Today, during Nintendo’s jam-packed June 2024 Nintendo Direct, Nintendo revealed the next Zelda game. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the first top down Zelda since 2013’s The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. Echoes of Wisdom will also be the only mainline entry to star Zelda as the protagonist. What does a Zelda game without Link play like?
“It’s up to Princess Zelda to save Hyrule in a brand-new The Legend of Zelda story.”
Link the hero of Hyrule has gone missing, along with many of Hyrule’s residents. It’s up to Zelda, and her new fairy friend Tri, to save the day. Unlike Link, Zelda does not wield a sword. In The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Zelda is equipped with the Tri Rod. The Tri Rod allows her to copy enemies and objects, creating echoes. These echoes can be used to solve puzzles, access areas on the map, and fight enemies.
The announcement trailer showed off many items Zelda can clone. This includes boxes, beds, water blocks, shrubs, tables, rocks, signposts, and moblins. Echoed enemies will battle alongside Zelda. The open-ended nature of this ability is sure to create unique experiences among players.
Visually The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is identical to Grezzo’s 2019 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening; Complete with that shiny toy-like aesthetic. Echoes of Wisdom’s interpretation of Hyrule looks gorgeous. The game appears to run off the Link’s Awakening engine, however the developer is still unknown.
The latest installment in Nintendo’s beloved series breaks traditional top-down Zelda conventions, for what looks to be a very fresh experience. Nintendo has also revealed a special edition Echoes of Wisdom-themed Nintendo Switch Lite. Both The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and the special edition Nintendo Switch Lite launch on September 26th, 2024.
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