Echoes of Wisdom Shouldn’t Be a One-Off

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home November 23, 2024 13 Views 7 Min Read
Echoes of Wisdom Shouldn't Be a One-Off



Key Takeaways

  • Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom innovates with the Tri Rod, a departure from traditional weaponry in the series.
  • The game introduces a fresh take on the Triforce, as well as new lore and an overarching antagonist.
  • Echoes of Wisdom sets a bold example for future Zelda games to break tradition and evolve creatively.



In some ways, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom might be viewed as no more innovative than Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were before it. In fact, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom might be best described as something that lies between classic Zelda and the innovation of BotW and TotK. However, that doesn’t mean Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom lacks uniqueness. Sure, the fact that Echoes of Wisdom‘s Zelda fills the role of playable protagonist for the first time in a mainline Zelda installment makes it a one-of-a-kind entry, but its best and most defining features go far beyond that to produce something that is truly worth being recognized as a standout installment.

In light of that, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom deserves to be much more than a swan song, potentially paving the way for future installments to do the same. Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is bold, though not for one reason alone, as it dares to break some franchise traditions that have remained in the driver’s seat over the last few decades. For that reason, it should not be the last, but the first of many like it.


Echoes of Wisdom Zelda in sepia color and black and white

Related
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Lore Casts an Odd Shadow on its Timeline Placement

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s deeper lore involving Ganon and the Triforce suggests numerous possible placements for it on the Legend of Zelda timeline.

The Legend of Zelda Needs More Games Like Echoes of Wisdom

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Boldly Breaks Tradition in Some Big Ways

Firstly, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s Tri Rod and echo system is one of its more innovative features, despite being what could be considered an evolution of Tears of the Kingdom‘s Ultrahand for its creative potential. The Tri Rod essentially allows players to progress in their own way, whether it be by stacking beds to create stairs or using a floating tile to cross a gap. Furthermore, rather than wielding a sword, as Link has in almost every Zelda installment, Zelda primarily uses the abilities of the Tri Rod to assist her in combat by essentially creating copies of monsters and then summoning them in battle. She can also summon objects that will deal damage to enemies, thereby making the Tri Rod her weapon of choice.

Using the Tri Rod as a weapon replacement is a strong departure for the series, but it is simultaneously a testament to
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
‘s creativity and willingness to evolve beyond the series’ norm.


Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom also has a different take on the Triforce than most of the games in the franchise, referring to it as the “Prime Energy” and treating it as though it is an unknown force in the universe rather than something highly revered and familiar. On that same note, Echoes of Wisdom takes the franchise’s creation story and turns it on its head, adding an entirely different element to the original plot, including a brand-new overarching antagonist for the series who was present at Hyrule’s creation. It’s not the first game in the series to do this, but it is one of only a few.

Zelda Needs to Be Bold More Often

These are perhaps only a fraction of the things Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom does differently than the majority of the games in the series, but it’s nonetheless safe to say it isn’t what most were likely expecting. There had been rumors of a Zelda-led Zelda game for some time, but it’s likely not many fans expected something like Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. As Nintendo continues to show a strong desire to take the Zelda franchise in an entirely different direction, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is one installment it should look to for inspiration.


Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is just a sign of what the series can accomplish when a game dares to break its longest-standing traditions. Perhaps future Zelda games shouldn’t be too shy about doing the same, as it seems to have worked for Echoes of Wisdom and could continue taking the series down a road of evolution it has long needed to tread.

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