Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis the next game in theZeldafranchise, and it’s set to shake things up in a major way. In place of the typical hero Link,Princess Zelda herself takes the center stage, a similar shift toPrincess Peach: Showtime!’s recent approach. Like that title, the core gameplay of the series is also adapted to fit the change in character, although many ofZelda’s defining elements will still appear inEchoes of Wisdom.
This isn’t technically Zelda’s first outing as the protagonist, but her other starring role was in the infamous Philips CD-i gameZelda: The Wand of Gamelon,a non-canonical entry made without Nintendo’s involvement. Things look much more promising this time around, with the charming art style of theLink’s Awakeningremake returning for a fluid top-down adventure. After the massive adventure thatThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdombrought to the table in 2023,Echoes of Wisdomshould be a nice way to return to Hyrule without the same level of intense commitment.
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The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Release Date
When Echoes Of Wisdom Is Launching
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomwill release for Nintendo Switch on June 24, 2025, following the early autumn release model that theLink’s Awakeningremake employed. With Nintendo presumably saving many of its major announcements for a Nintendo Switch successor in 2025, this will be one of the biggest releases to fill out the rest of 2024 on the platform, coming in ahead ofSuper Mario Party JamboreeandMario & Luigi: Brothership.
A new Hyrule Edition of the Nintendo Switch Lite will also be available on September 26.Like several of theZeldavariants made for previous consoles, the console features a metallic gold coloration and the Hyrule Crest emblazoned on the back. A small Triforce symbol is also tucked underneath the right analog stick. Switch Lites sell at an MSRP of $199.99, losing the hybrid possibilities of the standard Switch in favor of an exclusively handheld proposition.
ATears of the Kingdomversion of the Switch OLED was previously released, featuring designs on the dock and detachable joycons.
The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Characters
A Few Familiar Faces Are Returning
Although Link isn’t claiming the starring role inThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, he will still appear in the game in a reduced fashion.The story appears to begin with Link rescuing Zelda from Ganon, who shows up in his classic boar-like form. As Link breaks the crystal holding Zelda, some kind of dark dimensional rift spreads and traps him while she makes her escape. More rifts like these cause problems across Hyrule, leading to other disappearances throughout the kingdom.
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Zelda’s quest to save Hyrule from these rifts and rescue Link is assisted by a new character named Tri, a mysterious fairy who gifts her with a staff called the Tri Rod. Following Zelda around throughout gameplay footage,Tri appears to be taking on the role of a constant companion, similar toprevious characters like Navi, Fi, and Ezlo. Another classic source of wisdom returns in the form of the Great Deku Tree, which was first introduced inOcarina of Timeand reappeared in several subsequent 3DZeldagames.
No character names make it into the trailer forThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, but Zelda does interact with a number of NPCs in gameplay footage. One figure appears to be an inventor in the vein of Robbie fromBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, with similarly comical tufts of hair and oversized glasses. A Gerudo woman and a Zora character that might be a princess like Ruto or Mipha also appear, and a variety of enemies both familiar and new populate Hyrule.
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The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Gameplay
Puzzles & Combat Revolve Around The Tri Rod
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdombuilds on the gameplay foundation of theLink’s Awakeningremake, but a shift away from Link’s traditional sword and shield makes for a very different approach to progressing through its world. Instead,Zelda makes use of the Tri Rod, which grants her the power to duplicate objects and creatures found across Hyrule. These duplicates called Echoes import some of thetinkering found inTears of the Kingdominto the top-down style of play, although the focus here is more likely to be on solving discrete puzzles than unfettered creativity.
In its most straightforward form, this can mean stacking objects on top of each other to let Zelda reach new heights, from traditional goals like scaling plateaus to clambering up to more unusual destinations like treetops. Some Echoes can block gusts of wind, while others can distract enemies or set fire to flammable environments. Despite the clarity of the challenges presented to Zelda, the solutions can be more open-ended than with previous gimmicks like flattening Link into walls or shrinking him down to fit into small environments.
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Since Zelda lacks a sword,the Tri Rod is also her key tool in combat. Throwing echoes at enemies has the potential to damage them, whether due to blunt force impact or elemental effects. Duplicating enemies can send them forward to fight other foes, waging battle by proxy on Zelda’s behalf. Some duplicated creatures can also provide new movement possibilities, and gliding in the talons of a bird seems like an interesting way to open up areas that might otherwise be inaccessible.
The big changes inThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdommight not be for everyone, and the Tri Rod approach makes for a less immediate approach to action than traditionalZeldagames. As a fresh twist on a time-honored series, however, it definitely has the potential to be a memorable experience.Zeldafans have had plenty to enjoy on the Nintendo Switch, andThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomcould be a nice way to sunset the console as Nintendo transitions to the Switch’s inevitable successor.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Strange rifts are tearing Hyrule apart, and with Link missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save the kingdom. Armed with the Tri Rod and aided by a mysterious fairy, she must solve puzzles, create environmental “echoes,” and battle enemies while navigating new regions and uncovering hidden secrets.
