Summary
Very soon,Zeldafans will be graced with a new title, just one year after the bombshellTears of the Kingdomdropped.The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomwill be the first mainlineZeldagame to star Princess Zelda herself as the main playable character, and it’s celebrating the occasion by bringing a unique spin to the franchise’s traditional gameplay. Returning to a top-down perspective,The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomwill allow players to copy and generate objects and enemies to take a free-form approach in their quest to rescue Link.
It’s an exciting and surprising title that’s also fulfilling an old fan request, so it’s no wonder why many count it among the June 2024 Nintendo Direct’s highlights. The one sticking point some viewers have had is its art style, which is shared with the Nintendo Switch remake ofThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. By looks alone,bothEchoes of WisdomandLink’s Awakeningare built on the same bones, but that should become especially apparent when an alternate gameplay style associated with the old Game BoyZeldatakes over.
Echoes of Wisdom Mixes Original Design With Other Zelda’s Strengths
A large portion ofEchoes of Wisdom’s reveal trailer and preview footage is devoted to the new Echo ability. Having been granted a Trip Rod by the fairy Tri, Princess Zelda can make imitations of objects, certain environmental fixtures, and even enemies to solve puzzles, fight monsters, and navigate Hyrule. For the most part, this process resemblesA Link to the Past, with fans even noticing some physical similarities betweenEchoes of WisdomandALttP’s Hyrule Kingdom. However, fans should not make the mistake of thinking an art style is allEchoes of Wisdomhas in common withLink’s Awakeningas well.
Link’s Awakening Has Lent Echoes of Wisdom A Rare Trait
One of the shots in theEchoes of Wisdomtrailer footage shows Zelda fully submerged underwater, with the camera assuming a side profile instead of the normal top-down view. Considering how committed the game otherwise is to being a top-down adventure, going fully 2D at points comes as a surprise. This particular scene resembles the side view swimming found inLink’s Awakening, especially the Angler’s Tunnel whereLink fights the Angler Fish dungeon boss. It’s safe to assume that this won’t be the only timeEchoes of Wisdomshares this quirk withLink’s Awakening, which could be to its benefit.
2D Gameplay Has Always Been An Option For The Legend of Zelda
Side-scrolling gameplay has a greater presence inThe Legend of Zeldathan many fans realize. Its dominance inZelda 2: The Adventure of Linkis well-remembered, but even the original NESLegend of Zeldahad screens faking a 2D perspective whenever players found dungeon items. The Game Boy trio ofLink’s Awakening,Oracle of Seasons, andOracle of Agesall make sporadic use of it, andFour Swords Adventuresfittingly renders roughly half of its GBA screen gameplay in 2D.Link’s Awakening’s hybrid approach is the most recognizable of its kind, and now it has another chance to share its rare view ofZeldagameplay.
How Echoes of Wisdom Could Adapt Link’s Awakening’s Side-Scrolling
Chances are good that the ratio of 2D-to-top-down gameplay inEchoes of Wisdomwill be similar toLink’s Awakening. It will come up occasionally, often underground as another brief trailer scene demonstrates, and there could even be an entirely 2D boss.Echoes of Wisdomhas an air meter that will keep water areas brief, but, in a notable change fromLink’s Awakening, Zelda canjump likeTears of the KingdomLinkwithout the aid of a Roc’s Feather. Combining these 2D areas’ typical platforming emphasis and the many Echoes that can help Zelda change elevation, the 2D areas ofEchoes of Wisdomshould play off of one ofLink’s Awakening’s strengths in a delightful way.
