Summary
Just over a year after the massive hit that wasTears of the Kingdom,Zeldahas already moved on to its next big release in the form ofThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. While it takes the form of a top-down game using the chibi-fiedLink’s Awakeningremake art style, this should still be a significant title in both theZeldaseries and the Nintendo Switch’s final years. Princess Zelda has been given the rare chance to beEchoes of Wisdom’s main protagonist, and her adventure isn’t going to play out the same as one of Link’s quests.
Echoes of Wisdomintroduces the fairy Tri and its corresponding Tri Rod, through which Zelda employs the game’s main Echo mechanic. This powerful tool allows her to copy a limited number of items and enemies to use in various situations. Alongside the obvious appeal of teaming up withThe Legend of Zelda’s iconic monster cast, it embodies the spirit ofEchoes of Wisdom’s title by having players use their own wisdom to solve problems. Echoes already look like a worthy addition to theZeldamythos, but they may suffer the same fate as another recent game-changingZeldamechanic.
Tears of the Kingdom Is The First And Last Stop For One Incredible Ability
When word came down from top Nintendo developers thatTears of the Kingdommarked the end of the Hyrule thatBreath of the Wildfounded, reception was generally positive. Even if the series still intended to carry on these games' open-world interpretation ofThe Legend of Zelda’s formula, a change of scenery and mechanics after an entire console generation spent with the same set should feel refreshing. The greatest casualty from this decisionwas arguablyTotK’s Ultrahand mechanic, a new core ability that most of the game revolved around, and was also confirmed to be left behind.
Echoes of Wisdom’s Equivalent Ability Could Share That Trait
It is also understandable that Nintendo would want to leave an ability so closely tied toTears of the Kingdom’s identity out of future games, but it’s still unfortunate that they would be denied the most expressive tool the franchise has ever had in the process.Echoes of Wisdom’s Echoes have inspired hopein Nintendo’s ability to create suitably impressive replacements for Ultrahand, as Zelda’s ability shares many parallels with Link’s arm power. However, it feels like their similarities are also going to include their faults, and ultimately their fate as the signature moves of two Nintendo Switch-exclusiveLegend of Zeldatitles.
TotK and Echoes of Wisdom’s Star Powers Can’t Be Removed From Their Sources
The reasons why Ultrahand and Echoes will probably be locked to their debut games, at least for a while, are unfortunately quite sensible. Both of them are tied deeply into the games' mechanical identities and the public perception of them.Ultrahand and the Tri Rodare also elaborate, game-wide systems that completely offset almost everything else in their respective games, to the point where it seemsEchoes of Wisdom’s Zelda can’t do much else besides jump and lift certain objects. Porting the necessary assets and complex interactions necessary for either mechanic would change the course of any futureZeldaproject.
This Flaw Doesn’t Make Ultrahand and Echoes Any Less Impactful
Leaving Ultrahand and Echoes behind is unfortunate, but it is for the best to ensure that futureZeldatitles feel like distinct, important releases.Tears of the KingdomandEchoes of Wisdomboth encourage hours of mechanical exploration and new solutions to old problems anyway, so they’ll hold up during replays.Ultrahand isn’t even alone in Link’sTotKarsenal, and there’s no telling what kind of special objects Zelda could copy to match it inEchoes of Wisdom. Ultimately, the Echoes ofThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomshould aid the design of future titles, and should remain memorable in their intended context.
