The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Review – A new milestone in the series!

A new milestone in the Zelda series that mixes innovation, nostalgia and a worthy protagonist

From the moment The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was announced, I was filled with curiosity and anticipation. Nintendo was finally putting Zelda center stage as the protagonist, something fans had been waiting for for a long time. Would this be a radical change for the series or just a secondary spin-off? As soon as I began my journey through Hyrule, it was clear that Echoes of Wisdom not only delivers on its promises, but also reinvents the classic formula of the franchise in a unique and captivating way. Throughout my playthrough, I experienced moments of pure nostalgia mixed with a fresh sense of discovery.

In this review, I’ll detail my impressions of the game, divided into topics that cover everything Echoes of Wisdom has to offer. Let’s dive right in!

Mechanics and Gameplay

Right off the bat, the first thing that caught my attention in Echoes of Wisdom was the profound change in gameplay mechanics. For many years, the Zelda series was associated with the handling of swords, shields, and the charisma of Link. Here, we have Zelda as the protagonist, and this change is more than just aesthetic – it completely transforms the way we approach challenges and enemies.

Zelda isn’t a physical warrior. Instead, she wields the Tri Rod , a magical wand that allows her to create “echoes” of defeated objects and enemies. This adds a fascinating strategic layer to the gameplay. As you defeat enemies, you can store their echoes and summon them to take on new challenges. The feeling of being able to use a Moblin you’ve defeated to fight alongside you is simply fantastic. The summoning mechanic allows for impressive tactical flexibility, something that especially shines in more complex combat and elaborate puzzles.

Additionally, the game also introduces Swordsman Form , which allows Zelda to temporarily wield Link’s legendary sword and take on a more physical role in combat. However, this ability is limited by time and energy usage, forcing the player to use it wisely. This duality between the magic of echoes and the brute force of the sword creates a unique balance that turns each battle into a mini puzzle. Do you opt for strength or a more creative solution with echoes? This freedom of choice is refreshing.

Dungeons, a staple of the Zelda series , are back with a vengeance. And this time, there’s a much greater emphasis on creative solutions and multiple paths to success. Instead of relying on a single tool to solve a puzzle, as in older games, you can use multiple echoes to create ladders from beds, bridges from boxes, or even platforms from flying creatures. The gameplay is fluid and varied, and never feels repetitive. Each new area offers something new to try, keeping the experience dynamic from start to finish.

Graphics

The visuals of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom are one of the game’s highlights. Nintendo has nailed it by using the same graphics engine as Link’s Awakening (2019) to bring to life a world that looks like it’s straight out of a diorama. Everything in Hyrule has a bright, vibrant texture, as if we’re exploring a toy model, but with a depth and richness of detail that captures the essence of each location.

Hyrule is even more enchanting this time around. From lush forests to snow-capped mountains and scorching deserts, each environment is visually stunning. Colors are rich and saturated, with a palette reminiscent of fairy tales but with a clean, modern feel. Transitions between biomes are seamless, and it’s a pleasure to watch the lighting and textures change as you venture from one area to the next. Zelda’s animations, especially when using her wand or summoning echoes, are fluid and well-detailed, conveying a sense of power and control.

The art direction deserves special mention. Each creature you encounter has a design that combines the classic charm of 2D games with the modernity of 3D graphics. The facial expressions and animations of the NPCs are full of personality, something that made me want to interact with each character I met along the way.

Additionally, the design of the bosses and dungeons is particularly creative. Each one has a unique style that reflects the environment around it. And the animations during boss battles are epic, with smooth transitions between combat phases and stunning visual effects that make you feel like you’re in a real show.

Sound

A good Zelda game always comes with a spectacular soundtrack, and Echoes of Wisdom doesn’t disappoint. From the moment you step foot in Hyrule, you’ll be surrounded by an orchestral soundtrack that mixes classic themes from the franchise with new compositions. The Hyrule Field theme, for example, has a new interpretation, mixing wind instruments with soft strings, creating a sense of adventure and discovery.

The sound effects are also noteworthy. The sound of each echo being summoned, the clang of weapons during battle, the soft thud of Zelda’s footsteps as she explores, everything is meticulously synchronized to increase immersion. The echoes emit distinct sounds, which helps differentiate them and gives more personality to the creatures and objects you summon. The sound effects during the dungeons are dark and immersive, creating an atmosphere that always keeps the player on their toes.

Voice-wise, Zelda is not completely silent. While most of the main dialogue is still delivered through text, there are moments when expressions of surprise, relief, or physical exertion are accompanied by grunts or exclamations, which helps to further humanize the character.

Fun

One of the things that surprised me most about Echoes of Wisdom was how much it encourages creativity. Every puzzle, combat, or simple exploration is an opportunity to test your skills and experiment. The fact that you can solve problems in multiple ways means the game never gets repetitive or boring. During my journey, I found multiple ways to overcome the same obstacle using different echoes, and this made me feel in control of the adventure in a way that few games can.

The side quests and interactions with NPCs are also delightful. There’s a lightheartedness and humor to the conversations, and the supporting characters are interesting enough that I wanted to help each of them out. The game also offers optional mini-games and challenges that are fun in their own right and often reward the player with new echoes or upgrades.

Another aspect that keeps the game fun is the constant sense of progression. Tri, Zelda’s friendly ethereal companion, becomes more powerful as you progress through the story, allowing you to summon more echoes at once or increase their power. This evolution gives a sense of continuous growth, which is essential in a long game like this.

Performance and Optimization

Despite all the greatness of Echoes of Wisdom , the game is not without its technical issues. In indoor environments, such as dungeons and houses, the game runs flawlessly. However, in more open areas, especially in places with more intense weather effects, such as sandstorms or blizzards, I noticed occasional framerate drops. They don’t seriously detract from the experience, but they are noticeable, especially for those who are more sensitive to this type of thing.

Loading between areas is relatively quick, and the transition between different parts of Hyrule is fluid most of the time. The optimization on the Nintendo Switch is good, but it is clear that the platform’s hardware is already showing clear signs of fatigue and asking for a successor to be released soon. However, considering the size of the world and the amount of simultaneous elements on the screen, the overall performance is still quite satisfactory.

Another issue is navigation through the menus. While there are options for organizing your echoes, the system can get a bit confusing as you collect more of them. It would be nice to have an option to “favorite” certain echoes for easier access in times of need.

Conclusion – Is it worth it?

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is, without a doubt, one of the best Zelda games in many years. Nintendo’s courage in making Zelda the protagonist and introducing new gameplay mechanics pays off in a big way. The game not only respects the series’ heritage, but also expands upon it in creative and exciting ways. Every piece of the world has been carefully crafted to provide a unique and immersive experience, and the way the gameplay, graphics, and soundtrack come together makes this one of the most captivating games I’ve ever played.

The minor performance flaws and the echo management system don’t take away from an otherwise innovative and fun experience. If you’re a Zelda fan or simply love a good adventure game, Echoes of Wisdom is a must-play title.

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Positive Points:

• Zelda as the protagonist brings a new perspective to the series.
• Echo mechanics that encourage creativity.
• Lovely graphics and stunning art direction.
• Soundtrack that combines nostalgia with novelty.
• Dungeons and puzzles reminiscent of classic games.

Negative Points:

• Framerate drops in open areas.
• Echo management system can be confusing.
• The learning curve for the controls may be steep for some.

Rating:
Graphics: 10.0
Fun: 10.0
Gameplay: 9.5
Sound: 10.0
Performance and Optimization: 8.5
FINAL GRADE: 9.6 / 10.0

• Analysis produced from a copy of the game provided by Nintendo.