NOTE: This review is spoiler-free regarding major gameplay and story elements. While it will provide general impressions, specifics beyond the initial cutscenes and details seen in official trailers or Nintendo promotional content will not be discussed. The accompanying images also avoid disclosing location names or advanced game areas. If you wish to approach the game without any prior knowledge, you can read this review without fear of spoilers beyond what has already been shared by Nintendo.
When pondering the series titled “The Legend of Zelda,” many fans have often wondered why she isn’t the central character. This question has lingered for years, and with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake on Nintendo Switch in 2019, the anticipation for more titles in this format has only grown. Surprisingly, Nintendo has addressed both concerns magnificently in a single title: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. While this is not the first instance of the princess being playable, it notably represents her inaugural solo adventure in the beloved 2D style that fans cherish. But does this decision prove to be a clever one, or are we left with unanswered questions about the missing Link?
Echoes of Wisdom begins atypically—setting the stage with what would typically be the climax, as Link confronts the nefarious Ganon to rescue the captive Zelda. However, events take an unforeseen twist when both Link and Ganon are swallowed by a mysterious rift, with Link’s final act being to free Zelda from her captivity. When she returns to Hyrule Castle, she finds herself imprisoned once more, this time by her father—the King—who unjustly directs blame towards her for the rifts threatening the realm. In her dungeon confinement, Zelda encounters a mysterious being named Tri. After assisting Tri in her escape, the duo embarks on an adventure to save Hyrule.
This review avoids delving into deeper plot revelations, but be assured that the narrative structure will resonate with players familiar with the series, albeit this time Link has vanished instead of Zelda. Familiar fans of the timeline will nonetheless have new lore to digest by the end of the adventure, while newcomers can enjoy the narrative as a standalone journey without needing extensive context. Although it may lack some of the emotional depth found in recent 3D iterations, Echoes of Wisdom weaves an engaging and satisfying story.
Visually, Echoes of Wisdom adopts a classic isometric 2D style similar to the Link’s Awakening remake, thereby offering a more structured gameplay experience compared to recent 3D titles like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Players will find a series of objectives and dungeons to complete in pursuit of progression. The game provides clearer guidance, pushing players in certain directions rather than leaving them completely to their own devices. Nonetheless, it takes cues from its 3D counterparts, allowing for a significantly more flexible experience than earlier 2D games. Following the introductory sequences, players find most of Hyrule’s expanse open for exploration with main objectives that can be tackled at their own pace, providing ample side activities to engage in without a rush.
Each installment of The Legend of Zelda series typically features a distinctive gameplay mechanic, and for Echoes of Wisdom, it is the Tri Rod. This innovative tool enables players to create echoes of various items and foes at the expense of a small energy cost. The number of echoes you can produce is constrained by Tri’s strength and the individual echo’s specific cost. When generating a new echo beyond Tri’s limits, the oldest one created is discarded, which keeps gameplay balanced and prevents players from overwhelming opponents or skipping puzzles entirely.
As players traverse Hyrule, they will gradually amass echoes, allowing for the strategic use of previously learned ones anytime. Progression feels rewarding, as players’ abilities continuously expand. However, managing this expanding toolkit can become somewhat cumbersome. Echoes can be categorized by type, cost, and recency of use, but ideally, a custom list feature could streamline navigation. The need to pause frequently to select the appropriate echo can disrupt gameplay flow, especially during intense combat sequences.
The introduction of echoes alters the problem-solving landscape, drawing more inspiration from Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom than past 2D titles. While there’s often a designated solution for challenges, players can bypass it creatively using their acquired echoes. This adaptability allows for a more straightforward approach in some dungeons, depending on players’ chosen orders to complete them. Notably, everything learned remains applicable until the end of the game; for instance, utilizing bed echoes to create bridges across gaps is still viable in the final dungeon!
Another core element to Echoes of Wisdom is the Still World, which players will frequently revisit to restore harmony to Hyrule. While alternate realms are not entirely new to the Zelda franchise, this one resembles the Distortion World from Pokémon Platinum, with its fragmented design and challenging miniature platforming segments that players must navigate to rescue Tri’s friends concealed behind environmental puzzles or hidden within shadowy foes. These short intervals provide a refreshing break from open-world exploration and extensive dungeons, serving as rewarding side activities that typically yield upgrades for Zelda’s capabilities in Swordfighter Mode.
Combat also sees a dynamic shift due to echoes, permitting players to summon defeated foes to fight alongside them. There’s a unique satisfaction in vanquishing an opponent and unleashing them against their prior allies. While echoes will automatically target the nearest enemies, players can also lock onto specific targets. This mechanic can feel somewhat awkward at times, often requiring the placement of echoes close to adversaries for effective hits while juggling damage avoidance. Zelda can also engage directly in combat using Swordfighter Mode, temporarily transforming into a ghostly version of Link, but the energy for this ability is limited and drains rapidly, necessitating reliance on echoes for most encounters.
As noted earlier, Echoes of Wisdom is rich in additional activities outside the main narrative, incorporating elements from the latest 3D game designs to enhance the world and mitigate linearity. In addition to the usual hidden Pieces of Heart and various minigames scattered throughout, there’s an array of side quests from straightforward fetch tasks to complex missions leading players to areas not traversed via the main storyline. These enrich the world, painting a picture of the NPCs of Hyrule as they struggle to adapt to the chaos caused by the rifts and offer engaging—albeit sometimes less rewarding—mini-stories.
The smoothie-making mechanic allows players to mix two ingredients for heart restoration and to gain temporary buffs based on their choices. These come in handy when navigating extreme heat, cold, or while submerged underwater. Zelda can also wear accessories, uncovering costumes that provide various advantages, lending a touch of character customization. The effectiveness of these features can vary based on the difficulty mode selected. The classic Hero Mode, which amplifies damage taken and removes heart drops, returns but can be toggled freely during gameplay.
Echoes of Wisdom maintains the charming, toy-like visual style reminiscent of Link’s Awakening’s remake, yet the expansive world design feels even more striking and imaginative. Unshackled from a limited map, the developers have truly let their creativity flourish, presenting a remarkable variety of biomes. As you explore these stunning environments, vibrant lighting effects and colors shine, especially on the Switch OLED display. The game also features a mix of familiar locations from previous titles, enhanced with remixed orchestral themes that evoke nostalgia while providing a fresh experience.
Although the game operates smoothly, it does employ a significant amount of blur to maintain a consistent framerate and high visual fidelity. While this artistic choice felt appropriate for the dream-like nature of the Link’s Awakening remake, in Echoes of Wisdom, it can seem slightly out of place. Observing blurred edges during intense moments or looking down from above at foes disrupts the otherwise immersive gameplay. While this doesn’t detract from the game’s overall quality, it can occasionally be distracting during sections where vertical gameplay becomes crucial.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom balances the cherished elements of the series’ classic gameplay with modern open-world mechanics, creating an enchanting experience that’s both nostalgic and fresh. Fans new and old should undoubtedly explore this latest offering. Scheduled for release on 26 September 2024, this new chapter in Hyrule promises to be a memorable adventure.
9.5/10
A copy of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was kindly provided by Nintendo UK for this review.