This game contains dozens of references to the previous games in the Zelda catalog. Some of them are: - When you walk onto the field for the first time, you briefly hear the theme song to "The Legend of Zelda", and the dungeon theme from this game can be heard inside the Royal Crypt. - The Ocarina is the same as the one in "Ocarina of Time", and the tune it plays when you use it is from "The Legend of Zelda". - When you kill Vaati's second form, the castle collapses, just as it did in "Adventures of Link" and "Ocarina of Time". - Syrup the Witch is from "Link to the Past". - Smith's house is designed identically to Link's uncle's from "A Link to the Past". -The Mysterious Shells resemble the Secret Seashells from "Link's Awakening". -The carpenters who work in the fields and in town are the same group that Link saves in "Ocarina of Time". Other characters from that game are Malon, Talon and Dampé - Zelda's giggling and Link's screaming are both sound-clips from "Ocarina of Time". - Dr. Left, Stockwell and the three ladies Din, Nayru and Farore are from the Oracle series. - When you talk to Malon, there are some notes from "Epona's Song", from "Ocarina of Time" - Tingle, Anju, Jim, the Postman and Gorman appeared for the first time in "Majora's Mask", although Tingle had a more substantial role in "Wind Waker". - Many Hyrule Townspeople, like Beedle, Sturgeon, Carlov, Anton, Maggie, Joel & Zill, the Goron Merchant as well as Tingle's brothers are from "Wind Waker". - The bosses are all stronger versions of the bosses from "Link to the Past", "Wind Waker" and "Majora's Mask". - The sword Link carries is the same one that is stolen in "Four Swords".
The song that plays during mini-boss battles is actually the enemy encounter music from the Japanese version of "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link", released on Nintendo's Famicom Disk System (an add-on device for the Famicom, a console later released outside of Japan as the Nintendo Entertainment System). Like the title screen tune, this particular song was changed for the NES version.
In terms of chronology, this is the second game in the series, taking place centuries after Zeruda no densetsu: Sukaiwôdo sôdo (2011), but long before Zeruda no densetsu: Toki no okarina (1998). The creators of Skyward Sword acknowledged this by including the Digging Mitts and the Gust Jar to their game, as a reference to similar objects found in The Minish Cap.
One of the few games in the Legend of Zelda series that doesn't feature either the Master Sword or the Triforce (except in decorations).
This is chronologically the first game in the unofficial Four Swords trilogy within the Zelda series (though the second to be released). This mini-series revolves around the eponymous weapon, the Four Sword, and has sorcerer Vaati as the main antagonist. The other two installments are The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (released as part of Zeruda no densetsu: Kamigami no toraifôsu (1991)) and Zeruda no densetsu: 4 tsu no tsurugi + (2004).