For those that sail the high seas, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD has leaked onto the internet and is available to be played via emulation or on hacked Nintendo Switch systems, before the game's actual release date, set for July 16th. As usual, interested parties have been poking around in the game's files to find out any interesting tidbits about the port. Twitter user Oatmeal Dome has already uncovered some details about Skyward Sword, such as the fact that despite being recompiled for the Switch, the game emulates some elements straight from the Wii version, which makes sense, as this is what Nintendo did with Super Mario Galaxy's port in Super Mario 3D All Stars. However, this is not the same emulator used for Galaxy. Oatmeal Dome mentioned that a quick look at the files shows that the HD version emulates the Texture Environment Unit of the Wii, and that there are BRRES format files, which were used on the Wii as well.

Please remember that sharing illegal files, or "warez" is against GBAtemp's TOS.

[Skyward Sword HD]

SSHD has leaked to the Internet.

Game codename is Shoebill.

The game was recompiled to run natively on the Switch. However, like Galaxy in SM3DAS, the GPU is at least partially emulated. (Hagi, SM3DAS’s emulator, isn’t used. Appears to be something new.)

— OatmealDome (@OatmealDome) July 14, 2021

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[CameronCataclysm]

You simply can't beat leaks! Hope everyone enjoys! <3

 

[Crazynoob458]

emulation.... thats a bit lazy

 

[Noctosphere]

Remember everyone
No rom or link to where to find it here or anywhere else on GBAtemp
Stay legal guys

 

[SkittleDash]

I'll be honest. I tried it out. Yes. It's SOOOOO much smoother than the Wii version and graphically appealing. The motion controls seem a lot more accurate too.

 

[SG854]

Day 1 buy from me

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Been playing it a bit, pretty disappointed with it. Barely looks like they did anything at all to make it "HD" beyond some antialiasing and 60fps, I think Skyward Sword 4k looks miles better than this lazy ass port.

Combat still controls like shit, the OG Monster Hunter "move the analog stick!" workaround just doesn't feel good at all. But I do like the Loftwing controls (and I guess that'd translate to the bug thing and all that) now so that's good. I hate that you have to hold a button to move the damn camera, and you can't move it while dashing. They should've swapped the way combat and camera movement works, holding L to activate the combat mode and have the camera control naturally with the right stick.


Oh well, Nintendo gonna Nintendo and the Nin10yearolds will eat it up so not much can be done.

 

[jt_1258]

I still don't get people calling this hybrid emulation stuff of using emulation just for the gpu lazy. it makes sense if they really wanted it to look faithful to the original and it honestly seems like it would actually be more work to do this hyrbid method then full emulation or full naitive

 

[WG481]

emulation.... thats a bit lazy

It's definitely easier than repackaging the old libraries for the Switch. Think about it. If you were developing a big rerelease, you wouldn't want to go and redo the years of work you went into making the original. Thus, partial emulation can be used to help speed up the process so you don't have to do the unnecessary work that goes into porting big games.

 

[Julie_Pilgrim]

yeah my point of "use dolphin lmao" gets more and more relevant

 

[linuxares]

emulation.... thats a bit lazy

It's not fully emulated. Like fuck... it would be ass to remake everything for the Switch GPU.

 

[raxadian]

Lazy port for 60 bucks plus a 25 bucks toy to travel faster? Eh I think I will just play the Wii version... someday.

 

[Goku1992A]

I'm going to say it because nobody has said it yet I'm extremely disappointed. Not in the game persay but how it was presented they should have just did a trilogy of 3 games. Skyward Sword , Windwaker, and Twilight Princess. If they are going to rehash games no problem but give us the full Zelda experience.

 

[linuxares]

I'm going to say it because nobody has said it yet I'm extremely disappointed. Not in the game persay but how it was presented they should have just did a trilogy of 3 games. Skyward Sword , Windwaker, and Twilight Princess. If they are going to rehash games no problem but give us the full Zelda experience.

I agree. Honestly all the "Wii" games could have worked in a package. Windwaker kind of just got a remake... damn just put it on the eshop already...

 

[Deleted member 559230]

I was able to play my copy of Skyward Sword using Dolphin upscaled to 4k with original Wiimote Plus and it was a great experience. I'm not sure how this will turn out, but I'm really not interested in playing through it again when not much has really changed.

 

[Goku1992A]

I agree. Honestly all the "Wii" games could have worked in a package. Windwaker kind of just got a remake... damn just put it on the eshop already...

They can do it if they really wanted too but to make them more $$$ they rather sell you the games separately. This game is over 10 years old it shouldn't be priced the same way they are pricing BOTW2. But people have to realize Nintendo gets away with this because this game is going to sell millions.

I think I have this game on the Wii but I hate the silly wii controls. I always hated the wii because they forced the silly controls on you opposing to making you use a gamepad.

 

[MasterJ360]

I'm going to say it because nobody has said it yet I'm extremely disappointed. Not in the game persay but how it was presented they should have just did a trilogy of 3 games. Skyward Sword , Windwaker, and Twilight Princess. If they are going to rehash games no problem but give us the full Zelda experience.

This. I mean they already made HD remasters for Windwaker and Twilight Princes on the Wii U. But here we go again if you got cookies on your plate they will serve more milk to go with them.

 

[Mikemk]

I'm going to say it because nobody has said it yet I'm extremely disappointed. Not in the game persay but how it was presented they should have just did a trilogy of 3 games. Skyward Sword , Windwaker, and Twilight Princess. If they are going to rehash games no problem but give us the full Zelda experience.

I think the only way Nintendo would've done that would've been a Zelda 3D All-Stars limited time 3-in-1 back in February

 

[Noctosphere]

I'm going to say it because nobody has said it yet I'm extremely disappointed. Not in the game persay but how it was presented they should have just did a trilogy of 3 games. Skyward Sword , Windwaker, and Twilight Princess. If they are going to rehash games no problem but give us the full Zelda experience.

I'd go for a SSHD, MC3D and OoTHD
I think those three are the very first games in the timeline if i'm not wrong
Plus, I'd love to see a MC3D
It's my second favorite 2D Zelda game (behind LA)

 

[newo]

I dont know what people were expecting there are so many "new" games on the switch you could just buy once of those. If you never played this before then this is a totally new experience and at that point it would not matter. For me (having completed it on the wii) I would not recommend a rebuy.