Game Journal: Skyward Sword Part 2

    My next play session kicked off with me starting the search for my loftwing. Still understanding that I’m in the tutorial section of the game, I wasn’t really bothered by the guidance the map gave me to get to the next objective. I started towards the waypoint only to be interrupted by an NPC calling me to go to him. I went over and received some information that would lead me to another part of Skyloft. Clearly I was not meant to make it to the first waypoint but rather interact with this NPC who would point me in another direction. I was about to head off when I noticed we were next to a rather large door. I knew I wasn’t told to go in, but I was curious and went in anyway only to discover this was where I got my first sword which I would need to free my loftwing. Had I immediately headed off to the waypoint, I would have run into the obstacle I needed my sword to bypass and then would have had to backtrack to get my sword. The point I’m getting at is the game basically communicated to me that knowing your surroundings and exploring them will be rewarded. Simply running to the next objective will eventually get you what you need, but taking the time to explore and discover will make things easier. What I love most about this idea is that it was not explicitly stated; it was something you just had to learn on your own as you interact with the world. Which leads me to my next point: This tutorial section didn’t really feel like a tutorial section. 

    I ended my playthrough with finding the Goddess sword, about to be thrown into the adventure. I know there will be more tutorial-like instances from here on out, but it is clear that the introduction is over, the real story is about to begin. What I noticed was that the tutorial did not actually feel like a tutorial. I learned a lot about how to play the game, while not feeling like I had to slog through text box after text box. The reason for this is the interwoven story elements that made learning part of the narrative itself. You didn’t just learn how to run, jump, swing your sword, use your map, and fly your loftwing. You prepared for the Wing Ceremony by connecting with Zelda, got confronted by Groose who hid your loftwing, searched for you loftwing, learned how to use a sword to free your loftwing, soared through the sky with your love interest, won the Wing Ceremony, heard more of the legend of the Wing Ceremony, and completed it by using the Sail Cloth to return safely from the top of the Goddess Statue. I know this game receives a lot of hate, but think this was a perfect game mechanic tutorial, one that is actually reflected in modern education practices in the real world. I was a teacher for 10 years, and one of the key concepts I tried to bring into my classroom was that I wanted my students to learn without knowing they are learning. When people are in a Flow State (a concept I want to write about in the future), they can actually learn a great deal of information while maintaining focus on what they are doing. Some might disagree, but Skyward Sword pulled this off for me. I was so invested in the narrative, that I learned to play the game without focusing on the fact that I was learning to play the game. 

Storywise we got some more comical Groose interactions which I’m enjoying, and more adorable interactions between Link and Zelda that make their inevitable separation that much more impactful. My only real gripe with this is I would have liked to see a little more from Link to show he also has a mutual interest in Zelda. I know that this is sort of settled later. But right now he’s the clueless one in the relationship which might be realistic, but story wise they could have thrown something in there to show he cares more for Zelda than what is portrayed. Anyway, the two go on their flying date. Presumably Zelda is about to confess her love to Link, and then the Black tornado separates our two main protagonists. Fi shows up, she is kind of mysterious but I’m undecided on whether I like her design or not. She informs Link and Zelda’s father that Link is the chosen hero and that he must save Zelda. This is where we will pick up in my next entry.