Skyward Sword

I've now played enough of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword to feel that I can have a fair opinion of the game. As a long time Zelda fan, I have mixed feelings about the latest entry. Don't misunderstand me, the game is amazing. Nintendo improved greatly on a tried a true formal, but some of the changes aren't good changes, in my opinion.

Control: The Many Input Devices of Games

Every game has an input device. Mouse and keyboard, digital directional pads, cameras, no matter what you're playing, something is between you and the game. Arguably, the input device is the most important thing to consider right after "is the game I'm playing any good." Recently, Nintendo has based entire press conferences on revealing input devices. You may or may not agree that a Wii Remote is worth all the fuss, but it doesn't mean that input devices are any less important.

Below, I will draw attention to the many input devices used over the years and discuss why each one is or is not important, why each one was or was not successful, and rate them based on my personal preference. In my rating, I will consider comfort, ease of use, and the ways in which software developers used it. This article will include only core input devices. Don't expect to see the NES Light Gun or Samba De Amigo Maracas here. Also, controller redesigns will be ignored or only briefly mentioned, except in the case of the PlayStation controller redesign, the DUAL SHOCK, because it became the main controller later in PSX's life.

Where there is motion gaming, there is useless peripherals.

Playing Wii Sports Tennis feels more realistic with a tennis racket attachment? Have you perhaps tried playing real tennis? The market is flooded with these add-ons for Wiimotes and now the Playstation Move. But Microsoft's Kinect is safe from these useless peripherals, right...?