Wikipedia

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom[a] is a 2024 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo and Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Released on September 26, 2024, it is the first main Legend of Zelda game with Princess Zelda as the playable character.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Key and cover art
Developer(s)Nintendo EPD
Grezzo[1]
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)
  • Satoshi Terada[2]
  • Tomomi Sano
Producer(s)Eiji Aonuma
Artist(s)
  • Masaki Yasuda
  • Yumi Kikuoka
Composer(s)Masato Ohashi
Manaka Kataoka
Chisaki Hosaka
Reika Nakai
Yuri Goto
Ryotaro Yagi
Azusa Kato
SeriesThe Legend of Zelda
Platform(s)Nintendo Switch
ReleaseSeptember 26, 2024
Genre(s)Action-adventure[3]
Mode(s)Single-player

Players control Zelda on a quest to save Link and the kingdom of Hyrule using the Tri Rod, a magical artifact provided by the fairy Tri, who assists her. The visual style is similar to that of the 2019 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which Grezzo also developed.

Echoes of Wisdom was released worldwide on the Nintendo Switch on September 26, 2024 and received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised it for its visuals, soundtrack, story, Zelda as a protagonist, and new mechanics that innovated the gameplay.

Gameplay

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The player controls Princess Zelda, who can use the power of the magical Tri Rod to create "echoes", which are imitations of objects and monsters that can be used freely. However, there is a limit on how many can be summoned and each echo has a different cost; how many echoes can be created is indicated by the number of triangles visible behind Tri.[4][5] She can also "bind" objects with Bond, allowing an object to move with her, or move with an object using Reverse Bond.[6][7] In addition to having echoes fight enemies, Zelda can fight enemies directly by wielding a sword that transforms her into the Swordfighter form, which resembles Link.[8] This form can only be used for a limited time before its energy must be replenished by collecting orbs of energy found in the Still World.[9]

Zelda can travel through various methods, including echoes, fast travel sites called Waypoints, on foot, or on horseback. She can also change outfits or equipment and combine ingredients to purchase smoothies.[10]

Plot

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Setting and characters

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In addition to Hyrule, the game features the Still World, which is connected to Hyrule through rifts that each lead to a different section of it, where people, objects, and terrain transported there are frozen in time. There are also dungeons that Zelda explores, each with a boss that must be defeated in order to progress.[9]

Many of the people of Hyrule appear throughout the game, including the Gerudo, river and ocean Zoras, Gorons, Deku Scrubs, and Yetis.[6] Dampé creates automata that function similarly to echoes.[8]

Synopsis

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While rescuing Zelda from Ganon, Link disappears into the Still World after falling into a mysterious rift; similar rifts appear throughout Hyrule, causing others to disappear into the Still World, including its king and his advisors, General Wright and Minister Lefte. Upon returning to Hyrule Castle; Ganon, who revealed to be one of evil echoes created by the primordial evil being called Null (the mastermind who behinds a rift), takes forms of the king and his advisors and frames Zelda for causing the rifts and imprisons her in the castle's dungeons to be executed. Zelda escapes with help from Tri, the magical fairy connected to the Triforce and the only one capable of closing the rifts. Tri gives Zelda the Tri Rod and ventures throughout Hyrule to repair the rifts and rescue those trapped in the Still World.

During her adventure, she confronts an evil echo of Link who is also sent by Null and rescues the king from Ganon after confronting and defeating him in Hyrule Castle, but Null abducts the real Link who prevented it from attacking Zelda. During the middle of her adventures; the Golden Goddesses, Din, Nayru and Farore explain to Zelda that many decades ago, Null resided in the Void that existed before reality, consuming life forms whenever it developed in order to remain the only being in existence. However, the Goddesses created the universe over the Void to seal away Null. After Hyrule was founded, Null attempted to break its seal by creating rifts in order to destroy Hyrule and return existence to the Void. To counteract the rifts, the Goddesses sent the Tris to repair the rifts and return to the Goddesses once their purpose was fulfilled.

Null attempts to take the Prime Energy from the Triforce for itself by creating an echo of Zelda, whom the Goddesses deemed worthy of possessing part of its power along with Link, but Zelda, with help from Link and Tri, confront and destroy it. The Tris repair the rifts and return to the Goddesses while Zelda reunites with the king.

Development

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Development of Echoes of Wisdom began after completion of development on the Link's Awakening remake as a new 2D top-down Zelda game for the Switch, originally as a game similar to the Super Mario Maker series before becoming an original game. Grezzo director Satoshi Terada and Nintendo director Tomomi Sano worked on the game with series producer Eiji Aonuma, providing new ideas such as the echoes system and having Zelda as protagonist rather than Link. Terada struggled to come up with ideas for the echoes, as the development team was worried about the problems it could cause. Aonuma wanted to cherish a new creativity and innovation for the series, feeling that Link's Awakening offered a new approach. He asked Grezzo to collaborate with Nintendo EPD Group No.3 to work on the game, as it was the first time they worked on an original game rather than a remake.[11]

The game features a similar art style to the Nintendo Switch remake of Link's Awakening (2019).

Echoes of Wisdom is the first main Zelda game with Princess Zelda as the playable character.[12] She was previously playable in games developed by third-party companies, including Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993) and Zelda's Adventure (1996) for the Philips CD-i, and spin-off games such as Hyrule Warriors (2014) and Cadence of Hyrule (2019).[5][13] According to Aonuma, Link was originally going to be the game's protagonist, but he realized that using both weapons and the echo system would be impractical.[14]

Echoes of Wisdom was announced on June 18, 2024, during a Nintendo Direct.[15] It was released on September 26, 2024.[12]

Reception

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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic,[16] and 91% of critics recommended the game, according to OpenCritic.[17]

Notes

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  1. ^ Japanese: ゼルダの伝説 知恵のかりもの, Hepburn: Zeruda no Densetsu: Chie no Karimono

References

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  1. ^ Fujiwara, Hideaki (September 20, 2024). "『ゼルダの伝説 知恵のかりもの』はグレッゾが開発参加。『ゼルダの伝説』をよく知る名手スタジオ". Automaton Media (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  2. ^ "Ask the Developer Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Part 1". Nintendo. September 23, 2024.
  3. ^ "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom". Nintendo. Nintendo of America, Inc. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
  4. ^ Holt, Kris (June 18, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will finally let you play as Zelda herself". Engadget. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  5. ^ a b McWhertor, Michael (June 18, 2024). "New Legend of Legend of Zelda game finally makes Zelda the playable hero of Hyrule". Polygon. Archived from the original on June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Gach, Ethan (August 5, 2024). "New Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Trailer Proves Its World Is Anything But A Link To The Past Remix". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (August 5, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Gets Deep Dive in Traversing Hyrule Trailer". IGN. Archived from the original on August 13, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Romano, Sal (August 30, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom 'Into the Still World, a Journey Continued' trailer". Gematsu. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Hagues, Alana (August 30, 2024). "Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Trailer Introduces Us To The 'Still World' And Dungeons". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  10. ^ McWhertor, Michael (August 5, 2024). "New Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom trailer reveals the cutest dang horses". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  11. ^ "Nintendo Spent A Year Working On What Essentially Sounds Like Zelda Maker". Kotaku. September 23, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Reed, Chris (June 26, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Is Available for Preorder". IGN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  13. ^ Andrews, Hayley (June 19, 2019). "The internet is losing it over Zelda's newfound independence in the next Legend of Zelda game". Dot Esports. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Life, Nintendo (September 24, 2024). "Echoes Of Wisdom Originally Starred Link, Until His Sword & Shield "Got In The Way"". Nintendo Life. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  15. ^ Nintendo Direct 6.18.2024 – Nintendo Switch. Nintendo of America. June 18, 2024. Event occurs at 26:16. Archived from the original on July 12, 2024. Retrieved June 18, 2024 – via YouTube.
  16. ^ a b "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Reviews". OpenCritic. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  18. ^ Colantonio, Giovanni (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review: a good start, but not yet royal". Digital Trends. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  19. ^ Castle, Katharine (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review — a rebellious remix of past and present". Eurogamer. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  20. ^ Petite, Steven (September 25, 2024). "The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Review — A Link Between Eras". GameSpot. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Machkovech, Sam (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review — "A refreshing, magic-filled retool of the Link's Awakening engine"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  22. ^ Marks, Tom (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review". IGN. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  23. ^ Hagues, Alana (September 25, 2024). "Review: The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom (Switch) - A Bold Blend Of Old & New That Ranks With The Series' Best". Nintendo Life. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Minor, Jordan (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review". PCMag. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  25. ^ Khan, Asif (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review: Reverberations of courage". Shacknews. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  26. ^ MacDonald, Keza (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review — a lot to learn". The Guardian. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  27. ^ Wood, Dashiell (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review: a charming throwback adventure". TechRadar. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Robinson, Andy (September 25, 2024). "Review: Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is stuck in the void between new and old". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  29. ^ Billcliffe, James (September 25, 2024). "Zelda Echoes of Wisdom review". VG247. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
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