Zelda Skyward Sword HD footage shows a free-moving camera has been added

A new clip of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD appears to show the addition of a freely controllable camera.

The original version of the game, released on Wii in 2011, didn’t give players direct control of the camera.

However, a new clip tweeted by Nintendo of America appears to show the player rotating the camera around Link.

Because the Wii version had to be played with a Wii Remote and Nunchuk, players only had access to a single stick for movement and therefore didn’t have a right stick for camera control.

Players could only press the Z button to snap the camera behind Link, but this occasionally caused problems because the same button was used to lock the camera view onto enemies.

However, because the Switch‘s Joy-Con controllers each have a stick, players should theoretically be able to control Link with the left stick and the camera with the right stick.

The game can also be played with the Switch Pro Controller, but the right stick is used for swinging Link’s sword in various directions so it remains to be seen how a free camera could be implemented with this control method.

Nintendo’s clip also shows how some of the opening tutorial information has been streamlined to make the game’s opening hours more enjoyable.

Revealed during a Nintendo Direct live stream in February and set for release on July 16, Skyward Sword for Switch features “smoother and more intuitive” controls, in addition to a 60fps framerate and improved HD graphics.

Earlier this month Nintendo confirmed several other quality of life improvements coming to the Switch version, including:

• Optional help from Fi: Fi only appears in cut-scenes or when necessary and can otherwise be summoned manually to provide advice or guidance
• Enhanced framerate: The game runs at 60 frames per second, resulting in smoother gameplay
• Fast-forward dialogue: Text shown on-screen can be fast-forwarded by pressing the B Button
• Streamlined item information: Explanations for collectable items, such as insects and materials, only appear the first time the item is collected
• Skippable cutscenes: Cutscenes can be skipped by pressing the – Button
• Autosave: Game progress will be saved automatically, in addition to the existing manual save option
• Skippable tutorial dialogues: The introductory player tutorials have been refined to be less intrusive

One of the game’s most requested new features, which allows players to travel between the surface world and the sky at any point rather than by having to visit certain locations, is locked behind a new Zelda and Loftwing amiibo, which will be released alongside the title.