For much of the franchise’s history, The Legend of Zelda has come in two flavors – 3D and 2D. Unfortunately, fans of 2D Zelda have largely been out in the cold in recent years, with the 2019 Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening being the only bone Nintendo’s given them. That game was good, but it wasn’t enough to fully satisfy.
Well, good news 2D Zelda fans – at the most recent Nintendo Direct The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was announced. Perhaps even more exciting, is that this game finally, finally gives Zelda herself a starring role. It seems Hyrule has been beset with dark rifts that have sucked in various residents of the land, including Link, so it’s up to Zelda to save the day.
The open-ended nature of recent Zeldas will be preserved here, as Zelda’s abilities revolve around the “Tri-Rod,” a device that allows her to replicate various items she comes across. So, she can, for example, replicate boxes in order to get up on cliffs and past barriers. She also has the ability to replicate enemies, who will fight for her once summoned. You can check out the first trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, below.
Looking pretty creative! I like that Zelda's first game isn't just a carbon copy of Link's adventures, with seemingly a greater focus on puzzle solving. Here's Nintendo's official description for the game.
"It’s up to Zelda and her wisdom to save the kingdom of Hyrule in a brand-new story in The Legend of Zelda series. The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts that have appeared, with a certain swordsman among the missing. Team up with the mysterious fairy, Tri, and use the power of the Tri Rod to create echoes – imitations of things found in the environment. Then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes of water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes – or find your own creative combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even create echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat."
Nintendo will also be releasing a special Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom themed Switch Lite model alongside the game. Here's a peek at that...
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is coming to Nintendo Switch on September 26.
