Zelda: Skyward Sword for Switch fixes a big problem — if you buy this overpriced amiibo

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD on Nintendo Switch

(Prototype credit: Nintendo)

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD has the potential to be 1 of the standout games of summer 2021. That's because information technology was one of the standout games of fall 2011, and time has (mostly) been kind to this ambitious Zelda prequel. Nevertheless, the game was always a bit hard to navigate, which Nintendo plans to address this time effectually.

Skyward Sword Hd will let you to return to the Sky hub expanse from anywhere at all in the game — merely only if you purchase a $25 amiibo accessory. That substantially means that yous'll have to dish out $85 if y'all desire all of the game'southward features on day one.

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Nintendo revealed this information in a short YouTube trailer for the Zelda & Loftwing amiibo figure, which will come out alongside the game on July 16. The product is exactly what it sounds like: an amiibo toy that depicts both Princess Zelda and the mountable bird Loftwing equally they appear in Skyward Sword. (For those who don't go along up with Nintendo paraphernalia, an amiibo is a minor plastic statuette that tin can interact with diverse Nintendo consoles digitally.)

Hither's how the amiibo volition work: In Skyward Sword, protagonist Link ofttimes moves between the Sky hub world, and various explorable environments and dungeons on the ground. In the original game, you could movement between the two areas only at sure bird statues, which also let you relieve your progress. This was admittedly pretty inconvenient, since bird statues were not always near your quest objectives. Past scanning the Zelda & Loftwing amiibo, players will be able to return to the Sky from anywhere in the game – even from within dungeons, giving players an easy out if they need to regroup.

This convenient feature has the potential to exist frustrating for two reasons. First of all, at that place's the issue of toll. Most amiibos price between $10 and $15, but Zelda & Loftwing will retail for $25, at least according to pop sites similar Best Buy. That's an atrocious lot of money for a modest statuette, nigh every bit though Nintendo is charging more considering of its gameplay utility.

the legend of zelda skyward sword hd — (Epitome credit: Nintendo)

That brings us to the second reason why the Zelda & Loftwing functionality feels a little underhanded. Scanning an amiibo generally gives players small perks, such as alternate character skins or concept fine art galleries. Fast-travel, even so, is a huge addition to Skyward Sword, and 1 that has the potential to change the overall experience dramatically. If Nintendo idea it was of import to add this feature after ten years, it seems odd to lock information technology behind a $25 gate.

In either case, Skyward Sword was perfectly completable without instant Sky travel, and we have to imagine that Skyward Sword Hard disk will be the same in that respect. All the same, $25 is a pretty steep asking price for a feature that could streamline the entire game. It too makes us wonder what other kinds of game-irresolute features Nintendo might comprise into amiibos in the hereafter — and how expensive the toys might become.

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site's coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a scientific discipline writing groundwork, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of scientific discipline and technology. After hours, you can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on archetype sci-fi.