Echoes of Wisdom Inverts a Classic Mechanic from Older Zelda Games

With The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom having completed its first month, many players are reaching the end of Princess Zelda’s first major solo outing. Set in a Hyrule where Link’s quest was foiled at the last minute, Zelda has no choice but to become Echoes of Wisdom’s heroine and finish saving her kingdom in her own way. It seems to have been a worthwhile journey, as Echoes of Wisdom has enjoyed plenty of praise from fans thanks to its unique approach to The Legend of Zelda‘s titular character, as well as its experimental gameplay leaving room for what made classic Zelda titles so beloved.

Indeed, Echoes of Wisdom is best described as a blend of multiple Legend of Zelda eras. The dynamic mechanics and open world used by recent Zelda titles like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom is juxtaposed with a set of classic Zelda dungeons, and an art style that falls somewhere in between. Whether or not a given player considers Echoes of Wisdom a mainline Zelda title or a spin-off, it has given the Switch-era Zelda games a fitting send-off, not in the least because of how it made a classic series mechanic feel brand new.

How The Legend of Zelda Typically Governs Magic

Magic has always occupied a strange place in The Legend of Zelda. Link had access to it since the very first TLoZ, and it became a major system in the second, but from then on was often relegated to a few specific items or spells cast by the latest Zelda game’s musical instrument. Being the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom rather than Link’s Triforce of Courage, Princess Zelda is the one typically associated with magic, even if the Triforce of Power bearer, Ganondorf, is shown using it more often in his battles.

Echoes of Wisdom Plays Fast and Loose With Zelda’s Magic

Now that players are in Zelda’s shoes, they get to enjoy that magical specialization, even if Link’s sword and assortment of tools is restricted in the process. Zelda’s repertoire of Echoes grows throughout Echoes of Wisdom to include elemental objects and minions that are both powerful and versatile. The fairy Tri’s triangles show the current limits of what Zelda can summon, but with no cooldown or permanently spent resources to speak of, Zelda can just keep un-summoning and re-summoning as many Echoes as her current limits allow. It’s a big shift, but mirrors Link’s situation a lot closer than one would think.

The Script For Echoes of Wisdom’s Magic and Items Has Been Flipped

Link’s situation in most Legend of Zelda games involves a Magic Meter limiting the use of his nonmusical spells. It’s fairly easy to refill like his bomb and arrow stocks, but is nonetheless a hard limit on how much magic Link can use at once. Princess Zelda is fittingly capable of equivalent magical feats in Echoes of Wisdom with no fear of running out, just despawning her oldest Echoes to exchange them for something new. However, the true price Zelda pays for such power comes from her lack of basic Legend of Zelda essentials, like a sword and shield.

Swordfighter Form Is A Magic Bar For Everything But Magic

Instead of the usual free access to traditional items, Zelda has free access to magic, and a meter that governs her use of Link’s mainstay items. Swordfighter Form in Echoes of Wisdom is to Zelda what past games’ Magic Meter is to Link, being a limited source of abilities that the user doesn’t normally have. Its Energy Gauge is a surprisingly direct parallel to the Magic Meter, even including leveling it up for extended use. It’s fitting that Echoes of Wisdom gave Zelda abilities and mechanics similar to Link’s standard fare, but gave them a unique spin that makes the Princess of Hyrule feel strong in her own way.