A new era is on the horizon forThe Legend of Zeldawith the rapidly approachingrelease ofEchoes of Wisdom. The nextZeldatitle is a departure from its immediate predecessors in many ways, making it evident that the franchise is now exploring a new direction. As such, although it is clear thatBreath of the Wildhas created new traditionsthat have been carried forward intoEoW, the many differences between the new title and the precedingBOTWandTOTK,which may themselves influence future titles, are the most intriguing aspects of the game.
There have been many points throughoutZeldahistory where the franchise has evolved to incorporate new technologies, such as the introduction of 3D graphics inOcarina of Timeor motion controls inTwilight Princess. Changes in direction can also help to prevent a franchise from becoming stale, and afterTears of the Kingdom, it could be argued that such a change is precisely what the franchise needs to remain fresh.Echoes of Wisdomis a perfect game in this respect, making sweeping changes to much of the standardZeldastructure while staying true to its heart.
Echoes Of Wisdom Breaks Away From The Weakening Impact Of TOTK’s Own Style
A Radical Change After Two Massive But Similar Games
Much likeEchoes of Wisdomis shaping up to be,Breath of the Wildwas itself a landmark entry in theZeldaseries. The sheer size ofBOTW’s map, along with the fact that it was filled with innovative ideas and features, brought Hyrule to life in a way that no game before it had managed. Naturally,Tears of the Kingdombuilt on this, further expanding the world both physically and in terms of lore. However, even this grand-scale game structure can become repetitive, and a pivot in style can be crucial at times to prevent stagnation.
Furthermore, perhaps due to it havingBOTWitself as a baseline,it can be argued thatTOTKdid not have quite the same level of impact as its predecessor. The novelty of Hyrule as such a massive open world and the game’s vast array of mechanics were gone; instead,TOTKcould be more easily defined in terms of what aspects ofBOTWit changed. Perhaps unsurprising, given that the game began as DLC forBOTW, but it cannot be denied that familiarity with much of the engine undercut some ofTOTK’s impact as an individual title.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Review - Building Excellence
Tears of the Kingdom takes Legend of Zelda into mostly familiar ground, but it remains an excellent, must-play title with plenty of innovation.
Of course,TOTKbeing such a closely related sequel toBOTWmeans that it relies quite heavily on its predecessor for context. Because of that, it is clearly best to play both games together in sequence. Although it is undoubtedly a brilliant game,Tears of the Kingdom’s own legacyis heavily reliant onBreath of the Wild’s, and does not shine as brightly on its own. However, it is clear thatmuch work has been done to prevent a similar issue from arising withEchoes of Wisdom, and its new style seems well-suited to carrying the franchise forward.
Echoes Of Wisdom Refreshes The Zelda Franchise Like Other Landmark Games Before It
Zelda Has Been A Consistent Innovator
AfterBOTWandTOTK,the dramatically different graphics and style ofEchoes of Wisdom(as well as Zelda being the protagonist) immediately captured the attention of fans. The chibi characters and the colorful design of the world they inhabit is far removed from the previous titles, as is the use of top-down gameplay. Of course, neither element is entirely novel toThe Legend of Zelda. The franchise includes many other entries with top-down gameplay, and this presentation was even seen alongside the same art style used forEchoes of Wisdomin the 2019 Nintendo Switch remake ofLink’s Awakening.
Furthermore, these are far from the firstZeldagames to have a more cartoonish style;The Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass,andSpirit Tracksall share a toon style which makes their characters immediately identifiable, fitting for the shared narrative they tell. However,the remake ofLink’s Awakeningand nowEchoes of Wisdomgo one step further by giving their worlds a toy-like aesthetic, with a sleekness that seems almost akin to plastic. And althoughnot everybody likes the oldZeldatoon style, and there will be similar detractors forEchoes of Wisdom, many fans are welcoming it with open arms.
As a sign of just how distinctive theWind Wakerstyle is, Toon Link was introduced as aSuper Smash Bros.fighter separate to his “regular” self inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl.
TheLegend of Zeldaseries as a whole is unafraid to break new ground, both in terms of graphics and gameplay mechanics. For example,Ocarina of Timewas among the first 3D video games, and although its technological capabilities have long since been outmatched, the game still holds an important place in the hearts of many. SinceOoT, the franchise has constantly switched back and forth between open world and top-down gameplay, with the most recent top-down game (other thanLink’s Awakening) being 2015’sTri Force Heroes. Moreover,EoWcould itself easily inspire further top-down games with its own innovations.
Echoes Of Wisdom Could Influence Future Titles To Capitalize On Its Popular Changes
The New Style Is Already Popular Among Zelda Fans
It is worth noting that whileLink’s Awakening’s design alone was easy to see as the result of putting a modern spin on the Game Boy title, the fact that an entirely new title has also taken up this style suggests something more.There is a clear sense of enthusiasm and excitement in theLegend of Zeldacommunity forEchoes of Wisdom, proving that this change in direction afterTOTKwas a very good decision. As such, it is also easy to seeEoWinspiring at least one more new game in its style.
Every Returning Character Confirmed For Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom (So Far)
Echoes of Wisdom is breaking new ground for the Zelda series, but there are still many familiar faces that will appear in this version of Hyrule.
Echoes of Wisdom’s style is charming in its apparent simplicity, although the sheer potential of Echoes proves that there is depth to the game on closer inspection. Nevertheless, withEoWreturning to a gameplay style more in line with classic games likeA Link to the Past,it would be very interesting to see what other new games could be produced with the same aesthetic. In addition to gameplay, the different technical limitations and advantages inherently encourage different forms of storytelling compared to open-world titles likeBOTWandTOTK, giving even more merit to the idea of maintaining this new direction.
Although it has been revealed toincorporate innovations fromBreath of the Wild,Echoes of Wisdomimmediately feels like a very different game. The stylistic choices alone create a sharp contrast toBOTWandTOTK, promising a fresh newZeldaexperience very much unlike its predecessors, and the excitement the game has created is proof that the change is perfectly timed. Moreover, like the toon style ofThe Wind Wakerbefore it,Echoes of Wisdomcould easily prompt the development of more games in its style, creating an entire new era forThe Legend of Zelda.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the adventures of Link, an elf-like Hylian, and Princess Zelda as they protect the land of Hyrule from the evil warlord-turned-demon king Ganon. The series is known for its mix of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving elements, often revolving around the collection of the Triforce, a powerful relic left by the goddesses who created Hyrule. Each game features different incarnations of Link and Zelda, maintaining core elements while introducing new characters and settings.
