Summary
WithThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomannounced in the recent Nintendo Direct, there is excitement for a newZeldaadventure that actually stars the titular Princess Zelda. The entire presentation was packed full of stellar announcements, including gameplay and a release window forthe long-awaitedMetroid Prime 4: Beyond. Yet, while news of a newMetroid Primebeing in development has long been known,Echoes of Wisdomwas a happy surprise to most.Even more surprising is the game’s September release date, making the lack of any mention or leaks of the game an impressive feat by Team Nintendo.
According to what was shared in the announcement,inEchoes of Wisdom, Princess Zelda embarks on a mission through the kingdom of Hyrule, seeking answers to the mysterious disappearance of Link. The game’s animation is in the style of 2019’s remake ofThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, a unique 2.5D style that serves to bridge the designs of classic 2D and 3DZeldaadventures. Zelda is joined in her quest by a fairy named Tri, and as her main weapon, wields a staff called the Tri-Rod. The nameseems to suggest the staff is somehow related to the Tri-Force.
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Zelda’s “Tri-Rod” Will Make Exploration And Problem-Solving More In-Depth
Zelda Can Conjure Echoes Of Objects And Elements With The Magical Staff
It may seem as thoughEchoes of Wisdomcould not be further fromBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomin regards to design. However, the Tri-Rod staff proves that the game shares the ethos of those two games. What madeBOTWthe exceptional game that it was in 2017 was not so much its sublime open worldbut rather how the player is able to navigate that world and solve problems within it.TOTKtook that idea and built upon it, enhancing it in nearly every way. This same spirit is translated to 2.5D inEchoes of Wisdom.
The trailer forThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomdisplayed a lot of the gameplay people can come to expect when the game releases on August 17, 2025.
Using the power of the Tri-Rod, Princess Zelda is able to conjure “echoes,” which are effectively copies of objects and elements. The trailer shows Zelda conjuring tables to hop over obstacles in her path, and whipping up stacked blocks of water that she can swim upward through to reach a high ledge. Just like inBOTWandTOTK, the player is given agency to solve problems their own way, and how one person may conquer an obstacle isn’t necessarily how the next might. Bringing this new level of exploration to a 2.5DZeldatitle cements it in the franchise’s DNA.
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Echoes Of Wisdom Is One Of Many Exciting Games Coming To The Aging Switch
A Follow-Up To The Switch Is Believed To Be Coming Soon
Witha rumored successor to the Nintendo Switchbelieved to be coming soon, possibly next year, it’s exciting to know that this ethos of exploration will likely carry intoZeldagames on the future console. The Switch hardware is a far less powerful console than either the Xbox Series X or the PS5, including their predecessors, the Xbox One and PS4. Even still,Nintendo was able to create an open world far richer and denser with life than its competitors.Imagine what the increase in power found in a Switch successor will allow Nintendo developers to do with future games.
Echoes of Wisdomis the logical next step followingTOTK, just asLink’s Awakeningwas a refreshing follow-up toBOTW. The freedom of exploration inEchoes of Wisdomfeels more closely tied to both thanLink’s Awakeningever did. Additionally,Princess Zelda helming an adventure of her own makes the game all that more promising.Until more is known about Nintendo’s future console, there isno shortage of exciting titles coming to the Switch, both this year and next.The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis poised to be a stand-out title in the twilight days of the Switch.
