It was after a particularly grueling session with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild that I started to wonder: When did developers stop putting cheats into their games to help the less talented among us get through the tricky bits? When I was a kid, a little bit of Up Down Left Right A and Start together, and a little older, a little / noclip saved me no end of bother. These days, if you look for cheats for any modern game online, the best you'll get is to be sassily told to "git gud." Sorry, a little context: I play games, but I'm not a Gamer, or a Nintendo Person, so in 2023 I resolved to remedy this. So many discussions at work fly past me because while I've heard of Cliff Bleszinski and Hironobu Sakaguchi, I couldn't tell you their oeuvre without Googling.

In a new trailer, the series' iconic hero, Link, is depicted opening a massive door and dashing across a chain of ruin-filled islands floating high up in the clouds. The islands appear to have a rich, diverse landscape -- some green and tangled with large, gnarled tree roots, and others large enough to host entire mountain ranges. Aerial travel seems to be a core mechanic in the game, as Link is shown jumping from a great height and landing on the back of a giant stone glider.

Sony's news dropped in a post on PlayStation's blog site, where president and CEO Jim Ryan announced the upcoming launch of a revamped PlayStation Plus subscription service. The new model features three tiers, with the most expensive ($119.99 That option, dubbed PlayStation Plus Premium, includes PS3 games that will be playable via cloud streaming, as well as "a catalog of beloved classic games available both in streaming and downloadable options from the original PlayStation, PS2, PSP and PS4 generations." That access will be limited to markets "where PlayStation Now is currently available."

A story and a tangible sense of place: "BOTW" is a monstrous game, filled with lore. There's a reason why Internet essayists, like the YouTube channel Zeltik, have created dozens of videos peering into the mysteries of a post-apocalypse Hyrule. The "Zonai Tribe" doesn't even factor into its main game, and is barely named, but seems to be central to the series history. "Skyward Sword" is far less subtle about its story, and many will miss it. While I personally appreciate a more mise-en-scène approach to video game storytelling, the characters and cinematic framing of "Skyward Sword" is undeniably charming.

"Skyward Sword" is, on the whole, clumsy and unstylish. For every one great design (several of the boss fights stand out in particular) there are 10 that feel like bargain bin imitations. But there are moments of real majesty and charm scattered throughout. If you squint, beyond the basic "hero saves world" narrative, "Skyward Sword" is a story about reclaiming nature and restoring peace; about revisiting and reconnecting with the past; it is about camaraderie -- and sealing away cursed spirits. After playing, I would catch myself humming along to themes from the game's score.