The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword – A Whiplash of New Information

Nintendo has been gently spoon feeding us information about the latest Legend of Zelda game, Skyword Sword in the lead up to its release. Today a few more titbits of information were thrown out into the wild.

• Lake Floria and the Parella Tribe: Later in his quest, Link must make his way to an as-yet-undiscovered section of the Faron Woods that is home to Lake Floria. The lake is inhabited by the squid-like Parella tribe, which makes its first appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Even when revisiting past areas like Faron Woods, players will make new discoveries and, occasionally, find drastic changes to the environment that require them to explore these areas in entirely different ways.

• Swimming: As one might expect, getting to and exploring Lake Floria will require Link to swim. The intuitive motion-control of the Wii Remote Plus gives players a natural way to control Link as he swims across the lake’s surface or into its watery depths.

• Insects and Potions: Throughout the game, Link will travel back and forth between the surface and Skyloft. Players will be able to collect bugs in the various areas they visit, and these insects can be used to infuse the variety of different potions available for purchase at the bazaar in Skyloft, giving the potions powerful new effects. Players can experiment with different potions and insects to find the concoctions that best meet their needs.

• Fun Fun Island: Also new in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is Fun Fun Island, one of the small islands near Link’s hometown, which is floating above the clouds. As the name suggests, there’s a lot of fun to be had there, but before Link can enjoy everything the island has to offer, he must find a way to complete the request of its lone inhabitant…

• Whip: Players can use the Wii Remote Plus to lash Link’s whip at enemies and objects. It also can be used to grab items and will be integral in solving certain puzzles. Link’s items can be selected in real time without needing to pause the game, making it easier to switch between items.