The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (ゼルダの伝説 スカイウォードソードZeruda no Densetsu: Sukaiwōdo Sōdo?) is an action-adventure game for theWii console and the sixteenth entry in the Legend of Zelda series. Developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development with the help ofMonolith Soft, it was released in all regions in November 2011. The game makes use of the Wii MotionPlus peripheral for sword-fighting, with a revisedWii Remote pointing system used for targeting.[8][9] A limited edition bundle featuring a golden Wii Remote Plus was sold coinciding with the game's launch, and the first run of both the standard game and the limited edition bundled included a CD containing orchestrated tracks of iconic music from the franchise in celebration of the franchise's 25th anniversary.[10]
The game's storyline is the earliest in Zelda continuity, preceding The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.[11] Skyward Sword follows an incarnation of the series protagonist Link who was raised in a society above the clouds known as Skyloft. After his closest childhood friend, Zelda, is swept into the land below the clouds by demonic forces, Link does whatever it takes to save her, traveling between Skyloft and the surface below while battling the dark forces of the self proclaimed "Demon Lord", Ghirahim.
Upon release, the game received critical acclaim, receiving perfect scores from at least 30 publications,[12][13] including IGN, Wired, Edge, Famitsu,Eurogamer, Metro GameCentral, and Game Informer. Much of the praise was directed at the game's intuitive motion-based swordplay and the changes it brought to the Zelda franchise. The game was a major commercial success as well, having sold over 3.42 million units worldwide as of December 2011, just one month after its initial release.[14][15]