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 main playable character.
| The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom | |
|---|---|
 Key and cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Nintendo EPD Grezzo[1] |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Eiji Aonuma |
| Artist(s) |
|
| Composer(s) | Masato Ohashi Manaka Kataoka Chisaki Hosaka Reika Nakai Yuri Goto Ryotaro Yagi Azusa Kato |
| Series | The Legend of Zelda |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo Switch |
| Release | September 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, to generally favorable reviews.
Gameplay
editThe 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]
Synopsis
editSetting and characters
editIn 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]
Plot
editWhile 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 Zelda's return to Hyrule Castle, imposters of the king and his advisors frame her for causing the rifts and imprison her in the castle's dungeons to be executed. Zelda escapes with help from the fairy Tri, who gives her the Tri Rod and accompanies her on her journey throughout Hyrule to repair the rifts and rescue those trapped in the Still World.
During her adventure, she confronts an imposter of Link and rescues the real Link from Ganon after confronting and defeating him in Hyrule Castle, but Ganon is revealed to be an imposter created by the primordial evil Null, who also possesses the ability to create echoes and captures Link. After Zelda repairs the rifts affecting the shrines of the Golden Goddesses, Din, Nayru, and Farore, they explain to her that Null resided in the void that existed before reality, consuming life when it developed in order to remain the only being in existence. The Goddesses created the universe over the void to seal away Null, causing it to resent them. After Hyrule was founded, Null attempted to break its seal by creating rifts in order to destroy it and return existence to the void. To counteract the rifts, the Goddesses sent the Tris to repair the rifts and return to them once their purpose was fulfilled.
Null attempts to take the Prime Energy for itself by creating an echo of Zelda, whom the Goddesses deemed worthy of possessing part of its power along with Link. However, as Null has an unbalanced heart, it only obtained the Triforce of Power, with Wisdom going to Zelda, and Courage creating a rift leading to Link. Zelda's echo enters, to obtain Link's piece, with Zelda in pursuit. Zelda defeats the echo of herself, but Null obtains the Triforce piece regardless and creates massive rifts spanning nearly all of Hyrule. Zelda frees Link, and they ultimately confront and destroy Null. The Tris, powered by a wish from the complete Triforce, repair the rifts and return to the Goddesses while Zelda reunites with the king.
Development
editDevelopment of Echoes of Wisdom began after the completion of development on the Link's Awakening remake as a new 2D top-down Zelda game for the Switch, originally as an expansion of the dungeon editor system in Link's Awakening before becoming an original game. Grezzo director Satoshi Terada and Nintendo director Tomomi Sano worked on the game with series producer Eiji Aonuma, contributing new ideas such as the echoes system and having Zelda as the protagonist rather than Link. Terada struggled to come up with ideas for echoes because the development team was worried about the problems it could cause, such as being too weak or too strong and having to function in both top-down and side-on views. Aonuma wanted to bring a new creativity and innovation to the series, feeling that Link's Awakening offered a new approach to combining gameplay from these perspectives. He asked Grezzo to work with Nintendo EPD Group No.3 on the game, as it was the first time they had worked on an original Zelda 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 primary 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 protagonist, but he was concerned that players would neglect the echoes system in favor of using weapons. Making Zelda the protagonist provided a justification for the echoes mechanic while satisfying fans' requests for her to be playable.[14]
Echoes of Wisdom was announced on June 18, 2024, during a Nintendo Direct.[15] It was released on September 26, 2024.[12]
Reception
edit| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 86/100[16] |
| OpenCritic | 91%[17] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Digital Trends | 3.5/5[18] |
| Eurogamer | 4/5[19] |
| GameSpot | 9/10[20] |
| GamesRadar+ | 4/5[21] |
| IGN | 9/10[22] |
| Nintendo Life | 9/10[23] |
| PCMag | 4.5/5[24] |
| Shacknews | 10/10[25] |
| TechRadar | 4/5[27] |
| The Guardian | 3/5[26] |
| Video Games Chronicle | 3/5[28] |
| VG247 | 4/5[29] |
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] Most critics praised the game for the sense of freedom it gave players. The main criticisms focused on the game's performance, as the frame rate on the Switch is variable, and on the menu system used to select echoes during gameplay. There are 127 echoes in total, and the method of selecting them involves scrolling sideways through a long row of icons; addressing this point, director Satoshi Terada stated that it was a way to encourage players to experiment, making them "fall upon and see the echoes that they may not have noticed".[30]
Sales
editIn Japan, the game sold 200,121 physical copies throughout its first week of release, making it the bestselling retail game of the week in the country.[31]
In November 2024, it was reported that the game has sold 2.58 million copies.[32]
Accolades
edit| Year | Ceremony | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Golden Joystick Awards | Console Game of the Year | Pending | [33] |
| The Game Awards 2024 | Best Action / Adventure Game | Pending | [34] | |
| Best Family Game | Pending |
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ask the Developer Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Part 1". Nintendo. September 23, 2024.
- ^ "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom". Nintendo. Nintendo of America, Inc. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 13, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ask the Developer Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Part 1 – News – Nintendo Official Site". www.nintendo.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ask the Developer Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Part 3 – News – Nintendo Official Site". www.nintendo.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ a b "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Reviews". OpenCritic. September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Petite, Steven (September 25, 2024). "The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Review — A Link Between Eras". GameSpot. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Marks, Tom (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review". IGN. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Minor, Jordan (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review". PCMag. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Khan, Asif (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review: Reverberations of courage". Shacknews. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ MacDonald, Keza (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review — a lot to learn". The Guardian. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Wood, Dashiell (September 25, 2024). "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review: a charming throwback adventure". TechRadar. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Billcliffe, James (September 25, 2024). "Zelda Echoes of Wisdom review". VG247. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Richardson, Tom (November 11, 2024). "Zelda's makers reflect on the princess's first big adventure". BBC. Archived from the original on November 12, 2024. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (October 3, 2024). "Famitsu Sales: 9/23/24 – 9/29/24". Gematsu. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (November 5, 2024). "Switch worldwide sales top 146.04 million, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom tops 2.58 million". Gematsu. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
- ^ West, Josh (October 8, 2024). "Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth lead the shortlist for the Golden Joystick Awards 2024, nudging out Helldivers 2 and Balatro for the most nominations". Retrieved November 20, 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Destiny (November 18, 2024). "The Game Award Nominations: 'Final Fantasy VII Rebirth' Slices Its Way To Leading Seven Nominations". Deadline. Archived from the original on November 19, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.