The Legend of Zelda Series May Already Have a Path Carved Out on the Switch 2

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 16, 2024 16 Views 6 Min Read
The Legend of Zelda Series May Already Have a Path Carved Out on the Switch 2

While it would never be fair to say that The Legend of Zelda had a low point, it certainly seems to be enjoying a newfound degree of success and cultural relevance in the era of the Nintendo Switch. Much of this success can be attributed to the revolutionary Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom duology, which shook open-world conventions to their core, but more modest entries in the series over the past few years have helped push the IP forward as well.




A recent example of The Legend of Zelda‘s versatility is this year’s Echoes of Wisdom, which serves as a decidedly unique follow-up to the grand and ambitious Tears of the Kingdom. A more old-school take on the Zelda formula, Echoes of Wisdom sees players taking on the role of the titular princess herself as she embarks on a journey to liberate Hyrule and save Link. The art style of the game follows that of the 2019 Link’s Awakening remake, its presentation being more akin to a modernized top-down Zelda game from the GBA than to the system-selling majesty of TOTK or BOTW. But despite being less technically impressive in many ways, Echoes of Wisdom is nevertheless innovative and exciting, and may help pave the road for the franchise’s future.

Zelda Echoes of Wisdom Skorchill Null and Volvagia-1

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Nintendo Will Likely Make Both Top-Down and 3D Zelda Games On the Switch 2


Head Zelda Developer Is Optimistic About Top-Down Zelda Games

In a recent interview with the BBC, Zelda boss Eiji Aonuma revealed his desire to keep making 2D games in the vein of Echoes of Wisdom. Interestingly, he also commented on his initial reservations about revisiting the quasi-2D formula ahead of Echoes of Wisdom‘s development, before the Echoes mechanic was fully conceptualized. The fact that Aonuma and his team changed their tune after landing on this unique central mechanic highlights the importance of inventive design in Zelda.

While Echoes of Wisdom may look like an older game, it has surprising depth and nuance within its synergistic gameplay systems. Players have a remarkable degree of freedom when it comes to both combat and puzzle-solving, as there is rarely one single solution to a given problem. The Echoes mechanic lends itself to this sort of player agency, and proves that a game’s format or perspective doesn’t necessarily dictate how innovative or expressive it can be; Echoes of Wisdom doesn’t feel like a compromised or outdated experience, despite its semi-retro presentation.


3D and 2D Zelda Games Can Coexist

Although 2D Zelda games have proven to be just as inventive and exciting as their 3D counterparts, they are likely much cheaper and easier to make due to their more simple graphics and relatively restrained scope; a true 3D successor to Tears of the Kingdom is probably several years away still. So, to keep up with fan demand and continue sharpening the series’ creative edge through realistic means, more 2D Zelda games ought to fill the gaps between larger 3D releases.


This seems like a fairly strong strategy, especially since there’s already a well-established precedent for this sort of alternation; a series like God of War, for instance, would probably have a tougher time releasing 2D games with radically distinct mechanics between releases. Crucially, the likes of Echoes of Wisdom aren’t just spin-offs or novelties, but full-fledged entries that bring fresh ideas to the table, and could very well impact their more high-profile 3D kin, so more of them can only be a good thing.

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