Daily Debate: Would You Like to See Skyward Sword’s Shield Upgrades and Repairs in Future Zelda Games?
Posted on August 13 2021 by Sean Gadus
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild both have some type of upgrade or crafting system, but each works quite differently. Tapping into some RPG and scavenging elements, Skyward Sword allows players to upgrade their tools using materials from throughout the world. The player can upgrade their shields, in addition to gear and key items. Each of the three base shields (Wooden, Iron, and Sacred) can be upgraded two times. The upgrades change the visual design of the shield and also improve the durability meter of each shield.
Would you like to see Skyward Sword‘s shield upgrade and repair system in the next Zelda game? Personally, I think that adding this system into a future Zelda game is a no-brainer. Many fans were frustrated by the breakable weapons in Breath of the Wild, and allowing the player to repair their shields would fix some of these issues. It would be easy to add a blacksmith station in each town or stable where you could fix your shields. Giving players the ability to upgrade their weapons would also give the materials more value as well because there would be more ways to use materials.
Overall, I think the system of shield repairs and upgrades was one of my favorite parts of Skyward Sword. Having a durability meter made me think carefully about how I approached combat, but it was not as permanent or punitive as the Breath of the Wild system. When I play a Zelda game, I get really attached to my favorite gear and outfits, so being able to keep my favorite shields for longer would be a nice change.
What do you think about including Skyward Sword‘s shield system in a future Zelda game? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Featured Art: BLUEamnesiac
Sean Gadus is a Senior Editor at Zelda Dungeon. His first Zelda game was Ocarina of Time, and he loves all of the 3D Zelda games from 1998-2011. He is currently replaying the narrative ghost story Oxenfree, and taking his first stab at playing Dark Souls. He wants to help build a kinder, more compassionate world. You can check out his other written work at The-Artifice.com.
