Onward and upward as Zelda’s legend flies high: PETER HOSKIN reviews The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch, £49.99)
Verdict: Come fly with me
Time flies, they say. But 2011, when Nintendo first released Skyward Sword, the 16th main entry in the Legend Of Zelda series, feels like a century ago — and much has happened since.
For starters, in 2017 Nintendo launched its Switch console, alongside The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, one of the finest games ever made.
Our memories of Skyward Sword and its awkward motion controls for the older Wii suddenly turned from bad to horrible.
Let’s just forget that ever happened, right? But Nintendo doesn’t want us to forget. So they’re releasing a high-definition remaster of Skyward Sword for Switch — and I’m glad they bothered. Returning to this land of feathered mounts and monstrous dungeons has been a joy.
Time flies, they say. But 2011, when Nintendo first released Skyward Sword, the 16th main entry in the Legend Of Zelda series, feels like a century ago — and much has happened since
Nintendo has also renovated those controls. You no longer move and fight by waving your arms around — although that’s still an option — but by the customary method of pressing buttons and nudging at sticks. It is much better, though there is some latent clunkiness. When you first take your trusty loftwing into the clouds it’s like manoeuvring a brick.
Back on the ground, Skyward Sword displays qualities that may have been underestimated: delightful characters, a painterly art style, and a balance between cartoonishness and melancholy that’s reminiscent of… Breath Of The Wild.
I never knew missing links were like prodigal sons, but here we are. The missing link has returned.
Returning to this land of feathered mounts and monstrous dungeons has been a joy
F1 2021 (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £59.99)
Verdict: Pole position
Rating: 
Your mileage may vary. Haha, mileage. Because it’s cars.
But it also happens to be true. For those who don’t know their Vettels from their Verstappens, F1 2021 is an engaging driving game — with the welcome and welcoming addition of a new story mode, so you can play as a young driver striking for the big time.
But for those who are F1 nuts, this might just be nirvana, full of ways to stage your grease-stained fantasies. Ramp up the difficulty settings, and go, go, go!