elements together would require more space than we see in Skyloft.
I know that Skyloft can at least grow vegetables like pumpkins, which you can see through exploration and the popularity of pumpkin soup in Sword to the Sky. So, is it possible that they could grow and store foodat least. However, this would call into question how the seasons work for Skyloft and whether there is even a winter that would prevent them from growing food for a few months. Still, I don’t think the logistics exist for Skyloft to be able to sustain a stable population, much less allow it to grow.
How Loftwings Work (and Why It’s a Problem)
Two connected populations
Loftwings are the large birds that Skyloft residents befriend and ride on, which also helps prevent them from crashing to the surface, as Loftwings are able to catch their riders. We see several pairs, including Zelda and her Loftwing in Sword to the Skyand early in the game, we learn that part of Skyloft culture means that every citizen has a Loftwing that they are paired with. This culture of pairing Hylians with Loftwings raises questions about the influence of these populations on each other and if there are Loftwings that have no Hylian partner.
Even if we consider that there is a perfect ratio where every Loftwing has a Hylian and every Hylian has a Loftwing, then this adds additional problems when it comes to the logistics of surviving with a limited area of ​​land to use. Considering it’s not part of the game, I have no information on how to care for the Loftwings or what needs to be done to ensure there are always enough of them to pair each Hylian with one. There are many factors to take into consideration, and Skyloft simply doesn’t have the space these populations need to thrive.
It’s also interesting that the Hylians don’t go out and try to inhabit the Surface. At some point, they will need to consider additional options if they want to continue thriving as a small civilization, and their partnership with the Loftwings gives them the opportunity to continue thriving as a small civilization. perfect way to explore and seek more space to grow. Of course, Skyloft’s size is likely smaller for game development purposes, and there was no reason why the team needed to make it larger considering it was capable of serving its purpose in Sword to the Sky.
Skyloft and Loftwings are still cool parts of Skyward Sword
A unique setting before Hyrule
The series took an interesting step by having the first game in the timeline begin not only before the creation of Hyrule, but also with Hylians living on an island in the sky. Part of this decision helps explain the coat of arms of the Hyrule Royal Familyas you can see the wings of a Loftwing memorialized on it, which you can also see in Hyrule Castle in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom if you look closely. It is also the first game that provided Link and Zelda with a more personal relationship, as we know that in this title they grew up as childhood friends.
In fact, I’m sad we didn’t use Loftwings more in Sword to the Skysince it could have been a more developed mechanic with greater importance. However, since Loftwings are like an accessory Regarding the game’s story, I think the overall development needs and implementation of motion control took precedence. Still, I think that the existence of Sword to the Sky helped pave the way for Tears of the Kingdom.
With so many games to compete, I don’t watch it often Sword to the Sky cited as one of the most beloved titles in the series, and I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite either. However, I think it played an important role in providing stories about Hylia, Zelda, Link, and Demise, and that it answered little questions like why the Hyrule Royal Family’s crest has wings on the sides of the Triforce. That doesn’t stop it from having other elements that don’t make sense, like how Skyloft can support its Hylian population in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- Released
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November 20, 2011
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo