first Zelda game on the original timeline, which means that it contains a lot of interesting lore. We can assume that this marks the first incarnations of both Link and Zelda, and they need to stop Ghirahim from undoing Hylia’s hard work of sealing away Demise. In the middle of this adventure, I can't help thinking about the nature of Skyloft and how several elements of it don't make sense if you think about it beyond the choices made for the sake of game design necessities.

Skyward Sword starts you on a floating island called Skyloft, which is where the Hylians live at this point in time, rather than on the Surface, where they'll live in the future. Hyrule hasn't been established yet, but the opening of the game puts you in the middle of the day that celebrates Hylia. While the celebration leads to Zelda falling to the Surface, you still have the opportunity to explore Skyloft, which you might consider similar to the Sky portions in Tears of the Kingdom if you've played both games or if you're unfamiliar with Skyward Sword.

Skyloft's Design Can't Sustain A Population

It's Far Too Small

When it comes to games, I like to nitpick at elements that are meaningless in the grand scheme of the game. Of course, I did the same thing for Skyward Sword while exploring Skyloft, and I came to the conclusion that it wouldn't be a feasible option for a population to live on, especially if they don't have additional islands or the Surface available to help them. Growing the population would be nearly impossible if the Hylians stayed in Skyloft. There's just not enough space to both build structures needed for the population and have space for food production.

The biggest issue with growing and sustaining a population on Skyloft is its size. It poses a problem not just for the sake of housing, as there's only so much room for people to live, but in of food supply as well. What small amount of space Skyloft has available would need to be divided so that there's enough housing to provide shelter for the population but also enough land to use for agriculture and livestock. Then, there's space for schools, shops, and other leisure activities, and every element together would require more space than we see in Skyloft.

I know that Skyloft can at least grow vegetables like pumpkins, which you can see through exploring and the popularity of pumpkin soup in Skyward Sword. So, it's possible that they could grow and store food, at least. However, that would bring into question how the seasons work for Skyloft, and if there's even a winter that would prevent them from growing food for a few months. Still, I just don't think the logistics are there for Skyloft to be able to a stable population, much less allow for it to grow.

How Loftwings Work (& Why It's A Problem)

Two Connected Populations

Loftwings are the large birds that the residents of Skyloft befriend and ride, which also helps prevent them from falling to the Surface, as the Loftwings are able to catch their riders. We see several pairings, including Zelda and her Loftwing in Skyward Sword, and early in the game, we learn that part of Skyloft culture means that every citizen has a Loftwing that they're paired with. This culture of pairing Hylians with Loftwings then raises questions about the influence of these populations on each other and if there are Loftwings that don't have a Hylian partner.

Even if we consider that there's a perfect ratio where every Loftwing has a Hylian and every Hylian has a Loftwing, then that adds additional problems when it comes to the logistics of surviving with a limited area of land to use. Considering it isn't part of the game, I don't have information about caring for Loftwings or what needs to be done to make sure that there is always enough of them to pair each Hylian with one. There are so many factors to take into , and Skyloft simply doesn't have the room these populations need to thrive.

It's also interesting that the Hylians don't leave and try to inhabit the Surface. At some point, they would need to consider additional options if they want to keep thriving as a small civilization, and their partnership with the Loftwings gives them the perfect way to explore and search for more space to grow. Of course, the size of Skyloft is likely on the smaller side for the sake of game development purposes, and there was no reason that the team would need to make it bigger, considering it was able to serve its purpose in Skyward Sword.

Skyloft & Loftwings Are Still Cool Parts Of Skyward Sword

A Unique Setting Before Hyrule

The series made an interesting move by having the first game on the timeline begin not only before the creation of Hyrule, but having Hylians living on an island in the sky. Part of this decision helps explain the crest of the Hyrule Royal Family, as you can see the wings of a Loftwing memorialized on it, which you can also spot in Hyrule Castle in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom if you look closely. It's also the first game that gave Link and Zelda a more personal relationship, as we know that they grew up as childhood friends in this title.

I'm actually sad that we didn't get to use Loftwings more in Skyward Sword, since that could've been a more fleshed out mechanic with greater importance. However, since Loftwings are like an accessory to the game's story, I would guess that general development needs and implementing motion control took precedence. Still, I think that the existence of Skyward Sword helped pave the way for Tears of the Kingdom.

With so many games to compete against, I don't often see Skyward Sword mentioned as one of the most beloved titles in the series, and I wouldn't say that it's my favorite either. However, I think that it played an important role in providing lore about Hylia, Zelda, Link, and Demise, and that it answered small questions like why the Hyrule Royal Family's crest has wings on the sides of the Triforce. That doesn't stop it from having other elements that make no sense, though, like how Skyloft can its Hylian population in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.