[Complex Mag] Skyward Sword Embodies Everything You’ve Loved About Zelda Games For The Past 25 Years

The English fantasy author Michael Moorcock wrote four series of novels collectively referred to as “The Eternal Champion cycle.” The Eternal Champion is a meta-character embodied in four completely different heroes. The Champion arises whenever the forces of Light and Dark are out of balance. His weapon is always a version of the Black Sword, and he always has a Companion.

The Legend of Zelda series of video games reminds me of the Eternal Champion cycle. There is always a hero named Link. He is always out to rescue a girl named Zelda. There are overworlds full of characters and side quests, and puzzle-filled dungeons laden with monsters. Nintendo has offered iterations of The Legend of Zelda on every console they’ve developed. All the Zelda games are different, and they are all the same.