Zelda’s Official Timeline Gets a New Addition: Echoes of Wisdom
Delving into the intricate web of the Zelda timeline has always been a point of contention among fans and critics alike, and the latest installment, Echoes of Wisdom, has been officially placed within the saga.
Nintendo’s categorization of Zelda’s new journey places it in the ‘Hero is defeated’ timeline, slotting it in after Tri Force Heroes and before the ‘Decline of the Hyrule Kingdom’. Here’s how Nintendo describes the placement of Echoes of Wisdom in the timeline:
“The hero Link embarks on a quest to rescue Princess Zelda from the clutches of Ganon. After a fierce showdown, Link emerges victorious, only to be sucked into a mysterious rift. It’s as if he’s been whisked away… Across all of Hyrule, strange rifts begin to appear, snatching away the people of the land. No one is safe—not even the king and his advisors, who have also vanished. Princess Zelda must now embark on a journey to save her father, the king of Hyrule, the citizens, and Link.”
According to Nintendo’s narrative, this timeline stems from the outcome in Ocarina of Time where the Hero of Time falls in battle to Ganondorf, resulting in the ‘lose’ outcome. A ‘win’ scenario, termed ‘The Hero is Triumphant,’ branches off into Link’s ‘child’ and ‘adult’ eras.
Further emphasis on the timeline placement can be seen in the image above, showcasing Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom distinctly positioned.
Nintendo has previously highlighted its approach to Zelda timelines as being considered “to an extent” during the development phase. Recently, producer Eiji Aonuma shed light on why gameplay tends to take precedence over story within the series.
What are your thoughts on this updated timeline? Share your comments below.
[source nintendo.com]