The reveal of a new Zelda game called Echoes of Wisdom has me conflicted. The fact you play as Zelda is great, but the lack of traditional combat feels off.
Firstly, I am glad that we are getting a new Zelda game in the same vein as the Link’s Awakening remake. Grezzo did an amazing job developing that and having more Zelda games in that functionally classic style is something I am super excited about.
Secondly, the fact you can finally play as Zelda is a lovely change to the series. I’ve lost count the number of times friends mistook Link for Zelda, so at least this time around they will be correct in that assumption.
However, playing as Zelda is one thing but removing the combat setup that has been the foundation of the series does bother me a bit. Not that I don’t trust Grezzo and Nintendo to come up with some mind bendingly fun puzzles with the new setup, it just feels a bit off and I had wanted to play as Zelda with a sword and shield.
Maybe Zelda will get one later in the game, who knows at this point, but after the likes of Samus Aran vaporising Space Pirates for decades, I had hoped that Zelda would get to slice and dice some monsters this time around.
If you missed the trailer (shown below), the premise of Echoes of Wisdom is that Zelda has a new item called the Tri Rod that can copy and mimic items in the game world, known as “echoes”. You then use these echoes to progress and fight enemies, which also includes echoes of vanquished monsters (shown above). It’s an interesting setup and one I am really curious as to how it will play out.
Link may even turn up at some point too for all we know, but for now it seems that Echoes of Wisdom is more of a puzzle action game, rather than the Zelda series staple of straight up action.
In case you didn’t know, Zelda’s piece of the Triforce is that of Wisdom (with Link’s being Courage), which is likely why it’s referenced in the game’s title. I also think that’s pretty neat.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is released for the Switch on September 26.
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