Unboxing Limited Edition Zelda Skyward Sword Joy Cons for the Switch

In this episode, we unbox the nearly impossible to find Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword Joy Cons designed for the Nintendo Switch.

2021 marks the 35th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda series, and to commemorate it, Nintendo has remastered and re-released one of their most polarizing titles, Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, originally for the Nintendo Wii. One of the biggest complaints of that game back in the day was the fact that you had to use the Wii remotes and waggle your way through the game. Fast-forward 10 years and two console generations and not only are the waggle controls gone, Nintendo has released controllers specifically honoring that game.

Like many limited release items, the Skyward Sword Joy Cons have proven to be difficult for some to find in store. We were very lucky, we walked into our local Target at 5:00PM after work on release day and happened to get the only pair that they had, still sitting waiting to be put out. Unlike practically any other set of Joy Cons, these are themed specifically for the Legend of Zelda. There's intricate artwork, Triforce symbols, and more along with a individualized color scheme on the left and right Joy Cons.

One of the neat details that Nintendo has put into this set can be found on the Joy Con wrist straps. While traditionally just a piece of black rope or string, these wrist straps are themed to match the color scheme of the game and the series. Specifically, the hilt of the Master Sword has a very pronounced purple stripe going around both sides of it. That is matched here on the Joy Con wrist straps. It's not innovative or anything, but it's just a cool little touch to see them add in.

Aside from the paint scheme and wrist straps, the Skyward Sword Joy Cons are identical to every other Joy Con that are out there. I am continually disappointed by Nintendo not replacing the up, down, left, right buttons on the left Joy Con with a traditional D-Pad. Especially with this being a unique one-off set, they could have really done something different but chose not to. Everything else you would find in a regular Joy Con is here. The right Joy Con features the HD camera, each one has their own analog sticks, SL and SR buttons, and HD Rumble motors. For me, I still find Joy Cons far too small to play detached from the switch itself, and I also tend not to play my Switch in handheld mode a whole lot.

Why it RoX:
- One of the few things so far Nintendo has done for the 35th anniversary of Zelda
- The detail and artwork look terrific
- Mimicking the Master Sword hilt with the wrist straps was cool

What could be improved:
- Terrible distribution and availability
- More expensive than traditional Joy Cons
- Still no d-pad on the left Joy Con
- Doesn't address Joy Con drift

Should you buy one?
If you are a super fan of the Legend of Zelda, Skyward Sword specifically, these are a beautiful looking set of Joy Cons. I don't like that Nintendo is charging a higher price for these than normal Joy Cons, that just seems like you're taking advantage of your fan base. It also seems like Nintendo has had a hard time with sourcing and distribution of their high demand products, and these are no different. It has led to people flipping and scalping and unfortunately the end consumer is the one who gets hurt. If you're just looking for a second set of Joy Cons, any second set of Joy Cons, there are less expensive options out there. But for you Zelda zealots out there, this is a very nice piece to have added to your collection.

#LegendOfZelda #SkywardSword #JoyCons #Nintendo #Switch

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