Case Study #1 - Skyward Sword

So what I've decided to do is explore existing game spaces and how their characters fit in with them. Through this I am currently designing an original character of my own, whose entire design I will adapt to suit different game worlds. This way I will be able to establish just which attributes make that character work within that game space, and give me more of an insight into the culture within it.


Obviously, this required me to look at some cases wherein it has worked effectively or not.

SO, my first case study was, unsurprisingly, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. I discussed this game in my contextual essay, in regards to how characters and spaces fit each other well.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Released: 2011
Platform: Wii
Genre: Action-Adventure
Publisher: Nintendo

Let's look at it simply:

• Link lives in Skyloft.
• Skyloft is an island in the sky.
• The characters' main mode of transportation is riding birds. 
• Link is a student training to be a Knight of Skyloft - the beginning with the Wing Ceremony. 
• The surface world below is alien to them all, separated by a 'barrier' of clouds. 
• Every character is inspired by birds. 

Groose's hair is inspired by a Rooster,

• Even the sword is called the 'Skyward Sword'

Long story short, the entire game space, including the characters within it, are interconnected thematically and culturally. In this case the culture is birds. This is also apparent in the art style of the game.

What do you see when you look at the sky? On a cloudless day at least, it is bright, illuminated by the fiery sphere that we call the sun. It appears brilliant blue, a vivid colour, and that's what we see in Skyward Sword. Whereas another game in the series Twilight Princess accommodates its dark mood with an unsaturated colour palette. It looks pretty bleak, and it's meant to. This goes for Skyward Sword and it's bright colours. 

The characters with their lively personalities and their aesthetically pleasing choice of clothing in terms of colour, very much look as though they belong in that world. Looking at it all, you don't feel disconnected from the world because Link is not disconnected from the world. In fact, Skyward Sword makes that famous tunic of his make so much more sense. 

As it turns out, the tunic is the uniform Link must wear in the Academy for his Knight Training. It just so happens that his is green, while other years where a different colour uniform. You see red, blue, golden yellow, and of course green, all of which are quite saturated and eye-popping in colour. While the infamous tunic is green in all games, it is notably brighter in Skyward Sword, not taking away from the game space. 

N.B- In the concept art, and official illustrations there is a large use of blues as shadow, as if the sky is reflecting right off them. 

Link also shares a special bond with his bird, and a passion for flying. The player even experiences this when it becomes apparent that the only way down to the surface is to sky-dive. You and Link get to plummet through the air! Though, going back to the birds - known as Loftwings - their designs are actually inspired by real birds known as Shoebills, making them more believable. So Link's relationship with his Crimson Loftwing is more believable, as is Link and his entire home.

Basically everything right down to Link revolve around that fictional culture which worships the sky and its Goddess, and their venture into an alien world that is all too common to us. Regardless, we are never removed from that game space, able to believe that it could be so. If Link, or ANY of the other characters were any different, maybe not inspired by animals of the sky, could the experience have been less effective?

I would think so. 

Link belongs in the world of Skyloft, and this draws in the player. Their culture may be entirely fictional, but it does draw inspiration and it is believable.