History VideoGame / TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword

''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword'' is the sixteenth game in ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series, and the first chronologically (with the second in the timeline currently being ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'', which takes place an unspecified amount of time after this title). The game was released in November 2011 for the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}, as part of the series' 25th anniversary.

At the Press Conferences and at E3, Creator/{{Nintendo}} mentioned that they built this game around Wii Motion Plus partially due to criticism of the tacked-on motion controls in the last console game, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]''. That game began development for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, but was later ported to the Wii when Nintendo began to ramp up publicity for the then-new system (The [=GameCube=] version that eventually arrived later is largely identical, barring some differences in the control scheme and the orientation of the world map). However, ''Skyward Sword'' requires the Wii Motion Plus accessory in order to play. In other words, this is the ''Zelda'' game made specifically for the console. The game's visual style resembles both ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' in that the designs for the characters have realistic proportions while still being cel-shaded and brightly colored. Miyamoto says that the painterly style was specifically inspired by Impressionist paintings, and was done to accommodate the new control scheme by making enemies and their attacks easier to see. In terms of gameplay and themes, [[MegamixGame it amalgamates several elements and mechanics from previous installments, including the aforementioned two]] (which is on par with the game's role as a MilestoneCelebration of the series).

An HD remaster for the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, co-developed by Tantalus Media much like ''Twilight Princess HD'', was released on July 16, 2021. The Switch version retains and enhances the motion controls (which, this time, operate with the system's Joy-Con) but also introduces a more traditional control scheme so the game can be played in the console's handheld mode and on the handheld-only Switch Lite. It does this by moving the controls for sword swings and the like to the right analog stick. It also runs at 60fps and comes with number of quality-of-life changes to improve the gameplay experience, such as cutscene and tutorial skipping.

[[caption-width-right:299:[[{{Tagline}} The birth of the legend]].]]

->[[TheStinger Master,]] due to size constraints, I calculate that there is a 0% chance that you will find any tropes on this page. I suggest you look for them in the subpages.

[[caption-width-right:299:[[StabTheSky The best way to perform a]] TitleDrop.]]

At the Press Conferences and at E3, Creator/{{Nintendo}} mentioned that they built this game around Wii Motion Plus partially due to criticism of the tacked-on motion controls in the last console game, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]''. That game began development for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube, but was later ported to the Wii when Nintendo began to ramp up publicity for the then-new system (The [=GameCube=] version that eventually arrived later is largely identical, barring some differences in the control scheme and the orientation of the world map). However, ''Skyward Sword'' requires the Wii Motion Plus accessory in order to play. In other words, this is the ''Zelda'' game made specifically for the console. The game's visual style resembles both ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' in that the designs for the characters have realistic proportions while still being cel-shaded and brightly colored. Miyamoto says that the painterly style was specifically inspired by Impressionist paintings, and was done to accommodate the new control scheme by making enemies and their attacks easier to see. In terms of gameplay and themes, [[MegamixGame it amalgamates several elements and mechanics from previous installments, including the aforementioned two]] (which is on par with the game's role on the MilestoneCelebration of the series).

[[TheStinger Master,]] due to size constraints, I calculate that there is a 0% chance that you will find any tropes on this page. I suggest you look for them in the subpages.

%% NOTE: Before adding an example, make sure it's suited here and not the Character subpage.
%% If it's the latter, then add it there inatead. Thank you!

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%% RULE OF THUMB: If info about the game comes straight from Nintendo's official sources, then it doesn't count as a spoiler. Please don't add the spoiler tag to said info.
%% Don't spoiler tag the trope name. Ever.
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!!This game provides examples of:

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* EleventhHourSuperpower: The bow is your most effective long-range weapon in the game. In fact, it's the only long-range weapon you can have that'll actually hurt standard enemies. Therefore, unlike previous Zelda titles, it is the very last weapon you get. The game even seems to highlight its importance as a weapon by placing it at the very top in the item select screen.
* FifteenPuzzle: In the final dungeon, there's a variation. In several places, there are consoles with these puzzles, but each piece corresponds to a specific room, and you have to move them into varying positions to be able to traverse the dungeon.
* TwentyBearAsses: Collecting enemy drops allows you to upgrade your items, but isn't exactly necessary. That said, you'd think Monster Claws would be dropping every time you offed a Keese, but the drop rate seems to be completely random besides certain carried items increasing it.
* HundredPercentCompletion: Way more dense than most ''Zelda'' games, and deconstructed in some ways.
** Getting all the heart pieces and heart containers still leaves you missing two hearts, which can only be filled by using two life medals (which takes up 1/4 of your active storage space).
** Getting every item means obtaining it and then upgrading it 1-2 times. A lot of classically useful ''Zelda'' items, like large quivers and bomb bags, will spend the game wasting away in the item check because carrying them [[InventoryManagementPuzzle takes up one of eight pouch spaces]], and it's plenty easy to find refills for your weapon stocks in the world.
** Also, interestingly, some of the mini games don't help at all towards getting you 100% completion: no matter what score you get on the bamboo cut or bug catch, you'll only get treasures or rupees.
** Finally, in order to get the Hylian Shield, the game's best shield, you have to [[DoWellButNotPerfect stop the]] BossRush [[DoWellButNotPerfect mode only 8 rounds in]]; going into the final round results in you getting rupees and forcing you to start over if you want the shield.
* AbandonedMine: The game features the locale known as the Lanayru Mining Facility, which had been abandoned for several hundred years. The minerals that had been extracted there, Timeshift Stones, remain scattered throughout the mines and desert. When struck, these stones cause a temporal effect that sends a part of the area back in time to when it was not so abandoned.
* AbilityDepletionPenalty: The [[SprintMeter Stamina Meter]] is used for sprinting, climbing, {{spin attack}}s, carrying heavy items, [[ShiftingSandLand and keeping yourself afloat in sand]]. Drain the meter completely and Link can't do anything but move around slowly until the circle refills, including actions that don't normally run off the meter.
* AbsurdlyDedicatedWorker: The cute Aztec-looking little electric robot guys in the Lanayru Mines. It's out of use, and the robots old stones by now, but Link reactivates the time stones the robots once harvested, which causes things to return to the way they once were (in certain spots). They are proud, single-minded laborers even after all those years.
* AcademyOfAdventure: Link and Zelda are students at the Skyloft [[MilitaryAcademy Knight Academy]]. Zelda's father is the headmaster.
* AccidentalMisnaming: Happens in the European Spanish version of the game, when you're looking for information on Helias and talk to Horwell. He claims not to know anything about it and recommends to ask... himself.
--> '''Howell''': "I recommend you that you discuss this with instructor Howell. He is passionate about these kinds of topics."
* AdamAndEvePlot: The game ends with [[spoiler:Link and Zelda, rather than returning to Skyloft, [[IChooseToStay deciding to remain in what would eventually become Hyrule]]]]. While it's probably safe to assume they won't be the only ones to repopulate the surface ([[spoiler:the cloud barrier between it and Skyloft has disappeared, making it possible for anyone to come]]), the Adam and Eve symbolism is still very apparent.
* AdamSmithHatesYourGuts: Beedle is the only seller of the valuable Adventurer's Poach, which holds your bombs, bottles, medals, etc. He sells three out of the four available Adventurer's Poach, but will only sell them one at a time and the price of them increases from 300, to 600, and finally to 1200 rupees. [[LampshadeHanging He completely denies]] about the increasingly high prices of the Poaches.
-->'''Beedle''': "What? Me, raising prices? Never! You're obviously hallucinating.
* AfterBossRecovery: You get a heart container after each significant boss, as is tradition for the ''Zelda'' series.
* AfterTheEnd:
** This game takes place after a demonic war resulted in the goddess Hylia moving the human population of what eventually becomes Hyrule to a safe haven in the sky. Fortunately, things get sorted out and the surface ends up thriving again sometime between this game and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'', which is currently the first game chronologically to feature a Link native to the surface.
** Within this game, the Lanayru Province, with its ruined factories that are fully industrial under the influence of an active Timeshift Stone, suggests that the entire ''Zelda'' franchise takes place in this. The region itself has certainly seen better days; in Link's own time period, it's a vast desert, but under the influence of Timeshift Stones, it is full of lush plant life and borders a sea, whose harbor is all but abandoned in Link's own time.
* AirAidedAcrobatics: Eldin Volcano features many hot steam sources that can catapult Link upwards using his sailcloth. It becomes really acrobatic in one section with three hot steam sources in a row, and no safe platform in between them.
* AirborneMook: Sky Octoroks, which appear exclusively in the Sky, fly through leaves attached to their tops, which they spin like propellers.
* AlasPoorVillain: After destroying [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot robot Stalfos pirate]] Scervo, Fi says that she cannot help but admire Scervo's tenacity in keeping alive while all other robots broke down.
* AllMythsAreTrue: In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', there is a MrExposition who rambles about the rumors of a civilization who lives in the clouds closest to the heavens and that the people who lived there, the Hylians, are descended from the gods themselves. This game proves both, the [[LateArrivalSpoiler latter of which]] is [[spoiler:a key plot point for Zelda's background: she is the goddess Hylia reincarnated in human form]].
* AllTheWorldsAreAStage: The game has [[spoiler:Sky Keep]]. Except for the entrance lobby and [[spoiler:the Silent Realm rooms where you collect each piece of the Triforce]], every room has the aesthetics and music of all the previous dungeons, with mixups and variations to keep them fresh (for example, the room based on Skyview Temple mixes the flora and music of the original dungeon with the architecture and atmosphere of the upper part of the Ancient Cistern, while the area of Ancient Cistern itself is based on the original dungeon's lower part and features a BossRush against minibosses). This dungeon lacks a boss on its own, but after completing it the endgame (which includes the final story cutscenes, a MultiMookMelee and the last two bosses, all of them in the overworld) starts immediately.
* AlreadyDoneForYou: Impa presses a switch in Eldin Volcano that activates a bridge so Link can pass over a lava pit.
* AlreadyUndoneForYou: [[DamselOutOfDistress Zelda manages to get all the way through the first dungeon of the game]], yet all the puzzles present in that dungeon are reset by the time Link catches up. Partly {{justified|Trope}}; Zelda both has help and uses different methods from Link to traverse obstacles. Sometimes [[InvertedTrope inverted]] when a gate or a bridge is set in a way that, because it has already been used, serves as an impassable block to Link's progress, and someone else has to solve the puzzle or open the gate in order for him to continue.
* AluminumChristmasTrees: At first glance, the large-beaked Loftwings might appear to look that way because of the stylized cartoonish aesthetic of the game. They actually look almost exactly like the real life [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoebill Shoebill]].
* AmazingTechnicolorBattlefield: There's one for [[spoiler:Demise]], complete with the occasional lightning strike and FloatingWater.
* AmbushingEnemy: Starting in this game, octoroks remain hidden underground and use an object on their head, usually a bush or a rock, to blend in with the environment, revealing themselves only when they emerge to take a shot at Link.
* AnachronismStew: The game gets really crazy with the ancient/futuristic mishmash by the time you get to the Lanayru Desert, where the futuristic parts are actually ''[[ItMakesSenseInContext from the past.]]''
* AncientEvil: The game reveals that [[spoiler:Ganondorf (or Ganon, as the case may be) is the corporeal form of the "curse of Demise", who is the ''true'' Ancient Evil in the series. An otherworldly being whose death in ''Skyward Sword'' laid a curse on all those who would descend from the Link and Zelda of that game (so those possessing the spirit of the Hero and the bloodline of Hylia, respectively). Ganondorf's malice towards Link, Zelda, and the kingdom of Hyrule is that debt being paid]].
* AndIMustScream:
** The entire Lanayru desert is littered by the time-ravaged, rusted remains of the ''Ancient Robots'', a population of robots who used to thrive in the past, when the desert was a luscious forest filled with precious "Timeshift Stones". It's implied they may be still active, reacting with a pitiful beep when you try to communicate with them. One of them, restored to life by a "Timeshift Stone" (that "resets" his personal timeline to a point in the past) is shown to be fully aware of being living on borrowed time.
** Lanayru himself [[spoiler:until you heal him]] died a long time before Link can first meet him. So, you can only meet a rotten skull, [[GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath staring at you with his empty eyesockets as you try to communicate with him.]]
** [[spoiler:The Big Bad himself, Demise,]] appears first as The Imprisoned, an inhuman monster, scattered and sealed in a mystical pillar since ancient times, unable even to restore his physical appearance for ages.
** [[spoiler:Zelda]] has to seal herself for several thousands of years, sleeping to direct her energies to the seal keeping The Imprisoned in, unable to wake up on her own.
* AndThatsTerrible: Finding a Rupoor is, as the game assures, "a little bit sad."
* AnimalMotifs: In previous games, the Kingdom of Hyrule in general was associated with birds, and this game hints why: The Goddess [[GodOfGood Hylia]], the namesake of Hyrule, came to the mortal world on a Loftwing (huge bird) which the people of [[FloatingContinent Skyloft]] (the proto-Hyrule) get around on. Hence the birdlike Royal Crest in chronologically subsequent games. On a more subtle level, the older and more important characters in Skyloft wear robes closely modeled on those worn by the [[BirdPeople Rito]] in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]''.
* AnimalThemeNaming: A number of Skyloft's citizens have bird-inspired names. Pipit and Piper are two species of birds. Fledge(ling) is a term meaning a young bird. Groose, Orielle, and Karane are similar to "Grouse"/"Goose" (and "rooster," emphasized by his pompadour being like a rooster's comb and his normal walking animation being to strut around), "Oriole", and "Crane", and Stritch is clearly "Ostrich". Instructor Owlan's name has "Owl" in it, and Sparrot and Parrow are both combinations of "Sparrow" and "Parrot", with Sparrot's name being a portmanteau of "sparrow" and "tarot" (seeing as he's a fortune teller). Knight Commander Eagus gets his name from "eagle". Combine the names Luv and Bertie and you get "lovebird". The headmaster is named after the owl from ''Ocarina of Time'' and other games. In the case of Cawlin, his name is either from "macaw" or the sound a crow makes.
* AnotherSideAnotherStory: During the end credits, you get to see [[spoiler:Zelda's side of the whole situation and how she ended up where she was when you met up with her]].
* {{Antepiece}}: A large part of Lanayru Province is based on how the concept of the Timeshift Stones gradually increases its complexity and importance: The first such stone, found in Lanayru Mine, is in a hazard-free area where Link can activate it to revive some robots and use the now-functional electric minecarts, so he can quickly familiarize with how time travel works with these devices; subsequent stones have to be activated to sort bigger obstacles like quicksand, pitfalls and spiky obstuctions. By the time Link reaches the Lanayru Mining Facility, he'll deal with stones attached to magnetic carts that move when they're activated, meaning that he has to perform the corresponding actions quickly to avoid being outrun and having to repeat the process. As the game progresses and more areas of Lanayru Province are unlocked, Link will face bigger challenges like navigating through a Sand Sea by using a motorboat that turns any nearby sand into water (which also brings back enemies and hazards that no longer exist in the present, so it's by no means a harmless ordeal), using a Timeshift Orb to make the surroundings of the Pirate Stronghold regress into their past form as Link walks past them, using only ''one'' Timeshift Stone available in the Sandship (by shooting it from different angles and locations) to change everything between past and present at once, and finally transporting a normal Timeshift Stone with a cart that moves through the gigantic loop of Lanayru Gorge (filled with all sorts of enemies, pitfalls, obstructions and hazards) to take it to the remains of the Thunder Dragon to revive him.
* AntiFrustrationFeatures: All areas that require the use of bombs to continue have bomb flowers placed nearby, letting Link replace the used-up bombs or progress even if he doesn't happen to have any on hand at the moment.
* TheApocalypseBringsOutTheBestInPeople: Originally, Groose was just a bully and a JerkJock, when he follows Link to the surface and sees [[EldritchAbomination The Imprisoned]] nearly break free of its seal, he volunteers to keep watch over the seal and even builds a surprisingly effective bomb launcher to help Link the next few times the Imprisoned tries to escape. By the end of the game, he's a hero in his own right, and there's no trace of his former enmity with Link.
* AppearanceIsInTheEyeOfTheBeholder: According to [[ExpositionFairy Fi's]] description of him, [[spoiler:Demise appears differently in each epoch and to each person who lays eyes on him]], though this is an InformedAttribute as her description of this is the only hint that it is the case.
* AppliedPhlebotinum: Timeshift Stones, which turns the area around it back to the state it was in the past. This includes enemies, who will revive when within range of a Timeshift Stone and then suddenly vanish back into skeletons/rubble if they stray outside it. Inexplicably, Link is exempt from these changes.[[note]]With the time travel involved in the game (Link even beats the GreaterScopeVillain far back in the past), it's theorized that the Timeshift Stones either were specifically designed to exclude him, or somehow managed to record his current presence and existence in the past era, so he technically remains the same in both periods.[[/note]]
* {{Arcadia}}: Skyloft is a FloatingContinent version. It's an idyllic, peaceful island in which the Hylians have lived since [[spoiler:Hylia elevated its ground from the mainland of the surface after the imprisonment of Demise]].
* ArmorIsUseless: Link starts with normal clothes before getting his trademark tunic, which in this game clearly has chain-mail under it. This has no effect on the amount of damage taken, though it doesn't slow him down either, not that anyone would expect that.
* ArmorMeter: Shields use a meter to indicate how much more damage they can take. The final shield doesn't take damage, but still has a meter.
* ArmorOfInvincibility: The Hylian Shield, which you get by completing exactly 8/12 of the BossRush, is completely indestructible. Even though it has a "BreakMeter."
* ArrowCam: Though it's not used for the Arrows, but for the Beetle. Fi even encourages you to use it to scout out an area.
* TheArtifact: Both the original and the HD release were anniversary releases for the series (25th and 35th, respectively) and the game is thus chock full of references to past games. However, the Academy celebrating its 25th loses more meaning since the HD game now celebrates the 35th.
* ArtificialBrilliance:
** In order to take advantage of the new control scheme, the enemy AI has become smarter and more strategic, more consistently blocking Link's attacks and require a lot more dodging, to accommodate the new controls. Even enemies like Bokoblins (a veritable RedShirtArmy in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', and they weren't anything special in their debut in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' either) will stomp on your fingers if they spot you on a ledge.
** Also goes for Skulltulas, who do their best to hide their weak backside. This is a far cry from the Skulltulas of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', who simply turned around and exposed their weak undersides for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
** Bokoblins, despite their descriptions of being not terribly intelligent, will do various things such as taking cover from lobbed bombs, running away from (or even ''attacking'') the Beetle if you fly it near them, throwing their boulders if Link catches them at close range (so they don't drop them when Link attacks them), and so on.
** Lizalfos defy the ease of sniping enemies from afar with your bow by blocking every shot you try to take at them from the front, even if they're not aware of your presence.
** When a Bokoblin [[EnemySummoner carrying a monster horn]] is slain in battle, every other Bokoblin in the area will charge over to grab it and defend the one who obtains it.
** The Bokoblin smartness is deliberately removed when [[spoiler:Link is forced to battle his way through an utterly absurd number of Bokoblins to reach the BigBad before he uses Zelda to revive the FinalBoss; Link can slice through dozens of them with them rarely, if ever, blocking his blows]].
** Ghirahim will catch your sword, rip it out of your hands, and use it against you if you telegraph which direction you'll be striking from (by holding your sword at the beginning point of your slash for too long) while fighting him. He also can't be damaged by Skyward Strikes, so you'll have to feint past his guard to deal damage.
* ArtificialStupidity: As pointed out above, during the penultimate battle, Link has to fight his way through several hundred bokoblins to reach the boss, so their ability to block is almost completely removed (because if they acted like normal bokoblins this part would end up being NintendoHard). During the gauntlet, only minibosses and the very occasional bokoblin have the ability to block. Link can mow through bokoblins as easy as cutting grass for the most part.
* ArtisticLicenseChemistry: It's never explained how rupoors cause Link to lose money or why the black ore that they're made of has such an undesirable reaction with rupees. To top it off, glittering spores will change rupoors into rupees.
* ArtShiftedSequel: The game sports a semi-Impressionistic look that's basically a cross between the ''Wind Waker'' and ''Twilight Princess'' art styles, featuring the cel-shading and bright colors of the former with the realistic proportions of the latter.
* AsLongAsThereIsEvil: The game [[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-eu9o8-MRUnV6Rpuzu6YSuM0Ue3CrYiKwRzISRVvFHQ/edit reveals]] why Hyrule and the rest of the world is [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda still]] plagued by evil. [[spoiler:After being defeated by Link, Demise informs Link, that the hatred and grudge of him and the entire demon race (''"Mazoku"'') he spawned, is always evolving and will spawn incarnations (such as Vaati and Ganondorf), which shall haunt not only the Gods and the surface dwellers for all eternity, but also those who try to stand in the way of the demons (''"Spirit of the Hero"'') and the descendants of Hylia's mortal bloodline (''"Divine Blood"'')]].
* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Ghirahim proves time and time again just ''why'' he's a Demon Lord.
* AsteroidsMonster: Like ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' before it, Chuchus merely split apart into smaller Chuchus when you slice through them. But watch your angle of attack -- a horizontal slice will result in the smaller Chuchus landing one on top of the other and immediately recombining into their larger form.
* AsYouKnow: Employed verbatim, ''repeatedly'' during the earliest parts of the game, to explain the BackStory of Skyloft to the player via Link.
* AttackAttackAttack: [[spoiler:The huge wave of enemies Ghirahim]] sends at you for the express purpose of stalling you while they die.
* AttackItsWeakPoint: ''VideoGame/PunchOut''-styled. Tentalus, Scaldera, Moldarach, and Bilocyte all have this in their eyes.
* AttackOfTheMonsterAppendage: Before you fight the Medusa-Kraken-hybrid-like Tentalus in the Sandship, its tentacles attack the ship you're on, bursting through walls and such.
* AttentionDeficitOohShiny:
** [[RunningGag As a recurring]] EasterEgg in the ''Zelda'' series, you can make the FinalBoss, [[spoiler:Demise]], lose focus by whipping out the Bug Catching Net, giving you an opening to slice him up. You can even reflect his Skyward Strikes with it, a la ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]''.
** Moblins become fixated on nearby primed bombs and slowly back away from them. Because of this, you can easily run behind and attack them. If you do, they'll turn around and retaliate, forgetting about the bomb that's about to blow up behind them.
* AwardBaitSong: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ReyoNpyrM Ballad of the Goddess]] is not only bombastic, but also serves a a major plot point in-game to unlock an ancient gate.
* AwesomeButImpractical: The Sacred Shield can automatically repair itself. That said, it costs 500 rupees, requires rarer treasures for upgrades, and even its HealingFactor can be overtaxed with enough damage.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: Gondo's mother is always complaining about how she's stuck doing all her son's dirty laundry while he fixes his robot. Even after you help him complete this task, this continues, making him seem selfish. However, if you talk to Scrapper at night at Gondo's home, he'll reveal that Gondo has been building his mother an automatic washing machine.
* BackgroundMusicOverride: The underground zone of the Ancient Cistern has a theme that overrides the enemy music. This is the only dungeon theme in the game capable of doing this.
* TheBadGuyWins: The game is a prequel to the rest of the series, with the antagonist being [[spoiler:the ancient god Demise]]. While the game ends with him defeated, he [[spoiler:curses Link and Zelda to constantly be faced with an incarnation of his hatred, which will be the evil Ganon. Because of Demise's curse, there will always have to be a Link and Zelda to fight the evil, which will always cause catastrophe for Hyrule before being defeated]].
* BadPresent: The Lanayru Region becomes this once you start messing around with Timeshift Stones and see how lush, green, and lively it was before it became a barren desert wasteland. This is particularly jarring with the Sand Sea, which was an ''actual'' ocean before it dried up.
* BagOfHolding: You can fit shields in your adventure pouch, a tiny sack you wear on your belt. He later pulls out a piece of fruit about three feet across, staggering under its weight.
* BagOfSpilling: The Eldin Song of the Hero quest starts with Eldin Volcano [[spoiler:erupting as Link descends from the sky, knocking him out and allowing the Bokoblins to steal his items. The entire quest revolves around making your way through the area while slowly regaining your items to progress]].
* BarehandedBladeBlock: Ghirahim, in the first part of his duel with Link, can block Link's sword with the tips of his fingers in a distinctly [[Manga/{{Bleach}} Aizen-ish]] manner. Not only that, but he can actually ''snatch'' Link's sword out of his hands and [[HoistByHisOwnPetard use it against him]].
* BatmanGambit: While Zelda has her own important role to fulfill in the goddess's plan ([[spoiler:being the mortal reincarnation of said goddess]]), her DamselInDistress status [[spoiler:was deliberately, albeit unknowingly, self-inflicted]] to motivate Link to take up the mantle of Chosen Hero.
* BatOutOfHell: Keese, which as usual comes in normal and fiery forms, but the game also premieres an electric subspecies that is found in the caves and dungeons of Lanayru Desert, as well as an undead species in Fire Sanctuary (but interestingly not the BigBoosHaunt area of Ancient Cistern) that can inflict a temporary curse that prevents the usage of items or weapons.
* TheBattleDidntCount: You fight Ghirahim three times-- not until you kill him, but until he gets tired of fighting you.
* BattleInTheRain: Tentalus in the Sandship, Bicolyte in the Sky, and the final battle against [[spoiler:Demon King Demise in the past era]]. Except in the latter case, [[spoiler:the storm gets ''[[LightningCanDoAnything weaponized]]'']].
* BattleStrip: Ghirahim, in the second battle. Downplayed because he appears to retain some kind of skin-tight bodysuit. It's exaggerated in the third and final Ghirahim battle. Ghirahim magically removes his actual ''skin'', revealing [[OneWingedAngel his true form]].
* BattleThemeMusic: The game features multiple boss tracks as usual, but there's also a special case: One of the bosses, The Imprisoned, has a sophisticated VariableMix that comes into effect depending on the situation. There's the theme for the boss simply walking, one for when [[spoiler:the player is controlling the Groosenator]], one for when the boss is close to its destination, and one for when [[spoiler:the player is controlling the Groosenator during that dangerous proximity]].
* BeatingADeadPlayer: Due to a rare glitch, you can, by repeatedly attacking a dying enemy after a Fatal Blow, cause it not to disappear and become [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thw-Cx9in-M a harmless black piñata]].
* BeneathTheEarth: The prologue says that the demons originally came from here when they sought to obtain the Triforce.
* {{BFS}}:
** Koloktos wields not one, but up to ''six'' grossly oversized swords. The real fun begins once Link can steal and use them against their owner.
** During the final fight with Ghirahim, he summons a massive broadsword that is large enough to serve as an impromptu shield, requiring you to slice it in two before landing a blow on his chest [[spoiler:Later, Ghirahim turns into one which is used by Demise, as he is Fi's counterpart as a sword spirit.]]
* BewareTheSkullBase: The Pirate Stronghold, located in the Lanayru Sand Sea, was built beneath [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/zelda/images/f/f0/Pirate_Stronghold.png/revision/latest?cb=20120511232514 the skull of a very large creature that died long ago]], and was formerly the base of a group of now-deceased pirates.
* BigBad: Demon Lord Ghirahim, the most active villain in the plot. He is technically TheDragon to his master whom he's trying to revive, but has a [[TheHeavy much more prominent role]] in the story's events, even though he's not actually the FinalBoss.
* BigBoosHaunt: The Ancient Cistern is a [[HailfirePeaks mix between]] DownTheDrain and this. Its basement floor is not only much darker than the cheery above-ground level, it's also filled with poison water and [[NightOfTheLivingMooks Cursed Bokoblins]].
* BigBulkyBomb: The Groosenator is designed to launch giant-sized bombs to stun the Imprisoned, as well as [[spoiler:putting it down when it starts flying]].
* BigDamnHeroes:
** Link pulls this after getting through the third dungeon, saving [[spoiler:Zelda and Impa from Ghirahim's ambush]]. It also gives you an opportunity to throw an [[IronicEcho awesome retort]] back in Impa's face after [[PlayerPunch her harsh words]] towards you earlier for your lack of punctuality.
** [[spoiler:Groose also does this in the endgame, by catching Zelda once Demise flings her up into the air.]]
** Early in the game, when Zelda pushes Link off of Skyloft to get him to practice, she quickly realizes that Link [[CassandraTruth was telling the truth]] about not being able to sense his Loftwing and quickly calls her own Loftwing to save him.
* BigDamnReunion: Link and Zelda enjoy a happy reunion every time they encounter each other someplace on the surface for the first time in a while. They are all short-lived, however, due to Zelda's status and responsibilities as [[spoiler:the reincarnation of Hylia]].
* BiggerOnTheInside:
** The Sandship ends up being a lot larger when you actually board it, compared to when you're chasing after it on Skipper's boat.
** The interior of [[spoiler: Sky Keep, including its eight shifting rooms]], is way larger than the [[spoiler: Isle of the Goddess]] that it's located within.
* BioluminescenceIsCool: The glow caps in the underground levels of the Skyview Temple and Ancient Cistern. Also, weirdly enough, [[spoiler:[[BigBad Demise's]] hair.]]
* BirdPoopGag: Guays will attempt to poop on Link's head, which will gradually drain his stamina. The droppings can be removed with a roll or SpinAttack.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Even through all the happiness of reawakening Zelda and the two protagonists settling down to start a new land, Fi and Impa's departures are sad, and Demise goes out with an AsLongAsThereIsEvil speech, setting up for the later villains in the series (especially but not limited to Ganon/Ganondorf)]]. JustifiedTrope, of course, as this is chronologically the first game in the franchise, and a completely perfect ending would mean the later games in the timeline and its eventual branches wouldn't happen.
* {{Bizarrchitecture}}: Sky Keep, whose rooms can be moved via special tile panels like a sliding puzzle, drastically changing the layout of the dungeon.
* BlockingStopsAllDamage: The game gives Link a shield gauge that shows how much the shield can take before destruction, but his greatest shield (the unlockable Hylian Shield) is invulnerable.
* BlockPuzzle: Compared to previous ''Zelda'' games, ''Skyward Sword'' cuts down on these considerably, but they're still present in some select areas of Lanayru Desert.
* BloodlessCarnage: [[spoiler:Demise is finished off when Link plunges the Master Sword through his chest at the end of their battle. When he gets up and prepares to plant his sword into the ground, however, there is no visible wound.]]
* BlowThatHorn: Bokoblins sometimes carry horns, which they can use to summon other Bokoblins.
* BlowYouAway: The Gust Bellows work similarly to the Gust Jar above, but lack the "suck" part.
* BodyToJewel: The Spanish translation of the game makes Evil Crystals the "petrified hearts of malicious monsters". Fittingly, the Zombie Bokoblins are the ones dropping them.
* BombardierMook: Hroks are stork-like enemies that perch on trees and fly off towards Link when they spot him, staying high above his reach and regurgitating large rocks in an attempt to crush him. In the early game they're entirely impossible to harm once they get into the air -- they never drop low enough for Link to reach, and can only be dealt with preemptively by dropping bombs on them when they're still roosting -- but become more manageable once Link gets the bow and arrows.
* BondCreatures: The Loftwings to the Skyloftians. Link's bond with his rare Crimson Loftwing is said to be especially strong.
* BondVillainStupidity: Two examples:
** If [[spoiler:Ghirahim]] had actually just killed Link when they first met rather than constantly screwing around and toying with him, his plans would have gone off without a hitch. He even acknowledges this.
** If [[spoiler:Demise]] had not agreed to a duel with Link rather than just going on to the Triforce when he had the chance, the world would be his for the taking.
* BookEnds:
** Meta-example: ''Twilight Princess'' was a Wii launch title, while ''Skyward Sword'' was released on the tail end of the Wii's life cycle.
** An In-Game example as well with Ghirahim being the boss of the first and last dungeons (not counting [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon the Sky Keep]], which has no boss).
** At the beginning of the game, Zelda sends her Loftwing to wake Link up so he won't forget to meet her before the Wing Ceremony like he promised. At the end of the game, just before [[spoiler:the FinalBoss fight]], Link greets Zelda as she awakens from [[spoiler:her self-imposed slumber to maintain the seal over Demise]], just as he promised earlier.
** The very first and very last area of the surface that you visit is the Sealed Grounds (though in the past, it's technically called Hylia's Realm according to the map).
** The [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon final dungeon]] is directly across from the game's NoobCave.
** The Staff Roll music begins and ends with the same sub-melody.
** The Statue of the Goddess is the first and the last place where Link and Zelda are shown together.
** Link and Zelda's Loftwings flying together without their riders only happens at the beginning and the end of the game.
* BoringButPractical:
** The slingshot, compared to the other games, where it's normally quickly replaced by the bow. Now that the bow is a [[SniperRifle Sniper Weapon]] obtained much later in the game, the Slingshot sees much more usage this time and its ability to stun enemies can prove valuable. You can even upgrade it to fire multiple shots.
** Link can fully regenerate his hearts by sitting down on a chair to rest for a while. This is especially useful in [[NewGamePlus Hero Mode]], when there are no heart drops, but the surface is littered with stumps and stools that Link can rest on to quickly recover fully. Even some dungeons have them.
** The Gust Bellows, which is essentially a ''leaf blower'' that's powered by magic. It does no damage to enemies and will push back only the lightest of foes a few feet away from Link when he uses it against them. Doesn't mean that it isn't incredibly useful when solving puzzles requiring a controlled force of air, however. It is also good for keeping enemies from seeing you (like when you're captured by Bokoblins on Eldin Volcano) or stunning/throwing off balance certain enemies, and can blow explosive burrs off of tightropes.
** The Iron Shield. It's considerably cheaper than the Sacred Shield, more resilient than the Wooden Shield, and can be easily upgraded with small treasures.
* BossArenaRecovery: In some of the arenas, unfortunately not in Hero Mode or the Lightning Round.
* BossBanter: If you do very badly against Ghirahim, he will take your sword and chastise you for your poor technique.
* BossCorridor: The Earth Temple has an interesting variant of it. You ascend an empty, long corridor upwards to what looks like the boss arena... but then Ghirahim appears, locks the path to the next room and unleashes Scaldera upon you, a sentient boulder that rolls down the slope. That's right, the corridor ''is'' the boss arena.
* BossDissonance: [[ZigzaggedTrope zig-zags between the two extremes]] during the first half. On the one hand, you have the easy Skyview Temple followed by WakeUpCallBoss Ghirahim, and on the other, the much more difficult Earth Temple and Lanayru Mining Facility having very easy bosses. There's also, the fairly difficult first battle against The Imprisoned ''outside'' a dungeon. A DownplayedTrope in later dungeons, however: Notwithstanding Tentalus, the other bosses are generally on par with their levels of residence difficulty-wise. In fact, it's after the first half of the game when overworld bosses battles appear, further blurring the difficulty curve.
* BossInMookClothing: [[spoiler:During the Bokoblin horde battle near the end, one of the monsters Link needs to kill to lower a barrier looks like an ordinary Blue Bokoblin. However, it's much faster and more aggressive, and can take many more hits.]]
* BossRemix:
** The first battle theme of Levias is a remix of Skyloft's theme. The second is a remix of The Sky's theme.
** Ghirahim's battle theme is a remixed rendition of his {{Leitmotif}}, with castanets, choir, and snare-line added in for each battle.
* BossRoom: Subverted with the Sandship. Its boss room contains nothing important, and upon entering, you are immediately forced to flee from giant tentacles that try to grab you and water rushing in through the holes they've punched in the hull. The actual boss fight against Tentalus, the owner of said tentacles, takes place on the upper deck.
* BossRush: Returning from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]] 3D'' in the form of the Lightning Round minigame by Thunder Dragon Lanayru. Also, Sky Keep has a variant where, leading up to the Triforce of Courage, you must pass through in three successive rooms containing strong enemies and minibosses.
* BossSubtitles: Present for the majority of bosses, though it's subverted when you fight '''The Imprisoned''', which has no accompanying description other than its name (also done with [[spoiler:Demise proper]]).
* BottomlessPitRescueService: If you fall off Skyloft, one of the knights will rescue you and drop you off on one of the boardwalks, lecturing you for being careless.
* {{Boundareefs}}: The explorable part of Lanayru Sand Sea is entirely enclosed by a thin strand of rocks.
* BraggingRightsReward: The Hylian Shield can ''seem'' like a useless reward, since it's available very late in the game and getting it requires [[BossRush beating eight bosses in a row,]] proving you don't really need it. However, it's still useful against the FinalBoss, and you can use it in another run of the BossRush. But then there's the reward for beating all twelve bosses, which is filling your wallet to max capacity. At this point, you probably bought everything useful ten hours ago.
* BratsWithSlingshots: Returning from ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Twilight Princess'' is the Slingshot, which Link can give use to for a longer time than in those two games due to the Bow appearing much later this time. Funnily, the weapon is given to him by an adult Kikwi, instead of a Hylian child.
* BreakableWeapons: Shields have a durability meter, and if it runs out, they shatter and are lost entirely (the rare Hylian Shield is the exception). Also applies to Ghirahim's large claymore in the final stage of his BossBattle (see ShieldedCoreBoss).
* BreakingTheFourthWall: Aside from a variety of in-game control instructions and tutorials, Fi herself will alert the player if "the batteries in your Wii Remote are nearly depleted;" this will happen surprisingly often, as Skyward Sword's extensive use of the [=WiiMotion=] Plus drains the remote's batteries more quickly than most other games.
* BreakingOldTrends:
** [[spoiler:Ghirahim is the first boss in the series to give up a HeartContainer once defeated and not die. ''Twice''.]]
** Revisiting a main boss room having sub-bosses: the first boss.
** Revisiting main locations again having a different atmosphere and a required revisit: Faron and Eldin Provinces.
* BreakingOutTheBoss: [[TheDragon Ghirahim's]] entire motivation is freeing Demise, his boss and the essentially the source of all monsters in Hyrule. [[spoiler:Surprise surprise, he pulls it off without too much trouble.]]
* BridgeLogic: Link can use bombs to fell Bokoblin sentry towers so he can bridge chasms.
* BringIt: Link's response when confronted with Ghirahim's Bokoblin horde is to simply shoot them a DeathGlare and grab the hilt of his sword.
* BrokenBridge: Despite the fact the people of Skyloft have mastered metallurgy and manufactured many flying machines, they can't replace a simple lost propeller that turns a windmill, forcing a ChainOfDeals to find it and restore it.
* BugCatching: The Bug Net makes a comeback, and bugs caught with it can be given to an NPC in order to improve Link's potions.
* BuildingSwing:
** Link can swing on vines and ropes to get from one place to another.
** Later in the game, he can use the whip for this very same purpose.
* BullfightBoss: The Moldorms appear to be ChasingYourTail enemies, but they also charge and will stun themselves if they charge into a wall.
* ButNowIMustGo: [[spoiler:Fi, the spirit living within the Master Sword and your companion throughout the game, seals herself in the Master Sword in eternal sleep after the defeat of Demise. Shortly afterwards, Impa also leaves by dissolving into tiny balls of light.]]
* ButThouMust: When you go through [[spoiler:The Gate of Time and witness Zelda sealing herself up in the past in order to prevent a great evil from escaping]], she asks you to make a promise to [[spoiler:wake her up in the future]]. Your three available replies are "I promise.", "I will.", and "Of course!" Justified as a negative response would be counterproductive to the plot, out of character, and a dick move.
* BuyOrGetLost: This trope is [[ExaggeratedTrope exaggerated.]] Beedle constantly pedals to power his flying shop, which is accessed by ringing a bell and then climbing a ladder. If one were to leave his shop without buying anything, [[ScoldedForNotBuying not only does he call them out]] for forcing him to put in extra leg power for nothing, he [[DisproportionateRetribution drops them out a trap door]].
* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: Even in a game where Link's home is a FloatingContinent, he's not safe from the duty that destiny entrusted to him, same case with Zelda. In fact, ''this'' game reveals the reason why all Links in the franchise go through hardships to confront the forces of evil, no matter how peaceful their lives were beforehand.
* CantRefuseTheCallAnymore: Following Zelda's abduction, this happens when Link finally makes the jump from the safety of The Sky to the desolate Surface below.
* CartoonBomb: The Bombs, as usual; but of special note is that, as heavily implied in several games and made pretty explicit in this one, the Bombs Link uses are made from Bomb Flowers. Furthermore, they're harvested by Gorons; it's their 'special fruit' that only grows in the caverns they live in. Bombs are a common buyable item; the Gorons have a pretty sweet business going in a world that apparently has a lot of demolition being done by casual citizens.
* CassandraTruth: Shortly before Zelda has Link train for the race, Link informs her that he can't sense his Crimson Loftwing anywhere. Zelda initially thinks Link is attempting to weasel out of training. Unfortunately, she doesn't discover until shortly after shoving him off that Link was actually being honest: his Crimson Loftwing really was missing, and she quickly dives down on her own bird to save him.
* CatAndMouseBoss: Scaldera, the second dungeon boss, chases Link up and down a narrow sloping platform, invulnerable and WreathedInFlames. Once Link hits him with a bomb, Scaldera rolls back down the slope and Link must give chase to attack [[GoForTheEye its weakness]].
* CatapultNightmare: Link does it twice; at the start of the game, and later after being separated from Zelda by a whirlwind and waking up back at the Knight Academy.
* CatapultToGlory: The Groosenator is used to launch Link onto The Imprisoned's head in their third fight. Groose also fires Link into Faron Woods when it floods and the ordinary path is rendered impassable.
* CatchAFallingStar: Traveling is accomplished by either leaping off one of the {{Floating Continent}}s of Skyloft or catching an updraft from the surface world, then whistling for Link's [[GiantFlyer Loftwing]], who will swoop in out of nowhere to catch him without fail.
* CatsAreMean: At night, Remlits turn from adorable lemur-esque kittens to feral beasts with glowing eyes and fangs that will attack until Link fights back and scares them off. Even Instructor Owlan won't be in the room with Gaepora's pet Remlit Mia during the night.
* CaveBehindTheFalls: While there is a waterfall, and a dungeon behind it, there is no way to walk through the flow to get to the dungeon and it is visible through the stream of water.
* CelShading: Envision the Link from ''Twilight Princess'' with a cel-shaded style that is reminiscent of Impressionist paintings, and you won't be far off from what ''Skyward Sword'' looks like. Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto actually said this was necessary to make enemy actions more visible, to accommodate using [=MotionPlus=] sword controls. The style in some ways as a direct hybrid of ''Twilight Princess'' and ''Wind Waker'', since it's easy to see NPC designs that look straight out of each, and yet both look at home in the same game.
* CelebrityEndorsement: In Japan, there were a number of commercials featuring gameplay interviews with actresses Shouko Nakagawa and Chiaki Kuriyama. In the Western hemisphere, Creator/RobinWilliams and his daughter Zelda Williams -- who's named after the eponymous princess -- were featured in commercials and ''Nintendo Magazine'' did a couple of video interviews with Zelda Williams to count down the days until ''Skyward Sword's'' release.
* CerebusCallBack: The game begins with [[GoodMorningCrono Zelda waking up Link]] by having her Loftwing deliver a letter to him that brings up how much of a {{Sleepyhead}} he is. [[spoiler:Later, when Zelda decides to [[RipVanWinkle go into a deep sleep]] in the Temple of Hylia thousands of years in the past to maintain the [[SealedEvilInACan seal]] keeping [[GodOfEvil Demise]] imprisoned, she notes that Link is the one who will have to wake ''her'' up in the present once Demise is destroyed.]]
* CerebusRetcon: The game reveals that every appearance of Ganon/Ganondorf is the result of [[spoiler:a [[DyingCurse curse]] laid on the bloodlines of the hero and the goddess Hylia (aka the first Zelda) by the ancient GodOfEvil Demise, who was destroyed by the first Link. The curse states that an incarnation of Demise's hatred will always return to torment the hero and the princess of Hyrule]]; no matter what, in every one of their lifetimes and reincarnations, Link and Zelda will never know true peace.
* CheckPoint: Winged statues within dungeons, in addition to providing a convenient place to save, are also where the game is loaded upon restarting after a GameOver or simply when the player resumes their playthrough, rather than sending Link back to the entryway of the dungeon upon turning on the game again.
* ChekhovsGun:
** When you are allowed to wander through Skyloft for the very first time, an old man is examining a particular bird statue and laments how said statue is missing one eye. [[spoiler:Retrieving it is how you get into the last dungeon.]]
** The first time you explore the Bazaar, you may run into a broken-down robot in the repair shop, and a few characters may comment on how it used to fly below the clouds and retrieve treasures. You eventually need to repair it in order to progress on with the game.
** Some characters will ask you to retrieve particular items that fell down beneath the clouds somewhere; items that you probably saw on your first trip through the area but just dismissed as part of the local scenery.
** In the Sealed Temple, there is a patch of ground Groose says he wants to grow a tree in. When you discover the dragon Lanayru requires a fruit from a Tree Of Life, which cannot grow in the Lanayru Desert, you must take the sapling to the Sealed Temple and through the Gate of Time so it can be fully-grown in the present.
* ChekhovsGunman: Some of the people you meet in Skyloft will do something important later in the game to help out Link, [[spoiler:such as Kukiel's father fixing one of the windmills or Gondo repairing Scrapper]].
* CherryTapping: The game allows you to stop the FinalBoss in his tracks... With your Bug-Catching Net.
* ChildhoodFriendRomance: The incarnations of Link and Zelda are stated to have been very close for a long time prior to the game's events (their entire community is well aware, and one of whom, Groose, even harbors extreme jealousy over it) and there are hints of deeper feelings between the two, both in the game and in the marketing material. The end of the game doesn't state whether they choose to be a couple, but it does end with them choosing to stay together.
* CicadianRhythm: There are Sand Cicadas hanging out in [[ShiftingSandLand the Lanayru Sand Sea]], usually clinging to tall, thin objects in lieu of trees.
* CityInABottle: Skyloft to the surface, having been lifted into the sky by the goddess to protect her people from the evil on the ground.
* CityOfGold: Averted. Gorko ''believes'' that the buildings in Skyloft are made of gold. He's wrong, but the rest of his description of the city is accurate.
* ClimaxBoss:
** The first two battles with [[NamesToRunAwayFrom/TheAdjectiveOne The Imprisoned]]. It is a nameless threat that has been looming over Link and haunting his dreams from the very start, and battles with it close the first and second acts of the game. It's later fought a third time, but by that point the old woman watching over it makes it already clear that every resealing is only temporary and it will keep growing more and more powerful (and the third fight occurs not too long after the second, which also confirms her fears that the seals also last shorter every time). [[spoiler:It becomes the FinalBoss Demise after [[SoulEating devouring Zelda's soul]] in the past era.]]
** The last of the three fights against Ghirahim. He was active in impeding Link's progress and trying to kidnap Zelda, and his final, [[VillainousBreakdown desperate]] fight is the last thing you need to do before facing off once and for all against the real BigBad.
* ClippedWingAngel: [[spoiler:Demise while in the form of the Imprisoned. Zelda states that while he's not as powerful in this form, he's still more than capable of razing the surface if left unchecked.]]
* ClothesMakeTheLegend: This time, the tunic is a standard Skyloft Knight Academy uniform, though the color varies by year -- upperclassmen such as Pipit have different colors, such as yellow or light green. Considering that ''Skyward Sword'' is the first playable entry in the series' in-universe chronology, and [[spoiler:retroactively established where many of the series' recurring themes and characters (including all later incarnations of its three most important characters) came from, ]]the game is more a story of how the clothes ''became'' the legend.
* TheCoatsAreOff: Ghirahim makes his cape disintegrate before fighting Link.
* CognizantLimbs: Tentalus's tentacles, which keep respawning until it is defeated.
* CollectorsEdition: Bundled with a golden Wii Remote Plus. First-production-run copies of both the normal and collector's editions also came with a Zelda 25th Anniversary Special Orchestra CD.
* CollectionSidequest: Batreaux asks Link to retrieve Gratitude Crystals so that he can turn human, which themselves are mostly earned by completing sidequests for other characters. There are also Goddess Cubes, whose activation allows Link to open treasure chests in the islands of the Sky and get various goodies (they work similarly to the Treasure Charts from ''The Wind Waker'').
* ColonyDrop: [[spoiler:The part of Skyloft with the Statue of the Goddess on it sinks back to the Earth, as part of the Triforce's fulfillment of Link's wish to stop the Imprisoned.]]
* ColossusClimb: [[spoiler:Levias]] has to be landed upon so Link can [[spoiler:kill Bilocyte]]. To a certain extent, [[spoiler:the Imprisoned]] features this, though it's only one of two strategies that can be used.
* CombatTentacles: The boss of the Sandship dungeon's main method of attack.
* ComicBookAdaptation:
** [[http://historyofhyrule.com/publications/manga_ssprequel_jp/001.html A prequel chapter]] by the two-woman team who created most of ''Manga/TheLegendOfZelda'' manga, Akira Himekawa. It focuses on both Link when he was little and when he gets his crimson Loftwing, and on a ''previous'' Link who fought in the war mentioned in the back story.
** There is also [[http://www.zelda.com/skywardsword/comic/ a webcomic]], by the creators of ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'', portraying Gaepora's perspective at the beginning of the game.
* CommonplaceRare:
** Happens to several things due to the whole living in the sky thing, with most materials only being found on the surface, which has been wholly inaccessible before Link opens paths down that he can use.
** The relative scarcity of the resources needed for the Scrap Shop also qualify, since the flavor text does not take into account how many you'll need versus how many an average player will gather.
* TheComputerIsACheatingBastard: If you try to snipe [[LizardFolk Lizalfos]] with a long-distance weapon, they'll always block it, even if they shouldn't possibly predict it coming. Although, this only applies to assaults to the front; their backsides are fair game.
* TheComputerIsALyingBastard: You're told more than once that certain shields are incapable of protecting you from certaint types of attacks -- namely, wooden shields are useless against fire, iron shields against electricity, and both against curses. The intention is for you to upgrade your shield as you progress into more dangerous environments, but these weaknesses are only the case if you fail to shield bash the attack in question. The game never lets on that a properly-timed defense will block any attack, regardless of which shield you're using.
* TheComputerShallTauntYou: [[WakeUpCallBoss Lord Ghirahim]] can steal your sword if you are just flailing the sword around. Upon taking it he taunts the player for their poor skills.
--->''Heh, quite the sword you have here. But so long as you continue to telegraph your attacks like the novice you are, you'll never land a blow.''
* ContinuityNod:
** In the second dungeon, you fight two Lizalfos at once as minibosses. [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Remember the last time you had to fight these two creatures in a lava room in the second dungeon?]]
** The short melody played by the Bokoblin with the monster horn in the [[spoiler:Horde Battle]] to summon reinforcements is the same one that was played by the Flute Boy on the Ocarina in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]''.
** [[spoiler:Levias]] is a reference to the Wind Fish from ''Link's Awakening''.
** The harp Zelda plays is the same one Sheik uses in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''.
* ContinuityPorn: If you're not a fan of Zelda, then you're missing an average of fifteen or more references an ''hour''. Almost everything in this game [[ShoutOut shouts out]] or nods to every other continuity. If it's in this game, it most likely has a counterpart somewhere else. If it's a Boss, you're going for triple the references.
* ContinuingIsPainful: If you use up potions or Fairies (or broke your shield) before losing a given BossBattle, you ''don't'' get them back when choosing to continue -- you're better off taking the GameOver and doing a hard restart from your last SavePoint (and you can still skip the boss's introductory cutscenes). Also, after gaining a certain amount of heart containers, revival health will stop being enough to heal you fully, requiring you to find some way to heal if you want full health for your next attempt.
* ContractualBossImmunity: [[spoiler:You can't use Skyward Strikes against the final boss, but you get something even better instead.]]
* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: Though the game is a prequel to the franchise, Ghirahim was designed with this mindset as a contrast to Ganondorf. Ganondorf wears black armor while Ghirahim wears a white suit. Ganondorf is muscular and masculine, Ghirahim is slim and feminine. Both take on transformations, but while Ganon is a hulking pig monster, Ghirahim's transformation, his true form, is still the same body type. Even their {{Leitmotif}}s sound like opposites with Ganondorf's ascending and Ghirahim's descending.
* ConvectionSchmonvection: Averted at one point in Eldin Volcano, where you cannot enter the summit due to extremely high temperatures. In fact, if you enter the room prior to the summit without a later-game item, you will catch fire from the heat alone. The rest of Eldin Volcano, however, plays it straight, as the entire area should be hot enough to make Link combust, not just the summit.
* CoolBoat: Link can control one in the Lanayru region, which he uses to get to another cool boat, the Sandship dungeon.
* CoolKey: The Boss Keys in this game are 3-dimensional golden sculptures that have to be turned the right way with motion controls before they can be inserted into the doors. Additionally, Link's sword can be used as a key to turn some dial mechanisms in the Lanayru Desert, and Jellyf the Parella uses her coral-like head crest as a key to the Water Dragon's hall.
* CosmeticallyAdvancedPrequel: Despite being chronologically the first game in the series, the gameplay has been advanced drastically with motion controls and an updated movement code (dashing up walls, running quickly instead of rolling), making the following Links seem less than athletic in comparison. Story-wise, there's even a dungeon based around electricity.
* CounterAttack:
** The game has a parrying ability used by shaking the nunchuck for Link to thrust his shield forward. Learning to parry attacks is worth it, since timing it right can stun enemies or knock their projectiles right back at them, and it doesn't [[BreakableWeapons wear down your shield's durability]].
** Mastering the Shield Bash's parrying ability is highly recommended to survive the final boss fight's first stage without a ton of healing and damage reduction potions; just attacking outright will take him down eventually, but you'll lose nearly all your hearts to his counter attacks in the process, while Link's counter attack strategy can prevent the boss from ever regaining the initiative until he gets serious for the second stage.
* CriticalAnnoyance: The alarm that sounds off when you're low on health is back, now with the addition of Fi chiming whenever you reach low health, and providing a clearer reminder when you answer the chime.
* CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption:
** In Cawlin's lovequest, you can either [[spoiler:deliver his love letter to Karane, which results in him being pushed aside by Pipit, making him run away crying and let him be depressed for the entire game]] or [[spoiler:give it to a ghost in the bathroom, resulting him being harassed by that ghost who has now fallen in love with him, giving him terrible nightmares as she gently strokes his hair when he sleeps. Making it worse is that he pleads for Link to help, even though he still despises him for toying with his trust. The game does not allow you to help him, even when he actually thinks the ghost is Groose out for revenge and Groose (who is not dead) requested for you to tell both Cawlin and Strich that he is OK. Only at the ending of the game you see Cawlin and Strich meet up with Groose, meaning you somehow told them anyway. However, Cawlin is still damned for all eternity.]]
** The Peatrice sidestory. You can either turn her down in a soul-crushing way, or claim to return her feelings, in which case you're [[ImpliedLoveInterest probably]] two-timing Zelda, which Fi will mention when scanning Peatrice. Or you can avoid talking to her, making HundredPercentCompletion impossible and leaving her hanging indefinitely. No choice is really ideal.
** To a lesser extent of "only option", breaking the chandelier in the Lumpy Pumpkin is the only way to get the Piece of Heart. The game even encourages you to do this by opening up a sidequest based around paying off your debt. This overlaps with GameplayAndStorySegregation, as Link could normally use the Beetle or the Clawshots to get the items without destroying the chandelier, but the game prevents him from using them in the Lumpy Pumpkin.
* CultureChopSuey: As is typical of the series, and also one of the few times MedievalEuropeanFantasy takes up a much smaller portion of the mix. The Ancient Cistern, for one, is a Buddhist-like temple with a boss that resembles a Hindu deity but has a name (Koloktos) whose spelling implies a Greek origin as well as generally resembling a mythical Greek automaton in nature. The Earth Temple is modeled on Mongolian temples while the Fire Sanctuary has a decidedly Indian motif. Also, the Lanayru Sand Sea features many hallmarks of the 17th to 18th century Golden Age of Piracy (e.g. tricorn hats, contemporary ships and cannons). The Three Dragons look like the dragons of Japanese art and lore, even wearing stylized kimonos, and Japanese music plays in the background during their cutscenes. And the music associated with Fi, the Goddess' Statue, and the Isle of Songs have a Medieval/Renaissance-era vibe.
* CursedWithAwesome: The Cursed Medal prevents you from opening your pouch (i.e: using your shield or potions), in exchange for making Rupees and treasures appear with greater frequency.
* CuteKitten: Remlits, during the day. At night, they're very aggressive.
* CutsceneIncompetence: In combat, Link is normally an ImplacableMan able to shrug off most blows. But in one cutscene where Ghirahim ambushes him and [[spoiler:captures Zelda]], he is inexplicably crippled by the attack, and is shown struggling and unable to stand or move during Ghirahim's EvilGloating.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:D-G]]
* DamnYouMuscleMemory:
** The A-button is not for [[PlayerTic rolling]], but instead for running. Shaking the Nunchuk ''while'' running triggers rolling. Thankfully, running is more efficient than rolling, once the player has gotten used to it. Prior to ''Skyward Sword'', rolling was always the fastest movement option in 3D ''Zelda'' games, followed by... walking backwards.
** People who were used to the very basic motion controls of ''Twilight Princess'' had some difficulty adjusting to the more precise controls for ''Skyward Sword''. Likewise, adjusting to the waggling of ''Twilight Princess'' after getting used to the 1:1 sword motions in ''Skyward Sword'' can take some time.
** Enemies that took one mindless slash to defeat in previous games, such as Deku Babas, now require some patience to kill as you wait to see how they will open their mouth, so you can slash accordingly.
** Another annoyance is how the items are handled. In ''Twilight Princess'', hitting the trigger (B) will equip the item, and hitting the button again will use it, and A will put the item away. In ''Skyward Sword'', for some items (such as the slingshot), hitting B equips the item, and ''A'' uses it, while hitting B again puts the item away. Naturally, this leads to a lot of instances of accidentally putting away an item you're trying to use, or continuing to use the item when you're trying to store it.
* DamselInDistress: Zig-zagged. The impetus for Link's journey to the surface is Zelda falling down through the clouds. However, when he arrives he's told that she's evaded the BigBad's clutches and set off on a journey of her own. She is briefly captured in the second dungeon, but escapes with some help from [[spoiler:Impa]] and successfully [[spoiler:travels to the past, where she seals herself away to keep Demise imprisoned until Link destroys him in the present. [[HopeSpot After she awakens]], Ghirahim kidnaps her, takes her into the past, and uses her soul to resurrect Demise; Link's only hope of saving her is to [[KillTheGod kill Demise]] before he can finish absorbing her soul]]. It should be noted that [[spoiler:the Goddess Hylia is invoking this trope to motivate her Chosen Hero by becoming a person close to him and then being the target of Demise' minions, so the Hero would have ample reason to prove himself worthy]].
* DarkerAndEdgier: The game is in the middle between the darker style of ''Twilight Princess'' and the lighter style of ''The Wind Waker'', which is evident by both the visual style and the storyline. Played literally with [[spoiler:the final boss' weapon: a black Master Sword with a SerratedBladeOfPain]].
* DarkIsNotEvil: The game features a demonic-looking bat guy named Batreaux who lives in a creepy dark house under a graveyard. It turns out he's a soft-hearted wuss who wants to befriend the local humans, but everyone's just too freaked out by him to give him the time of day; helping him turn human is one of the game's sidequests. On an interesting note, even though he himself is benevolent, his very presence seems to [[CastingAShadow exude evil energies]] or something, as [[spoiler:once you complete the quest and turn him human, all of the monsters that appear in Skyloft at night stop appearing and the Remlits no longer go rabid]].
* TheDarkTimes: The game takes place during such an era that was referenced in several previous games. The backstory also states that an even worse era, which ended when Skyloft was raised from the ground and the goddess defeated the army of demons, preceded this one.
* DarkWorld: The Silent Realm, a blue-and-orange mirror of the real world into which Link must venture in order to collect magical tears while evading the Guardians. It also shows off the quality of the new movement system, since Link has no weapons or items with which to defend himself.
* DegradedBoss: Another Moldarach (the dungeon boss of the Lanayru Mining Facility) shows up as a mini-boss while searching for the Sandship. Justified in this case since Moldarach wasn't a unique creature, just the final metamorphosis of the little Aracha scorpions you see all over the place.
* DeathGlare:
** Link gives an epic one [[spoiler:to the army of charging Bokoblins, at the start of TheWarSequence]].
** Impa gives Link a terrifying one as he tries to follow Zelda in the Earth Spring. Thanks to her [[RedEyesTakeWarning creepy red eyes]], it works like a charm.
** Ghirahim gives several at Link when he has a VillainousBreakdown.
* DeathMountain: Eldin Volcano. It's obviously the same old Death Mountain, just a long time in the past. It's filled with lakes and streams of lava, and is hot enough that Link will need to wear protective clothing to avoid taking damage from the heat. It's mostly home to fire-themed enemies, and features multiple paths and caves blocked with rubble that must be cleared with bomb flowers.
* DeconReconSwitch: Of the classic Zelda storyline. Most tropes you normally see for the ''Zelda'' franchise are inverted here, but then properly fulfilled by the end of the game.
** The game gets incredibly meta. Knock a piece of heart down from a high place, and you have to pay for everything you broke in the process. Get a letter from someone, and immediately get chastised for wanting to [[ContinuityNod give it to ??? in the bathroom]].
** In this game, you get scolded for invading people's privacy every time you examine their closets/cupboards/armoires. There's one of these in almost every room in Skyloft, and you'll get scolded every time. It's almost guaranteed that the last room you'll explore is Zelda's room, which means you'll have been chastised dozens of times by that point. [[ViolationOfCommonSense Only by opening up her cupboard can you get a heart piece]].
* DefeatEqualsExplosion: Monsters in the game explode and leave a skull-shaped puff of smoke.
* DegradedBoss: Moldarach debuts as boss in the third dungeon, and reappears as a miniboss in the Shipyard. In the case of Moldorms, one appears as a sporadic, optional enemy in a grotto from the Fire Sanctuary, but the next one is fought as a miniboss later in the same dungeon. The ones found afterwards (one in a grotto during the StealthBasedMission in Eldin Volcano and another in the grotto of a certain island in the Sky) are regular enemies, but another two are minibosses in the final dungeon.
* DemBones: Stalfos come back, but are [[DemonicSpiders much more of a threat]] than before. There is also a four-armed version called Stalmaster encountered as a mini-boss twice.
* {{Determinator}}:
** [[spoiler:Impa, who eventually becomes The Old One,]] stays alive for "thousands of years" in order to carry out the Goddess's commands as well as [[spoiler:see Zelda again]].
** Link's Determinator status is particularly relevant this time around -- [[spoiler:it's the ''reason'' he's TheChosenOne]].
* DevelopersForesight:
** Even with the use of a walk through walls code, one cannot enter the Eldin Volcano Summit (the inner area, where the Fire Sanctuary lies) early. No matter how close you try to get to the entrance, Fi will keep telling you that you will have an insufficient amount of hearts and cannot stand the extreme temperatures and keeps sending you back.
** In the Earth Temple, Link must ride a stone ball over lava and press two buttons to raise up a bridge. If Link takes the Eastern Path first, which is a long winding path including a bottomless pit, to reach the blocked off button on that side of the bridge, the section that rises up is big enough for Link to pass under, allowing him to get the other button right away without any backtracking.
** Complete the Sandship generator puzzle before visiting the brig of the ship and the robot you talk to there will say something like "Oh, you've already activated the generator! So just come through the engine room and save us."
** Also, if you go back to the reconstructed Sandship, you'll see the robots instead of monsters. They've even locked away the Technoblins.
** Knock a Technoblin out of a Timeshift Stone's area of effect and they will immediately revert to a lifeless pile of bones. Get them within range again, and they will either get back up or die, depending on whether the last hit you dealt them was fatal.
** If you notice early on that vines will unravel after rolling into a tree and do so to the tree closest to the Elder Kikwi, he will have you skip practicing on shooting a vine down and comment on how much "you couldn't wait."
** All {{NPC}}s will react to certain items. Notably, the [[StuffBlowingUp Bombs]] and the [[BlowYouAway Gust Bellows]]. Just like in the N64 Zelda games, Gossip Stones react to items. One notable extension of this is, which is what makes it this trope, is that Karane has a programmed reaction to having the Gust Bellows used on her, despite it being impossible to do so as she is indoors for the rest of the game by the time you get that item.
** At one point, Link encounters in Lanayru Desert a broken gate, and he has then to find another way to enter the Temple of Time, fight its boss, then watch one epic cutscene involving [[spoiler:Zelda and Impa finishing activating the Gate of Time]] behind ''that'' broken gate. But if you're impatient, you can use an upgraded Beetle to fly over that gate and see [[spoiler:the two of them attempting to activate]] that same Gate of Time, which is logically not yet open.
** When buzzing about Faron Woods with the Hook Beetle, you may discover you can carry hornet nests with it. You may then get the devious idea of dropping the nest on a baddie. Lo and behold, they will react to the swarm of angry hornets attacking them as well.
** One sidequest involves the player receiving mushroom spores from Parrow in order to heal Orielle's injured Loftwing. However, if you already have mushroom spores or glittering spores on you when you speak to Orielle, you can just hand her the ones that you already have. This results in a slight difference in the dialogue, and the bottle that you were supposed to have gotten during the quest (and kept afterwards) is instead given to you once the quest is finished, as a conventional reward.
** After Link gets an upgraded drowsing ability and talking to Batreaux, Fi states she can now help Link to drowse for Gratitude Crystals. If Link has collected all of the Gratitude Crystals and then talks to Batreaux, Fi will say that, then followed up by saying essentially, "You have already collected them all. Congratulations Master."
* DialogueTree: There are times when Link has two to four dialogue choices to choose from, ''Franchise/MassEffect''-style minus the Morality system. Mostly he gets three choices; one affirmative, one negative, and one uncertain. Whatever you choose has no effect on the game though.
* DidntNeedThoseAnyway: Koloktos' appendages Link attacks them with the whip or one of the boss' own weapons, but it reassembles them anyway.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: While beating physical god level enemies is nothing new, [[spoiler:Hylia was left crippled after her battle with Demise, and Link goes and beats him without any lasting injuries. So he did better against the GodOfEvil than an actual deity did]].
* DieChairDie: The motion controls allow Link to smash pots by throwing them or rolling them along the ground in addition to more traditional methods of destruction. However, at least one {{NPC}} takes offense at having her dishes smashed and makes Link pay for them.
* DiegeticSoundtrackUsage: [[spoiler:"The Song of the Hero"]] is a recognizable mix of the series' main theme.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: The second Imprisoned fight, helped by it being followed by the second Ghirahim fight in Fire Sanctuary. Once Link seals again the monster, he finally enters the Gate of Time and meets Zelda... who then tells him that [[spoiler:the Imprisoned can only be truly slain by using the power of the Triforce, for which Link will have to start a long quest for it (and in the process he'll have to assemble an ancient song whose verses are scattered across the Surface, defeat the Imprisoned for a third time, and complete one more dungeon). And ''then'' he still has to defeat Ghirahim for a third time and finally the true form of the Imprisoned, Demise]].
* DisneyVillainDeath: Scervo and Dreadfuse, the robot pirates, both fall to their deaths.
* DistressedDude: There's a sequence where Link himself is captured and must retrieve his weapons and items without being caught by enemy Mooks.
* DivineBirds: The Loftwings are BondCreatures whose relationship with the Skyloftians is implied to have been set up by the goddess Hylia. Statues of said birds can be found across the surface, serving as waypoints, and they are the birds in the iconic crest of future Hyrule.
* DivineConflict: When the Demon King, Demise and his minions invaded the surface, the goddess Hylia drove them back and sealed Demise away. [[spoiler:Their conflict eventually continues throughout the rest of the Zelda's series, where Link must help Zelda (reincarnation of Hylia) fight Ganon (reincarnation of Demise).]]
* DivineDelegation:
** "The Old Ones" placed the ultimate power (later revealed to be [[spoiler:the Triforce]]) in the care of the goddess Hylia sometime prior to the raising of Skyloft.
** Hylia herself tasked the three dragons with watching over the surface world and [[spoiler:relaying parts of the Song of the Hero to her Chosen Hero]].
* DoABarrelRoll: The Loftwing can do the Spin Charge.
* DontCelebrateJustYet: [[spoiler: Link may have eradicated Demise completely by dropping the Goddess Statue island into the it where he is sealed, but everyone forgot about Ghirahim. The time portal is still open and Ghirahim takes advantage of it by stealing the awakened Zelda and go back in time to revive Demise.]]
* DoorToBefore: In this game, the overworld itself is a series of puzzles that must be overcome in order to reach any significant destination; once solved, these obstacles can be reconfigured in such a way that it's much easier to get past them when you need to go that way again. For example, there are several cliffs in the Faron Woods with round logs at the top, which can be pushed off to land at the bottom. Link can then use them to climb the cliff on subsequent visits.
* DoubleMeaningTitle: In an Iwata Asks interview, the devs mentioned that in addition to "Skyward" meaning "towards the sky", they picked up from the American team that "ward" means "to defend", giving it the double meaning of "Protector of the/from the sky".
* DoubleUnlock: Upgrading the [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement Goddess Sword]] to the Goddess White Sword gives you spaces for four more Dowsing targets (and nothing else; that's the only benefit of the Goddess White Sword). These spaces start out empty and are useless; you need to talk to certain [=NPC=]s to fill them in ([[GuideDangIt and the game gives you no indication of who these NPCs are or even what the new Dowsing targets are before you get them]]).
* DoWellButNotPerfect:
** The Thunder Dragon will offer you the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Hylian Shield]] if you can beat 8 of the bosses you have already fought. This is the only shield in the game that doesn't take any damage whatsoever, so it's a lot more desirable than the 2,000 Rupees that he gives you for beating all 9-12 that you can challenge. But you have to beat ''exactly'' 8 bosses. If you beat more than eight, you have to start over and quit after beating 8 to get the shield.
** Getting over 28 points in the "Clean Cut" minigame will earn you rare treasures like Goddess Plumes and Golden Skulls. However, getting between 20 and 23 points will get you an Evil Crystal, another rare item. On the same minigame, the prize for 15-19 points is 30 Rupees. Since the game costs 10 Rupees, getting this relatively low score every few times will ensure that you'll never run out of Rupees while playing it.
* DownTheDrain: The Ancient Cistern is this in the upper areas, with pipes that enable water-based elevators when the Whip is used, and a giant, golden statue raised or lowered with the help of two side waterwheels operated from a wall-placed lever (that is manipulated by the Whip as well). The lower areas of the dungeon, meanwhile, are BigBoosHaunt type.
* DowsingDevice: The titular sword can act as this with the help of Fi, to locate things from keys to hearts to Zelda herself.
* DragonsAreDivine: The three dragons Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru, who were directly tasked with protecting the surface world by the goddess Hylia, and grant Link portions of the Song of the Hero needed to give Link access to the last dungeon, where the Triforce lies.
* DramaticIrony: When Link inadvertently romances Peatrice, her father Peater takes note of her change in behavior and concludes that she must have an unwanted admirer harassing her. So he confronts Link with this... to ask him to get this guy off her back for him. And what does he offer Link for his help? The chance to ask out his daughter, of course!
* DreamIntro: Begins with Link dreaming first of [[ExpositionFairy Fi]], then of [[BigBad the Imprisoned]], despite not knowing of either.
* DualWielding: Stalfos, and the second battle against Ghirahim. Koloktos does some ''Hex Wielding'': six scimitars with six arms.
* DualWorldGameplay: The Silent Realms, areas based on parts of the game world that make you go through a StealthBasedMission to get needed items. There's also the entire region of Lanayru, the location of the Temple of Time. There are minerals here that can create time portals to the past when Link strikes them. They usually only affect the immediate area, but Skipper's Sandship carries the most powerful one, able to stretch its effects at least as far as the horizon, effectively giving the place a true present-mode and a past-mode.
* DudeWheresMyRespect: The game can get pretty bad with this sometimes. Granted, virtually none of Skyloft's denizens know Link is risking life and limb to save the entire world each time he heads off on his Loftwing, but quite possibly the ''only'' people in the entire game that show Link anything approaching proper respect for a good portion of the play time are Fi, who acknowledges you as her master from the get-go, and Zelda's father. Everyone else gives Link no end of crap; Faron the dragon doesn't care that you killed a scorpion the size of a school bus and crossed swords with a demon lord, she still questions what the goddess was thinking choosing you, while [[TheScrappy Scrapper]] contrives to be a condescending {{Jerkass}} to you at any available opportunity, even though you're the reason he's operational at all. Faron is particularly bad; it's not enough that you have the Scale that's supposed to be obtainable only by the chosen hero of the Goddess, you have to prove yourself by '''fetching magic water''' for her before she'll let you into the temple containing one of the Sacred Flames. And later on, you have to learn part of a song from her; despite having gotten her scale, proving yourself worthy of entering the temple, AND getting the Flame from said temple, you have to prove yourself AGAIN before she's convinced that you're the real deal.
* DungeonTown: More like Dungeon ''Overworld''. The developers have said that they were trying to address the complaints of the overworld of the 3D games being {{Filler}}, with not much to do beyond {{Side Quest}}s and getting from one dungeon to the other, by adding puzzles and enemies normally found in the dungeons. Though the actual overworld, the sky, plays out more like a traditional ''Zelda'' overworld, it is much smaller and easier to traverse. The surface, though, will see you beating baddies and figuring out puzzles like any dungeon, sometimes even getting an item in the middle. Not only that, but you will return to each of the sections multiple times, each time being presented with a new challenge.
* DynamicLoading: The game uses small cutscenes to mask loading times in several areas. Dungeons and other parts of the game have doors separating rooms which take ~2 seconds for Link to open while the game loads the next room. Additionally, a cutscene of Link skydiving gives the game time to load the surface world.
* EarlyBirdBoss: The Skyview Temple battle with Ghirahim mixes this with WakeUpCallBoss. When you fight Ghirahim, you only have your default 6 hearts of health and little else in equipment. You'll have to rely on your sword and shield abilities to get past the boss' defenses and know when to strike.
* EarlyGameHell: Hero Mode, which doubles damage done to you and eliminates recovery hearts. Once you get the Heart Medal (which takes beating at least three dungeons) and start amassing more [[HeartContainer Heart Containers]], the game becomes far easier, but early on it is quite easy to die to even the simplest enemies.
* EasterEgg: A few.
** If you play the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDDAXsgoc5s main theme backwards]], [[spoiler:Zelda's Lullaby/the Main Series theme plays. [[{{Foreshadowing}} There's a very good reason for that.]]]]
** The Goddess Harp always plays in-tune with the in-game music. This is only noticeable if you try to constantly play the Goddess Harp even if you don't really need to at the moment and if you're paying attention to the sounds the harp makes.
* EasyLevelTrick: The difficult second and third boss fights with The Imprisoned get more manageable if you figure out the alternate strategy, which is ignoring its annoying, hard to hit toes, and instead [[spoiler:jumping onto its head from a higher level to pound in the Sealing Spike after stunning it with Groose's cannon.]]
* AnEconomyIsYou:
** Lampshaded by Beedle, who will comment on not having had much business before Link started coming around.
** Peatrice thinks Link has a crush on her simply because he's the Item Check's only customer.
* EdgeGravity: As a fail-safe, Link won't accidentally walk off the edge of a cliff when you're in first-person view (like dowsing or using the Bow), or using an item with an over-the-shoulder perspective (like the Slingshot or Clawshot), since you usually can't see where your footing is from this viewpoint. The general movement system is very good at this. The only way to fall or jump off of a ledge is to run straight towards it.
* {{Egopolis}}: Groose likes to name things after himself. "Grooseland", "the Groosenator", "[[LeaningOnTheFourthWall The Legend of Groose]]" (though that last one's admittedly a joke)...
* EliteMooks: Blue Bokoblins are referred as "the truly elite of the Bokoblin family".
* EmptyRoomUntilTheTrap: The Sandship requires visiting three {{Mini Dungeon}}s in Lanayru Sand Sea to find the next main one. The final room of the second initially looks like an empty room with some sand, but after some dusting Moldarach (the final boss of the Lanayru Mining Facility) inexplicably shows up for a rematch, [[DegradedBoss now as a miniboss]].
* EnemyScan: Fi gives the most extensive information available on enemies, even "collecting more data" during boss fights to reveal new weaknesses as time goes on, in addition to offering more help if Link dies during a boss battle. She speaks without emotion, in a way stereotypical of a computer's AI, frequently using the terms "I recommend", "I predict an x% probability that ...", etc.
* EnemySummoner: Bokoblins use their horns to call other Bokoblins. Link can snatch them with the whip, however.
* EquipmentUpgrade: This game lets you upgrade certain dungeon items for the first time in the series's history, including the Bow and the Bug. You need to trade in-game treasures to Gondo for that.
* EscapeRope: In dungeons, [[SavePoint bird statues]] have the secondary function of returning Link to the entrance if desired.
* EscapeSequence: The Silent Realms become this, especially if you alert the Guardians between collecting the last Tear and reaching the exit -- there's no way to stop them from chasing you anymore, so you just have to run for the exit.
* EscortMission: Happens once at Eldin Volcano, as Link must escort Scrapper carrying a large water basin up the volcano, guarding it from enemy attacks. He also has to carry Scrapper to the Thunderhead to deliver Pumpkin Soup.
* EternalEngine: Lanayru Mining Facility, the third dungeon in the game, combines this with ShiftingSandLand and {{Tomorrowland}}. In the present time, the whole place fell into disuse since several years ago and is filled with sand pools; but when a Timeshift Stone is active, anything within its domain's radius will come back to an active state, including advanced gizmos like electric barriers, conveyor belts, and wind-operated platforms.
* EverythingsDeaderWithZombies: In the Ancient Cistern [[spoiler:and the Sky Keep]], there are zombie-like Cursed Bokoblins lurking in a poisonous bog, complete with missing limbs and ZombieGait. They're similar to the [=ReDeads=] of previous games, except they can't paralyze Link to attack and they're decidedly less [[NightmareFuel gruesome.]]
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: More like Evil Cannot Comprehend Courage, but the basic idea is the same. Ghirahim is infuriated by Link continuing to meddle with his plans even after being given petty warnings, because he is only used to humans who begged for mercy or hid behind the goddess whenever he confronted them. [[spoiler:Demise is similarly mystified, but he is instead amused and intrigued by Link's courage.]]
* EvilCounterpart:
** [[spoiler:Ghirahim to Fi. His "true form" resembles a darker, male version of Fi, and both are {{Equippable All|y}}ies of their Master's sword. The Master Sword in Fi's case, and the Anti-Master Sword in Ghirahim's case. It's bigger, blacker, has a serrated edge, gains power from storm clouds instead of the sky, and [[TheAntichrist has an upside-down Triforce on it.]]]]
** [[spoiler:Demise is this to Link. Both wield similar swords which are [[EvilCounterpart Evil Counterparts]] of each other, and Link himself is essentially the one who is to counteract Demise. It is a true case of TheHero vs the BigBad.]]
* EvilIsVisceral: Koloktos' connective "liquid" pulsates like blood to the sound of a heartbeat. His heart is also his weak point and the core of the liquid.
* ExpositionFairy: Fi, the [[SpockSpeak Spock-Speaking]] spirit of your sword. She can give the most info of any Exposition Fairy in the series. If you can lock onto it, friend, foe, random critter or dungeon device, she has info on it. At the tap of a button she'll analyze boss moves (as well as the arenas in which you fight them) to give you strategies, provide a recap of what's happened recently, remind you of [[NowWhereWasIGoingAgain what you should do next]], tell you how many times you've killed a monster in addition to your previous record when it comes to fighting that monster, has a ton of helpful rumors and hints, will provide info on your current location and how suited the items you have in your pack are to your current location/situation, keeps track of how long you've played during the current session and overall...and this is just a ''summary'' of what she can tell you ''when you ask.''
* ExtremelyDustyHome: Pipit's house is ridiculously dusty, due to his mother being a bit of a slob and their near poverty. You can choose to help her blow away the dust with the Gust Bellows and get paid for it, but then you find out those Rupees were from Pipit's patrolling and meant to pay for food, revealing that Pipit's mother is financially irresponsible, wasting her son's money on something she should be doing herself, something he will call her out on after the fact.
* FadeToWhite: The game fades to white after [[spoiler:Zelda awakens from a thousand-year slumber and stumbles drowsily into Link's arms]] and holds the effect for a few seconds.
* FairPlayVillain: [[spoiler:Demise]] is so impressed that Link is not only unafraid of him, but willing to challenge him directly, that he agrees to a duel with him to determine the fate of the world.
* FairyCompanion: Fi fills this role, as she travels in the Master Sword, but materializes into a human-size fairy to talk.
* FakeLongevity:
** Zelda went into a temple and may be in danger? Go check on some Kikwis first. You need to activate two windmills to get inside the Thunderhead? Turns out a fan fell off, go rebuild a rude robot and then go down to the surface to find it. You need a song to continue on your quest, and have to fight a giant sky whale for it? Turns out Levias only has one part, go and see three dragons for the rest.
** The third trip to Faron Woods. You've already seen--and personally assisted--the water dragon Faron once before, and this after proving your worth as the hero by completing the Silent Realm and obtaining her scale. You need a song from her, but rather than just teach it to the player, she decides that the hero's worth isn't proven ''enough'' and tasks him with swimming through her forest, which she has flooded, and retrieving '''seventy-six''' musical notes hidden throughout the area. It's a large, complex sector, and the notes are split into twelve groups and five individuals--and if you don't catch all of a specific group in one go [[note]]Meaning if you miss one even slightly, since the timer is ruthlessly short and unforgiving.[[/note]], you have to start again since they'll escape. It takes a while to collect all the notes scattered around the forest.
** You have to fight a couple of bosses multiple times. The Imprisoned takes the cake, as you have to fight him three times during the story, with very little variety between the fights, and long in-fight cutscenes. And if you go for the optional BossRush, the three iterations count as one fight each. If you're going for OneHundredPercentCompletion, you will have fought this guy 5 to 8 times!
* FakeUltimateMook: Those giant fish appearing in the lake and flooded woods? They charge straight at you, but can be defeated in two spiral attacks, the first one stunning them for longer than it takes for you to throw another one.
* FallingChandelierOfDoom: The Lumpy Pumpkin has a chandelier with a Heart Piece in it. Making it fall is the only way to get it.
* FamilyUnfriendlyViolence: There are enemies in the desert level that, if they spot Link, tuck into a shell, roll after him, and run him over. What makes it so family unfriendly is that the shell is electrocuted. If Link is hit, he goes flying and then lies on the ground, twitching and gasping horribly for a period of time. Although his heavy lightning damage sound effect sounds more like OrgasmicCombat than anything. After you defeat Ghirahim for the second time, he promises to torture Link until he deafens himself with his own screams.
* FanDisservice: You can enter the ceiling crawlspace to see who is taking a bath for so long at night: Headmaster Gaepora. However, this is nothing compared to [[FatBastard the Moblins]].
* FastballSpecial: [[spoiler:When Groose can't get to his normal ammo for the Groosenator, he launches Link onto the Imprisoned instead.]] The Prima Strategy Guide even calls it this.
* FastForwardMechanic: You can make Link sleep in a bed either until morning or night. Time does not pass on its own, and there is no other means of passing time.
* FeedItABomb:
** The Earth Temple's boss, Scaldera, like [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime King Dodongo]], inhales large quantities of hot air so it can shoot fireballs at Link. Using bomb flowers, the dungeon's main item, while it does so will cause it to be stunned, blow off some of its rock armor, and pop its eye out so you can attack.
** Deku Babas also lunge at bombs and eat them, which makes this one simple way to kill them.
* FetchQuest: Several characters have quests to retrieve missing items, usually having fallen to the surface.
* FiendishFish: Craniocs are large cetacean creatures with enlarged foreheads that aim to charge at Link. They have an X mark in said foreheads, indicating that it's their weak points (Link can perform a forward charge to attack them, but it consumes a large part of his OxygenMeter so it's risky).
* FinalBossNewDimension: [[spoiler:Demise, specifically mentioning that he's created a new dimension for their duel, which is reached through a portal.]]
* FinalBossPreview: Ghirahim is the first boss that Link fights. Surprisingly, Link is actually able to put up a decent fight, if only because Ghirahim never intends to kill Link in that scene and never anticipated Link fighting so hard. [[spoiler:Subverted since he's not the FinalBoss.]]
* FinishingMove: The Ending Blow from ''Twilight Princess'' makes a return, although with a different mechanic (it's used by moving the Wiimote and Nunchuck downward at the same time). It's a guaranteed end for your enemies and [[spoiler:it's required to defeat Demise at the end of the final battle]].
* FireIceLightning: The three great dragons are based on Water (Faron), Fire (Eldin), and Thunder (Lanayru), with their colors being blue, red, and yellow respectively. This is true even though the regions are a forest, a volcano, and a desert, and the regional colors are green, red, and yellow. The volcano and desert have fire and lightning elemental enemies respectively, while almost all of the aquatic enemies are found in the forest region.
* FirstTown: Skyloft, a town built upon a series of rocks floating in the sky. It also acts as a sort of HubLevel, because it is right in the center of the map and can be teleported back to any time you need.
* FishPeople: The Parella look like a cross between seahorses and jellyfish.
* FlashStep: In his boss battles, [[TheDragon Ghirahim]] teleports out of the way of projectile attacks.
* FlightOfRomance: Link and Zelda fly on their Loftwings together in the beginning of the game, with Zelda about to say something important before she gets hurtled to the surface world by a tornado.
* FloatingContinent: Link's hometown is among the floating islands that make up Skyloft. It's justified by magic in this case, as it's specifically stated in the backstory that the goddess Hylia used her magic to lift it into the sky.
* FlunkyBoss: Koloktos occasionally summons a few [[NightOfTheLivingMooks Zombie Bokoblins]] to attack Link. Moldarach will start summoning Arachas once its claws are ripped.
* FlushingEdgeInteractivity: There's a flushable toilet in Skyloft, though Link only sits on it.
* FoeRomanceSubtext:
** Ghirahim [[InvokedTrope plays this up]] for all it's worth on Link. Of course, it's pretty one-way.
** [[spoiler:Demise]] mentions that Hylia was "glorious" in her true form.
* ForegoneConclusion:
** This game explains [[spoiler:Ganondorf's origins]], so be careful when you think the game has ended early.
** In a more roundabout way, [[spoiler:this is the first time we see Fi, the spirit of the Master Sword, and this is the earliest game in the timeline. It's not hard to figure out that her last moments are right before the credits]].
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** [[spoiler:At the start, Zelda says how the Goddess was supposed to have given her Sailcloth to the hero, but the one that Link is receiving is just a replica that she made. But Zelda, it is later revealed, actually ''is'' the Goddess, and therefore she is choosing the hero.]]
** Also, anytime that you are at the Sealed Temple, you can see through the cracked doors, where there is a golden crystal. There is no acknowledgement of it, but it is later revealed that [[spoiler:it was Zelda, sealed in sleep]].
** Look closely, and you can see that the old woman at the Sealed Temple is wearing [[spoiler:a bracelet much like Zelda's]]. At the end of the game, Zelda [[spoiler:gives one of her bracelets to Impa, who is actually the old woman's younger self. They also have the same bangs, though the old Impa's has grown so long she's rolled it up into some kind of pendulum. Additionally, she has a very faded, distorted version of Impa's facial tattoo beneath her right eye. It also becomes obvious that they're the same person when Impa says she'll stay and watch over Zelda until she awakens.]]
** When you first go back in time, and Zelda reveals her true nature and back story, she says "...but I was rescued at the last moment by [[spoiler:the old woman]] who lives in the Sealed Grounds." As she says this, [[spoiler:the camera is locked on Impa]].
** Zelda is rescued from Ghirahim's clutches [[spoiler:twice]] early in the game, [[spoiler:the first time by the old woman and the second by the young Impa]]. When venting to Link about his frustration, Ghirahim states outright that the same person foiled him twice; this hint is dropped long before the player is likely to take notice of it.
** Fi refers to Link as her "master." [[spoiler:The sword in which she resides will later become the Master Sword.]] Along those same lines, Ghirahim always refers to [[spoiler:Demise]] as his master. It turns out that [[spoiler:he is a sword spirit and Demise's weapon, just like Fi is to Link]].
** [[spoiler:Ghirahim constantly comments on the quality of Link's sword; by the end of the second boss battle, he shouts that Link is only victorious because of the Goddess Sword, which at the time seems petulant more than anything else. If one knows that Ghirahim is very similar to Fi, the sword that Link wields, his parting words suddenly have a whole new meaning: Ghirahim sees the Goddess Sword not as a weapon or tool, but as an ''equal''.]]
** Even an EasterEgg does it: [[spoiler:[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a9Y1JDmzuM Playing the main theme, called "Ballad of the Goddess". backwards]] reveals that the main melody that repeats itself is actually "Zelda's Lullaby" from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]''. Since this is Zelda's theme...]]
** Fi's advice on the Aracha enemies mentions that they grow to maturity over 1000 years. Most of the places they appear, they have a daddy nearby.
** On the Sandship, the Boss Key resembles a white octopus, with puckered tentacles. The boss is Tentalus, an octopodian sea monster of the same colors.
** In the first two Ghirahim battles, [[spoiler:the sounds made when successfully striking him are nothing like the fleshy or otherwise organic slashing noises heard for any of the enemies you've struck thus far. When it turns out he's a sword spirit with a similar metallic, otherworldly composition to Fi in the final fight against him, this aspect makes more sense]].
* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: The FinalBoss inverts this trope. Fi's scan reveals that his form is different every era based on what humanity fears at the time. [[spoiler:A fitting trait for [[GodOfEvil Demon King Demise]]]].
* FourIsDeath: The fourth dungeon is the Ancient Cistern, a sacred location which is themed around life and death. Whereas the main floor features a vibrant design and atmosphere, the basement is a grim necropolis that features Cursed Bokoblins and deadly pools of toxic fluid.
* FreeSamplePlotCoupon: Played straight and inverted:
** The Ancient Tablets are necessary to gain access to the regions of the future Hyrule. The Ruby and Amber Tablets are respectively gained after beating the first two dungeons, but the Emerald Tablet is already in Fi's hands, allowing Link to go immediately to Faron Woods.
** The Song of the Hero is divided in four parts. Levias, who tells Link about them, knows one of the parts, but won't teach him about it until ''after'' the other three are learned.
* FungusHumongous: There are mushrooms that are the same size as Link. If you cut them with your sword, they regenerate in seconds. You can also get a makeshift potion substitute from them.
* GameBreakingBug:
** Though Nintendo made a patch to fix the problem on the Wii version, during the Song of the Hero quest, going to Lanayru Desert first and speaking to Golo the Goron after obtaining the Thunder Dragon's song causes the game to fail to load the quest's event flags starting on Faron Woods and Eldin Volcano properly, making the game impossible to complete until you download the patch or play the Switch version. This glitch only happens if you talk to him in Lanayru Mine, so it won't be the case if you first meet him in Lanayru Caves (which you can do by landing anywhere ''except'' the Mine).
** Many bosses have serious potential glitches:
*** During one of the early phases of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls6yIDKViSg the final battle with Ghirahim]], you can sometimes somehow deal him more damage than you are supposed to, killing him, and leaving you stranded in an empty closed arena.
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4go5jMPBUA Scaldera]] can rarely get to the top of the slope and glitch through the ground to fall into the lava, making the boss fight unwinnable, as your attacks no longer affect him.
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVBxLLN_3Hs The Imprisoned]] can phase through the ground (sometimes disappearing irreversibly from the arena but with the battle music still on), get stuck into walls, or walk through them near some spots, screwing his progress meter in the process, although it fortunately corrects his path usually.
*** Tentalus may become stuck in his damaged frame endlessly [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9FAK_HG4ZA&feature=related in a very obscure, yet show-stopping glitch]], if he is struck by sword attacks instead of arrows, under special circumstances.
** You'd better avoid [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpSrWr4Mn0k falling off some pits in the last dungeon]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyreDLWFXYY swim too near to the immerged tree roots]] in the Ancient Cistern if you do not want to trigger a falling infinite-loop glitch. This fall is also triggered [[https://youtu.be/jZoPIvlt6QQ?t=384 if you swim under the bridge connecting the Captain's boat and the Sandship]] (although getting there in the first place is difficult enough, because it's another glitch).
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxu82XvBG7QCactus Cruelty]] is apparently not a good thing to do in this game...
* GameplayAndStorySegregation:
** Gondo will speak of Ancient Flowers as mythical and react in astonishment when you offer him one to repair Scrapper, even if you've given him several to upgrade your equipment already.
** Gorko (the Goron archaeologist) will never comment on you taking off to the sky in front of him, and in fact, never pieces together that you're one of those sky people he's been searching for his whole life.
** Even if you have the True Master Sword, which supposedly only Link can wield, Ghirahim can still take it and use it against you if you replay his first battle in Thunder Dragon's Lightning Round. Possibly justified, since it's just an illusion created by the Thunder Dragon.
** [[spoiler:When Demise is resurrected]], he gives you a break to go back to the present and stock up on items. Despite the Demon King's resurrection, millennia later Hyrule is exactly the same as before. It makes sense in a [[TimeyWimeyBall weird, time-travel-ey sort of way]]; although Link may briefly return to the present day, he will eventually return to the past and defeat Demise before he's able to take over the world, thus leaving the present ultimately unaltered.
* GangplankGalleon: The Sandship [[HailfirePeaks combines this]] with ShiftingSandLand and EternalEngine. It is visited [[TimeTravel in two time periods]]: the present, when the area is a desert; and the distant past, when the area is an ocean and the ship's advanced technology still works.
* GeometricMagic: The markings around the sealing spike in the Sealed Grounds are this. After each fight with the imprisoned, you have to [[SymbolDrawingInterface use your sword to draw a pattern to seal it again]].
* GetBackHereBoss: All of the battles with The Imprisoned. With each fight, he moves faster than the one before and his steps make bigger shockwaves. If he makes it to the top, it's GameOver.
* GetOut: Attempting to leave Beedle's store without buying anything results in him scolding you for making him pedal harder and forcefully ejecting you out with a trap door. However, you can avoid this by sleeping in his bed until morning.
* GhostShip: The Sandship is ''not'' haunted, but evokes the feel of a ghost ship because of its derelict appearance and absence of any souls aboard, except for a couple of bats and a miniboss. Once he's defeated, the ship can be reverted to an earlier state via a time displacement field, bringing the crew and the monsters back to life.
* GiantFlyer:
** The Loftwings. Double points for their resemblance to shoebills, an already massive species of bird.
** Levias too, easily the biggest living thing in the entire sky.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere:
** When you enter the last room of the ship dungeon, the ship is suddenly attacked by a tentacled monster who was never mentioned that splits it in half. After you defeat it, the little robots are instantly able to patch it back together so you can still explore the level normally.
** You'd think that Levias would have been mentioned before the point in the game where you have to go visit him, being one of the most amazing things in Skyloft and apparently the island's guardian deity. Fi does once mention him as an old legend, but that still doesn't explain why nobody else talks about him when he apparently comes around once a year.
* GivingSomeoneThePointerFinger: Groose introduces himself by doing this to Link, in front of his face. Zelda responds by doing the same.
* GlowingFlora: Big blue bioluminescent mushrooms glimmer in the darkest corners of Skyview Temple, allowing Link to see.
* GoddamnedBats: Acknowledged in-universe: The ZergRush Ghirahim sends at Link at the end. A lot of the Mooks are a OneHitPointWonder, and Ghirahim explicitly says they're just supposed to buy him some time by dying on Link's sword.
* GoForTheEye: A lot of bosses, including Scaldera, Moldarach, Tentalus, and Bilocyte-infested Levias, can only be harmed by being struck in the eye. Most possess a single one, but Moldarach has two -- one in each claw, oddly enough -- that Link must slash at with his sword.
* {{Gonk}}: The Bokoblins, as well as their close cousins, the Moblins, who are not only bigger and fatter (mirroring both species' counterparts in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]''), but they have [[FanDisservice visible buttocks and pierced nipples]]. [[RunningGag And an obsession with fashionable underwear.]]
* GoodColorsEvilColors: Fi, Link's NonHumanSidekick, is cobalt blue/indigo and purple, whereas [[spoiler:Ghirahim in his true form]] and [[spoiler:Demise]], both evil demons, are RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver.
* GoodFeelsGood: The description for obtaining 5 Gratitude Crystals, which can only be seen by doing side quests, almost name-drops this, "Helping people feels good!"
* GoodMorningCrono: Link is first seen having a dream where Fi tells him that his destiny is awaiting him. Then he has a CatapultNightmare from which he awakens to see Zelda's Loftwing.
-->'''Zelda's letter:'''"I know how much you like to sleep in, so I'm guessing this letter will be your alarm clock this morning. Did I guess right?"
* GoodWeaponEvilWeapon: The Master Sword is the good weapon, while Demise's sword [[spoiler:Ghirahim]] is the evil weapon.
* GoofyPrintUnderwear: Bokoblins are fond of leopard print, which Fi lampshades in her descriptions, even mentioning how undead Cursed Bokoblins hold to this strange obsession.
* GottaCatchThemAll: The Silent Realms are gearless stealth-based sections in which you must collect the 15 Sacred Tears in each while avoiding the Guardians. Among optional collectibles, the Gratitude Crystals (used to help a friendly demon become human) and Goddess Statues (which activate chests that contain treasure - a process analogous to the use of Treasure Charts in ''The Wind Waker'' and ''Phantom Hourglass'') stand out.
* {{Gotterdammerung}}: Despite the game's ending being [[DawnOfAnEra quite the opposite]], the Lanayru region certainly elicits the feel. Derelict MagiTek artifacts lay rusted everywhere, though they can be temporarily brought back to life with some time-flux hijinks.
* GrailInTheGarbage: Happens often in the game, not only because the involved items do seem unimportant, but also because Link is ''actually'' unable to carry them on his own. And very fittingly, the player doesn't happen to suspect about these items until Fi's dowsing ability indicates that they are indeed important:
** In the sacred spring behind Skyview Temple, there are several waterfalls [[SceneryPorn adorning the place]]. [[spoiler:One of them is spewing the Sacred Water Faron needs to heal her wounds.]]
** During the search for the Key fragments through Eldin Volcano to open the Earth Temple, Link gets past a seemingly out-of-place metallic pinwheel in a crag that houses a watchtower. [[spoiler:This pinwheel is necessary to make one of the wrecked windmills work again in Skyloft, so a podium activates and Link can play the Song of the Goddess there to gain access to the Thunderhead.]]
** Also in Eldin Volcano, there is a crystal ball that adorns the entrance to the Earth Temple. [[spoiler:A good replacement for Sparrot's crystal ball when it breaks.]]
** In Lanayru Desert, there is a color wheel in a hill southeast. [[spoiler:This is the wheel Dodoh lost while he was preparing the last details for his flight minigame.]]
* GrapplingHookPistol: The two Clawshots return in this game, and unlike in ''Twilight Princess'' they're collected together after completing the Lanayru Silent Realm challenge. It can now be used to latch onto vines, though it's important to keep an eye on Link's stamina. Due to its place of obtainment, it is implied that, like the Beetle and the Gust Bellows, it's an invention by the Ancient Robots.
* GravityBarrier: The aptly named Cloud Barrier serves as an imprenetable border between Skyloft and the Surface. Only during story progression, Link gets the opportunity to pass through it.
* GreatOffscreenWar: The game mentions an earlier conflict in which Hylia and her armies fought against armies of invading demons to keep the Triforce safe. In this case, the offscreen nature of the war is actually justified: in the early days of the war, the group from whose perspective we see were sent up into the sky on a FloatingContinent with the Triforce to keep both safe and out of reach of the war.
* GreenHillZone: The Faron Woods. It's a luscious green forest as well as being the first area beneath the clouds that Link visits.
* GrimyWater: The fourth dungeon, the Ancient Cistern, is a water treatment facility wherein the filtered impurities are stored in the basement, manifesting as pools of putrid purple goop that will curse Link on contact.
* GuestStarPartyMember: [[spoiler:Groose]], who helps you during the second and third Imprisoned fights.
* GuideDangIt:
** Defeating [[spoiler:Demise]] is meant to be done by [[spoiler:mimicking him, and using the lightning for a Skyward Strike]]. The thing is, right at the start of the fight, Fi tells you [[spoiler:that in this realm]], you can't use your Skyward Strike at all, so most players likely wouldn't try it in the first place. Fortunately, he's beatable without using it, though it's more difficult and takes much longer.
** In the Earth Temple, you're required to bomb a wall in order to continue on through the temple, yet the crack in the wall blends in with the rest of the wall and is almost [[http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2011/341/gameguide_zeldass_new_002_12161_screen.jpg too small to notice]]. However, it's fairly easy to reason out the location of the crack by examining the map.
** {{Subverted|Trope}} with the bombs. The game ''does'' tell you that you can refill your bomb bag by picking up a bomb flower and hitting the B button. It does ''not'', however, tell you that you can ''also'' do this by raising your shield after picking up a bomb.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:H-N]]
* HailfirePeaks: Every single dungeon in the game:
** The Skyview Temple, which combines TheLostWoods with DownTheDrain.
** The Earth Temple, as well as the Fire Sanctuary, which are TempleOfDoom meets LethalLavaLand.
** The Lanayru Mining Facility, which combines TempleOfDoom and ShiftingSandLand with EternalEngine and TomorrowLand. Also TechnoWreckage.
** The Ancient Cistern, which combines DownTheDrain with TempleOfDoom in the upper part, and BubblegloopSwamp with BigBoosHaunt in the lower part.
** The [[SandIsWater Sandship]], which combines the ShipLevel with ShiftingSandLand. Also, [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot Robot Skeleton Pirates]].
** And the final dungeon, [[spoiler:Sky Keep]], [[AllTheWorldsAreAStage which is a combination of all of the above]].
* {{Hammerspace}}: Occasionally pretty obvious, like when Zelda puts away the Goddess's Harp ith no indication of where or how she could have stowed the instrument away. Lampshaded when you deliver the [[http://i.imgur.com/oLJCOy8.jpg Life Tree Fruit]] to Lanayru. The scene shows Link walking up to him, nothing in hand. Then the screen cuts to a closeup of Link from the waist-up as he pulls the fruit, which is half his size, from the bottom of the screen.
* HarderThanHard: Hero Mode removes normal heart drops and doubles enemies' attack and health. You will be thankful for the nicely placed Save Points and healing seats/stumps now.
* HardModeFiller: The Skyview Temple has to be completed again some time after the first visit. And it's more difficult due to the bigger enemy population, which also means the toughest opponents (Staldra, Quadro Baba, Skulltula) are more plentiful. It culminates with a battle against three Stalfos, which requires more dexterity than the battle against only one.
* HealingPotion: As usual in the series, red potion (this time called "Heart Potion") heals up to eight of Link's hearts. An innovation is that this potion can be improved if you infuse it with insects. In that case, it will heal Link completely.
* HeartbeatSoundtrack: Plays when Koloktos first assembles itself. Other occurrences include the third story visit to Eldin, when a Bokoblin you're hiding from gets very close to your location, and when you're at low health during a fight with a regular enemy; one of the percussion tracks switches to a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1-jRQg8icw&t=2m30s heartbeat-like rhythm]].
* HeartContainer: In addition to the classic Heart Pieces and Containers that increase Link's LifeMeter, there are two Life Medals that can extended it by one heart each, but only while they're equipped in the [[InventoryManagementPuzzle Adventure Pouch]]. Increasing the Pouch's space will greatly help here.
* HeavenAbove:
** Whenever Link needs to call upon the Goddess's magical power into his sword, he aims it right into the sky. Goddess Cubes are also only found under the open sky.
** Story-wise, the Goddess Hylia sent the last bastion of humanity into the heavens to protect from evil as the ground was consumed by darkness.
** The association of ascension and divinity is presented in Link's battles with the Imprisoned, where that monster will rise up from underground and climb up a spiraling pathway up to a towering temple. Link must force the monster back into the ground, or else the rising evil will be high enough to destroy the power of the divine. Essentially, Link must do whatever he can to keep evil out of the sky, which becomes much more obvious once the Imprisoned learns to levitate.
* HeelFaceTurn: Groose, starting after the first Imprisoned fight. Not only does he change from a mean-spirited bully to one of Link's staunchest allies, he even builds a rail system and uses it to help Link in the subsequent fights against the Imprisoned. Looking at Groose at the end of the game it's almost hard to believe he's the same bully that put Link's Loftwing in a cage at the beginning.
* HeKnowsAboutTimedHits: In Hero Mode, Link can skip stuff like learning to target.
* {{Hell}}: The lower zone of the Ancient Cistern symbolizes Hell, contrasting the idyllic, heavenly upper zone. It's full of zombies, bones, poisoned water, it's like the underworld in every way. Link even climbs a rope to get out of it at one point, which has been used a few times to show people escaping Hell.
* HelloInsertNameHere: Although the default name chosen is "Link".
* TheHerosJourney: Link goes through the a large part of the path. He starts off in a peaceful island in the sky, unaware of the land below. TheCall comes in the form of Zelda falling beneath the clouds and shortly there after [[TheHerald Fi]] awakens and summons Link. He journeys forth below to Hyrule, The Land of Adventure, and CantRefuseTheCallAnymore when [[spoiler:he fails to save Zelda in Eldin, having been chewed out by his weakness and shortcomings by Impa]]. After this more dungeons are the further trials and the Silent Realm runs are the Nigh Sea Voyage. By the end [[spoiler:he has two moments of waiting before facing [[TheDragon Ghirahim]] and [[BigBad Demise]]. With Demise's defeat, Link's return to Skyloft is up in the air, but now his people can come from the clouds to the great world below.]]
* HiddenDepths: Groose, of all people. At the beginning of the game he's basically just a bully who delights in tormenting Link, and thinks (quite wrongly) that Zelda has a crush on him. After a HeroicBSOD, he undergoes a HeelFaceTurn and becomes one of Link's staunchest allies (helping a great deal in the Imprisoned's latter two fights). He's actually quite a nice guy once he accepts his destiny is to be the {{Main/Sidekick}}.
* HighAltitudeBattle: The boss fight against Levias and [[spoiler:the parasite controlling him, Bilocyte]]. During the first phase, Link has to destroy the parasitic tentacles protruding from Levias by performing a new attack his Loftwing learned shortly prior. In the second, he has to mount Levias himself to confront directly the source of the problem.
* HijackedByGanon: [[spoiler:Inverted with Demise. TheReveal that Ganon is the reincarnated hatred of Demise means he retroactively hijacks everything Ganon has ever done.]]
* HintSystem: The Sheikah Stone, who tells you how to do anything from completing sidequests to fighting bosses if you're having trouble with them.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: Some enemies provide ways for you to use their weapons against them. You can pick up arrows shot by Bokoblin Archers that missed their mark and shoot them back. There's also using Koloktos's {{BFS}} against it. Another optional example would be [[spoiler:reflecting the final boss's {{sword beam}}s with your Bug Net]].
* HoldTheLine: A villanous example, as [[spoiler:Ghirahim]] sends an horde of Bokoblins to try to hold the line against '''you''', as he [[spoiler:finishes casting a spell to suck Zelda's spirit out of her body and give it to his master]].
* HollywoodSkydiving: Using the Sailcloth prevents all fall damage no matter the height you fell/jumped from, [[PressXToNotDie though you can only use it when prompted to.]] Damage taken is a few hearts worth.
* HolyHandGrenade: The [[SwordBeam Skyward Strike]] is said to be made of divine power.
* HopeSpot: Happens right after completing the final dungeon. [[spoiler:Link succeeds in destroying Demise, [[BarrierMaiden Zelda]] wakes up, and all appears to be well. Then [[RecurringBoss Ghirahim]], who has been silent for the entire third act, comes BackForTheFinale, kidnaps Zelda, and uses a portal [[NiceJobbreakingItHero you opened earlier but forgot to close]] to go back in time to revive Demise there. Then he pulls it a second time when you follow him--you succeed in beating him into submission, only for him to reveal that the resurrection ritual he started has continued without him. Cue [[EldritchAbomination Demise]] breaking free of his prison and absorbing Zelda's soul]].
* HorseOfADifferentColor: The Loftwings, giant shoebill-like birds that carry people through the skies.
* HubLevel: The Sky operates in a similar way to Termina Field (of ''Majora's Mask'' fame). From there, Link can enter not only the three surface provinces of Hyrule (Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano and Lanayru Desert, and by extension all places that relate to them), but also several floating islands (equivalent to the sea islands in ''The Wind Waker''). One of those islands, Skyloft, serves as the main core location of the Sky, doubling as a HubCity.
* HumanCannonball: Once Groose has his cannon ready, he uses Link twice as a cannonball: [[spoiler:Once to shoot him on top of the floating Imprisoned, and once so he can reach the flooded Faron Woods.]]
* IconicSequelCharacter: Hylia has become an important part of ''Zelda'' lore and religion, but the name wasn't referenced until ''A Link to the Pat'' game introduced Lake Hylia. Even then, she only debuted as a character in this game, twenty years later.
* IChooseToStay: In the end, the Link and Zelda [[EternalRecurrence of this game's era]] [[spoiler:decide to stay on the surface rather than returning to [[FloatingContinent Skyloft]]]]. It's a ForegoneConclusion, considering [[{{Prequel}} this game's place on the series' timeline]].
* IdenticalGrandson: [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker Beedle]] and [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Madame Fanadi]] are apparently descended from citizens of Skyloft.
* IdiotHair: Groose has an Idiot Pompadour. [[spoiler:The usual implications of the trope are subverted, however; while Groose at first comes across as a dumb jock, he later proves to have a gift for construction and engineering, which he uses to build a rail-mounted catapult]].
* IfMyCalculationsAreCorrect: Fi throws out odds-of-success percentages at nearly every opportunity (almost always 85% or 90%). Usually combined with CaptainObvious.
** Used hilariously in the first time she uses an absolute percentage. [[spoiler:When encountering birds called Guays, Fi mentions that being hit by one of their droppings will have a 100% chance of causing you intense aggravation.]]
** Also used humorously the second time she does this. [[spoiler:In the Shipyard located in the Lanayru Sand Sea, after you beat Moldarach for the second time, Fi advises you that the chances of finding a clue to the ship's location in the sand is "extremely low". Well, "extremely low" means there's still a chance, right? Except if you still continue to search in the sand, Fi will eventually reappear and inform you that the odds of finding a clue have dropped to 0%, and she advises you to leave due to those "substantially unfavorable odds".]]
** Used more dramatically in the last time she uses an absolute percentage. [[spoiler:Just before the final boss, she tells you that you have a 0% chance to return if you cannot defeat him.]]
* ImpliedLoveInterest: Link and Zelda. More strongly implied than most games in the franchise -- there's ShipTease in almost every scene the two share -- but it's never stated outright (unless you count their shared {{Leitmotif}}, "[[MeaningfulName Romance]]"). At one point of the game they're even walking while holding hands, and in the Spanish version of the game, Zelda explicitly says that she only ever wanted to be with Link, just the two of them.
* ImprovisedLightningRod: To effectively fight [[spoiler:Demise, you need to use the Master Sword as a lightning rod, having been deprived of your normal Skyward Strike]].
* InconvenientlyPlacedConveyorBelt: The conveyor belts in Lanayru Mining Facility are first seen non-functional after many decades, like everything else in the dungeon. However, they operate once again when a Timeshift Stone regresses them in time, and while some are little more than a nuisance others can potentially drag Link into a bottomless pit. The conveyor belts in the Lanayru room in Sky Keep invert the trope: Their placement is very helpful for Link to shoot the eye targets one by one as they carry the Timeshift Orb from one side of the room to the other.
* IndyEscape: Link has to evade a boulder before he can access the boss room of the Earth Temple. Turns out, [[spoiler:the boulder ''is'' the boss]].
* InfinityMinusOneSword: The Goddess Shield, the fully upgraded form of the Sacred Shield. It doesn't have the Hylian Shield's infinite durability, but it blocks all forms of damage and repairs itself over time. It also only requires you to buy the base shield and collect the upgrade materials.
* InfinityPlusOneSword: The Hylian Shield, earned by clearing enough battles in the BossRush: It blocks all forms of damage and can never break.
* InformedObscenity: The Eldin Roller bug is rolling around a ball of... "something". Anyone with a modicum of entomological knowledge can tell that it's a dung beetle and it's actually rolling around a ball of poop.
* InsurmountableWaistHeightFence: [[AvertedTrope Averted]] for [[http://wii.ign.com/articles/117/1175200p1.html the first time in series history]]. Link performs maneuvers around obstacles automatically, and can run up and grab cliffs higher than he is. There are still fences that give him problems for no real reason, though.
* InterchangeableAntimatterKeys: A ''Zelda'' staple, this one is still played straight. Dungeons are smaller and not all of them have keys, but the ones that do work this way. The antimatter part is played especially straight with the boss door keys. In this game, they are statues which you have to rotate to find the correct way to fit them into the door. This means that you actually see the key slot into the door, hear the door unlock, and then see the key disappear when the seal splits open.
* InterclassFriendship: Even though she isn't a princess this time around, Zelda is nonetheless the daughter of Skyloft's leader and headmaster of the Knight Academy. Link, meanwhile, is a humble and BrilliantButLazy student who has been friends with her since childhood.
* InterfaceSpoiler: Unlike in ''Ocarina of Time'', [[spoiler:whose Quest Status menu teased the possibility of getting the Triforce even though it wasn't possible, in this game you actually ''do'' get the Triforce this time. However, to prevent spoilers, its slot on the Quest Status screen doesn't show up until you find the first piece. And it actually ''replaces'' the slot for another MacGuffin that has long since served its purpose.]]
* InterspeciesFriendship: Link becomes friends with the robot-like sword spirit Fi, though [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove it takes the latter until the end to realize it]].
* InterspeciesRomance: Scrapper has [[SnarkKnight nothing but snark]] for Link but is very, very eager to carry anything if "Mistress Fi" asks him. Since Fi takes orders from Link, it all works out.
* InUniverseGameClock: A variant. A day and night system is employed, but it is only triggered when Link goes to bed ([[TrespassingHero any bed]]). NPC schedules are different, and there are enemies in Skyloft to go with them, including [[CatsAreMean demonic cats]]. You can't fly or visit the surface at night, meaning only Skyloft, the Lumpy Pumpkin, and Beedle's Island are open to you at night, with the Lumpy Pumpkin only accessible at night by sleeping in the beds there, and Beedle's Island only accessible at night by sleeping in the Airshop's bed.
* InventoryManagementPuzzle: While most of Link's weapons, ItemCrafting supplies, and {{Plot Coupon}}s fit nicely in his HyperspaceArsenal, potion-containing bottles, ammo expansions, medals with various effects, and the shield have to compete for space in the Adventure Pouch, which starts with four spaces and can be upgraded to eight. Anything that doesn't fit must be left in Skyloft at the Item Check or [[WeBuyAnything sold off]].
* InvincibilityPowerUp: The Guardian Potion, when upgraded, makes Link immune to all attacks during its period of effect. It becomes handy during [[BossRush the Lightning Round minigame]].
* IronicEcho: After completing the Earth Temple, [[spoiler:Impa chastises Link about not coming to Zelda's aid, even stating how late he was in rescuing her from when she was kidnapped]]. Then, after clearing the next dungeon, Link [[spoiler:comes to Impa's rescue just as she's under attack, allowing you to choose an option for Link's response to a shocked Impa]]. One of the options is "Am I late?".
* {{Irony}}:
** At the beginning of the game, Link and Zelda take part in a traditional ceremony, with Zelda playing the part of the Goddess and Link the part of her Chosen Hero. [[spoiler:As it turns out, Zelda really ''is'' the Goddess, and Link is her Chosen Hero. This is reinforced later when [[PlotParallel the two reenact the same scene]], this time with full knowledge of their true destiny.]]
** The Ancient Robot race was the most advanced and sophisticated in the surface world, and yet it was the first to extinguish after the lush grassland and sea of Lanayru Province turned into a huge wasteland (which happened after the Thunder Dragon Lanayru died from a grave disease). From the perspective of the series as a whole, it's even more ironic since Lanayru Province eventually becomes the homeland of the Zoras, the rich source of water that fills the rivers and lakes of Hyrule, and overall a land that homages Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom.
** Link has to seek out the Sacred Flames of the three goddesses in order to turn the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword. The flame that grants it the power to repel evil is from Din, the goddess directly associated with [[BigBad Ganondorf]].
* ItemAmplifier: The Potion Medal triples the duration of potions while it's in your inventory.
* ItemCrafting: Link can bring collected treasures to a smith in a Skyloft bazaar to get his items upgraded, similar to Linebeck's wagon trade in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]''. A different NPC can also improve potions using insects.
* ItemGet: Repeatedly {{lampshaded}}:
** When Zelda first gives Link the sailcloth, she notes how silly his behavior is. Later, when Link gets the Goddess Harp in the middle of an action scene, the item description tells you what it is, then notes, "but there's no time to admire it!"
** And then there's when you learn the final part to the Song of Hero. [[spoiler:The ItemGet music suddenly stops, Link has a gaping face, the description says "You learned the final part to the Song of Hero...", ''and then'' the game performs its DisneyAcidSequence.]] A nod to a similar moment happening in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]''.
* ItsAWonderfulFailure: Letting [[spoiler:The Imprisoned reach the Sealed Temple]] has him destroying it while Granny[=/=][[spoiler:Future Impa]] cries out in despair.
* ItsPersonal: Exploited. [[spoiler:Hylia used this as part of her BatmanGambit; she purposefully made it look as if Zelda was captured and in danger (even though she wasn't) so that Link would be extra-motivated to play his part.]]
* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: At first, Groose harboured a deep resentment for Link due to his close relationship with Zelda, and didn't even want to allow the pair some time alone for the Goddess Ceremony. But as the game goes on, he grows to see Link as a friend and that resentment all but disappears. When Link [[spoiler: returns to the Sealed Temple to wake a long-time sealed Zelda from her stasis, Groose tells him Zelda is waiting for him and doesn't even try to follow]]. He seems to have completely come to peace with his HopelessSuitor status, and merely wants to see his new friend and his crush happy.
* JapaneseBeetleBrothers: The game introduced a number of bugs as collectibles, which includes the "Sky Stag Beetle" (found only in Skyloft) and the "Woodland Rhino Beetle" (found only in Faron Woods), which makes it another coincidental.
* JourneyToTheSky:
** Guld, the leader of the Mogma tribe, tells Link during the last arc of the game that he's tired of the usual lifestyle of digging underground through Eldin Volcano in search of treasure, and wishes to spend his retirement time living in a very high place to enjoy the scenic view of the sky. Link fulfills his wish by taking him (with the help of Scrapper) to Pumpkin Landing, one of the floating islands in the sky. Once there, Kina entrusts him the job of plowing the pumpkins' field (which is why Link looked for him in the first place), but he's very happy with this. When Link returns to Eldin Volcano and is asked by another Mogma what happened to Guld, he responds by saying that Guld is "in the sky"; the Mogma is saddened to hear that because he thinks Guld died and doesn't realize that Link was [[ExactWords talking in a literal sense]].
** Inverted by Link and Zelda. They begin the game living on the floating island of Skyloft, where their people have lived for so long that the surface far below is just a myth to them. Much of the adventure consists of Link descending to different parts of the surface in search of Zelda, who was pulled down through the clouds by Ghirahim.
* TheJoysOfTorturingMooks: Sure, those Technoblins are pains to beat at times. But once you complete the Sandship, you find a group locked up in the brig. And you can kill them without any fear of them hurting you in return.
* JumpScare: The first encounter with a Remlit at night.
* JustifiedSavePoint: Most ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games that have save points don't attempt to justify them, but in this game, when you save at a Bird Statue, you're "offering your prayers to the Goddess."
* JustifiedTutorial: The Sparring Hall, which while it is optional, allows the player to get used to the new motion controls, while being able to get the feel of the enemies seen in the game. They also justify the flight tutorial with two reasons: one, Link's just been gliding with his Loftwing recently (right before a ceremony which requires great control over a Loftwing); and two, said Loftwing was very recently imprisoned, and Zelda wants to make sure nothing's overly wrong.
* {{Kaiju}}: Some of the bosses in this game fit this trope well, especially the Imprisoned.
* KatanasAreJustBetter: Inverted. The only character who has a katana is [[FormerlyFit Peater,]] who has undergone severe BadassDecay and does't use it for anything except cutting bamboo. [[TheHero Link]] carries the knightly longsword known as the Goddess Sword throughout the game and derives several magical abilities from it. It becomes the Master Sword later on.
* KillerRabbit: Remember those cute cat-like creatures you see in Skyloft? During the day, they are friendly, want to be carried, and follow you around. At night, they become aggressive and attack you on sight, and will continue to do so until you collect all of the Gratitude Crystals.
* KingMook: Moldarach is a thousand-year-old Aracha who grew to monstrous size.
* LaserGuidedKarma: In a franchise that allows and even encourages wholesale pot destruction, this game manages to sneak in a bit of this. In one of Skyloft's houses lives a woman who says she's an antique collector. Break her stuff and she'll make you pay for it.
* LastOfHisKind: Link's Crimson Loftwing is implied to be the only such Loftwing alive. Before it was hatched, the Crimson subspecies was thought to be extinct.
* TheLastStraw: [[spoiler:The small cannonball that breaks apart the Isle of the Goddess and reveals the Sky Keep acts as this.]]
* LaterInstallmentWeirdness: The game has a few oddities in relation to previous games in the series.
** Link starts with six hearts instead of three, his dash motion is regulated by a stamina meter, and the dungeons have all their own entrance cutscenes, lack compasses (the maps retain their properties), and boss keys (replaced instead with special objects that have to be assembled correctly into the boss gates).
** It's also the only ''Zelda'' game since the NES and SNES games where certain bosses are fought more than once, and one of the only ones along with ''[[VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink The Adventure of Link]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'' where the Boomerang doesn't exist as an item (the Beetle serves its function instead).
** The exploration of the overworld's areas are more puzzle-based, as in the dungeons, and the saving process relies on Bird Statues rather than a pause menu feature.
** The elements of the three virtues and goddesses have been muddied a bit. Usually, Farore/Courage is paired with a grassy forest, and indeed, Faron Woods continues from ''Twilight Princess'' in this role...but the divine dragon actually lives in an underwater area and embodies the element of water, usually associated instead with Nayru/Wisdom. Here, Lanayru is a desert instead of the sea it once was (and indeed, would chronologically become again in the future) and its associated element is electricity. Eldin remains associated with Power and fire, however, and ''Breath of the Wild'' afterward would make Faron a jungle, restore the water theme to Lanayru, and assign electricity to the Gerudo desert region not present in this game.
** Lastly, it's the second game (after ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]])'' to have a RealTimeWeaponChange, and the first to display an InventoryManagementPuzzle for secondary items like bottles, shields, and ammunition bags. Since the game still plays functionally like the others in the series, it's still far from an OddballInTheSeries, and ''Breath of the Wild'' would continue these aspects after this game.
* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: Link's Loftwing is "special" because it's red, the implication being that [[RedOnesGoFaster it's faster than the others]]. Pipit, during the prologue, won the Wing Ceremony last year, but thanks his lucky stars Link's "red terror" wasn't involved.
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall:
** It's the 25th anniversary of Skyloft's Knight Academy, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the ''Zelda'' franchise.
--->'''Instructor:''' Today is a special day for many reasons, but it is also 25th anniversary of our fine institution.
** Fi's talk about "a legend that will be forged by your own hand" in the intro has ''three'' referents: to Link's role in turning the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword, to Link's eventual possession of the Triforce of Courage, and to the player's use of Wii Motion Plus.
** "Nice going, you two. You guys were totally amazing in this little adventure I like to call 'The Legend of Groose.'"
** Fi is very frank about your health, making direct reference to your heart count as they near depletion. This could be construed as a [[BreakingTheFourthWall fourth wall break]], except there ''are'' heart plants strewn about the overworld, which means it's actually just leaning.
** [[spoiler:Ghirahim's Sword Spirit form has a dialog box change from the "normal" box to one that looks like a black version of Fi's, since it isn't made explicit he is the spirit of the Dark Master Sword until he "dies."]]
** While preparing to [[spoiler:revive Demise]], Ghirahim actually hums his own {{leitmotif}}.
* LeapOfFaith: As part of an illusory puzzle in Fire Sanctuary, there's a moment in which you must jump off a ledge into what seems like a lava pit. When you're falling, a platform appears just above said lava pit. However, a supporting character does tell you that you have to leap off the edge, and onto ''which'' statue ([[spoiler:the one with its eyes closed]]). This is the only way to unlock the path to the Boss Key that leads to the dungeon's finale.
* LecherousLicking: [[SissyVillain Ghirahim]] does this to Link to up his already-through-the-roof creepiness level. And this is only their first meeting with a OverlyLongTongue. During the sword fighting portion of the second fight, if Ghirahim lands a hit on you, he'll take a second to lick his sword clean of your blood.
* {{Leitmotif}}: Several, in much more diverse ways this time.
** Of course, the series' Main Theme appears once again (albeit with some arrangements) as Link's leitmotif and receives a new alternative title: [[spoiler:''Song of the Hero'']]. The traditional version also appears during the staff roll.
** Zelda has two themes: the ''Ballad of the Goddess'', which she sings at the beginning, and her traditional Lullaby later on. This leitmotif is especially brilliant as the two themes are reverse versions of the other, and Zelda is both herself and [[spoiler:the reincarnation of the Goddess]]. ''Ballad of the Goddess'' also serves as the game's Main Theme.
** The Mogmas (this iteration's lava dwellers) have a jazzy theme, complete with snapping fingers.
** The Guardians of the Silent Realm have terrifying industrial music as a leitmotif, more akin to ''Franchise/SilentHill''.
** Ghirahim has a piece that sounds somewhat like carnival music, played slowly by a pipe organ whenever he is having a conversation and quickly and intensely by strings during fights with him. [[spoiler:A choir and drumline are added for the final fight.]] He actually hums the former, while dancing around, while preparing to [[spoiler:sacrifice Zelda to Demise]].
** Groose has one that evolves along with his [[CharacterDevelopment character]].
** The different vendors in the Bazaar each have their own arrangement of the overall Bazaar music, which switches instruments seamlessly without losing its place in the song as you move toward and away from each vendor.
** The Imprisoned has a four note motif that plays when it awakens and sporadically during the battle against it. [[spoiler:When it reveals its true form as Demise, the four note motif continues to be used, but during the final battle is played at a faster tempo.]]
* LeParkour: The dash mechanic allows for Link to run up walls and generally have much more maneuverability, at the expense of stamina.
* LethalJokeItem: The net you use for catching bugs will also distract [[spoiler:Demise]] during the first half of the battle, and not only does it deflect the projectiles he fires in the second half, ''it's the only way to do so'' -- your shield can only block them and trying to use your sword just gets yourself electrified.
* LethalLavaLand: Eldin Volcano, and by extension the two dungeons found within (Earth Temple and Fire Sanctuary). Strangely, while falling in lava does only one heart of damage, there's a room were ConvectionSchmonvection ''is'' mentioned: your ExpositionFairy informs you that the walls are so hot you can't continue onwards without taking more damage than you have hearts (note that you can raft down the lava rivers on a floating rock without taking damage). Later this is rendered moot with earrings that protect you from heat (but not fire or lava).
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand:
** Groose's {{leitmotif}} evidently does not agree with Groose that the world below Skyloft should be named [[{{Egopolis}} Grooseland]].
** Travelling from the top of the Ancient Cistern into the basement causes the previously airy music to drop off into more sinister tones.
* LevelEditor: The Sky Keep temple's gimmick is a puzzle involving the player using control panels to rearrange rooms that look like they could have come from previous dungeons in the game.
* LevelsTakeFlight: The Sky is traveled through with Link's Loftwing, in order to reach any of the islands floating in it or the perpetual storm of the Thuderhead or to descend to any of the areas of the surface. Enemies are few and mostly airborne, such as flying Octoroks that perch on floating chunks of rock and winged, wormlike enemies.
* LighterAndSofter: The game is in the middle between the darker styles of its predecessor ''Twilight Princess'' and successor ''Breath of the Wild'' and the lighter style of ''The Wind Waker'', which is evident by both the visual style and the storyline. The atmosphere of the game's world is generally cheery, especially the Sky and the islands in it, and dials back from the melancholic vibe of ''Twilight Princess''. However, the surface below features tense, frightening areas like the Silent Realms, the underground of the Ancient Cistern, and the present era of Lanayru Desert. The game ultimately veers into a darker tone after [[spoiler:Ghirahim kidnaps Zelda and takes her to the past to revive Demise]].
* LightIsNotGood: Ghirahim has a predominantly "white" look, but he's clearly a villain. He is also portrayed as an EvilCounterpart to [[DarkIsNotEvil Impa]]. [[spoiler:The whiteness gradually "molts" off, though, revealing the dark demon underneath]].
* LightningCanDoAnything: [[spoiler:Demise]] uses lightning as a way for making his sword like the Master Sword, which also includes using it like a Skyward Strike when [[IncrediblyLamePun fully charged]]. [[spoiler:This [[HoistByHisOwnPetard ends up being his undoing, however,]] as Link can do the same.]]
* LilyPadPlatform: Many of these are found in the Ancient Cistern, some of which float in poisonous waters.
* LimitedWardrobe: As usual, Link spends most of the game clothed in his traditional green garb, after a brief early-game romp in his Skyloft civvies. But aside from the one costume-change, Link never changes his clothes. He is even shown ''sleeping'' in his daywear, even when that involves wearing chain mail to bed.
* LiteralSurveillanceBug: The Beetle, of course. You can inspect areas with it, retrieve distant items, carry bombs and other objects after the first upgrade, and accelerate and go far with further upgrades.
* LivingWeapon: Fi is the spirit of the Goddess Sword, manifested as a young girl. [[spoiler:The Goddess Sword eventually becomes the aforementioned Master Sword, establishing the identity of its mind. Ghirahim, TheDragon, turns out to be one as well; he's the living embodiment of Demise's sword.]]
* LoadsAndLoadsOfLoading: The screen fading that signals a loading period occurs when entering the largest room of a dungeon, since these rooms are among the largest enclosed areas in the series and they have several features within.
* LocalHangout: The Lumpy Pumpkin in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword.'' There's even a sidequest where Link ends up working there to repay a debt. The Bazaar may also count; some side characters will buy you drinks there.
* LoneWolfBoss: Moldarach and Tentalus (both, incidentally, found in Lanayru Desert) are the only two bosses with no connection to Ghirahim. This extends to the minibosses located in the Lanayru Sand Sea ([[DegradedBoss another Moldarach]] in the Shipyard and Scervo in the Sandship); the former simply happens to be on Link's way while he looks for clues about the Sandship, and the latter has usurped the Sandship itself for his own motives and was already Skipper's lifelong enemy since long before the prologue of the game.
* LongSongShortScene: The game has plenty of themes, but a number of them (such as "Gate of Time", "Romance Is In The Air", and "Guardians Awaken") appear very sporadically and almost none have enough screen time to stick to the player's memory. Even "Ballad of the Goddess" is very scarce considering it's supposed to be the game's main theme. It's almost a RunningGag to the effect that Zelda is always interrupted when playing it.
* LookOnMyWorksYeMightyAndDespair: By hitting the timestones in the Lanayru Desert, you can see how an advanced {{Magitek}} civilization worked in the green lands in the past. In the present, it's a barren wasteland and all the CuteMachines are rusted piles of scrap.
* LostTechnology: A few centuries prior to the story, there was a thriving civilization made up mostly of sapient robots (and, probably, a related civilization that made the robots), with antigravity technology, mastery of electricity, and other technology to put modern Earth to shame. The civilization vanished around the time of a war and ancient ridiculously high-tech relics show up in dungeons and as monsters for the rest of the series, a span covering literally thousands of years.
* TheLostWoods: Faron Woods, the area that eventually becomes Kokiri Forest and Lost Woods. The main area is rather maze-like, the inhabitants are PlantPeople, and [[spoiler:the Master Sword ends up resting there]]. However, as the game takes place hundreds of years before the other examples in the series, the area is much more open than in other games.
* LoveConfession: There are two sidequests featuring this trope:
** If Link chooses to make Pipit hook up with Karane, the former will confess his feeling for her, which she gladly accepts. Cawlin, who was in love with Karane as well, doesn't take this well.
** The Item Check girl, Peatrice, ends up [[EveryoneCanSeeIt obviously]] infatuated with Link as the sidequest goes on. At the end, she asks Link to come to her house at night so she can tell him something important, where she decides to confess her feelings to him. Her confession can either be [[VideoGameCaringPotential reciprocated]] or [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential rejected]].
* LovecraftLite: The ultimate BigBad, Demise, is an EldritchAbomination GodOfEvil. That said, you can kill him.
* LoveDoodles: Karane, one of the senior students at the Skyloft Knight Academy, is completely smitten with the good-hearted top student, Pipit. If Link inspects the desk in her room at the academy, he can find a book where Karane has drawn a doodle of Pipit's face with a heart below.
* LoveTheme: The game has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7egFhuObEo "Romance In The Air"]], when Link and Zelda first talk.
* LoveTriangle: Three Type 4's happen in the game:
** The first has Groose pining for Zelda, who is {{implied|LoveInterest}} to be interested in Link.
** The second has Karane and Pipit sharing mutual feelings, while Cawlin has a crush on the former. [[spoiler:Depending on what you do with Cawlin's letter, Karane and Pipit will hook up, or the ghostly hand in the toilet will fall in love with Cawlin.]]
** Lastly, there's Link, between Zelda and Peatrice. However, the game seems to establish the relationship between Link and Zelda, with the relationship with Peatrice merely serving as a sidequest where Link must humor her to get Gratitude Crystals. Zelda isn't aware of this throughout the game, and Link is told by Fi not to inform her should you decide to have Link actually return those feelings.
* LowCultureHighTech: The unnamed civilization in the [[ShiftingSandLand Lanayru Desert]] region had built large industrial complexes that produced mining facilities, advanced ships, "Time Stones" capable of locally shifting time, and intelligent autonomous robots maintaining them all. But their unchecked expansion led to the desertification of what was once a region of lush fields and seas and the collapse of their civilization. By the time Link arrives there, he must use the Time Stones in order to shift time back to when things were still functional, and even then he must rely on the robots to work some of the more complex devices.
* LuckBasedMission: While not required to get anything useful, the Thrill Digger minigame is heavily luck-based, as it functions just like ''VideoGame/{{Minesweeper}}''... except that with a single exception, the indicators tell you ''two'' possibilities for how many traps are around. Two blue rupees next to each other could mean they share a bomb, they share a bomb but one also has one to the side, they share two bombs...
* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: The game changed the shield mechanics significantly: you can put out your shield any time you have your sword out, but you have to thrust it out with proper timing to actually deflect an attack--simply holding it out prevents damage, but will still cause you to stagger and [[BreakableWeapons damages your shield]].
* LudicrousPrecision: Fi, the local ExpositionFairy of the game, loves to throw out [[IfMyCalculationsAreCorrect percentages]] any time a possibility arises. Though the numbers are a lot broader than other examples of the trope, always a multiple of 5, she still gives them in uncertain situations when such probabilities should be incalculable. As with [[MillionToOneChance most examples of this]], the suggested possibility is ''always'' the case, even though Fi gives probabilities ranging from 40% to 95% (never 100%). Apparently she's not very confident, even though she's always right. She does use an absolute one time, however: when [[spoiler: you are about to enter Demise's realm]], Fi tells you [[PointOfNoReturn there is a 0% chance of you returning unless you are able to defeat him.]] The fact that she almost never uses absolutes makes it all the more chilling when she does. And more comically, the only other time she uses an absolute (100%) is when she is calculating your chances of being irritated by a crow pooping on your head.
* MacheteMayhem: Like in ''The Wind Waker'', the Bokoblins in this game have machetes with rectangular blades. They use it not only for offensive action but also for defense, thanks to their size. Link has to swing his sword from the correct angle to bypass their protection.
* MadeOfGood: The Gratitude Crystals are made of [[ShapedLikeItself crystallized gratitude]].
* MagicMusic: Link accesses the Goddess's trials and messages by playing songs on a harp, accompanied by Fi singing. Zelda is also implied to have used the harp to open portals and gateways before passing it on to Link.
* {{Magitek}}: Fi gives off this vibe, with a voice reminiscent of a Music/{{Vocaloid}} and constant use of percentages, like a magical computer. In fact, there is a lot of it going around, such as the ancient robots powered by time travel crystals.
* MakeMyMonsterGrow: The Imprisoned is a result of this (and later, the BishonenLine, meaning that this monster is the ''weaker'' of its forms)!
* TheManBehindTheMan: [[spoiler:The Imprisoned/Demise]] is this for Lord Ghirahim. Not that Ghirahim keeps it a secret that he's not the one in charge. Relatedly, [[spoiler:Demise is this for ''Ganon'' as well by way of the latter being an incarnation of the former's hatred]].
* ManEatingPlant: Deku Babas return again, along with the tougher Quadro Babas which are harder to slice due to how they alternate between opening their horizontal lips and opening their vertical ones.
* ManlyTears:
** [[spoiler:Link after Zelda puts herself to sleep for thousands of years to strengthen the seal on the Imprisoned.]]
** A humorous subversion is made with [[spoiler:Groose, twice: the first time when Link informs him that Zelda's okay after he follows him down to the Surface, he sheds humorous, ''un-''manly tears. The second time, after Zelda wakes up from her thousand-year sleep, he full-on blubbers like a baby.]]
* MatchmakerQuest: In both cases, the quests are open-ended but earn the same reward of Gratitude Crystals regardless of outcome.
** Cawlin asks you to deliver a love letter, but the girl's interested in someone else. You can either deliver it, or dispose of it by giving it to [[{{Toilet Humour}} the weirdo in the bathroom that needs paper]]. [[spoiler:It ends badly for him either way, with him being rejected if it goes to the right person, or him getting haunted by the ghost if she is the one who receives the letter.]]
** In another sidequest, you have the option to either return the affections of the Item Check girl or turn her down cold. Leading her on will have her give you the reward, while rejecting her will have her overprotective father reward you, unaware you were the boy she was so addled by.
* MaybeEverAfter: [[spoiler:The game ends with Link and Zelda reunited, with apparently both of them deciding to stay on the surface, instead of returning to Skyloft, and starting a new life together. But in spite of this, as well as the strong hints of mutual romantic feelings between the two going way back prior to before Link's journey began, a RelationshipUpgrade is... not ''quite'' confirmed, merely ending with them holding hands with the Triforce between them on the Goddess Statue.]]
* MeaningfulName: The meaning of Ghirahim's name is twofold: It comes from Ghayra (an Arabic word referring to a person disliking that another shares a right or goal with them, in this case [[spoiler:the search for the Gate of Time in order to reach Zelda]]) and Ghira (a Sanskrit word that refers to one being "the terrible", as in fearsome). The last syllable (-him) provides an analogy with the name of Aghanim from ''A Link to the Past'', as [[spoiler:both villains serve as {{Big Bad}}s but serve a GreaterScopeVillain (Ganon and Demise respectively)]].
* MechaMooks: Lanayru Mining Facility and Sandship, as well as parts of Sky Keep and the overworld area Lanayru Gorge, have highly-advanced machines that attack Link upon sight: Beamos (which appeared in prior games as a standard laser-shooting statue, but is portrayed here as a futuristic laser turret), Armos (another classic ''Zelda'' enemy that is portrayed here as a bulky robotic statue), and Sentrobe (a flying drone that shoots missiles and releases flying spheres that self-destruct over time if they're left unchecked).
* MegamixGame: Though the game doesn't bring back previous games' locations except Faron Woods from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' (which makes sense, since it's chronologically the ''first'' entry in the series), it still revisits other kinds of content seen over the course of the series' history, as part of the latter's 25th anniversary: Items [[note]]of which the only true new item is the Beetle; the rest is a mix of omnipresent items like bombs and arrows and tools specifically brought up from certain games, like the Bug Net from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'', the two Clawshots from ''Twilight Princess'' and the Whip from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]''[[/note]], mechanics [[note]]retrieving sacred tears in an alternate dimension as done in ''Twilight Princess'', saving with bird statues like in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]'', single-floor dungeons and accessing them via downstairs like in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI the very first game]]'', unlocking new regions with ancient stone tablets like in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]'', etc[[/note]], plot devices [[note]]chasing and storming a large sea ship like in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass Phantom Hourglass]]'', completing a quest across all mainlands to assemble a mystical song like in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening Link's Awakening]]'', retrieving your stolen gear item by item like in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames Oracle of Ages]]'', etc.[[/note]], and copious amounts of MythologyGag referencing previous games in the series.
* MenCantKeepHouse: Inverted. Pipit's mother, Mallara, is a horrible housekeeper, who stands around idly while her house is covered with dust. She mentions that Pipit keeps it clean for her, and the player (as Link) can clean it to earn Rupees and Gratitude Crystals.
* MercyMode:
** This game gets a SuperGuide for those who are having trouble.
** After losing to a boss, Fi offers additional hints about how to beat it.
* MetaphoricallyTrue: [[ExpositionFairy Fi]] tells you that the environment [[spoiler:in which the final boss is faced]] disables your [[SwordBeam Skyward Strike]]. This is correct; a different, lightning-charged projectile attack that can be performed in that environment, though activated and utilized in much the same manner, is distinct from a Skyward Strike.
* MetaTwist: Since ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'', the dungeon boss is usually fought with the dungeon item, so when [[BigBad Ghirahim]] shows up in the first dungeon of ''this'' game, and is fought in a pure sword fight, it comes as a shock. It comes as an even bigger shock when you fight him [[RecurringBoss again]] in a different dungeon. A double shock because ''Zelda'' villains usually [[OrcusOnHisThrone loom in the background]], never encountering you until the finale. Lastly, bosses are never fought in the overworld prior to this game, yet ''Skyward Sword'' has a whopping ''four'' outside of dungeons (including the FinalBoss).
* {{Metroidvania}}: This is the closest the ''Zelda'' series has gotten to being ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}''-like, with {{Save Point}}s rather than free-saving and fewer safe towns. Considering the latter originally took many cues from the former, it's quite appropriate that the opposite would eventually happen.
* MickeyMousing: A musical cue punctuates every hit you land on an enemy with your sword.
* MilitaryAcademy: The Knight Academy educates its students in swordsmanship and [[GiantFlyer Loftwing training]] in order to protect the city of Skyloft. However, since Skyloft is a [[FloatingContinent floating city]] far from anything that could actually threaten its inhabitants, the Knights of Skyloft's main job is to [[CatchAFallingStar rescue anyone who falls off]].
* MilkingTheGiantCow: Ghirahim does this to keep in line with his [[EvilIsHammy FABULOUS]] persona while expressing his anger over Zelda being snatched from his grasp.
* MiniDungeon: Pirate Stronghold, where Link has to find clues to track down the next main dungeon, the Sandship.
* MinigameZone: Fun Fun Island has a free-fall minigame onto a spinning wheel with Rupee spaces of different values. Falling through rings on the way down will add multipliers to whatever Rupee value you land on, and falling through all five rings and landing on the highest Rupee-value space will get you a Piece of Heart as a prize.
* MinecartMadness: The Shipyard in the Lanayru region has a mine cart that Link rides across a winding series of tracks.
* MissingChild:
** Zelda disappearing after a storm knocks her down through the clouds kick-starts the plot. Though he gets reassurance that this was all part of Hylia's plan and she's still alive shortly after, her father is still obviously worried about her [[spoiler:and is clearly overjoyed when he reunites with her at the end.]]
** Partway through the game, a little girl called Kukiel is suddenly nowhere to be found. Her distraught mother begs you to help search for her, especially once rumors start going around that she was playing with a strange man when she was last seen. [[spoiler:Thankfully, the "strange man" is completely harmless, and she was just staying at his house overnight because of the monsters outside. The next morning, she's back home safe and sound.]]
* MoleMen: The Mogmas, the large-armed inhabitants of Eldin Volcano.
* MobileShrubbery: Octoroks await their preys or enemies within seemingly-normal bushes, effectively acting like the Deku and Mad Scrubs from ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Majora's Mask''.
* MomentKiller: Ghirahim appears to ''love'' destroying any happy moment between Link and [[ImpliedLoveInterest Zelda]]. First, he knocks Zelda out of the sky with a black tornado just as she's about to give to Link what appears to be a love confession. Then he kills the second reunion (the first being halted instead by Impa) they make at gate of time by charging in and attempting to kill both Impa and Zelda. [[spoiler:And ''then'' he shows up [[YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle after the Imprisoned is killed and Zelda is released from her self-imposed seal]] to cockblock the two ''again'' by kidnapping the poor girl and running off into the Gate of Time.]]
* MoneyForNothing: Downplayed. Your max Wallet size is 9900, yet nothing costs upwards of 1600, the game's various mini-games are a rather easy way to farm money, and you can't buy the materials to upgrade your equipment in bulk (you can buy one at a time each night after the ''last'' dungeon depending on RNG).
* MoneySink: The game has both Beedle's shop (in which most items are very expensive, and in the case of the pouches the price ''increases'' upon each purchase) and the products and upgrades from the Bazaar. And until the very end, you're almost always in need of ''something'' -- which is also why your wallet is able to get so much bigger. Unlike any of the other console ''Zelda'' titles, it's actually possible to go through an entire [[HundredPercentCompletion 100% Completion]] campaign and never once have your wallet filled to capacity.
* MonsterProgenitor: The ancient [[spoiler:Demon King Demise]] is the origin of all demons in the Zelda series. This seems to be a common feature among demons, since Batreaux also seems to summon monsters with his presence. During nighttime in Skyloft, Keese and Chuchus appear and the Remlits turn feral. Once Batreaux becomes a human, the monsters stop appearing and the Remlits remain tame at night.
* MoodDissonance: The game features a scene where Ghirahim [[spoiler:has finally kidnapped Zelda, is about to use her soul to revive [[GodOfEvil Demise]], and has summoned a massive army of monsters to hold Link back while the ritual is in progress]]. In the midst of all this, he performs [[http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lvjkn3isWD1qfnaqn.gif an extraordinarily goofy, giddy dance]] around [[spoiler:the unconscious Zelda]], presumably from excitement over the prospect that [[spoiler:his master will finally be revived]]. Granted, [[PsychopathicManChild this is all perfectly in character for Ghirahim]], but the context of the whole scene makes it stick out like a sore thumb compared to all the other times he has acted so crazily.
* MoodWhiplash:
** The Ancient Cistern switches from a serene area filled with bright gold colors and pretty plants to a sinister area filled with dark purple colors and zombies. To make it more specific -- you go from a golden Buddhistic heaven area and then ''descend into hell''.
** The [[DarkWorld Silent Realm]], where if Link gets spotted, the calm ambience is replaced by a [[HellIsThatNoise cacophonous]], ''Franchise/SilentHill''-inspired industrial musical piece as the [[HumongousMecha Guardians]] try to [[DeathIsCheap shatter his soul]].
** At the beginning of the game, after a terrifying nightmare foreshadowing the game, Link's woken up by the sound of Zelda's Loftwing giving an ear-splitting caw, sending him tumbling out of bed. It then spits her letter directly into his face and just leaves.
** When [[spoiler:Groose]] follows Link to the surface, it's very lighthearted as he tries to adjust to the strange new land and then tries to take over Link's role as the hero. Then suddenly the Imprisoned escapes, the tension is racked up, and after beating him, you have to leave [[spoiler:Groose]] suffering a HeroicBSOD so you can continue your journey.
* MookMaker: Batreaux is an (in-universe) unintentional example. He's a pretty nice guy, but that doesn't stop his demonic aura from attracting monsters to Skyloft and making all the Remlits turn evil at night.
* MorphicResonance:
** [[spoiler:Batreaux's human form has a hairstyle that resembles his horns as a demon.]]
** [[spoiler:Demise retains the same black feather/scale things in his Imprisoned form.]]
* MortonsFork:
** During the Gratitude Crystal sidequest, Cawlin has a crush on Karane but is too shy to say it to her face, and so asks you to deliver a love letter. Here the quest branches off in two directions: you can either give the love letter to Karane, in which case she ultimately ends up with another student and Cawlin is upset, or you can give it to the disembodied hand living in the knight school's bathroom, in which case Cawlin is upset and is later haunted by the appendage in his sleep.
** During another sidequest, you have to lead Peatrice the Item Clerk along with having feelings for Link. The sidequest only has two endings; admit Link likes her back which means he's now two-timing Zelda, or utterly and completely crushing her spirit by saying she's "just a shopkeeper" to him, there's no third option to let her down gently and you can't keep her from falling for Link to begin with without dead-ending the sidequest before getting the rewards.
* {{Motif}}: Rhombuses appear in numerous places. This is most obvious with Ghirahim, but every main character has at least one piece of diamond-shaped jewelry.
* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Koloktos, a six-armed Buddhist-style automaton, and a four-armed type of Stalfos called a Stalmaster. Both are fought in the fourth dungeon, Ancient Cistern.
* MultiMookMelee: [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Ghirahim when he tries to stall for as much time as he can to ensure he can [[spoiler:complete the ritual to revive Demise before Link can catch up]].
* MundaneMadeAwesome: The cutscenes where Link learns a new melody on his harp, with Fi dancing in the air and Link shown floating in the sky while Loftwings fly around him definitely count.
* MundaneUtility: A horizontal Skyward Strike beam is an excellent way to cut large swathes of grass quickly.
* MusicalGameplay:
** Just like in ''The Wind Waker'', whenever you strike enemies successfully, a musical sting plays. Special mention goes to the Ghirahim battles, because the stings are played by actual orchestra instruments.
** Though ''Skyward Sword'' isn't the first ''Zelda'' game to feature dynamic background music (''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Twilight Princess'' used it before), it is the first in the series to have dynamic recorded music. ''Twilight Princess'' was originally going to have orchestrated music, but having dynamic orchestrated music was too difficult back then. But Nintendo found a way to do it with ''Skyward Sword'', and it works great. Examples: As you pass from the present to the past in Lanayru Desert and related areas, the music seamlessly gains more percussion and a stronger melody. Dungeon music also starts out bare but has instruments added the farther along you are to completing it. The Bazaar has a similar effect with the instruments changing between different vendors. And the Sky theme gains percussion when Link is near enemies.
* MusicalSpoiler: The melody of the Goddess' Song, the game's main theme, is Zelda's Lullaby played backwards, foreshadowing the fact that [[spoiler:Zelda ''is'' the Goddess]].
* MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning: The FinalBoss of the game, [[spoiler:the ancient Demon King Demise, finally released from the seal placed on him by the goddess Hylia]], invokes this against Link, Zelda, and their descendants, that an incarnation of his hatred will continuously be reborn to seek revenge against them. Said incarnation? [[spoiler:Ganon. Yep, ''Skyward Sword'' is the Great King Of Evil's OriginsEpisode]].
* MyDefenseNeedNotProtectMeForever: A villainous version occurs when [[spoiler:Ghirahim explicitly states that the hordes that he summons are meant to stall for the time he needs to sacrifice Zelda's soul, and Ghirahim himself goes OneWingedAngel and stalls for more time as he duels Link for the third time]].
* MySensorsIndicateYouWantToTapThat: Fi can do exactly that. Played straight when [[spoiler:if you go through Peatrice's subquest by returning her love, she notices the effects of Peatrice's looks on Link and Peatrice's love for him, advising Link to avoid touching the subject with Zelda]]. In a roundabout way, Fi does this when she decides that any good news about Zelda's fate is likely to lift Link's spirits.
* MysticalLotus: The Ancient Cistern, a temple based around Buddhism with a prominent idol resembling the Buddha in the center of its main chamber containing the Sacred Flame of Farore, has both actual lotus plants in its waters and lotus artwork on its walls and ceiling. Even the BossKey is painted to look like a lotus when inserted into the lock.
* MythologyGag: Sweet mercy, there's quite a few, to the point that [[MythologyGag/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword we made a separate subpage for them]]. Considering how many of these there are in the game (to the point that reviewers have pointed it out), it only makes sense that the game comes during the series's MilestoneCelebration.
* NamedworldAndNamedland: Upon landing on the surface world for the first time with Link, [[JerkJock Groose]] decides that it needs a name. [[LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand Even the background music isn't impressed]] with his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cu-vQwYkYZ4&t=2m38s suggestion:]]
-->'''Groose:''' This place needs a name. Yeah... a name fitting for this rugged, adventurous wilderness. From now on, we'll call it... '''[[{{Egopolis}} Grooseland!]]'''
* NearVictoryFanfare: Scaldera and Tentalus share both the same boss theme, and the same fanfare that is heard when Link incapacitates them so he can inflict them damage with the sword. In the case of Bilocyte, VariableMix is used for when the boss has little health left and all that remains is to deflect its projectiles back to it.
* NemesisWeapon: Demise wields a sword that looks like a bigger and spikier version of Link's iconic Master Sword. Moreover, both swords are inhabited by spirits that serve the ends of the swords' masters. Whereas the Master Sword's spirit, Fi, mostly just gives advice, Demise's sword spirit actually serves as his [[TheDragon Dragon]].
* NeverSayDie:
** {{Averted|Trope}}. [[spoiler:The villain is even named [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Demise]]!]]
** During your rematch with Ghirahim, he implies much more than [[ColdBloodedTorture just killing Link]], and tops it off by saying that he'll dye the strings of fate with Link's blood, with the word "blood" bolded in red text for emphasis.
* NewGamePlus: Hero Mode, which doubles the damage and health of enemies and removes normal heart drops. To compensate, not only do bugs and treasures carry over from the original file, but [[spoiler:the Goddess Sword [[DiscOneNuke starts off with a full-strength Skyward Strike, including shorter charging.]] Have fun picking off Bokoblins and Stalfos from a distance.]]
* NiceDayDeadlyNight: Skyloft, the only place with a day-night cycle in the game. At daytime it's entirely peaceful, but it's filled with monsters at night. Even the Remlits, cute lemuresque kittens, turn into fierce beasts after sundown. None of the monsters is particularly dangerous though.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero:
** Impa leaves Link behind after lecturing him on Eldin Volcano. While this gives him a chance to redeem himself in her eyes after [[spoiler:his earlier failure to be there when Zelda needed help]], it also means that when Ghirahim attacks, Impa has to fight him alone and is quickly overwhelmed. Only Link's timely arrival prevents Impa from being defeated and Zelda captured.
** It ends up being a bad idea to [[spoiler:leave a functioning and extremely conspicuous time portal out in the open like that]]. A rare example of the hero falling victim to Rule #41 on the EvilOverlordList.
* NightOfTheLivingMooks: The Ancient Cistern houses Cursed Bokoblins; these Bokoblins cling to life solely through their hatred of the world (and, according to Fi, their attachment to their outlandish undergarments). They can be driven away slowly with the Sacred Shields, but the only way to kill them is by landing a SwordPlant onto them while they're knocked down.
* NinjaPirateZombieRobot:
** Scervo, the robo Stalfos pirate onboard the Sandship, and serves as the mid-boss. That's right -- a pirate robot who's weathered and decayed enough to look like a mechanical zombie.
** [[spoiler:You fight another one, Dreadfuse, in Sky Keep, the VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon.]]
* NintendoHard:
** Especially in comparison to the previous 3D games, which have a reputation for being mostly easy (the many TacticalSuicideBoss battles in particular). The emphasis on precise sword play, enemies inflicting damage in whole-heart increments (Link actually starts the game with six hearts, instead of the usual three), and the fact that your shield can be broken after repeated use.
** In [[HarderThanHard Hero Mode,]] there are no heart drops until you get the Heart Medallion, so for a significant portion of the game, the only way to restore your lost health is through potions, fairies, or sitting/sleeping away the damage (and there are no chairs or beds in dungeons). Even better, enemies deal double damage throughout the game, making dodging and defending crucial.
** The BossRush in Hero Mode is just plain nuts. You want to get the indestructible Hylian Shield? Be prepared to face 8 consecutive bosses, each dealing double damage (2-4 ''full hearts'' per hit), with no heart potions available or any way to regenerate hearts during or between fights. Your skill at damage avoidance is your only protection. [[spoiler:You ''can'', however, drink a fully-upgraded Guardian Potion ''right before'' activating the rush, and you will be invulnerable through as many fights as you can manage while it's still in effect.]]
* NoGearLevel:
** A late-game segment of Eldin Volcano has you blown off course by an eruption and captured by the Bokoblins. While you immediately get back the Mogma Mitts, the rest of your items are taken and scattered across the region, forcing you to sneak around bokoblins to get them back. Naturally, your best offensive tools are in the very last cache of items you find.
** To a lesser extent are the [[spoiler:four]] trials in the Silent Realm, where you must collect items while avoiding harm by the local Guardians or the various scouts which will alert them.
* NoHeroDiscount: Despite everyone in Skyloft knowing that you're saving Zelda (or at least that you're on a VERY important mission) you have to buy your potion, your equipment, and pay for their upgrades.
* NoHuggingNoKissing:
** [[spoiler: Link and Zelda do hold hands at one point, however, which actually may be a [[MythologyGag nod]] to the ending of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]''.]]
** There is one moment when it's subverted. The moment when [[spoiler:Zelda wakes up from her slumber and falls down, Link catches her just in time. The next shot looks like Link is hugging her dearly.
* NoItemUseForYou:
** The [[PoisonMushroom Cursed Medal]] considerably [[MoneyMultiplier increases the drop rate of money and treasures]], but you can't open your Adventure Pouch to use items like your bottles or shield.
** The BossRush mode of the game disables the use of all items in your pouches except for a shield.
* NoLongerWithUs: If Link talks to Silva after taking the Mogma Elder Guld to to plow the pumpkin patch at Pumpkin Landing, he will say that the elder was "launched up" "beyond", which Silva takes to mean that Guld has died and that he must take up the leadership of his race.
* NonIndicativeName: The Lanayru Mining Facility is a ''refinery'', whose function is to polish the samples of Timeshift Stone that have been previously mined from the outside (specifically Lanayru Mine). The oddest aspect is that the Japanese, Spanish and French versions of the game correctly name the dungeon Lanayru Refinery. The German and Italian versions name it Lanayru Factory, which is equally valid.
* NonLethalBottomlessPits: Falling from Skyloft will result in [[BottomlessPitRescueService a knight catching you]] and bringing you back to where you were, followed by a quick lecture on being careful. Everywhere else, you'll reappear at the ledge with no damage at all. Since your Sailcloth lets you avoid any FallingDamage, this makes some sense. What doesn't make sense is how you get back up.
* NonStandardGameOver:
** [[ApocalypseHow If The Imprisoned manages to reach the Sealed Temple before you can defeat and reseal it.]]
** [[spoiler:Once you get the boss room key in the Ancient Cistern, you have to get out of that pit before the falling Buddha statue crushes you. Should you instead try and take on all the Cursed Bokoblins in the pit instead, [[GoryDiscretionShot the camera cuts out of the pit and Link is heard gasping and then screaming as the statue lands in place]]]].
* NoobCave: The waterfall cave in Skyloft, which you have to traverse to free your Loftwing.
* NoOntologicalInertia: It's not clear whether killing the final boss eliminates any of his minions, but this trope definitely happens if you [[spoiler:help Batreaux become human]]; all the bats and slimes in Skyloft disappear, and the Remlits no longer become violent at night. If you talk to [[spoiler:Human Batreaux]] on the bridge at night, he effectively states that completing this quest made the monsters vanish.
* NoOSHACompliance: Lanayru Mining Facility is unusually dangerous for non-Hylians. The workers used to be robots before their extinction, and due to the lack of maintenance the dungeon became even more dangerous ever since.
* NoSenseOfPersonalSpace:
** Ghirahim does this to Link in his first two pre-boss battle cut scenes by appearing behind him and putting an arm on Link's shoulder while leaning his head towards Link's ear. Link is obviously disturbed by the act.
** Faron also does this to Link when he meets up with her for her piece of the Song of the Hero by leaning ''very'' close to him while lifting his chin up with her hand.
* NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom: The game has this within the surface regions (Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano and Lanayru Desert) due to their dungeon-like structure. When Link reaches a new area, he has to tackle all sorts of obstacles and puzzles to reach the next dungeon, but the geography makes it so he's unable to take any alternate routes along the way (indeed, the shortcuts are available ''after'' Link takes the long route the first time, so they act more like [[DoorToBefore Doors to Before]] instead of being quicker alternate routes). This contrasts with the Sky areas, since only Skyloft, the Lumpy Pumpkin and the Isle of Songs are required destinations, and the first two still have plenty of side content. The main story only gives leeway once the first six dungeons are conquered and The Imprisoned is defeated for the second time, letting the player tackle the three locations for the Song of the Hero in any order, and the final dungeon (Sky Keep) being very non-linear.
* NotTheFallThatKillsYou: You can fall from Skyloft, for at least a few seconds, whistle, and land on your Loftwing, and you're fine. Possibly justified -- Loftwings wouldn't be very useful if they killed their owners when catching them. They might match their velocity to their riders' as a matter of course. More ridiculously, Link can fall from the cloud cover all the way to the ground, and as long as he pulls out the Sailcloth just before the end, he slows to a safe velocity and lands gently, with no damage to his legs or arms.
* NotTheIntendedUse: ''Skyward Sword's'' final boss continues the proud tradition of final bosses being distracted by harmless items. Namely, [[spoiler:Demise can be distracted by the bug-catching net]].
* NotWhatItLooksLike: When Link first meets Batreaux, it initially appears that he's kidnapped a little girl and she's screaming in horror, but as soon as Link goes to attack him, Batreaux begs not to be hurt and quickly explains what's really going on.
* NPCRoadblock: A bunch of women chatting after laundry was done blocks the residential area of Skyloft during the game's ProlongedPrologue.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:O-S]]
* ObscuredSpecialEffects: During TheWarSequence, the dark lighting and thick fog allow the game to render a relatively small number of enemies at a time while maintaining the illusion that there are loads more offscreen.
* ObviouslyEvil:
** The BigBad, Demise. He looks to be eight feet tall and built like a rhinoceros, skin mottled grey and black, a river of hair like fire coursing down his back, flaming red eyes, a massive black sword -- yeah, friendly fellow.
** Subverted with Batreaux, who is a giant winged demon, lives in a creepy-looking house accessed by shoving a gravestone with a devil-head symbol on it, seems to have kidnapped a screaming child, etc. but is actually a nice guy, a total wuss, and he and the child were having a "who can scream the loudest" contest.
* {{Oculothorax}}: The boss Bylocite consists of four giant eyeballs on stalks, and a fifth giant eyeball with a mouth and wings, also on a stalk.
* OfficalCouple: Pipit and Karane, if the right actions are done in their matchmaking sidequest. There's also an optional RomanceSidequest with Item Check Lady Peatrice. Whether or not you become a couple is your choice.
* OhCrap:
** A brief one at the beginning. After Link wins the Bird Statue, Zelda sees him and excitedly jumps off the edge of Skyloft. The look on Link's face as he swoops in to catch her says it all.
** And then again when he skydives to the Sealed Grounds, [[spoiler:only to see Groose diving down on top of him. And ''he'' doesn't have a sailcloth.]]
** Groose when seeing the Imprisoned.
* OminousLatinChanting: Plays during part of the intro movie, then more distinctly and dramatically during the last two boss fights.
* OminousPipeOrgan: Ghirahim's leitmotif mixes in a pipe organ. Rather than one of the big booming ones, however, it's a smaller, more playful one, which serves to emphasize Ghirahim's similar PsychopathicManchild demeanor.
* OmniscientMoralityLicense: Hylia definitely gets this, once you realize that the goddess deliberately set up this entire game [[spoiler:as a ludicrously convoluted training exercise to get Link ready to wield the Triforce. Her incarnation Zelda explicitly rejects this notion, apologizing to Link towards the end of the game. It may have been necessary, but it was not right to use and manipulate Link that way]].
* OneHitKill: For a ''Zelda'' game, there's a surprisingly high number of examples:
** The giant boulder in the Earth Temple.
** Being hit by one of the Guardians during a Silent Realm challenge. This doesn't actually give you a GameOver, but it uses Link's death animation where he struggles to stand up and the game forces you to start again, so it's similar.
** The advancing wall of lava in an underground tunnel in the Fire Sanctuary will also result in an instant game over if it touches Link.
* OneHitPointWonder: The Silent Realms are a series of {{No Gear|Level}} {{Timed Mission}}s where Link must collect the fifteen Sacred Tears scattered throughout each realm. If he runs out of time or is found by a Watcher, the Guardians of the realm will awaken and chase him down until he collects another Sacred Tear, which resets the timer. If they manage to land even a single hit on him, his spirit will dissipate and you'll have to start all over again. As a result, each Silent Realm is an incredibly stressful experience.
* OneManArmy: After spending the whole game kicking asses, Link fights entire armies of Bokoblins, on his own, before defeating BigBad Ghirahim in a duel to save Zelda. Of course, the enemies are made significantly weaker for the most part to maintain this effect, but it works.
* OneTimeDungeon: Sky Keep is the last dungeon of the game. Once you complete it, you can never visit it again, [[spoiler:because the entire island with the Goddess Statue on top crashes down on Earth.]] Thankfully, there are no permanently missable items there whatsoever.
* OneWingedAngel: During their [[spoiler:third and final battle]], Ghirahim assumes his true form. In this state, he's muscular, taller than Link, and his skin is so tough that even the Master Sword can't do more than knock him around without actually hurting him... ''unless'' Link attacks the [[AchillesHeel weak spot]] in his chest.
* OnlyTheWorthyMayPass: During the second act of the game, each dungeon is preceded by Link completing a item-gather challenge in the Silent Realms[[note]]Themselves designed to be tests, as you are only endangered by the Guardians if you ''fail'' to collect the items within[[/note]] before enduring the dungeon itself to find [[spoiler:the Sacred Flames]]. Then in the third act, Link must search out [[spoiler:the Song of the Goddess from the dragons]]. While two of the dragons are nice about it when Link encounters them, [[spoiler:Faron forces Link to ''gather the notes of her song'' after flooding her forest to rid it of strong monsters]]. Then once that is completed, [[spoiler:Link must do a fourth Silent Realm run before entering Sky Keep and gathering the pieces of the Triforce together]].
* OpeningTheSandbox: The sandbox is opened after you open all three portals; getting the Clawshot also opens up a couple more opportunities.
* OpponentInstruction: During the first battle, if Ghirahim manages to steal Link's sword, he'll tell him that he'll never land a hit if he continues telegraphing his attacks.
* OrangeBlueContrast: The game exaggerates it for the [[DarkWorld Silent Realm]] in order to emphasize [[EldritchLocation how alien the alternate dimension is]]. Everything turns red whenever Link is spotted.
* OrchestralBombing: The game's soundtrack is composed largely (but not entirely) of orchestral music. Hajime Wakai (''Wind Waker'') and Creator/KojiKondo are in charge of compositions, with Music/MahitoYokota (''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 sequel]]) as the orchestration director. While the overworld themes are surprisingly low-key (with the exception of the Sky theme), the boss themes in particular are particularly bombastic. The overall theme, ''Ballad of the Goddess'', starts with a solo HarpOfFemininity (appropriately enough), and after about 45 seconds launches into epicness.
* OrangeBlueContrast: The Silent Realms. Orange when you're being hunted by awakened Guardians, blue when you're safe and they're currently deactivated.
* OrbitingParticleShield: The second Ghirahim fight has him using particles of power as a shield to prevent Link from swinging his sword just in any direction.
* OriginsEpisode: Among other things, this game explains the origins of the Master Sword, the Hylian crest, and Link's costume, and also explains that [[spoiler:Demise's DyingCurse is the reason for Ganon's existence.]]
* OurHydrasAreDifferent: Staldras are enemies resembling three-headed [[RaisingTheSteaks snake skeletons]]; their name is a portmanteau of hydra and the "stal-" prefix associated with skeletal ''Zelda'' enemies in general.
* OurMonstersAreWeird:
** The boss from the Earth Temple, Scaldera. "Made of lava" is the most adequate descriptor, but even that doesn't do the creature justice, being a four-legged lava sphere covered in rock and bearing one small eye.
** The game really seems to be taking this up to eleven in relation to series standards. One especially weird boss, [[EldritchAbomination The Imprisoned]], is nothing but a [[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily massive mouth]] and legs covered in black feather-like scales. Only on later battles, he gets more body parts as the game progresses, [[spoiler:and at the end, [[BishonenLine he turns into a humanoid creature only about twice as big as Link]]]].
** Bilocyte: It's a parasitic living mass of eyestalks protruding from the whale-like Levias in tentacle-like forms.
* OutOfGenreExperience: While the game has elements of the stealth genre in the Silent Realm segments, the true example of this trope is the visit to the Eldin Volcano during the Song Of The Hero quest, where upon entry the volcano explodes, Link is captured and all his items are taken from him. He has to slowly sneak around the newly instated enemy camp and retrieve his items and has to use the ones he gets back to help him get the other ones as if they were gadgets like in a true stealth-action game.
* OutscareTheEnemy: Ghirahim pulls this when he [[ZergRush throws his entire army]] at Link in an attempt to stop him interrupting the ritual to [[spoiler:resurrect Demise]].
-->Hear me, my hordes! The spell will soon be complete! [[spoiler:The demon king returns!]] Until then, you WILL keep that whelp from interfering with my ritual. [[WeHaveReserves I don't care if the whole lot of you get lodged on the end of his blade.]] You will buy me the time I need! Do not fear him... Fear my wrath if you fail me!
* TheOverworld: The Sky, which you have to traverse by giant bird. As in ''The Wind Waker'' there are small ''floating'' islands strewn out among the clouds. The Surface, on the other hand, blurs the line between overworld and dungeon, by incorporating puzzles and more dangerous enemies than expected of traditional overworlds, though they still serve as areas that connect to dungeons.
* OxygenatedUnderwaterBubbles: They appear within underwater sections of the game just so that Link can catch his breath without actually going to the surface, since his swimming ability in this game does not allow him to breathe underwater.
* OxygenMeter: At first, it is barely of note until you get the Water Dragon's Scale (Link automatically floats upward when he's not focused on swimming). It resembles the SprintMeter in blue instead of green. Staying underwater depletes it, using your spinning attack depletes it faster, and whatever you do, don't inhale the purple-colored bubbles (they're toxic). Running out of oxygen will quickly drain [[LifeMeter hearts]] until Link surfaces or drowns. There is a potion that slows the rate Link consumes oxygen, as well as a potion medal that prolongs the effects of potions (including the air potion); using the two at the same time makes the difficult Tadtone quest (which takes place underwater) much more manageable.
* PainfulPointyPufferfish: The Froak enemy is an airborne pufferfish-like creature that roams aimlessy around. Froaks can inflate their bodies, revealing massive spikes that will damage Link by sheer contact. They're also explosive if attacked while their spikes are in or if hit into a wall.
* PaletteSwap:
** The first few enemies Link faces in Lanayru Mine and Lanayru Desert are electric versions of monsters he met in Faron Woods and/or Eldin Volcano: Electro Spume, Thunder Keese, Yellow [=ChuChu=], Technoblin. Afterwards, he finds more unique enemies.
** The primary bestiary in the sixth dungeon, Fire Sanctuary, consists of dark-purple versions of enemies (Cursed Spume, Dark Keese, Dark Lizalfos), and the boss Ghirahim takes a form that has some parts of his body turned black. Notably, the dungeon is still [[LethalLavaLand fire-themed]]. Cursed Bokoblins are not examples, however, having a zombie theme, and thus a different model and behavior.
* ParasitesAreEvil: The sky spirit Levias has been infected by Bilocyte, the ocular parasite. Under its influence, the deity turns malicious, summoning lightning storms wherever it goes and attacking Skyloftians on sight.
* ParentalAbandonment: With the exception of Pipit, Zelda, and Peatrice, all of the Knight Academy students have no on-screen or even mentioned parents.
* PatrollingMook: The Watchers awaken Guardians in the Silent Realm when they spot Link.
* PermanentlyMissableContent: There are minor examples in the form of Silver Rupees (worth 100 Green Rupees each, though there's plenty of ways to earn cash):
** There are 3 Silver Rupees hidden within the "nostrils" of the shark-shaped Pirate Stronghold, which require the Beetle to reach. However, once you complete the stronghold and open up its mouth, the nostrils will have moved much higher up and be out of the Beetle's range, meaning that you will never be able to reach the Rupees anytime after that point.
** In the room in Sky Keep based on Fire Sanctuary, there's a Silver Rupee in an alcove near the room's upper level, also requiring the Beetle to reach. You can't return to Sky Keep once finishing it, so the loot is lost if you don't grab it while exploring.
* PerpetualStorm: The Thunderhead located due west of Skyloft is a massive cloud system with constant thunderstorms. The storms stop once Levias is freed of his infection, however.
* PersonalSpaceInvader: Chuchus' sole method of attack is to attach themselves to Link, requiring the player to struggle free of them. Several other enemies such as [[ScaryScorpions Arachas]] are also prone to this.
* PhallicWeapon: Gendre-inverted, as the legendary Master Sword is revealed to be literally female--specifically, a spirit named Fi.
* ThePhoenix: Furnixes are red-and-gold birds found in the Lanayru Desert, with long tails and the ability to spit out fireballs.
%%* PietaPlagiarism: Used in the manga [[spoiler:with Hylia and Link]].
* PillarOfLight: Used as beacons for the various parts of the overworld. Also marks the entrances to the surfaces from the sky.
%%* PinkMeansFeminine: Zelda's first costume.
* PinocchioSyndrome: The demon Batreaux wishes to be human since his frightening appearance, as a demon, scares the living daylights out of almost everyone within Skyloft. [[spoiler:Give him enough Gratitude Crystals, and he succeeds, with the nice bonus of monsters disappearing from Skyloft and Remlits no longer turning hostile at night.]]
* PivotalBoss: Kokoltos during the first phase. Its base is attached to the floor, so all its attacks are performed while it stands still. In the second phase, it frees itself completely, allowing it to walk as it attacks Link.
* PlantMooks: In addition to the series-classic Deku Babas, the game also has a yellow-colored variant called Quadro Baba, which has four lips instead of two, making it harder for Link to attack it.
* PlantPerson: The Kikwis, which are half-animal, half plant. They can hide underground by making their bushy tails pass for bushes.
* PlayerDeathIsDramatic: Every time Link dies, he'll fall to the ground and struggle to breathe for a few seconds before going limp.
* PlayerGuidedMissile: The Beetle, acquired in the first official dungeon, is a mechanical insect drone that can be flown around to explore an area, collect treasures/rupees/hearts, hit switches, cut ropes, and (with upgrades) carry and drop bombs onto enemies.
* PlayerTic: This game seems to be addressing the common Zelda tic of rolling everywhere by instead having the A button merely make Link sprint faster (which drains Link's stamina meter, so the player can't keep it up indefinitely). Shaking the Nunchuk during a sprint still engages a Roll action, though that drains his stamina even faster, making it inadvisable for speed.
* PlayingWithFire: Scaldera, which is capable of spewing large, powerful fireballs at Link during battle.
* PlotCoupon: The three Ancient Tablets to access the areas of the surface, the three Sacred Flames to empower the Goddess Sword and turn it into the Master Sword, and the four parts of the Song of the Hero to unlock the whereabouts of the Triforce.
* PointOfNoReturn: Link's companion Fi will warn the player that there is a ''zero percent chance'' that they will return from the final boss arena unless they are able to vanquish said final boss. This game is also very nice about its usage of Point of No Return.
* PoisonMushroom: Rupoors make an appearance in the digging minigame. The look on Link's face (seen in the page image) when you pick one up is priceless.
* PortalToThePast: The Gates of Time connect the present era to the ancient past. And on a much smaller scale, the various Timeshift Stones throughout the Lanayru Desert reveal just how fertile the desert was in the ancient past (within their area of effect, at least).
* PossessionImpliesMastery: [[AvertedTrope Averted]]. Link can use a sword and fly his Loftwing because he's been training to do so for years before the player enters the game to control him. And on a meta level, thanks to the Motion Plus control, Link's swordsmanship (at least in terms of posture) is just as good as that of the player.
* PostDefeatExplosionChain: The Moldorm has its back as a weak point, so when Link attacks it (by using the Mogma Mitts to scratch it) the backmost part of its body will rapidly explode piece by piece. By the time Link delivers the third hit, the explosion chain will occur more slowly and reach its head, finally killing it.
* PostFinalLevel: The two final battles are fought in [[spoiler:the past-era version of the Sealed Grounds]], rather than the Sky Keep which serves as the final dungeon.
* ThePowerOfHate: [[spoiler:It is explained after the final battle that Ganon, the antagonist of several previous installments in the series, is the manifestation of the hatred of Demise, who curses the descendants of the first Link and Zelda to forever fight an incarnation of his hatred.]]
* {{Precursors}}: A race of [[CuteMachines Ancient Robots]] can be found in the Lanayru Desert. They are all old and worn away. Once you strike a nearby Timeshift Stone, however, you return the local area to the state it was in hundreds of years in the past, where everything is still working. Their joints, and almost every single device within the premises are powered by electricity. This could justify where all of the SchizoTech in the ''Zelda'' series originates from.
* PrecursorHeroes: This Link is either that hero himself to every Link who descended from his HeroicLineage or the first successor to the original [[PrecursorHeroes Precursor Hero]] (depending on if the manga is taken as canon).
* PreFinalBoss: Ghirahim has to be defeated one last time (in the past version of Sealed Grounds) before Link can challenge the actual final boss (Demise). Also a case of YouCantThwartStageOne, since Link's original plan was to defeat Ghirahim quicker to ''prevent'' Demise's full awakening.
* {{Prequel}}: So far, this game is the earliest in the series timeline [[WordOfGod according to the creators]] and ''[[AllThereInTheManual Hyrule Historia]]''. [[spoiler:While it is implied that these are not the earliest Link and Zelda (or that they are incarnations of older, archetypal entities), Ganon is born thanks to the events of this game, and the Master Sword as it is now known is created.]]
* ProlongedPrologue: The game was apparently intent on averting this, though there was difficulty concerning a scene where Zelda saves Link, as this was important to show their relationship. So they cut out ''many'' scenes. In practice, it still takes several hours before the player sets foot in the surface, and a couple more to reach the first dungeon.
* ProportionatelyPonderousParasites: The game's local SpaceWhale harbors a parasite the size of a building, defeated by throwing its attacks back at it.
* PsychoStrings: The "Guardians Awaken" theme, which is heard when Link accidentally draws the Guardians' attention while collecting Sacred Tears in the Silent Realm.
* PublicDomainArtifact: Amber and Dusk Relics are shaped like magatama.
* PunyParachute: The Sailcloth. Zelda even challenges Link to get as close to hitting the ground as possible before pulling it out.
* PurpleIsPowerful: The Master Sword, with its purple hilt, is much more powerful than the previous Goddess Swords.
* PurpleProse: Beedle's "real persona", which he assumes only outside of work hours. It comes with an implied British accent.
* PuzzleBoss:
** Almost every enemy, even the weakest ones, has some kind of trick that prevents you from just randomly whacking at them -- the common Bokoblins will actively parry your strikes, and the humble Deku Baba can open its maw horizontally or vertically, where striking it at the wrong angle yields only your sword bouncing off its hard exterior with no effect.
** Enemies that can only be defeated using items that aren't as easy to replenish show up a lot sooner (this now includes shields, since they break).
* QuicksandSucks: Link can keep from getting sucked into the quicksand of Lanayru Desert if he [[VideoGameDashing sprints across it]]. Also, the Timeshift Stones can change it back into the solid, grass-covered ground it once was BeforeTheDarkTimes.
* RandomDrop: Aside from the usual rupees and/or hearts that defeated enemies drop, they also sometimes drop monster loot (claws, fangs, etc.) which the player can use to upgrade Link's equipment at Skyloft's bazaar. The NewGamePlus gives you all of the loot collected in the first playthrough at the start, allowing you to get better equipment earlier to compensate for the increased difficulty. Some items, like the Gold Ornamental Skull, are [[RareRandomDrop especially rare]], and unless you have a Medal that makes enemies drop items more frequently and do ''a lot'' of grinding, it's unlikely that you'll ever find more than two or three of them throughout a single playthrough.
* RandomDropBooster: There are several, such as the Treasure Medal which makes gear upgrade items appear more often; the Bug Medal, which is the same as the Treasure Medal, only they are used to increases a potion's potency; and the Cursed Medal, which is a combo of the other two, only with the drawback of being unable to open your Adventure Pouch[[note]]meaning no shield, potions, or boosted ammo capacity[[/note]] until said medal is dropped off at the Item Check. The Treasure and Bug Medals can be obtained in Beedle's Air Shop, while the Cursed Medal is a milestone reward as part of a long side quest.
* RealityIsUnrealistic: Most gamers don't know that the goofy-looking Loftwings Zelda and the citizens of Skyloft ride on are based on real (though smaller but still quite large) birds called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoebill shoebills]] that are native to Sudan, instead chalking it up to them being purely fantastical animals.
* RealityWarping: A Timeshift Stone/Orb can revert everything - and [[BackFromTheDead everyone]] [[note]]Excluding Link himself, of course.[[/note]] - within its AreaOfEffect to their past states, and a [[ArtInitiatesLife Goddess Wall]] can generate a variety of items based on what you draw.
* RealTimeWeaponChange: Accessing your Item menus does not pause the action, so if you need to switch an item in the middle of a fight, you'll have to do so quickly. It's [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass the second]] game in the series to feature this, and is followed by ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' in the same.
* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: While Link could have caught up with Zelda at the Temple of Earth, where they meet again for the first time after their separation, Impa explicitly forbids Zelda from even speaking to him. After sending her away, she gives Link a caustic speech about his shortcomings, remarking that he was too late getting to Zelda and since she had to save Zelda herself, she is actually beginning to wonder if Hylia made a mistake choosing Link as her hero, before finally declaring that if Link wishes to prove her wrong, he needs to take her words to heart and try harder next time.
* RecurringBoss:
** Ghirahim, who first appears as the boss of the game's first temple, and by the end of the game has been fought in three separate battles.
** The Imprisoned, which is also fought three separate times. [[spoiler:Four, if you count the final fight in its true form as Demise.]]
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: [[BigBad Ghirahim]] wears a big black collar/cape cross with crimson patterns and gold trim, though he dismisses it when he's fighting Link -- in addition, his body turns from pale white to a sinister crimson-black hue more and more throughout the game. [[spoiler:His final boss form is a fire-shaded black ChromeChampion, and his master [[GodOfEvil Demise]] is shadow-black with ''flaming hair''.]]
* RedEyesTakeWarning: Some enemies, such as Keese, Staldras or Moldarachs, have eyes that turn red just before they attack.
* RedOnesGoFaster: Link's Crimson Loftwing is said to be the fastest in Skyloft.
* RedOniBlueOni: Link (red Loftwing) and Zelda (blue Loftwing). Also Ghirahim (red/black [[spoiler:sword spirit]]) and Fi (blue sword spirit).
* RedshirtArmy: [[spoiler:To hold Link off during the ritual to revive Demise, Ghirahim]] summons one of these. The majority of the Bokoblins are easily killable, not even blocking. Ghirahim even acknowledges that they're all probably gonna die on Link's sword, but he needs enough time to complete the ritual and warns what he'll do if they fail. And almost all of them are red, the weakest versions (and a OneHitPointWonder to your fully-upgraded Master Sword).
* RedStringOfFate: Ghirahim appears again to tell Link that the reason they keep bumping into each other is because they are bound by a red thread of fate; in the Japanese script, [[VillainousCrush he is talking about this exact trope]]. He also gets behind Link, invading his personal space again, and whispers in his ear. He tells Link to come to him after licking his lips and says they're bound by that red thread of fate, that they're destined to fight. He also says that the thread of fate will be soaked crimson with Link's blood.
* ReforgedBlade: The Goddess Sword wasn't broken at all, but in its initial state it isn't strong enough, and so it's reforged ''anyway'' with three Sacred Flames (and then blessed by Zelda), creating the Master Sword in the first place.
* RegionalRedecoration: The Lanayru Desert was originally a lush coastal area, before it dried out over the centuries, which you see when Link activates a Timeshift Stone.
* {{Reincarnation}}:
** In this game, [[spoiler:Zelda is the mortal reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia.]]
** [[spoiler:Ganondorf is implied to be the incarnation of Demon King Demise's hatred, causing Link and Zelda's successors to an eternal cycle of war between good and evil.]]
** Although it is never elaborated or explored, there is a hint [[spoiler:that implies Link to be a reincarnation of an older hero from the time of Goddess Hylia; namely Zelda mentioning that the Wing Ceremony was based on an event where Hylia personally delivered the sailcloth to her chosen hero. [[AmbiguousSituation It is not clear if such an event even occurred]] given that Fi admits that the stories told in Skyloft are greatly distorted over time. ''Literature/HyruleHistoria'' includes a 32-page prequel manga that [[AdaptationalExpansion expands and gives its own interpretation of this ancient chosen hero]].[[note]]The canonicity of the manga is heavily disputed, with proponents noting that the manga only covers the vague backstory of ''Skyward Sword'' instead of the actual game, and opponents noting that it was written by Akira Himekawa, who is known to take several liberties with the source material, and that manga stories are usually non-canon. It should be noted that there's nothing preventing the existence of a previous Link before ''Skyward Sword'' if ''Ocarina of Time'''s backstory retcon on ''A Link to the Past'' was anything to go by.[[/note]]]]
* ReincarnationRomance: The backstory of the game reveals that Link and Zelda's spirits are eternally bound by the goddess Hylia's promise to her chosen hero. Unfortunately, [[spoiler:the DyingCurse of the Demon King Demise means that they are also fated to be plagued by some incarnation of his hatred, which is typically the series' recurring BigBad, Ganon]].
* RememberedICouldFly: A pair of Mogmas plot to break into the Earth Temple like a heist movie, but then they ditch that when they remember that they can just dig underground to get to the temple.
* RemixedLevel:
** The game has Silent Realms, where Link is forced to collect 15 tears scattered around the level, which has new obstacles, such as fences blocking off pathways.
** Faron Woods is revisited many times over the course of the game, and areas such as the woods proper, Sealed Grounds, and Skyview Temple all go through different changes over the course of the game. Eldin Volcano is briefly remixed as well when [[spoiler: the Bokoblins imprison Link and the Volcano erupts]].
* RescueHug: [[spoiler:When Zelda wakes up from her thousand-years-old slumber, she falls down, but Link catches her just in time in what looks like a tender hug.]]
* RescueRomance: Would be played straight if it wasn't because the two have known each other for years and are pretty clearly crushing on each other before the game starts. Neither of them has declared their feelings by the time the plot starts, though.
* ResetButton: The Sandship dungeon gets destroyed during its respective BossBattle. Not five minutes later, the robots tell you they already completed repairing it at the shipyard. Justified by one of the robots saying they could only repair it so quickly because of Nayru's flame.
* RestingRecovery: The game primarily uses sleeping in bed as the means of advancing between day and night, but it will also restore Link's health in the process. Curiously, this isn't limited to Link's own bed. You're welcome to sleep in any bed, in any house, that doesn't already have someone sleeping in it.
* {{Retcon}}: The Master Sword's origin was subjected to numerous retcons prior to the release of this game. In ''A Link to the Past'', the Master Sword was created by the people of Hyrule as a failsafe weapon in case evil claimed the Triforce, but it was never used at all until ALTTP Link pulled it out to stop Ganon from breaking out of the Dark World. ''Ocarina of Time'' retconned it by revealing that OoT Link had actually wielded the Master Sword to seal Ganon away in Dark World in the first place. All of this got retconned away when ''Skyward Sword'' revealed that the Master Sword was once the Goddess Sword wielded by SS Link who also reforged the blade into the Master Sword to destroy Demon King Demise, Ganon's predecessor. Even this official backstory could be subjected to future retcons given that ''Skyward Sword'' teased at the idea of a predecessor Link before SS Link.
* ReverseShrapnel: Ghirahim will occasionally summon rhomboid blades in a ring around himself, which then fly toward Link one at a time and must be deflected or dodged. Later, he creates a similar ring around Link himself, who must use the right kind of SpinAttack to take them all out or they'll simultaneously converge on him.
* RewardingVandalism: Breaking the chandelier in the Lumpy Pumpkin earns you a heart piece... [[{{Subversion}} And a job to]] [[WorkOffTheDebt pay off the damages you've just incurred.]] Eventually double-subverted, since completing all the (rather trivial) jobs given by the owner of the Pumpkin earns you ''another'' heart piece, and you can't get either one without breaking the original chandelier.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter:
** The Remlits... during the day, that is. You can make them stay cute at night too through a sidequest.
** The Kikwis also count.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: The ancient robots. Scrapper has a crush on Fi and Skipper has a crew that loves him and a family.
* RingMenu: The game has two rings, one for weaponry such as bombs and the bow, the other for miscellaneous equipment; however, the design in this case invokes an InterfaceSpoiler, as both rings have an identifiable number of slots, unlike in ''Twilight Princess''. You have to physically point the Wiimote at what you want to select.
* RingOutBoss:
** The first phase of the final fight against Ghirahim works like this. You have to knock him back off the edge of several FloatingPlatforms and initiate a (not so) "Fatal Blow" to deal damage.
** Also used against Scervo and Dreadfuse, who you have to knock to the edge of their respective planks to damage and eventually defeat.
* RivalsTeamUp: [[spoiler:This is what eventually happens between Groose and Link.]]
* RoaringRampageOfRescue: The final climax of the game is a TranquilFury version of this. [[spoiler:After [[BigBad Ghirahim]] kidnaps Zelda to use her divine soul to revive [[GreaterScopeVillain Demise]], [[TheWarSequence he throws all of his minions to stall Link]] while he's taking care of the ceremony. When Link is done rescuing his ImpliedLoveInterest and ChildhoodFriend, none of the aforementioned bad guys are counted among the living.]]
* RoboticUndead: [[https://zelda.fandom.com/wiki/LD-002G_Scervo Captain Scervo]] is a skeleton pirate robot who serves as the {{miniboss}} of the Sandship, and fights similarly to the skeletal Stalfos. Why it has an undead look is unexplained in-game, since other robots in the game are far cuter in appearance.
* RobotGirl: Fi is meant to resemble one, particularly with her autotuned voice and habit of using percentages and calculations. That said, she's most likely not an actual robot, nor is she simply a "hologram" projected by the sword.
* RobotNames:
** The regular ancient robots are said by Fi to be mass-produced, therefor not being assigned a name. They are all part of the LD-301 series. The more important characters among the robots have their own name and are part of other series.
** Lanayru, the thunder dragon and protector of the ancient robots, comments on your name as being boring and gives you your own series number -- LD-*player's name*-16 -- which you automatically do not like.
* RoboSpeak: The Ancient Robots do not finish a sentence without mechanical sounds such as "vrrt, zoop, vweep". You can even find a sign that says "The grass is dying! Let's keep Lanayru green, Vzzt!"
* RockOfLimitlessWater: The town of Skyloft has a magic island spring that floats just above it and supplies the river with an infinite amount of water.
* RollingAttack: Ampilus in Lanayru Desert roll rapidly into Link and are able to electrocute him if they hit him. A well-timed Shield Bash or tricking them into clashing against a wall will stun them, allowing Link to kill them.
* RomanceSidequest: A minor case. One of the girls in the bazaar will develop feelings for Link, if you play your cards right. It's your choice whether to reject her or not.
* RPGElements: Beyond ItemCrafting, there are "Medals" that Fi tells you about, which work in about the same fashion as Badges in [[VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG the]] [[VideoGame/PaperMario Mario]] [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi RPGs]]. Due to the more complex world, expect a lot of this trope.
* RuleOfSeven: The game combines the trope with RuleOfThree, as Link embarks on a journey across the first three dungeons (Skyview Temple, Earth Temple and Lanayru Mining Facility) to find Zelda's whereabouts, then the next three dungeons (Ancient Cistern, Sandship and Fire Sanctuary) to upgrade the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword, and finally the seventh dungeon (Sky Keep) to find the three fragments of the Triforce and destroy The Imprisoned. Seven dungeons in total.
* RuleOfSymbolism: The Ancient Cistern has a deep symbolic relation with Eastern folklore, subtly referencing the events of the story ''The Spider's Thread''. To a lesser extent, there is also a religious allegory in the process to enter that dungeon (Link must cure Faron by delivering sacred water to her).
* RuleOfThree: A series staple (the whole Triforce mythology; Link, Zelda, and the BigBad's respective roles).
** Terrestrial Hyrule has three main areas: [[TheLostWoods Faron Woods]], [[LethalLavaLand Eldin Volcano]], and [[ShiftingSandLand Lanayru Desert]]. There's loads of variation ''within'' those areas.
** In Lanayru Desert, you need to activate three power nodes to activate the main generator and access Lanayru Mining Facility.
** The Triforce is also exemplified by the three main areas of Hyrule corresponding to each part both geographically and thematically. [[spoiler:You also have to collect all three pieces of it in the Sky Keep.]]
** There are three Sacred Flames you need to collect to power up your sword, and three Silent Realms to visit in order to get an item to get to those flames.
** You need to find three dragons to teach you parts of a melody.
** [[spoiler:You fight Ghirahim three times. Same for the Imprisoned, though technically you fight him a fourth time after his return to his normal form, Demise.]]
** [[spoiler:Demise becomes vulnerable to attack after three back-to-back shield bash parries.]]
* RunningAwayToCry: Groose at one point is paralyzed with fear as he watches Link reseal the Imprisoned. He afterward concedes that Link is more of a hero than he is. If Link follows him outside afterward, he can be seen running to an isolated corner to cry over his cowardice and uselessness.
* SacredFlames: In order for Link to power up the Goddess Sword into the Master Sword, he has to temper it with the three Sacred Flames associated with Din, Nayru, and Farore, which according to ''Hyrule Historia'' are manifestations of the Force, the essence of life itself.
* SaharanShipwreck: The Sandship, which used to be a seafaring vessel until the seas dried out and filled with sand. At least, until you activate the Timeshift Stone on board, restoring both the ship and the ocean around it to their former glory.
* SameContentDifferentRating: The game was rated M in Australia (M being the equivalent of ESRB's Teen), despite having lower ratings like ESRB E10+ and CERO A everywhere else.
* SandIsWater: Many rivers of sand flow across Lanayru Desert, and it's even justified because you're using [[spoiler:crystals that revert their surroundings to their past state. Most of the desert was once an ocean]]. It's also exemplified in the Lanayru Sand Sea, where the effect of the Timeshift Stone in Skipper's boat transforms the vast ocean of sand into water as you move along. Played straight, however, with a scorpion the size of a bus that can instantly burrow itself in the sand and move around, which you unbury with a reverse vacuum cleaner.
* SavePoint: The game features bird statues that serve as save points. The statues also double as warp points between Hyrule and Skyloft or as {{Escape Rope}}s in dungeons.
* ScaryScorpions: Moldarach is a positively humongous scorpion that dwells in the sands of the Lanayru Mining Facility's rotunda. Its most notable features are the eyes that are within its pincers. Another is fought as a DegradedBoss in the Lanayru Shipyard later in the game.
* ScaryStingingSwarm: Deku Hornets and their nests can be found in Faron Woods. If they aren't caught or chased away with the bug net, they swarm around Link and sting him. Their nests can be shot down with a slingshot, or grabbed with the Beetle and dropped on enemies.
* SceneryAsYouGo: Some sections of the Lanayru Mining Facility qualify, with Timeshift Stones in moving minecarts restoring platforms from the past as it rolls along. The game even takes it that one extra step with ancient ''enemies'' who come back to life whenever a Timeshift Stone passes by. Taken further in Lanayru Gorge, which demands platforming, combat, climbing, grappling, and switch-activating as you go. ''All in one run.''
* SceneryPorn:
** [[http://www.zeldawiki.org/File:SS_Scenery_.jpg Just take a gander at this.]] It helps that the visual style was directly based on the paintings of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Cezanne Paul Cézanne.]] As shown on the E3 demo, the player can spend a good time just admiring the scenery from above thanks to the Beetle item.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/embed/StXfwq4GU3g?rel=0 This presentation video]] showcases that, not only is the world freaking huge, it's also impossibly ''gorgeous.''
** The effect is enhanced by a noticeable filter in the background, which makes things far into the distance look like an impressionist painting. It is beautiful.
** The scenery is also much more detailed and interactive. For example, you can stab pumpkins and fling them at other denizens of Skyloft.
** There are a handful of seats that, when used, the camera will zoom out and let the player simply look at the scenery. If an NPC is standing nearby, he'll usually talk to Link in the meantime.
** The game's aesthetic design is so impressive that [[http://www.zeldadungeon.net/2012/01/allegories-in-architecture-the-ancient-cistern/ a fan can meticulously analyze a dungeon (spoiler warning) and point out the allegory to]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spider%27s_Thread a 1918 Japanese short story]] by visual presentation ''alone''.
* SchizoTech: And unlike previous titles, the tech is contemporary and not only in ruins. Special mention goes to the wooden sailship with electric generators and a cloaking device.
* SchmuckBait:
** In the Ancient Cistern, there are Silver Rupees in the Buddha statue's palms. Trying to get them causes the hands to close on you. A lesson in greed from the Buddha, perhaps? You can easily snag these, however, through the use of the spin maneuver.
** When you first enter the Lumpy Pumpkin, you see a nice shiny chandelier with an even shinier Heart Piece on it (as well as a couple of Rupees). Yet there are multiple warnings not to shake stuff lest you jar the thing loose. If you do, you get the Heart Piece and the Rupees, but also trigger a multi-stage sidequest where you must work in the place to compensate the vandalism.
** In the Thrill Digger area, you can shoot Rupee ore to yield Rupees. If you shoot the black Rupee ore, you get [[PoisonMushroom Rupoors]] instead.
* SchoolSettingSimulation: The game features the Knight Academy, which is located in Skyloft. Being a boarding school, it serves as Link's home during the prologue of the game, though he has to return there at key points during the course of the adventure. It includes a gym for him to practice with his sword, and some sidequests take place there as well.
* SchrodingersGun: Link must revisit each of the previous areas in order to collect the parts of the Song of the Hero. These can be done in any order, but no matter when you choose to do Eldin Volcano you always arrive just as it erupts.
* ScoldedForNotBuying: If you leave Beedle's shop without buying anything, he will activate the trap door to kick you out. There's a twist though, if you sleep in his bed until morning first, he won't kick you out when you try to leave.
* SealedEvilInACan: Ghirahim's master is "The Imprisoned" (aka the Demon King), which breaks out of its can at certain points throughout the game and Link is required to seal it back in.
* SeaOfSand: The Lanayru region is a massive desert mostly covered in quicksand where Link will rapidly sink if he doesn't keep moving. the Lanayru Sand Sea is even worse, to the extent that it can't be safely crossed on foot, and instead must be traversed with a specially-equipped speedboat.
* SecondHourSuperpower: The game gives you the Skyward Strike after you get the Goddess's Sword, after you've gotten used to fighting with a regular sword.
* SecondPlaceIsForWinners: There is a BossRush challenge pitting you against the 12 main bosses you fought before in the main storyline, which you can quit after defeating any of them. Quitting after the 8 bosses nets the player an indestructible shield, which is unarguably the best prize in that minigame and ''much'' more valuable than the 9900 Rupees you get for the top prize (though you can just go through the challenge again with your new shield and get that, too).
* SelfHealingPhlebotinum: The Sacred Shield and its upgrades regenerates its durability meter over time.
* SensibleHeroesSkimpyVillains: The heroic Link, Zelda and Groose are modest in their choice of clothing. In contrast the main villain [[BattleStrip removes his cape before his fights]], and likes showing off his body. Furthermore, [[spoiler: the final boss wears nothing but something that looks like a sarong]].
* SequelLogoInRuins: Or rather, prequel. The game's logo has pristine font, but behind it is the Hylian Crest and Triforce covered in foliage and moss, a reflection of the fact that this game takes place AfterTheEnd following Demise's ravaging of the surface world.
* SequenceBreaking: This game is rife with them.
** The Back-in-Time glitch [[note]]A recurring glitch since the GC Zelda outings, enabling the player to access game areas in ''the Title Sequence'', and with SS, to save and load at the same time to get spawned in usually out-of-bounds... or otherwise interesting areas.[[/note]] is back.
** Another glitch that can be performed with Back-in-Time, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUU20ozypkk Reverse Bitmagic]], allows the player to trigger certain scene "flags" in Skyloft during [=BiT=] and apply them to the currently-loaded area in a save file. The example allows you to skip getting the first key in the Ancient Cistern, while more recently, bits have been found that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSM55SSU554 allow you to skip the Sand Sea]], or that allow you to go to the various Silent Realms during your first visit to their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJoraoD9La0 respective]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KTw_Of7Djo areas]]. The various RBM techniques discovered shaved more than ''two hours'' off of the game's any% world record.
** One can easily skip 99% of the [[spoiler:Zombie Basement of the Ancient Cistern]] dungeon, via various tricks, to get to the rope leading to the way out of this floor, mere seconds after entering it from the "elevator": a glitch back-flip, getting knocked on the top of the wall, getting thrusted by an enemy attack, or while attempting a fatal blow.
** Better yet, you can clip through walls thanks to your trusty clawshot physics. It has been used by someone to clip through the floor of a room within one of the Fire dungeons, then again clipping through lava to the exit.
** [[https://youtu.be/G7N6wqDetZc?t=15495 You can skip the first section of the Levias boss fight]] by dropping a bomb behind where Bilocyte spawns on Levias' back; while it doesn't damage him, it causes him to react to the failed attack and starts his first boss form. The catch? ''Bilocyte is now invisible.''
* SequentialBoss: With the exception of Scaldera and the Imprisoned, every boss has two phases. The miniboss Stalmaster has two as well (it only uses two arms in the first, and all four of them in the second). As a special case, [[spoiler:Ghirahim in his third and final fight has ''three'' phases: One where he has to confronted in RingOutBoss form, followed by one where he uses revamped versions of his classic attacks (plus a new one that can be deflected in TennisBoss form), and finally one where Link has to shatter his enlarged weapon to expose his weak point]].
* SerratedBladeOfPain: The FinalBoss uses [[spoiler:a dark copy of the Master Sword with a black-colored, serrated blade]].
* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: How Beedle talks when not running his shop.
* SetPiecePuzzle: The game takes it further by having several "alternate interface" puzzles. Most of them involve the Boss Keys, which need to be rotated a certain way before they can open the door to the boss. One of them combines this with the usual DungeonCrawling by having you rearrange the whole dungeon like a sliding puzzle.
* SexIsViolence: Ghirahim, whose dialogue, sound effects, and battles strongly evoke this trope for him. He licks his lips before summoning his sword and also licks the blade at times.
* ShaggyDogStory: The third arc of the game involves [[spoiler:seeking out the Triforce for the purpose of using it to destroy Demise.]] Once all that is accomplished, [[spoiler:Ghirahim pops in, takes a time portal back into the past, and resurrects Demise there, thus forcing you to fight him the traditional way]] and rendering to the entire third arc completely pointless.
* ShapedLikeItself: In-universe. Fledge [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest gives you a gift]]. He helpfully explains, "It's an Adventure Pouch. It's for... adventures."
* ShieldBash: One of Link's moves to counter a blow, also able to expose the enemy to attack or reflect projectiles at the attacker.
* ShieldBearingMook: The game gives these to the huge Moblins; one with a wooden, one with a banded shield. The ones with wooden shields can be chopped up or blown out of the Moblin's hand, but the only recourse for the banded shields is to climb them and jump over. For that matter, thanks to the [=MotionPlus=] based combat, nearly all enemies have ways to defend themselves from your attacks. Even the lowly Bokoblins are surprisingly able at blocking your sword. Each enemy also has different ways of getting past its defenses.
* ShieldedCoreBoss:
** The Koloktos battle consists of repeatedly stripping away the colossus's arms to expose its central core as each phase of the battle progresses. Later, during the final battle against Ghirahim, he summons a [[{{BFS}} large claymore]] as his weapon, and the only way to damage him is to first break through his sword by striking it at the correct angle; fail to do so completely, and Ghirahim simply repairs the blade with a snap of his fingers.
** Ghirahim is the quickest example: in his final battle, you destroy the armor surrounding his core with Fatal Blows. Once he summons a large claymore as his weapon, the only way to finish him off is to chip away and shatter his weapon with repeated sword strikes, then deliver a thrust attack to his exposed core. Get thrown off rhythm and Ghirahim will simply repair the blade with a snap of his fingers.
* ShiftingSandLand: Lanayru Desert (and by extension any area attached to it) in the present. When a Timeshift Stone is activated, the current area regresses into its past version, becoming EternalEngine. Even in its scorched present time, there are enemies that attack Link with electricity, so it's advised not to come here with the Iron Shield.
* ShipLevel: The Sandship [[spoiler:that protects Nayru's Flame]] is this and a GhostShip, though not simultaneously. The 'ghost ship' parts involve the fact that several bits of the ship are smothered in quicksand, It regresses into a standard Ship Level when the Timeshift Stone is tripped - complete with Technoblin crew.
* ShipTease:
** The developers really push for Link/Zelda in this game, although the NoHuggingNoKissing makes it a little bit frustrating too.
** Shortly before the game was released, they drove the point home with a trailer ''officially'' entitled as the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR6tYh4IL9w romance trailer.]]
* ShockAndAwe:
** Several enemies in the Lanayru region use electricity-based attacks. Even one variation of the Bokoblin, the Technoblin, uses an electroshock weapon similar to a stun baton. They even electrocute you if they block your swings. The prevalence of electrical attacks means that for the first time in the series, there are situations where the [[ElementalRockPaperScissors wooden shield is preferable to the traditionally superior iron shield]], as the former does not conduct electricity. (Of course, once it's available [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts and you can afford it]], the Sacred Shield family resists both fire and electricity and throws in curse resistance and gradual auto-repair to boot, rendering both of the other families of shield obsolete -- as long as you don't actually ''break'' it, because it's not as durable. And the Wooden Shield can still lodge Bokoblin arrows for you to use yourself, which the other shields can't.) Also, the debut of Thunder Keese means that Keese are now yet another example of FireIceLightning, although Ice Keese don't actually appear in this game.
** [[spoiler:Demon King Demise]] electrifies his sword and can use electrical attacks. [[GuideDangIt So can you when fighting him.]]
* ShockwaveStomp: The Imprisoned is so big and powerful that it does this simply by walking casually.
* ShoutOut:
** The ball segment in the Earth Temple plays out almost exactly like those from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2'', while the collection of the fragments of the star-shaped key that opens said dungeon is portrayed in a similar way the Star Fragments are in the aforementioned ''Galaxy'' games. In fact, reviewers have noted that the game has many stylistic similarities with those games in terms of level design and [[Music/MahitoYokota music]], though the ball is the most explicit tie.
** Later in the same dungeon, Link gets [[Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk chased down a corridor by a boulder]].
** The game is loaded with references and similar mechanics to Nintendo's other franchises, from ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' (The Gust Bellows is a wind-based version of [[VideoGame/SuperMarioSunshine FLUDD]], [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy the aforementioned ball segments and Star-like key fragments]], [[VideoGame/PaperMario badge-like items that alter the player character]]) to ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' (The dial-turning puzzles resemble similar ones in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'', the use of a similar checkpoint system, existing areas become more open as you gain new items, the DarkWorld having a surreal remix of the current area's theme like in the Dark Aether areas in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'') to even ''VideoGame/WiiSportsResort'' (The controls for many of the items, including the sword, were taken from that game, with modifications to suit the gameplay).
** The fourth dungeon, the Ancient Cistern, is based on a Japanese story, "The Spider's Thread". Read the plot summary [[http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spider%27s_Thread here]].
** Whenever an enemy is defeated or Link squashes a bug, [[VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} a thin, ghostly shape will float up into the air and fade away]].
** The potion shop owners, Bertie and Luv, have a baby that looks a lot like [[VideoGame/{{Pikmin}} Captain Olimar]].
** Koji Kitagawa, one of the developers of ''Skyward Sword'', said in an Iwata Asks interview that the Ancient Robots were modeled after the Dogu clay figurines, a commonplace treasure from the Jomon period of Japan.
** The Loftwings were modeled after [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wufAdZoxpcg shoebill birds]]. Also, Link's Loftwing shares the colors of the [[VideoGame/KirbySuperStar Dyna Blade]].
** The way that Link swings his sword around the eye in Skyview Temple to make it dizzy is similar to how you defeat Mr. I in ''VideoGame/SuperMario64''.
** In the lead-up to the fight with Tentalus, Link has to get to the top of the ship, up a series of ramps, with barrels coming down the other way. It's a nice callback to Nintendo's [[VideoGame/DonkeyKong early history]].
** When Link initially meets Lanayru the Thunder Dragon, he thinks his name is boring and due to hanging out with robots too long, half-jokingly wants to call him [[RobotNames LD-Link-16.]] Fittingly enough, if you count ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons]]'' as two separate games, this Link is indeed the 16th.
** Skipper's room contains a portrait which [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-VifGciaWE recreates an iconic scene from]] Creator/JamesCameron's ''{{Film/Titanic 1997}}''.
** Gratitude Crystals have the same shape as the Star Bits from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' (though only orange, rather than multiple colors). In turn, the Star Bits are shaped after the konpeito candy, which are popular in Japan.
** Pipit's name in the German version is Cucco. Which is a clever Shout-Out of the ''Zelda'' series to ''itself'', since [[PragmaticAdaptation Cuccos have always been translated as 'chickens' before]].
* SicklyGreenGlow: Cursed Bokoblins have one eye that gives off a weird green glow, while the other is sunken.
* SidetrackBonus: The game's dowsing feature makes it easy to decide whether to move forward and advance the plot or explore sidepaths. But most of these offshoots just lead to a DoorToBefore.
* SinisterScimitar: The boss Koloktos, a MultiArmedAndDangerous ancient automaton, begins the battle fighting barehanded (at most, throwing ranged chakrams), but in the second half wields a giant scimitar in each hand. Link has to use the [[WhipItGood Whip]] to tear apart its limbs, and once it drops one of its scimitars, it turns out Link can just barely carry it and swing it around, [[UseTheirOwnWeaponAgainstThem and doesn't Koloktos itself look like a nice target?]]
* SkeleBot9000: Scervo and Dreadfuse are skeletal robot pirates that are skilled in swordplay. The former had usurped Skipper's Sandship since centuries ago, but Link gets to defeat it so Skipper can reclaim the vehicle. The latter guards [[spoiler:a key that opens the path to one of the fragments of the Triforce in Sky Keep]].
* TheSkyIsAnOcean: {{Downplayed|Trope}}; sky exploration ''is'' similar to exploring the Great Sea from ''The Wind Waker'', but height actually matters when trying to get to the islands.
* SlidingScaleOfContentDensityVsWidth: Creator/EijiAonuma says that the game was deliberately made to be Denser in contrast with the Wider approach taken with ''Twilight Princess''.
* TheSlowPath: A late-coming plot twist in the game ([[spoiler:Zelda has to be encapsulated in a crystal for some thousand years to prevent Demise from reviving]]) would have had a lot more emotional impact if a) [[spoiler:she hadn't been "sleeping" the whole time]] or b) Link couldn't just step through the Gate of Time to the present. Played straight with [[spoiler:Impa/the Old Woman]] though.
* SmallSecludedWorld: Skyloft. There's some sort of barrier between it and Hyrule preventing contact between them. Link uses the Goddess Sword to break through it during his adventure.
* SmashingSurvival: When Moldarach grabs you, you have to shake the Wiimote and Nunchuck up and down to simulate Link smashing his sword and shield against the giant claw.
* SmellsSexy: An innocent variant can be found regarding the shawl Zelda made for Link to use in the goddess ceremony. The regular text describes and explains the purpose of the garment; then, in smaller letters (as though indicating a quieter voice), it adds, "...it smells nice too."
* SoftReboot: While billed as a {{Prequel}} to the whole series by virtue of it being the Master Sword's origin, the game's story is ultimately closer to this rather than a traditional prequel. The game is still in continuity with the rest of the series, but much of the established lore of the series is jettisoned and/or rewritten with new revelations such as the significance of Hylia and her conflict with the Demon Tribe. Even the Master Sword's origin is established to be forged by Link alone as opposed to any sages as described by previous games. Also, many of the established races like the Zora, Gorons, and Koroks are absent or heavily downplayed in favor of introducing new ones in their place like the Parella, Mogma, and Kikwi.
* SolveTheSoupCans: [[HandWave Hand-Waved]]. Since the dungeons are a test of the hero's worth placed by the goddesses, the puzzles may not make any sense, but they are still part of the test.
* SomeDexterityRequired: The motion controls get this complaint from quite a few players, especially because many enemies require Link to swing his sword from specific angles to defeat them.
* SoNearYetSoFar:
** The very first area you visit upon completing the tutorial and reaching the surface is not only [[SealedEvilInACan the prison for the big bad]], but also [[spoiler:right next to the place where [[LivingMacguffin Zelda]] has been sleeping for thousands of years waiting for you to defeat him]]. Unfortunately for you, to claim the MacGuffin you'll use to defeat the BigBad and [[spoiler: make it safe for Zelda to wake up]], you must first travel across the surface and undergo numerous trials to strengthen yourself and prove yourself worthy to use it, with this location serving as a frequent destination. ''Then'', your success triggers [[spoiler:a scene when TheDragon comes BackForTheFinale and the location is revealed as the site of one more boss battle before becoming the gateway to the FinalBoss (albeit in the distant past).]]
** [[spoiler:The legendary, wish-granting Triforce]] is hidden on the HubCity of Skyloft, directly beneath the area where you retrieve the [[CoolSword Goddess Sword]], your main weapon, at the very beginning of the game. And numerous other areas have plot-relevant subsections that will have you making repeat visits. Though, again, you won't get the PlotCoupons you need to access them until you've proven yourself.
* SongsInTheKeyOfLock: The "Ballad of the Goddess", when played with the Goddess Harp, activates and opens the Gate of Time in Faron Province. The following three melodies open the entrance spot to the Silent Realm areas for the mainlands of the surface, tailored for the chosen hero. The last melody ("Song of the Hero") grants access to [[spoiler:the Silent Realm area of Skyloft and also holds the key to unlock the final dungeon in the game]].
* SpeakingSimlish: Here and there, but especially apparent with Fi.
* SpellMyNameWithAnS: Fi fluctuated between "Phi" and its current name (spelled closer to "Fie") quite frequently until WordOfGod said it was Fi.
* SphereFactor: Link must [[EyeScream knock out the eye of a giant statue]] and use it to traverse a sea of lava in the second dungeon.
* SpinAttack: Link's GiantFlyer steed learns a Spin Attack late in the game. It lasts slightly longer and does more damage, but doesn't seem significantly different from its normal attack aside from that. Link can power up his own Spin Attack by charging his SwordBeam, then using a spin rather than a normal slash.
* SpiritWorld: The Silent Realms are blue versions of sections of the surface where Link's disembodied spirit must pass a trial.
* SpoilerCover: The game's cover has Link holding the Master Sword. "Link gets the Master Sword at some point" ordinarly wouldn't be much of a spoiler, but [[spoiler:Fi is tied to the Goddess Sword, and it would be awkward to suddenly cast her aside when the Master Sword enters the story. Instead, the Goddess Sword becomes the Master Sword]].
* SprintMeter: Holding down the A button allows Link to sprint (including a short distance up walls). The same meter serves other purposes, such as when climbing vines, shimmying across ledges, carrying heavy stuff, performing {{Spin Attack}}s, or keeping out of quicksand. Drain it to nothing and watch Link stagger slowly forward, unable to take other actions for several seconds.
* StabTheSky: It is an actual gameplay mechanic this time around; it charges energy into Link's sword for extra damage, executing {{Sword Beam}}s and other techniques.
* StalkedByTheBell: In the Silent Realm trials, collecting Spirit Tears gives you only 90 seconds before the [[HumongousMecha Guardians]] start chasing you again. The flower on the upper-left corner of the screen serves as your timer, wilting one petal at a time.
* StarShapedCoupon: A more minor example occurs with the key that grants access to the second dungeon. It is divided into five fragments that have to be retrieved, not unlike the Launch Star fragments in ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy''.
* StartOfDarkness: The game touches upon the origin of Ganondorf, further explaining his motivations for being evil, even though Ganondorf himself doesn't actually show up.
* StealthBasedMission:
** [[spoiler:The third trip to Eldin Volcano]]. Link has to retrieve his stolen items while sneaking through the whole main area without being sighted by the Bokoblins (since he's entirely unarmed).
** The Silent Realm segments play similarly to the ones in ''Phantom Hourglass'' -- gather {{MacGuffin}}s and avoid invincible enemies. Getting a MacGuffin puts the Guardians into a sleep mode for 90 seconds, and if you're quick enough you can grab all of them without letting the timer end, but you have to avoid spotlight enemies that will wake them up if they spot you while doing it.
* StealthPun: When approaching the Fire Sanctuary, there are three points where vertical jets of flame block your path, until you turn them off. In other words, your access is being blocked by ''fire walls.''
* StockBeehive: In this game, beehives are ovoid objects composed of overlapping scale-like plates, and with multiple small holes for their inhabits to enter and leave through. Notably, their inhabitants are once again referred to as hornets.
* StoneWall: Moblins just stand there and take an absurd number of hits on their blubbery belly/butt before keeling over. They don't even flinch when you hit them.
* StormOfBlades: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_j-5Um_Ha8 One of the NA commercials]] involves this trope.
* SuaveSabre: SubvertedTrope with the villain Ghirahim. He's a stylish, classy-acting demon who wields a saber in battle, but turns out to be very AxCrazy and as the game goes on, stays just a hair away from completely losing it. In the final battle, he ditches his saber for a two-handed claymore to hack with.
* SubliminalSeduction: The main theme, "The Ballad of the Goddess", is "Zelda's Lullaby" in reverse. [[spoiler:Makes sense, as Hylia and Zelda are one and the same]]. Similarly, the theme of the second phase of the fight against the FinalBoss [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl_6NHVKxyE in reverse sounds akin to Ganondorf's]], and it's because [[spoiler:Demise's hatred is what will eventually give birth to the iconic ''Zelda'' villain]].
* SuitUpOfDestiny: Link dons the iconic green tunic and pants when sent out to go save Zelda. The headmaster says it was this year's version of the Knight uniform and mentions how good the color suits Link.
* SupernaturalSealing: Link must seal The Imprisoned about three times over the course of the game using the sealing spike embedded in its head in tandem with Skyward Strikes from the Goddess/Master Sword, the seals getting more complex as the game goes on.
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Several tropes from previous games are subverted here, particularly where they rely on ViolationOfCommonSense. In particular, in this game Link can't get away with [[KleptomaniacHero rampant larceny and vandalism]]; he gets chewed out for destroying the Lumpy Pumpkin's chandelier and has to pay for its replacement, and at least one {{NPC}} will make Link pay her if he breaks her dishes.
* SurveillanceDrone: The Sentrobes, which are flying security cameras with a short-range projectile launcher and the ability to launch self-propelled bombs with a timed fuse.
* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: Despite the game taking place in a ''Zelda'' world eons before it can get familiar, it still manages to feel that way with some of its characters.
** The Kikwi tribe is a similar quirky childlike plant-person tribe to the Koroks from ''The Wind Waker''.
** The one-eyed scorpion Arachas and the boss Moldarachs are very similar to the recurring Gohma enemies and bosses throughout the series, being arachnid monsters and their spawn with ocular weak points.
** Demise, the Demon King, bears something of a resemblance to Ganondorf, the King of Evil. [[spoiler:This is justified by Ganon, the force within Ganondorf, who is the incarnation of Demise's hatred upon future generations of Hyrule.]]
** Rupin, the general store owner at the bazaar, strongly resembles the [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Happy]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Mask Salesman]] in both appearance and demeanor.
* SuspiciousVideogameGenerosity: In the Shipyard, an area with just 2 enemies, after going through what basically amounts to a minigame, you suddenly find a SavePoint in front of seemingly nondescript room. So naturally, you get suspicious. So you go through the door and surprise! [[spoiler:Moldarach is back!]]
* SwallowedWhole: The Imprisoned will do this to [[spoiler:the Old Woman and shortly after, Zelda herself, if you don't stop it in time when it's trying to get to the Temple.]]
* SwordBeam: The first in a 3D home console ''Zelda'' game since Fierce Deity Link in ''Majora's Mask'', dubbed the "Skyward Strike" (because you have to StabTheSky to charge it up). It can deliver circular cutting waves matching whichever direction the player swings the sword, or a bullet of energy from a thrust attack.
* SwordFight: While Link's been using a sword in every game, this game puts special focus on his actual skill with the blade beyond "use an item to make him vulnerable, then swing away," because of the improved [=WiiMotionPlus=] controls. Several bosses and {{Elite Mook}}s exist mainly to showcase this aspect of the game. It helps that nearly every aiming-based item available to you is less than automatic in Z-targeting mode (it still locks on to enemies, but still uses manual aiming, similar to ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime.'').
* SwordOfPlotAdvancement: The Goddess Sword, which later becomes the Master Sword.
* SwordPlant: Link does this to enter the Silent Realms. The Ending Blow retains the ability of stabbing enemies downward first seen in ''Twilight Princess'', and is also needed to inflict damage to [[spoiler:Ghirahim in his final rematch (though he'll still be alive after ''three'' sword plants, as he dies in a different way later), as well as Demise at the end of the final battle]].
* SymbolDrawingInterface: You finish every fight with the Imprisoned by drawing a symbol with your sword in order to reseal it.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:T-Z]]
* TacticalSuicideBoss: Mostly averted, but there are a few cases, the most notable being Koloktos, who would be unbeatable if he never used attacks that would leave his arms temporarily stuck in the ground, and thus vulnerable to the whip.
* {{Tagline}}: "The Birth of the Legend."
* TakeYourTime:
** [[JustifiedTrope Justified]]; the final boss gives Link a chance to get ready to face him, combined with the fact that you're in the past and leaving involves time travel, so paradoxes are involved to keep him from losing his patience and deciding you're not coming. Played straight in most other cases.
** In a deconstructed example, no matter how fast you make it through the Eldin Volcano area, Impa will berate you for being too slow to save Zelda on your own. Even knowing that you can't get out of the scolding, you still feel bad if you know you took a lot of time just to make sure you got every treasure, Goddess Cube, and Rupee.
* TargetedHumanSacrifice: [[spoiler:The reason that Ghirahim is so obsessed with Zelda is because he needs her (or more accurately her [[YourSoulIsMine soul]]) to resurrect Demise.]]
* TearsOfJoy:
** Groose sheds these twice: the first time when [[spoiler:Link informs him that Zelda is on the Surface, but she's okay]]. The second time when [[spoiler:Zelda wakes up from her thousand-year sleep, but this time he full-on blubbers like a baby.]]
** Zelda cries tears of joy [[spoiler:after Demise is defeated]].
* TechDemoGame: A common accusation thrown at the game is that it's more of a glorified "test run" of the controls. This is supported by the confirmation that the UsefulNotes/WiiU installment was intended to use this game's control scheme, plus Nintendo stating that the development period would be shorter than ''Skyward Sword''.[[note]]In the end, the developers opted to have the Wii U game take advantage of the Wii U controller instead ''and'' delay the game from its original year of release, prolonging the period to one comparable to that of ''Skyward Sword''.[[/note]] Note that ''VideoGame/WiiSportsResort'' was already functionally a tech demo for ''Skyward Sword''. Creator/EijiAonuma admitted that they weren't even sure how to incorporate Wii motion swordplay until the development of ''Resort'', which did test runs for the swordplay, archery, and Loftwing flight.
* TeleportSpam: Ghirahim warps between spots during battle; however, because he's going easy on you in the first fight, he'll stand around looking smug for a few seconds before attacking. In later fights, he seems to sacrifice speed for strength and doesn't teleport as often.
* TennisBoss: A useful tactic in some of the fights with Ghirahim, not surprisingly. The boss Bilocyte and the ubiquitous Octoroks can only be defeated by playing tennis with them.
* TerminatorTwosome: Happens towards the very end of the game, where [[spoiler:Link and Groose follow Ghirahim back in time in order to both save Zelda and prevent the resurrection of the Demon King Demise]].
* TextileWorkIsFeminine: The sailcloth that Link uses throughout the game was sewn by Zelda. Exploring her room also shows that she knows how to knit.
* ThatMakesMeFeelAngry: Or, to be a bit more eloquent, "That Makes Me Feel Furious! Outraged! Sick With Anger!" Ghirahim says this during his first conversation with Link.
* TerminatorTwosome: [[spoiler:After the Imprisoned is permanently dealt with in the present thanks to the Triforce, Ghiraham resorts to [[MakeWrongWhatOnceWentRight going into the past]] and awakening his master then with Zelda's soul (from the present day) as a sacrifice. Link follows, but is too late to prevent the unsealing of Demise.]]
* ThemeAndVariationsSoundtrack: The themes heard in the four mainlands (Skyloft, Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano, Lanayru Desert) are remixed into slower, lower-pitch versions in the Silent Realm trials.
* ThemeMusicWithholding: The game withholds the series' main theme until it is revealed that the "Song of the Hero" that you are compiling from the dragons is a variation of it once it is complete. Furthermore, Zelda's Lullaby doesn't get used for Zelda's scenes until a late-game cutscene involving her.
* ThemeNaming: While most of the Skyloftians' names are based on birds, the Mogmas have names that are based off of precious metals and minerals and the Kikwis are named after various kinds of tea.
* ThemeSongReveal: The chorus of "Ballad of the Goddess" is actually the {{Leitmotif}} for another character [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKgljOPCbso played in reverse]], revealing that [[spoiler:this game's Zelda -- and all other Zeldas -- are reincarnations of the goddess Hylia]].
* ThereAreNoBedsheets: Link simply flops on top of a bed when he sleeps in one (fully clothed), regardless of whether or not they have sheets.
* ThoseTwoGuys: The two Mogmas (Ledd and Cobal) Link meets the first time he goes to Eldin Volcano show up repeatedly around the area.
* ThreePointLanding: Link does this from long falls, like going to the ground from the sky, or entering [[FloatingContinent Skyloft]].
* TheThreeTrials:
** On Zelda's side, she has to visit three regions in the surface (the first two to purify herself in sacred springs, and the third to activate and enter Lanayru's Gate of Time) in order to prepare her journey to the past and prevent the return of [[spoiler:Demon King Demise]]. Those three places happen to be located at the end of dungeons, but Link simply goes through them to try to meet Zelda, unaware that she ''has'' to do her destined part like Link has to do his.
** On Link's side, there are the three first Silent Realms to obtain Hylia's sacred tools, tied to the three Sacred Flames to empower the Goddess Sword and upgrade it into the Master Sword. Afterwards, Link has to meet the three Dragons' to assemble a song that unlocks the access to another Silent Realm and eventually [[spoiler:the whereabouts of the Triforce]].
* ThrivingGhostTown: Skyloft is a Thriving Ghost ''World'' with one floating island maybe 300 feet across and a few small rocks, with a total sustainable population of 41. And unlike previous ''Zelda'' games, where there were several small towns within travel distance in a larger world, Skyloft has no contact or means of travel to anywhere else. Marrying your twice-removed cousin is about the best you can hope for in this world.
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks: The first boss is with Demon Lord Ghirahim. He can do a BareHandedBladeBlock on your sword, and if you don't get it out of his hands in time, he takes it for himself and starts swinging it at you. Oh, you get it back quickly, but not without him throwing it at you first. Throwing your opponent's sword always works, too.
* TightropeWalking: You can walk across ropes. So can your enemies, but they move slower.
* TimedMission: Every battle with the Imprisoned is a Timed Mission, with the distance from the Sealed Temple serving as the timer. You can add time to the clock by knocking the Imprisoned over or nailing it with a Groosenator charge. It can take time off the clock by dashing forward, climbing along the walls and cliffs, or flying. Each of those is progressively worse, and it is just as bad as it sounds. [[spoiler:The Imprisoned is the sealed form of Demon King Demise, and he needs to eat Hylia's soul to reclaim his true form — this, of course, will cause The End of the World as We Know It outside of a plot-dictated event. All this is important as, after the second round, you learn that Zelda sealed herself inside the temple to keep the Imprisoned bound, and since she's the reincarnation of Hylia...]]
* TimeLimitBoss: Whenever [[SealedEvilInACan the Imprisoned]] breaks free, you have to defeat it before it reaches the top of the pit. There's even a meter onscreen showing how far it has left to go.
* TimeTravel: The game heavily features this mechanic in the Lanayru area: By hitting Timeshift Stones, Link can return an area in a certain radius from the stone to how it was in the past, also reviving any creatures whose remains lie in the area. So basically you can travel through time by walking into or out of the area of effect. Time travel also plays a substantial role in [[spoiler:the main story]]; among other things, [[spoiler:the finale take place ages before most of the characters were even born]], and [[spoiler:Impa is escorting Zelda around the surface at the exact same time her older self is continuing to monitor the Imprisoned]].
* TimeTrial: The Lightning Round incorporates a time trial for both the bosses fought, and Silent Realm trials played. In the former, time is merely a SelfImposedChallenge, while in the latter the reward you get ''does'' depend on how quickly you can beat a trial.
* TimeyWimeyBall: As with most series that have time travel, this one isn't without some confusion.
** Midway through the game, Zelda travels back in time to reinforce the seal against the evil Demise. She enters a crystal to protect herself, which is visible through the doors in the Sealed Temple back in the present...though it is also visible before Zelda goes back in time, suggesting a StableTimeLoop that has already taken effect, even though it hasn't. And after Link wakes her in the present, Link has to pursue Ghirahim and Zelda back in time, with Ghirahim swearing to revive Demise in the past instead, with his defeat taking place then, which would interfere with the events that caused Zelda to go back in time in the first place.
** Timeshift Stones create a limited field that restores an area to a past time state within it. Enemies cannot cross between the timeshift field and the present, either disappearing if they're from the present or turning into bones or scrap if they're from the past. However, Link can travel through the timeshift areas without any effects.
* TogglingSetpiecePuzzle: This type of puzzle is often brought up in certain areas of Lanayru Desert (including dungeon rooms) due to the Timeshift Stones. In the present time, some areas may be difficult to run across due to the quicksand, and certain doors may be sealed shut due to thorny wires. When a Timeshift Stone is hit, the surrounding area regresses dimensionally to the past time, getting rid of the quicksand in favor of solid ground as well as removing the thorny wires. But as a tradeoff, ''other'' parts may now be obstructed by electric fences (which makes sense, since reviving the decayed machinery will also bring back the protection measures), as well as pillars of solid ground that had eroded or crumbled prior to the present. As the game progresses, Link has to frequently interact with both eras to overcome the obstacles present in each, and sometimes make the Timeshift Stone (or even a carriable Timeshift Orb) move so he can remove any incoming obstacle as he and the Timeshift object move forward.
* TokenAquaticRace: The jellyfish-like Parella who inhabit Lake Faron are the only aquatic race in the game, and they were designed to look like primitive versions of the series-staple Zoras.
* {{Tomorrowland}}: The Lanayru Mining Facility is ridiculously advanced compared to the rest of the settings, being ''rife'' with conveyor belts, electric barriers and robotic enemies. Remember, this is chronologically the ''first game of the entire franchise'', and the functional days of the area were ''thousands of years prior to the game and can only be seen by warping time''.
* TooAwesomeToUse: You can buy a certain potion that makes you take half damage for a while. You can also upgrade it to make you invulnerable instead. The period during which the potion lasts is rather long, and unlike the attack-boosting soup/potions from ''Wind Waker'' and ''Twilight Princess'' it is not canceled after being hit once. Once you get a certain other item, the potion duration is further increased. So you got an item that makes you invincible for a few ''minutes''? Nope, won't use it despite its power, maybe because it ironically enough it's ''too good'' and feels a bit cheap.
* TookALevelInJerkass: Beedle, compared to previous incarnations. He lies about increasing the price of every pouch upgrade you buy, and if you look at items without buying anything, he literally sends you through a trap door.[[labelnote:*]](Though it won't if you sleep in his bed until morning first.)[[/labelnote]] Also, his membership system from previous games is gone. A strange case in that this is chronologically supposed to be one of the oldest incarnations, which could possibly mean his successors TookALevelInKindness.
* ToThePain: Ghirahim just loves describing to Link in detail just how he will torture and kill him.
* TraumaInn: Sleeping in beds will restore your hearts, although it's about the least efficient way to do so; there are only beds in houses owned by {{NPC}}s in the sky. Sitting down and resting regenerates your health, and seats can be found on the surface.
* TreeTrunkTour: There is a large tree in Faron Woods, with a hollow section that must be entered in order to reach the top. Besides more common overworld foes, Link will have to fight his way through giant hornets, [[BatOutOfHell bat-like Keese]] and wall-creeping spiders.
* TrickBoss: [[spoiler:Levias, who is revealed to be controlled by another creature known as Bilocyte.]] It helps that ''both'' have BossSubtitles.
* TrickedOutGloves: The Digging Mitts and Mogma Mitts used for digging. Where the former can only unearth buried items, the latter allows Link to enter underground tunnels.
* TrickShotPuzzle: As Link explores the Sandship, he has to shoot at the Timeshift Stone from the main external area to regress the whole dungeon into its past form, and at first he can shoot from any angle as long as nothing obstructs. Later on, however, he needs to shoot at it from one of the inner areas of the ship, for which he has to position himself right below the ceiling's rack and aim carefully so the arrow reaches its target.
* TronLines: On the sealed Gate of Time, and to a lesser extent on mechanical enemies like the Beamos. The activated Gate of Time, however, has InstantRunes instead.
* TruckDriversGearChange: Happens to the boss battle theme against Koloktos once it changes to its [[LetsGetDangerous second form]].
* TurnsRed:
** Another staple; most boss battles have at least two distinct phases. When fighting Ghirahim in particular, although he begins the battle unarmed, once he tires of taking hits from Link's sword, he'll summon his own weapons and start fighting back.
** The Imprisoned, in its first form at least, turns a literal shade of red after getting tripped up.
* TurnUndead: Brandishing the Sacred Shield causes Cursed Bokoblins to cower and flee.
* TwoTeacherSchool: Along with a chef, headmaster, and sword instructor, there are only two actual teachers at the Knight Academy. {{Justified|Trope}} since there's [[ThrivingGhostTown only eight students]].
* UmbrellaOfTogetherness: Look closely at the blackboard in the classroom -- there's one of those Japanese umbrella diagrams. While the names are considerably lo-res, and thus almost unreadable, but if you get close to it a dialogue box will pop up with the text "Karane + Caw...".
* UncattyResemblance: Loftwings tend to have similar "hair" fo their owners. Groose's has his pompadour, and Orielle's has her ponytail, for example.
* TheUnchosenOne: Groose, who learns the hard way that it's Link who is destined to protect Zelda, not him. However, he later finds another way to become a hero.
* UndeadCounterpart:
** Cursed Bokoblins are an undead variant of Bokoblin found only in the Ancient Cistern and the Sky Keep. They can not only deal damage by latching onto you, but also afflict you with the Curse ailment and can only be defeated by being dealt a Fatal Strike after being knocked down. You also have the chance to obtain an Evil Crystal after defeating them.
** Dark Keese are a skeletal variant of the common Keese enemies. They're mainly encountered around the Eldin Volcano, and like other undead enemies can give Link the Curse ailment and drop Evil Crystals when defeated.
* {{Understatement}}: When Fi analyzes Yellow Chuchus, she warns that if you get stunned by their [[ShockAndAwe electricity]], they will try to eat you, which she says is "unpleasant."
* UndergroundLevel: Eldin Volcano has the underground village where the Mogmas live. Aside from some fire-breathing enemies that hide within small holes, it's a safe location.
* UndergroundMonkey: Certain enemies are recycled to provide elemental variants. For example, over the course of the game, you'll find regular Keese, then Fire Keese, then Thunder Keese, and much later Cursed Keese. This is also seen, to varying degrees, with other enemies like Chuchus and Spumes.
* UnderTheSea: Lake Floria, a large body of water southeast of Faron Woods that goes through a lush, colorful coral cavern where the Parella race lives. Link can use his then-recently earned Dragon Scale to swim across it while keeping an eye on his OxygenMeter (there are bubbles that replenigh it, and at one point he'll find a dry spot where a Goddess Cube can be activated). The lake is protected by Faron, who was attacked by Ghirahim and has to be healed with sacred water from Skyview Temple. After Link helps her, she'll open the path to the then-next dungeon, Ancient Cistern.
* UnintentionallyUnwinnable: During the Song of the Hero sidequest, talking to Golo the Goron ''after'' obtaining Lanayru's part of the song but ''before'' getting the two other ones will render the game unbeatable, and possibly corrupt it. Fortunately, the glitch is easy to avoid, and Nintendo has released a free, downloadable Wii Channel that fixes the afflicted save files.
* UnlockableDifficultyLevels: Hero Mode, which doubles as a NewGamePlus since it's available after the game is cleared once and retains all enemy and region drops as well as the Goddess Sword's shortened load time for the Skyward Strike, but also doubles the damage taken from enemies and eliminates all heart drops until the Heart Medals are found.
* UnnaturallyBlueLighting: The [[DarkWorld Silent Realm]] is like this when Link isn't being chased by the Guardians.
* UnnecessaryCombatRoll: Rolling is now conditioned by the stamina meter, making it less effective for running than it was in previous games.
* UnusableEquipment:
** In the fourth dungeon, Ancient Cistern, you obtain a whip which allows you to retrieve items from afar. Unfortunately, it can't temporarily snag weapons from enemies, instead only stealing Monster Horns (for upgrading your equipment) from certain Bokoblins. Later on, the boss of Ancient Cistern ([[spoiler:Koloktos]]) must be defeated by [[spoiler:disabling its limbs, which allows you to pick up one of its [[{{BFS}} swords]] (which are able to ''smash through pillars'') and go buck wild on it. Unfortunately, you can't take the sword with you outside of the boss room.]]
** And then there's a case of a boss reversing this trope ''on the player'', [[WakeUpCallBoss and it's the first boss, no less!]] If the player is unable to break out of a struggle when Ghirahim [[BarehandedBladeBlock uses his finger to parry your attacks]], he'll steal the Goddess Sword from you and use it against you, forcing you to have to use a well-timed ShieldBash to knock it back out of his hands.
** The game plays it straight in the case of [[spoiler:the bow]]. Enemies use them from very early on in the game, but it is the last item that Link acquires.
* UnusualHalo: As [[SealedEvilInACan The Imprisoned]] grows in strength, it grows new appendages to aid its attempts to escape. The last of them is a spiky red and black halo over its head, granting it [[spoiler:the ability to fly.]]
* UnusuallyUninterestingSight:
** Skyloftians will not react when Link uses tools and treasures that could only be acquired on the surface (except Gondo on one occasion). Similarly, while the surface-dwellers are pretty surprised to see a Skyloftian among them, they don't react when he does something unique like flying into the sky on a beam of light. Most of them don't even react to Fi, a spirit coming out of Link's sword and talking to him.
** The Kikwis, at least, seem to be a bit scared of Fi the first time they see her.
** The people of Skyloft are pretty phlegmatic about the numerous structural changes Link causes to the floating island throughout his adventure. It might be forgiven that they don't notice the never-before-seen door that appeared at the base of the huge statue of the Goddess, what with Zelda's dad trying to cover up her disappearance to avoid causing a panic, as the events involved fulfill the beginning parts of an apocalyptic prophecy, and the appearance of the Columns of Light that lead to the surface can be explained as something made easily visible to the player that isn't necessarily visible to the inhabitants of the game. Around the time [[spoiler:lighthouses start shooting [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]]]] and [[spoiler:the Sky Keep is revealed]], only minor observations are made by the people. Not until [[spoiler:after the Goddess' statue plummets to the surface]] do people finally start noticing something's up.
** The potions couple and Gondo, the scrap shop man, need items from the surface to create their respective wares, but do not demonstrate any unusual knowledge of the surface or express surprise at your acquiring the items.
* UseTheirOwnWeaponAgainstThem: During the boss fight against Koloktos, Link must yank off its arms then pick up one of its enormous scimitars and slash the statue with it, as they're the only weapon strong enough to tear through its armor.
* VaginaDentata: Deku Babas (carnivorous plant enemies that attack by biting) are now able to open their jaws vertically as well as horizontally, giving them the appearance of this trope.
* VariableMix:
** Music in dungeons adds or drops instruments as you move from room to room. Most notably, when entering the radius of a timeshift field, the music becomes more lively and complex. Battle music fades in when you approach an enemy and gains drums when you lock on.
** Special mention goes to Groose; ''any time'' he's on screen, the music currently playing includes his {{Leitmotif}}.
** Multistage boss battles also provide variable themes, usually adding instruments or otherwise increasing the intensity as you pogress.
** The music in the Bazaar changes depending on what shop you are at.
* VentPhysics: Link gets the 'sailcloth', a small square of fabric that miraculously works as well as a parachute. It has the side bonus of lifting him high into the air whenever he steps over an air vent.
* VerbalTic: The Kikwi Tribe in Faron Woods, capping off sentences with their own name or some variant of "kwiii."
* TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon: Sky Keep serves as the ultimate destination, available once you learn the Song of the Hero and complete the final Silent Realm. The cinematic reveal of the location of this dungeon helps a lot, and its inner gameplay presents a novel set of puzzles that take advantage of its variable shape. However, the last two bosses aren't found here, as [[PostFinalLevel they'll only appear after you've completed it]] (namely in [[spoiler:the past-era version of Sealed Grounds]]).
* VideoGameCrueltyPotential:
** You can reject Peatrice's advances in her sidequest and get the gratitude crystals from her dad instead. [[PlayerPunch You'll feel like absolute crap if you do, though]]. Especially since there's [[CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption no way to let her down gently,]] or tell her LetsJustBeFriends. You either return her feelings completely and promise to cheat on Zelda or call her "just a shopkeeper."
** The Remlits of Skyloft are this game's model of Cucco with a few bits of cruelty potential:
*** If you encounter them in the daytime, they will come at you affectionately, but if you have a weapon out and aimed at them, they will run and cower in fear of you.
*** Should you encounter them at night, they will attack ''before'' you give them a few good flays and then run away and cower before attacking again. [[spoiler:If you've completed Batreaux's sidequest, they'll behave the same as in the day.]]
*** You can also toss them off the edge of Skyloft, but they'll just fly back with their ears. Remlits can also be thrown into water; they'll usually just swim to the closest shore.
** You can kill butterflies and dragonflies with your sword if you aim your swing right. And you can kill insects on the ground by standing on them, throwing objects such as stones at them, or using your items.
** There's a sidequest involving Cawlin, who will want you to deliver a letter to Karane. Instead, you can give the letter to a ghost hand in a toilet, betraying his trust, and making the ghost haunt him.
** Go ahead, keep cleaning Pipit's mom's house for her. It's not like she's spending her food money and her son's tuition on your services, which makes him angry, right?
* VillainousLegacy: The game reveals that [[spoiler:the machinations of Ganon are the legacy of Demise, the Demon King who cursed Link and Zelda to be plagued by an incarnation of his hatred forever, manifested in Ganondorf (and perhaps others)]].
* VoodooShark: Faron the Water Dragon floods Faron Woods just in time for you to get her piece of the Song of the Hero. Her explanation for all of this? She was trying to drown all the monsters in the area, and she can't just give you the piece, so she tests you by having you collect tadtones. This explanation not only fails to point out that you ''saved her life'', but at no other point is Faron Woods ever stated to be overflowing with monsters.
* WalkItOff: One of the ways to regenerate health is... [[BoringButPractical sitting in a chair.]]
* WalkLikeAnEgyptian: Ghirahim performs a dance based on this while performing the ancient ritual to [[spoiler:free the Imprisoned in the past era by offering Zelda's sould to it]].
* WalkThePlank: A variation; Link fights Scervo on the Sandship, and makes him walk a narrow corridor until he falls off the end. [[spoiler:The same goes for the similar Dreadfuse in the Sky Keep.]]
* TheWallAroundTheWorld: The impenetrable cloud cover that separates Skyloft from the surface. It apparently only applies to humans, as items that have fallen to the surface are the center of some sidequests.
* WakeUpCallBoss: The first time you meet Ghirahim in the Skyview Temple. Flailing your sword won't get you far, and trying to use the item of the dungeon that hosts the battle (the Beetle) is useless.
* WarpWhistle:
** Bird Statues act as one of these, as you're able to warp to any activated statue when entering an area from the sky, a la ''Majora's Mask''. It doesn't apply to those found in dungeons, though you can use them to immediately leave the dungeon.
** Using the Zelda and Loftwing amiibo in the HD version allows Link to immediately warp into the sky while on the surface without the use of Bird Statues, and using it again will warp Link to spot he first used it in, even if it's inside a dungeon.
* TheWarSequence: [[spoiler:Late in the game, Link goes through ''a whole army'' of Bokoblins, Moblins and Stalfos [[{{Determinator}} just to save Zelda from being sacrificed.]] The sheer number of them is impressive alone, but it also makes a showcase of how far the player has come.]]
* WaterfallIntoTheAbyss: There is a waterfall in Skyloft that goes from a small pond in the corner of the floating island and empties out into the unknown world below.
* WaterloggedWarzone: The final battle takes place in a thunderstorm on an infinite plane of ankle-deep water. The boss is damaged by sticking your sword in the air and waiting for lightning to strike your sword, then attacking.
* WeHaveReserves: When Ghirahim [[spoiler:[[ZergRush sics a huge army]] on Link, he shouts to his minions that he doesn't care if they all dive onto Link's blade, as long as they buy him the time they need. He also mentions they shouldn't be afraid of being killed by Link, but of what [[FateWorseThanDeath he will do to them if they fail.]]]]
* WhamEpisode:
** Link finally catches up to Zelda, and instead of simply saving her/seeing her get captured, he's ''reprimanded'' by Impa for being too late and not being strong enough to watch over Zelda, as well as having to watch his childhood friend disappear, ''yet again''. Ouch.
** When Link catches up to Zelda once again, this time after proving he has enough strength to help Zelda, you'd expect a happy reunion, but what does he get? A stab in the back when Zelda confesses she manipulated Link with his feelings for her, as well as the awfulness of having to watch Zelda seal herself in a crystal for goodness knows how long. The look on Link's face says it all.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Despite Captain Skipper's wish to be reunited with his deactivated family and restore his ship, and despite his ship [[spoiler:being shown to be fully repaired after the related boss battle and the end credits]], it's never made clear if, and how, Skipper managed to fulfill his wishes.
* WhatTheHellAreYou: By the end of [[spoiler:their final battle]], Ghirahim is so perplexed over how many times he has lost to Link that he is no longer completely certain that Link is entirely human:
-->'''Ghirahim''': This... This is preposterous. Driven to my knees by a simple child of man? Laughable! No matter how many times we clash, I can't prevail! You think I can't defeat you? You think I can't win?! Boy...what ''are'' you?
* WhatTheHellHero:
** When you enter the Lumpy Pumpkin, the camera centers on a chandelier that holds several Rupees and a Piece of Heart. Kina tells you not to try to retrieve them. There are signs posted upstairs telling you not to slam around too much up there, lest the chandelier fall. So is it any wonder when Pumm and Kina become furious with Link when he knocks it down, anyways? Even the other patrons feel bad for him, knowing how deep he's just gotten himself in it.
** Beedle also gives you one if you decide to leave his shop without buying anything. He complains about how you being on the airship makes it heavier and thus making him have to pedal harder, and the fact that you didn't buy anything pisses him off so much that he unceremoniously drops you out of the shop via trap door. This becomes a touch annoying if you buy nothing only because you [[AdamSmithHatesYourGuts lack the Rupees. And most of the stuff he sells is really expensive, too]]. This becomes even more annoying when you do buy something from him, then exit and come back in (without getting off the ship, mind you) just to see if there's anything new. If there isn't and you try to leave, he'll act as if you hadn't bought anything and drop you off all the same, even if you just paid him 1,200 rupees for that pouch pocket. However, sleeping in the bed in Beedle's shop will refresh the inventory, and if you've bought anything before sleeping, he won't drop you off the ship when you leave. That said, however, if you go in, check a price, don't buy anything, sleep in the bed until morning, and ''then'' leave, he won't spring the trap.
* WhatTheHellPlayer:
** Smashing things in the Lumpy Pumpkin Inn will eventually cause the chandelier to collapse (it has a [[HeartContainer Piece of Heart]] and 7 Rupees on it), which the bartender will call you out on. [[spoiler:This opens up a line of sidequests in which you work off the cost of the chandelier, ending when the owner buys a newer chandelier, this one more elaborate but unmarred by items of any kind, and gives you [[SubvertedTrope another Piece of Heart]].]]
** Opening random cupboards gives the message "You really shouldn't open other people's cupboards without permission," though the game doesn't mind if you open your own cupboard, which contains a mysteriously self-replenishing 5 Rupees. [[spoiler:But this also gets subverted; opening Zelda's cupboard without permission earns you a Piece of Heart, and no reprimanding message.]]
** The old lady in the kitchen will yell at you if you [[RewardingVandalism break a nearby vase or barrel]], while the item salesman's mother will charge you a random amount of Rupees between 10 and 30 if you break her vases or dishes.
** If you leave Beedle's shop after perusing his merchandise but not having made a purchase, he will berate you for the extra physical effort he must exert while you are aboard his shop, and promptly drop you down a trap door.
* WhereItAllBegan: Skyloft is the site of [[spoiler:the final dungeon.]] In addition, [[spoiler: that very dungeon is in fact the missing piece of the Sealed Grounds, the first place Link lands on the surface and the site of the final battle with Girahim.]]
* WhipItGood: One of Link's items is a whip, the [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks second game in a row]] to feature one.
* WindmillScenery: Two windmills with seemingly mysterious purposes can be found in Skyloft. [[spoiler:They are in fact crucial to locating the Isle of Songs]].
* WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath: Everything you kill, even bugs, explodes in a flash of light and smoke, leaving behind a purple ghostly afterimage. For monsters the image appears as a skull.
* WithMyDyingBreathISummonYou: The final confrontation with Ghirahim takes place as he's [[spoiler:working a ritual to free Demise from his imprisonment. Ghirahim continues his ritual during the battle and finishes it just before Link can deal the finishing blow.]]
* WizardingSchool: Link and Zelda attend one early in the game, complete with a flying school-sport (only on birds instead of broomsticks). It's more of a Knight School, but the basic archetypes are there.
* WorkOffTheDebt: You can break the chandelier of the Lumpy Pumpkin to get a Piece of Heart. Doing so will piss off the owner, starting a series of sidequests where he makes you work to repay the chandelier.
* WorldInTheSky: The inhabitants of Skyloft think their world is this, but they're really just a FloatingContinent above a more normal world.
* WorldTree: Link grows a tree through the use of TimeTravel that has a cure-all fruit, [[spoiler:which he uses to cure the Thunder Dragon's ailment]].
* WouldHurtAChild: Downplayed. Link and Zelda are both about seventeen, but they're essentially infants in comparison to the BigBad and TheDragon, immortal beings who have been around for thousands of years.
** Ghirahim refers to Link as "Sky Child" -- sometimes in the same breath as sadistic promises to torture him to death. As for Zelda, Ghirahim plans to [[spoiler:feed her soul to Demise as part of a resurrection ritual, a process that is implied to be ''extremely'' painful for her.]]
** [[spoiler:Demise not only consumes Zelda's soul to resurrect himself, he tosses her lifeless body aside without a second thought, and only Groose's intervention protects it from injury.]] He also takes it for granted that Link will perish in their battle; his only expectation is that Link might make the fight interesting before he dies.
* YellowPurpleContrast: One of the dungeons, the [[HailfirePeaks Ancient Cistern]], uses yellow colours and a well-lit environment in the [[TempleOfDoom upper parts]], giving an aura of purity and goodness. However, [[BigBoosHaunt the deeper parts of the dungeon]] are littered with undead creatures and poisonous water, using purple colours and dim lighting to emphasise a feeling of death and decay. The dungeon boss, Koloktos, follows the same theme. It is a golden divine-looking automaton, but when [[TheHeavy Ghirahim]] corrupts it, a purple substance invades Koloktos’ body and instantly turns it against Link.
* YouAreACreditToYourRace: BigBad [[spoiler:Demise]] has nothing but praise for Link when he raises his sword to him, recalling that the humans when he was sealed did little more than run and cower behind their Goddess. This extends to after you beat him, when his last words are shocked compliments towards Link for fighting with such power for a mortal. His habit of complimenting you makes him come across as ''less'' evil than his minion Ghirahim, even though he himself is the GodOfEvil.
* YouAreTooLate: Impa's words when Link reaches the Earth Spring right before she and Zelda are about to depart: "The truth of it is you were late. You were late, and you failed to protect Her Grace."
* YouCantThwartStageOne: Despite Link's efforts, he can't prevent [[spoiler:Ghiraham from freeing Demise]].
* YouHaveResearchedBreathing: Like in many other ''Zelda'' games, Link can swim on top of water just fine. To ''dive'' underwater, however, he needs to be granted the gift of the Water Dragon's Scale. This isn't like Zora Mask from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' and the Zora Armor Link from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' which allow Link to also breathe underwater -- Link has a gauge that he must keep track of so that he doesn't drown while underwater.
* YourPrincessIsInAnotherCastle:
** The first part of the game consists of Link traveling from dungeon to dungeon looking for Zelda, only to find out that he'll need to look for her in the next dungeon.
** Link gets [[spoiler:the Triforce]] and uses it to [[spoiler:finally stop the Imprisoned for good]]. It looks like it's the end, except Ghiraham still has another plan up his sleeve.
* YouShouldntKnowThisAlready: There's a point where you need to complete Farore's symbol by drawing a circle. You may well already know the symbol from previous plays or other games in the series, but drawing a circle won't work until Link checks a nearby carving.
* ZergRush: Ghirahim sets a horde of Bokoblins, Bulbins and Stalfos onto you to slow you down from [[spoiler:preventing the resurrection of Demise in the past]]. He also specifically mentions that they are not meant to kill or even stop Link, because they incapable of doing so, and are only useful to slow Link down.
* ZipMode: The game substitutes rolling for an actual dash button. However, it's not infinite and drains the stamina meter. Certain locations have Stamina Fruit that refill the stamina meter, allowing Link to run along certain routes continuously.
[[/folder]]

[[TheStinger Master,]] I calculate that there is a 0% chance that you will find any more tropes on this page. I suggest you look for another page.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1395536601085826400
%% Please do not replace or remove without starting a new thread.

* {{Acrofatic}}: Peater is rotund and looks incredibly out of shape, but is quick enough with his tiny sword to cut a stalk of bamboo upwards of 30 times before it falls. This odd combination is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] as he was once a top-ranked Sky Knight but has since retired—presumably, Peater was once even better than he is now.

* TheAgeless: Dragons are implied to be this. [[spoiler:But they can "die" from other causes, or at least become unable to move, as evidenced by the Thunder Dragon's skeleton, had the player not cured him of his illness. It still responds by lighting up his eyes, much like how the robots still respond, but cannot move or speak, as he is only bones.]]

* AmbiguouslyGay: Ghirahim, with his effeminate clothes, jewelry, makeup, and haircut. Also, that tongue thing, which often results in a very gross wet willy for Link.

* ArmlessBiped:
** [[SealedEvilInACan The first form of The Imprisoned]], the thing that Link dreams swallowing Zelda near the beginning of the game.
** Fi is one as well, unless you count her wing-like cloak as her arms. Concept art actually reveals that she originally had arms under her cloak, but lacks them in the game proper (as is clear with her playable model in [[VideoGame/HyruleWarriors Hyrule Warriors]]).

* AutoTune: Fi's voice has been pitch-shifted to sound more robotic, emphasising her non-human nature.

* BishonenLine: The Imprisoned fits the description of an EldritchAbomination through and through, but when fully restored, its true form is very humanoid. Inverted simultaneously with Ghirahim, whose final form reveals that he is [[spoiler: the same kind of being as Fi, and he becomes Demise's inanimate sword after being defeated.]]

** Likewise, if [[spoiler:Demise]] had not agreed to a duel with Link rather than just going on to the Triforce when he had the chance, the world would be his for the taking.

* BossDissonance: [[ZigzaggedTrope zig-zags between the two extremes]] during the first half. On the one hand, you have the easy Skyview Temple followed by [[ThatOneBoss That One]] WakeUpCallBoss Ghirahim, and on the other, the much more difficult Earth Temple and Lanayru Mining Facility having very easy bosses. There's also, of course, the fairly difficult first battle against The Imprisoned ''outside'' a dungeon. A DownplayedTrope in later dungeons, however: Notwithstanding Tentalus, the other bosses are generally on par with their levels of residence difficulty-wise. In fact, it's after the first half of the game when overworld bosses battles appear, further blurring the difficulty curve.

** Revisiting main locations again having a different atmosphere and a required revisit: Faron province and eldin province.

* CaptainErsatz: [[spoiler:Demise]] to [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ganondorf]], and The Imprisoned to [[spoiler:Ganon]]. No subtitles, with only the name given, and regarded as the culmination of evil...the list goes on. Of course, this is all justified because [[spoiler:Ganondorf is the reincarnation of Demise's eternal hatred]].

* CheckPoint: Winged statues within dungeons, in addition to providing a convenient place to save, are also where the game is loaded upon restarting after a GameOver, rather than sending Link back to the entryway of the dungeon upon turning on the game again.

* ChildhoodFriends: Link and Zelda grew up together in Skyloft, and are also classmates in the Knight Academy.
* ChromeChampion: Fi is one, which fits with her being the spirit of the Goddess/Master Sword. [[spoiler:Same goes for Ghirahim, her EvilCounterpart, in his OneWingedAngel form]].

* DeadpanSnarker: Some DialogueTree choices can make Link this, such as making fun of Groose's [[AnimeHair hairdo]].

* DoesNotLikeShoes: The Old Woman and [[spoiler:Demise]] don't have any shoes on.

* EthnicGoddess: Hylia is this to the Skyloftians, protecting them from Demise by various measures.

* EvilIsHammy: Ghirahim licks his lips at almost every opportunity, teleports around with loud finger snaps, screams and stamps in rage, and is often times [[MemeticMutation FURIOUS! OUTRAGED! SICK WITH ANGER!!]]

* {{Expy}}:
** The Bokoblins, sort of. While they're a carryover from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', they take a few traits from the Bulblins (more organized and intelligent, have their own society and establishments) and the Moblins of the 2D games. They even have a variant in a similar garb to the Bulblins, and some even shoot flaming arrows.
** Sparrot, the fortune teller, is a gender-flipped [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Madame Fanadi]]. They even have the same body type.
** Rupin, the man running the HonestJohnsDealership at the Bazaar during the day and at his home at night, is modeled after the Happy Mask Salesman from ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]''.

* EyesAlwaysShut: Instructor Horwell. There's also Rupin, the gear shop owner, during the daytime. However, [[StepfordSmiler it's only a facade to help with sales]].

* FauxAffablyEvil: Ghirahim, at first. He tends to act in a polite manner towards Link, even composing himself whenever he starts raging. Too bad hurting Link is therapeutic for him.

* FriendToBugs: Beedle is an insect lover in this game (it was never specified in his prior appearances whether or not he was already an enthusiast on the matter back then). He not only sells you a Bug Net to capture insects, but also a special Medal to track their locations. At one point uyou have to find his missing pet beetle.

* GreaterScopeVillain: [[spoiler:[[GodOfEvil Demon King Demise]], Ghirahim's master and the local SealedEvilInACan. Since Demise is the creator of all the monsters in Hyrule, and since Ganon, the main antagonist for most of the series, is an incarnation of Demise's hatred, he also counts as the Greater Scope Villain of the series.]]

* HeroicBSOD: Groose suffers two that last an extended period of time, but he eventually snaps out of them and finds the courage to aid Link in his quest.

* KleptomaniacHero: Lampshaded and defied. Opening a cupboard in someone else's house yields a message that doing so is impolite, after which Link automatically closes the cupboard without taking anything. [[spoiler:Played straight if Link looks in Zelda's cupboard -- doing so will net the player a Piece of Heart.]]

* LittleMissAlmighty: Inverted with [[spoiler:Zelda being the mortal incarnation of the Goddess Hylia. As part of a BatmanGambit to rid Demise, Hylia gave up her divinity in the hope to acquire the power of the Triforce to tip the scales of war in her favor. However, she has no memory of this as Zelda until it was awakened by Impa and her visit to the temples.]]

* MaouTheDemonKing: This game reveals that, in the series' cosmology, the progenitor of all evil in the ''Zelda'' universe is [[spoiler:the Demon King Demise]], whose lingering hatred gives birth to the various nemeses Link has faced in the other games. He also has subservient demon lords, most prominently his [[TheDragon dragon]], Ghirahim.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Zelda had this reaction when revealing to Link that she, as Hylia, manipulated him by putting herself in danger to motivate him to complete her trials and become worthy of the complete Triforce. While she acknowledges that is was necessary to stop Demise, she hates that it had to happen.]]

* OfficalCouple: Pipit and Karane, if the right actions are done in their matchmaking sidequest. There's also an optional RomanceSidequest with Item Check Lady Peatrice. Whether you become a couple is your choice.

* PalsWithJesus: [[spoiler:Zelda may be Hylia reincarnated, but she is still Link's friend.]]

*** There are 3 Silver Rupees hidden within the "nostrils" of the shark-shaped Pirate Stronghold, which require the Beetle to reach. However, once you complete the stronghold and open up its mouth, the nostrils will have moved much higher up and be out of the Beetle's range, meaning that you will never be able to reach the Rupees anytime after that point.
*** In the room in Sky Keep based on Fire Sanctuary, there's a Silver Rupee in an alcove near the room's upper level, also requiring the Beetle to reach. You can't return to Sky Keep once finishing it, so the loot is lost if you don't grab it while exploring.

* RedundantResearcher: Gorko the Goron has been unsuccessfully researching various things, such as the owl statues, which he can't figure out how to activate. Link just walks up to one and they all turn on automatically. Later, you can "solve" the mysterious Goddess Cubes for him by swinging your sword at them, and sketch things on walls to help him determine the meaning of some ancient puzzles. Gorko, of course, had no chance of figuring out any of these things himself, simply because he doesn't have Link's magic sword.

* RobotBuddy: Scrapper is on call after being repaired and sees a lot of use hauling items...only, he's a jerk to everyone but Fi, whom he has a crush on, and only helps Link because Fi asks Scrapper on Link's orders.

* SissyVillain: Ghirahim, [[OneWingedAngel most of the time]]. His heart is full of rainbows! Also, he wears skintight clothing that only barely censors his nipples, he seems to be wearing white lipstick, his short white hair hangs down over his eye, and he enjoys approaching Link in molestacular poses. However, he has serious MoodSwinger tendencies, he's a demon (lord) with a blade, and the overall effect is less "sissy" and more "completely balls-out bonkers." Some fans have said he reminds them of a male Music/LadyGaga.

* SpaceWhale: Levias, a flying whale who is the guardian deity of the skies. He bears a resemblance to the Wind Fish from ''Link's Awakening''.

* TheSpock: Fi leans towards this, speaking with an analytical emotionless tone.

* {{Tsundere}}: Zelda (who is not a princess) is Link's childhood friend and generally sweet, but doesn't hesitate to chastise him for not training for the Wing Ceremony, even pushing him off the edge of Skyloft when he says he can't sense his Loftwing (which leads to a massive OhCrap moment when she realizes he's not just making excuses).

* TheUglyGuysHotDaughter: Pumm's daughter Kina, and Gaepora's daughter Zelda. Also, Peater's daughter Peatrice (for a given value of "hot").

* UnusualEyebrows: Zelda's father, Headmaster Gaepora, has the full UnusualEyebrows trifecta: huge, fluffy, white BigOlEyebrows connected in a straight line across his face in a BigOlUnibrow, and to each side they fly up to and then ''off of'' his temples to become DisembodiedEyebrows that until closely examined look more like a hairdo. Combined with his wide-open eyes and bolstered by the allusion of his name, he looks quite owl-like.

* WaterIsWomanly: Out of the three Dragons that have lived in the surface (one of them perished prior to the events of the game, but is revived by Link), the female one (Faron) represents the water element. She watches over the crystalline waters of Lake Floria within Faron Province, and is an elegant (if sometimes also cocky) ProperLady.

* GuesStarPartyMember: [[spoiler:Groose]], who helps you during the second and third Imprisoned fights.

* UndergroundMonkey: Certain enemies are recycled to provide elemental variants. For example, over the course of the game, you'll find regular Keese, then Fire Keese, then Thunder Keese, and much later Cursed Keese. This is also seen, to verying degrees, with other enemies like Chuchu

* {{Acrofatic}}: Peater is rotund and looks incredibly out of shape, but is quick enough with his tiny sword to cut a stalk of bamboo upwards of 30 times before it falls. This odd combination is [[JustifiedTrope justified]]. as he was once a top-ranked Sky Knight but has since retired—presumably, Peater was once even better than he is now.

* AndIMustScream: While it's debatable if the husks of the ancient robots are still "alive" in the present, [[spoiler:the Thunder Dragon clearly is, as [[GlowingEyelightsOfUndeath his eyes glow]] whenever speaking to his skeleton]]. His in-game dialogue even suggests this was the case, after [[spoiler:the Tree of Life fruit heals him in the past]].

** Koloktok wields not one, but up to ''six'' grossly oversized swords. The real fun begins once Link can steal and use them against their owner.

* DamnYouMuscleMemory: People coming from the Wii version of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' or vice-versa might be a bit thrown off by the slight change in controls.

* HeelFaceTurn: Groose, starting after the first Imprisoned fight. Not only does he change from a mean spirited bully to one of Link's staunchest allies, he even builds a rail system and uses it to help Link in the subsequent fights against the Imprisoned. Looking at Groose at the end of the game it's almost hard to believe he's the same bully that put Link's Loftwing in a cage at the beginning.

* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Koloktos, a six-armed Buddhist-style automaton, and a four-armed type of Stalfos called a Stalmaster.

* {{Precursors}}: The [[spoiler:Ancient Robots]] in Lanayru Desert. Could also explain the origins of the series's SchizoTech.

** [[spoiler:Demise electrifies his sword and can use electrical attacks. [[GuideDangIt So can]] [[HoistByHisOwnPetard you]] when fighting him.]]

* {{Tomorrowland}}: The Lanayru Mining Facility, with what seems like the only place in all of Hyrule history (in fact, existing in its ''prehistory'') so far to have electricity.

* SlidingScaleOfContentDensityVsWidth: WordOfGod says that the game was deliberately made to be Denser in contrast with the Wider approach taken with ''Twilight Princess''.

* ThrivingGhostTown: Skyloft is a Thriving Ghost ''World'' with one floating island maybe 300 feet across and a few small rocks, with a total sustainable population of 41. And unlike previous ''Zelda'' games, where there were several small towns within travel distance in a larger world, Skyloft has no contact or means of travel to anywhere else. [[FridgeLogic Marrying your twice-removed cousin is about the best you can hope for in this world.]]

* VerbalTic: The Kikwi Tribe in Faron Woods, capping off sentences with their own name or some variant of "kwiii."

* WorldInTheSky: Where this incarnation of Link lives.

* YouCantThwartStageOne: Despite Link's efforts, he can't prevent [[spoiler:Ghiraham from freeing Demise]].

* RandomDrop: Aside from the usual rupees and/or hearts that defeated enemies drop, they also sometimes drop monster loot (claws, fangs, etc.) which the player can use to upgrade Link's equipment at Skyloft's bazaar.

* RemixedLevel: Some areas of the game change significantly as the game progresses, and have to be visited several times.

* SaharanShipwreck:
** The Sandship dungeon. [[spoiler:Subverted whenever the [[TimeTravel Timeshift Stone]] is in use.]]
** Another example (or two, it's hard to tell) can be seen at the Pirate Stronghold.
* SandIsWater: At the Lanayru Sand Sea, where the effect of the Timeshift Stone in the Skipper's boat transforms the vast ocean of sand into water as you move along.
%%* ScaryScorpions: Moldarach, boss of the Lanayru Mining Facility.

* SceneryAsYouGo: Some sections of the Lanayru Mining Facility qualify, with Timeshift Stones in moving minecarts restoring platforms from the past as it rolls along. The game even takes it that one extra step with ancient ''enemies'' who come back to life whenever a Timeshift Stone passes by.
** Taken to the absolute extreme in Lanayru Gorge, which demands platforming, combat, climbing, grappling, and switch-activating as you go. ''All in one run.''

* SequelLogoInRuins: Or rather, prequel. ''Skyward Sword'''s logo has pristine font, but behind it is the Hylian Crest and Triforce covered in foliage and moss, a reflection of the fact that this game takes place AfterTheEnd following Demise's ravaging of the surface world.

* ShieldedCoreBoss: The Koloktos battle consists of repeatedly stripping away the colossus's arms to expose its central core as each phase of the battle progresses. Later, during the final battle against Ghirahim, he summons a [[{{BFS}} large claymore]] as his weapon, and the only way to damage him is to first break through his sword by striking it at the correct angle; fail to do so completely, and Ghirahim simply repairs the blade with a snap of his fingers.
* ShiftingSandLand: Lanayru Desert (and by extension any area attached to it) in the present. When a Timeshift Stone is activated, the current area regresses into its past version, becoming EternalEngine.

* SissyVillain: Ghirahim, [[OneWingedAngel most of the time]].
* SkeleBot9000: Scervo and Dreadfuse.

* SoNearYetSoFar: Zelda is trapped in a room next to the playable area for a part of the game.

* SubliminalSeduction: The main theme, "The Ballad of the Goddess", is "Zelda's Lullaby" in reverse. [[spoiler:Makes sense, as Hylia and Zelda are one and the same.]]

* SwallowedWhole: The Imprisoned will do this to [[spoiler:the Old Woman and shortly after, Zelda herself, if you don't stop it in time when it's trying to get to the Temple.]]

** Demise, the Demon King, bears something of a resemblance to Ganondorf, the King of Evil. [[spoiler: This is justified by Ganon, the force within Ganondorf, being is the incarnation of Demise's hatred upon future generations of Hyrule.]]

* SwordPlant: Used for the Fatal Blow, a FinishingMove, as well as the way Link enters the Silent Realms.

* TearsOfJoy: Zelda cries happy tears [[spoiler:after Demise is defeated]].
* TechDemoGame: A common accusation thrown at the game is that it's more of a glorified "test run" of the controls. This is supported by the confirmation that the UsefulNotes/WiiU installment was intended to use this game's control scheme, plus Nintendo stating that the development period would be shorter than ''Skyward Sword''.[[note]]In the end, the developers opted to have the Wii U game take advantage of the Wii U controller instead ''and'' delay the game from its original year of release, prolonging the period to one comparable to that of ''Skyward Sword''.[[/note]] Note that ''VideoGame/WiiSportsResort'' was already functionally a tech demo for ''Skyward Sword''. WordOfGod admitted that they weren't even sure how to incorporate Wii motion swordplay until the development of Resort, which did test runs for the swordplay, archery, and Loftwing flight.

* MetaTwist: Since ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'', the dungeon boss is usually fought with the dungeon item, so when [[BigBad Ghirahim]] shows up in the first dungeon of ''this'' game, and is fought in a pure sword fight, it comes as a shock. It comes as an even bigger shock when you fight him [[RecurringBoss again]] in a different dunegon. A double shock because ''Zelda'' villains usually [[OrcusOnHisThrone loom in the background]], never encountering you until the finale. Lastly, bosses are never fought in the overworld prior to this game, yet ''Skyward Sword'' has a whopping ''four'' outside of dungeons (including the FinalBoss).

* MagiTek: Fi gives off this vibe, with a voice reminiscent of a Music/{{Vocaloid}} and constant use of percentages, like a magical computer. In fact, there is a lot of it going around, such as the ancient robots powered by time travel crystals.

** Just like in ''Twilight Princess'' , whenever you strike enemies successfully, a musical sting plays. Special mention goes to the Ghirahim battles, because the stings are played by actual orchestra instruments.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler: Zelda had this reaction when revealing to Link that she, as Hylia, manipulated him by putting herself in danger to motivate him to complete her trials and become worthy of the complete Triforce. While she acknowledges that is was necessary to stop Demise, she hates that it had to happen.]]

* NightOfTheLivingMooks: One of the later dungeons introduces a type of enemy called Cursed Bokoblins, which are zombie Bokoblins.

* NonLethalBottomlessPits: You're still sent back to the very spot you were before falling into one, but you no longer take damage from it.

* NoOSHACompliance: Lanayru Mining Facility, in ''spades''. Justified, as the workers are robots.

* OneTimeDungeon:
** Every Silent Realm can only be visited once, and they are the only easily available source of Dusk Relics[[note]]You can also get some of them by Gorko occasionally, but this is very time consuming.[[/note]]. Better stock up on them while you can.
** Sky Keep is the last dungeon of the game. Once you complete it, you can never visit it again, [[spoiler:because the entire island with the Goddess Statue on top crashes down on Earth.]] Thankfully, there are no permanently missable items there whatsoever.

* OrchestralBombing: The game's soundtrack is composed largely (but not entirely) of orchestral music. Hajime Wakai (''Wind Waker'') and Creator/KojiKondo are in charge of compositions, with Music/MahitoYokota (''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'' and [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy2 sequel]]) as the orchestration director, so expect to hear plenty.

* PaletteSwap: The primary bestiary in the sixth dungeon, Fire Sanctuary, consists of dark-purple versions of enemies (Cursed Spume, Dark Keese, Dark Lizalfos), and even the boss Ghirahim takes a form that has some parts of his body turned black. Notably, the dungeon is still [[LethalLavaLand fire-themed]]. Cursed Bokoblins are not examples, however, having a zombie theme, and thus a different model and behavior.

* FadeToWhite: The game fades to white after [[spoiler:Zelda awakens from a thousand-year slumber and stumbles drowsily into Link's arms]] and holds the effect for a few seconds. What actually ''happened'' during the fade is [[DidTheyOrDidntThey anyone's guess]].

The next 3D game in the series is ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', which implemented many of the new story elements and a few gameplay elements introduced in ''Skyward Sword''. The sequel to ''Breath of the Wild'' would later heavily feature islands in the sky much like in this game.

* DoorToBefore: You'll frequently move blocks, unlock gates, etc. from the far side after taking the long way around first. In a few cases these aren't just shortcuts for return trips, but needed to solve subsequent puzzles, especially in Sky Keep.

* EleventhHourSuperpower: The bow is your most effective long-range weapon in the game. In fact, it's the only long-range weapon you can have that'll actually hurt standard enemies. Therefore, unlike previous Zelda titles, it is the very last weapon you get. The game even seems to highlight its importance as a weapon by placing it at the very top in the item select screen.
* EnemyScan: Returns for the first time since ''Majora's Mask'', though Fi's descriptions are much more technical and detached in nature.
* EquipmentUpgrade: This game lets you upgrade certain dungeon items for the first time in the series's history, including the Bow and the Bug. You need to trade in-game treasures to Gondo for that.

* FastballSpecial: [[spoiler:When Groose can't get to his normal ammo for the Groosenator, he launches Link onto the Imprisoned instead.]] The Prima Strategy Guide even calls it this.

* GangplankGalleon: The Sandship mixes this with ShiftingSandLand.

* GoodFeelsGood: The description for obtaining 5 Gratitude Crystals, which could only be seen by doing side quests, almost name-drops this, "Helping people feels good!"

* GrapplingHookPistol: The two Clawshots, returning from ''Twilight Princess''. And this time, both are earned at the same time.

* GreaterScopeVillain: [[spoiler:[[GodOfEvil Demon King Demise]], Ghirahim's master and the local SealedEvilInACan. Since Demise is the creator of all the monsters in Hyrule, and since Ganon, the main antagonist for most of the series, is an incarnation of Demise's hatred, he also counts as the GreaterScopeVillain of the series.]]
* GreenHillZone: The Faron Woods. It's a luscious green forest as well as being the first area beneath the clouds that Link visits.
* GuideDangIt: Defeating [[spoiler:Demise]] is meant to be done by [[spoiler:mimicking him, and using the lightning for a Skyward Strike]]. The thing is, right at the start of the fight, Fi tells you [[spoiler:that in this realm]], you can't use your Skyward Strike at all, so most players likely wouldn't try it in the first place. Fortunately, he's beatable without using it, though it's more difficult and takes much longer.

* HighAltitudeBattle: Interspersed throughout the game, with only two bosses being fought at high altitudes.

* {{Irony}}: At the beginning of the game, Link and Zelda take part in a traditional ceremony, with Zelda playing the part of the Goddess and Link the part of her Chosen Hero. [[spoiler:As it turns out, Zelda really ''is'' the Goddess, and Link is her Chosen Hero. This is reinforced later when [[PlotParallel the two reenact the same scene]], this time with full knowledge of their true destiny.]]

* LethalLavaLand: Eldin Volcano.
* LettingTheAirOutOfTheBand: Travelling from the top of the Ancient Cistern into the basement causes the previously airy music to drop off into more sinister tones.

* LevelsTakeFlight: The entire overworld, being set in the clouds with a bird to travel on between them.

* LongSongShortScene: The game has plenty of awesome themes. Sadly, almost every single one of them only appears once or twice throughout the whole game, and almost none have enough screen time to stick to the player's memory. Even ''Ballad of the Goddess'' is very scarce considering it's supposed to be the game's main theme. It's almost a RunningGag to the effect that Zelda is always interrupted when playing it.

* TheLostWoods: Faron Woods, the first area Link visits after dropping down to Hyrule.