Zelda Takes the Lead in Echoes of Wisdom
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom marks a bold departure from the typical Zelda formula, finally allowing players to step into the shoes of Princess Zelda herself. For decades, Link has been the player’s conduit into the world of Hyrule, even as the games have been titled after the iconic princess. However, Echoes of Wisdom flips the script, placing Zelda front and center as the hero, while Link mysteriously vanishes into a strange rift. As more rifts open across the land, it’s up to Zelda to uncover the truth behind them and restore balance.
We got the chance to go hands-on with Echoes of Wisdom at PAX West 2024, and from what we played, the game’s new direction brings both familiar and fresh elements to the table.
Echoes of Wisdom marks a bold new direction for the series by placing Princess Zelda in the protagonist role for the first time.
Puzzle-Solving Innovation and Exploration
The first thing that stands out is the puzzle-solving. In Echoes of Wisdom, you’re given multiple ways to solve rooms and overcome obstacles, which feels liberating compared to the more linear approaches of past entries. During gameplay, players can utilize Zelda’s magic abilities or interact with environmental objects, which adds flexibility in how you tackle each room. If you move through the area too quickly, it’s possible to miss echoes, but there are multiple ways to travel back and acquire a missed skill. Echoes are unique abilities tied to the enemies you encounter later on. This helps ease the pressure of having to backtrack too much.
Zelda’s Combat: Fluidity and Magic Abilities
Gameplay itself feels notably smoother than in Link’s Awakening, which had a few hiccups in movement and combat fluidity. Zelda’s movements are graceful yet responsive, making exploration and combat feel tighter. There’s a certain satisfaction in mastering her abilities as you progress, and her combat style differentiates itself enough from Link’s to keep longtime players engaged.
Challenges with Puzzle Clarity and Echoes System
However, not everything about Echoes of Wisdom is seamless. While the idea of offering multiple solutions to puzzles is great, sometimes the “optimal” solution isn’t always obvious. There were moments during our demo where it felt like brute-forcing a puzzle was the only way to proceed, which detracts from the otherwise clever design. In these instances, Echoes of Wisdom could benefit from clearer visual cues or feedback.
Zelda’s magic abilities allow for multiple solutions to puzzles, offering players freedom in how they tackle challenges.
Another point of contention lies in the Echoes system itself. While it’s a neat concept to acquire abilities based on the enemies you defeat, these Echoes don’t always behave as expected in combat. Some of the Echoes we summoned didn’t fight as we would have liked, often requiring more management than should be necessary for what should feel like an empowering mechanic.
Final Thoughts: A New Perspective for Zelda Fans
Despite theis, our time with The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom left us optimistic. The shift to having Zelda as the main character brings a fresh perspective, and the gameplay is as magical as it is imaginative. If the final game can iron out some of its rougher edges, Echoes of Wisdom is shaping up to be a standout entry in the series.
The innovative mechanics and strong narrative direction make it easy to imagine this game collecting its fair share of praise for series fans and new players discovering this series. While it’s not without challenges, the positives far outweigh the minimal negatives, making this a Zelda adventure that fans should be excited to experience.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is coming to Nintendo Switch on September 26, 2024.
