The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom brings a fresh take on the beloved franchise, putting Princess Zelda in the spotlight as the protagonist. With Link and many Hyruleans missing, Zelda must save her kingdom from mysterious rifts plaguing the land.
Teaming up with the ethereal Tri, Zelda wields the powerful Tri Rod to create “echoes” – imitations of objects and creatures in the environment.
These echoes are crucial for solving puzzles and defeating enemies, offering creative problem-solving opportunities. An example of this is to overcome obstacles by combining them in innovative ways like using water blocks to reach new heights.
Zelda can also use Bind to make objects follow her movements, or Reverse Bond to follow an object’s movements, adding depth to puzzle-solving.
Along the way, you’ll need to fight creatures as well and Zelda can create echoes of monsters to fight alongside her, and even transform into a powerful incredible Swordfighter for short periods.
I enjoyed the quirky characters you meet like Dampé, who we’ve seen in other games but in this one, he is a crafting engineer who creates helpful automatons.
Graphically it draws heavily from the art style of the Link’s Awakening remake and it’s this visual approach that creates a truly charming, toy-like aesthetic that enhances the whimsical nature of the game
There’s a simplified version of the cooking feature from Breath of the Wild where you make Smoothies that have various effects like the Milky Sweet Smoothie that recovers 15 hearts, and the Golden Smoothie can restore a full 20 hearts
You can dress Zelda in a variety of unique outfits, each with distinct aesthetics and some offering gameplay benefits. The journey begins with the Disguise Outfit, a basic hooded cloak unlocked through the main story, followed by the Royal Travel Attire, gifted by the King of Hyrule after a dungeon quest.
Additional outfits include the Silk Pajamas, which enhance heart recovery when resting, and the Dancing Outfit, which boosts Zelda’s spin attack after completing a mini-game in Gerudo Desert.
Other notable outfits are the Cat Clothes, which allow communication with cats, and the iconic Green Tunic, earned by finishing combat challenges. Each outfit not only provides visual flair but also enhances gameplay in various ways, making exploration and quests more engaging.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom offers a captivating adventure that showcases Zelda’s wisdom and courage. It’s such a fun and unique experience and a pleasant surprise from Nintendo that it deserves a 10 out of 10
