The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword sends this storied series to new heights and marks a turning point for the franchise.

The game uses the precision motion controls of the Wii Remote Plus (or a Wii Remote controller with a Wii MotionPlus accessory) and Nunchuk controllers to map on-screen action to the player's movements. When a player swings the Wii Remote Plus controller, Link appears to swing his sword in exactly the same way.

Different enemies have different battle tactics, so players must analyze their approach and develop counterattacks that play on the enemies' weaknesses. The game's wide array of items also use full motion controls, letting players roll bombs, shoot arrows and guide flying objects like never before.

The game includes a massive, multilayered world that takes players from dark dungeons to a diverse overworld to cloud cities in the sky, requiring a combination of puzzle-solving and swordplay to unlock all of its secrets. Link soars through the air on the wings of a majestic bird while exploring the game's sky area, providing players with unprecedented freedom of movement as they progress on their adventure. The quest lays the foundation for the events in  The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is frequently cited as one of the greatest video games of all time.

Link journeys through the Lanayru Desert, where he must find his way through the puzzles in the Lanayru Mining Facility, sail across a sea of sand and discover new items to add to his collection. Newly revealed game elements include the following:

• Lanayru Desert and the Lanayru Mining Facility: In this vast area, surrounded in all directions by sand, Link must search for the Lanayru Mining Facility. As strange a place as this is, Link will encounter characters both new and familiar, such as Gorons. Inside the Lanayru Mining Facility, Link will follow the path of mine carts through this expansive area, experiencing new puzzles and challenges. He must also face the dungeon boss Moldera, a fearsome giant scorpion.
• Sand Ship: Late in his quest, Link returns to a different area of the Lanayru Desert as he sails across a sea of sand in search of a hidden ship.
• New Items: In the desert, Link will receive two new items – the Claw Shots and the Gust Jar. The Claw Shots allow players to grapple and pull themselves toward otherwise unreachable areas. The Gust Jar can blow a burst of air to stun enemies or clear paths through piles of sand. Players will find the Gust Jar essential to solving the puzzles in the Lanayru Mining Facility.

Key Features:

• Thanks to the required Wii MotionPlus accessory, every movement of Link's sword matches the player's motion with exact precision. If players motion left to right, Link swings from left to right. The precision play control is applied to enemies as well, as players must contemplate strategy when battling opponents that actively try to defend against attacks.
• Wii MotionPlus puts an arsenal of items at the player's disposal. It offers a multitude of actions with just simple, intuitive motions. Players will try their hand at firing a bow, tossing bombs and using a whip to battle enemies and solve puzzles.
• The game will also introduce a distinct new graphical style perfectly suited to the franchise's fantastical universe, like a painting come to life.
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will offer a multitude of new gameplay mechanics, giving it a refreshingly different feel from all of the past titles in the series.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is now available for pre-order at major retailers throughout North America.