The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review – Zelda Finally Takes the Lead!

For a while now, fans have been hoping for a new Zelda game starring the Princess of Hyrule herself. Now, they finally get that chance in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, a new entry in the franchise with some interesting twists.

A Twist in the Zelda Formula

Besides the change in protagonist this time around, with Link, Ganondorf, and various other Hyrule residents being consumed by strange rifts that appear throughout the lands, much to Zelda’s shock. Things only get worse when the rifts start creating imposters of certain people, such as Zelda’s father and members of the royal court, who frame her for causing the rifts and imprison her for execution. Now, needing to stop these rifts in disguise, Zelda sneaks off across the lands with the help of a mysterious being named Tri.

Together, they enter various parts of the rifts known as Still World, aiming to free Tri’s friends so they can gather enough energy to close off the rifts and save everyone who’s been consumed. During Zelda’s journey, she encounters various familiar faces from the franchise, such as the Zora, Gerudo, and Gorons, who all require Zelda’s help with their own rift-related problems. Often, this involves rescuing important figures that have been consumed by the rifts. Another twist in Echoes of Wisdom is its combat, which I found to be one of the most fun and creative aspects of the game.

How Combat Is Different in Echoes of Wisdom

Zelda must rely on the mystical Tri Rod, given to her by Tri, to fight off various enemies that she encounters in Hyrule and during her trips into the Still World. The Tri Rod allows Zelda to create copies of various items by learning them using the ZR button. This allows her to create “echoes” of these items that can be used in combat, like throwing rocks or pots, or even solving puzzles, such as summoning echoes to reach a button and unlock a door or creating a bed bridge to cross a gap.

However, Tri’s power is limited, and she can only summon up to three echoes at a time (or fewer depending on the size of the echo). As the game progresses, Tri grows stronger and gains more abilities for the Tri Rod, such as the ability to summon more echoes, summon them from a distance, or reduce the cost of summoning larger items. Beds can also be used to regain health. Because of this, beds were one of the most useful echoes for me during combat. If I was about to die, I could simply take a nap for a minute or two to regain lost health.

Later in the game, you acquire better beds that help Zelda regain health at a faster rate, which is helpful when you’re running low on smoothies—healing items you can create by finding ingredients throughout the game and mixing them with the help of various members of the Deku Scrub family. The variety of ingredients you can find allows for different combinations of smoothies that restore more health or energy and provide Zelda with various effects, such as making her glow or lightning-proof.

Creating Enemy Echoes & Tri’s Binding Ability

Zelda can also create echoes of enemies to act as her bodyguards, such as Octoroks, Tanguler fish, or even Poes. However, I found that throwing rocks at enemies was my preferred method of getting through combat. You can target-lock enemies using the ZL button, while throwing items at them is done with the A button after lifting them up. Simply placing objects down is done with the B button.

The fun part of using the Tri Rod is that players can think of various ways to defeat enemies, making it enjoyable to experiment with different methods. Aside from the Tri Rod, pressing the R button allows Zelda to do a quick twirl, and pressing B lets her perform a small jump. While swimming, she can dive using the B button and resurface with the A button. Using bubbles found in the water replenishes her breath.

Tri can also bind herself to enemies or objects by locking onto them and using the X button. This allows Zelda to move suspended items or enemies, which she can release using the ZR button. If you’re feeling a bit mischievous, like I did, you can drop enemies into abysses to eliminate them. You can also press R to attach yourself to an enemy, using them to move to certain parts of an area. Tri will also mark waypoints at specific spots, making it easier to warp across the map and travel faster.

The Power of the Sword of Might

For players worried that the Tri Rod means you won’t be able to engage in classic Zelda-style combat, fear not—the Sword of Might is an alternative. Zelda finds Link’s sword early in the game, and it allows her to take on Link’s heroic spirit. However, the sword runs on energy and is only temporary. You can easily refill the sword’s energy using potions or by finding energy scattered throughout the Still World. Pressing Y while in this mode allows you to slash through enemies, and you can also jump higher.

I mainly used the sword during emergencies or in boss battles to clear fights more quickly. The game encourages this during boss fights, providing plenty of energy to refill your gauge. That said, you can still use echoes to defeat bosses, though it takes longer. I even used enemy echoes to take down one boss. It was nice to have the option of using familiar Zelda weapons, which you can upgrade for better effectiveness or extend the energy gauge by visiting Impa’s brother Lueberry, using Might Crystals found in the Still World.

The Dangerous Journey Into the Still World

Dungeons in Echoes of Wisdom take place in the Still World, which is the mysterious realm responsible for the rifts plaguing Hyrule. Zelda and Tri must venture into these rifts to rescue those consumed and free Tri’s trapped friends to close the rifts. There are two types of rifts players will explore. The first includes familiar Zelda-style dungeons with 2D puzzles, reminiscent of previous 3D Zelda games. These dungeons also feature a jingle that I loved hearing when clearing parts of a dungeon or solving a puzzle.

Some dungeons also feature a mini-boss that is an imposter version of Link, forcing players to figure out how to fight this evil version of the hero using the same weapons they’ve grown familiar with. (Players who have fought Dark Link in previous games will find these fights familiar.) The second type of rift consists of large puzzle areas where Zelda must navigate to rescue five of Tri’s friends.

What Else Can You Do in Echoes of Wisdom?

When you’re not busy clearing rifts, finding fairies to bottle, or enjoying the game’s top-notch orchestral and retro-styled music, you can take on side quests and mini-games typical of the Zelda franchise. One mini-game involves helping a Gerudo researcher harvest mangos, while side quests like delivering grilled fish to a villager reward you with rupees or ingredients. These can be used to buy heart pieces or accessories, such as Zora Flippers for faster swimming or a frog rune for higher jumps.

You may also run into the Stamp Guy, who rewards you for stamping certain points on the map. If you’re low on items, the game’s Amiibo functionality can also provide useful rewards. For players seeking a tougher challenge, Hero Mode returns, where enemies hit harder and hearts don’t drop from defeated foes.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review – Final Thoughts and Impressions

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom offers a fresh take on Hyrule, with Zelda in the protagonist’s role and a new, creative combat system centered around the Tri Rod. The game successfully delivers a narrative twist while maintaining the elements that Zelda fans love. Whether you’re exploring dungeons or experimenting with the Tri Rod in combat, Echoes of Wisdom is a rewarding and engaging experience.