The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Review – A Bold Step Forward with Nostalgic Roots
Nintendo fans rejoice! This year, the gaming giant has given its iconic princesses the royal spotlight, putting both Princess Peach and Princess Zelda in the lead roles of their respective games. However, while Peach’s adventure is delightful, Zelda’s newest quest, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, feels like more than just another side project. Trust me when I say that this is not a second-tier spinoff; this is a mainline Zelda game in every way that counts. If you’ve been longing for the classic dungeon-crawling, key-item progression from older Zelda titles, while still embracing the creative problem-solving seen in Tears of the Kingdom, then this game is for you.
A Familiar Yet Fresh Adventure
Echoes of Wisdom takes everything you’ve loved about Zelda’s 2D adventures and gives it a refreshing twist. While it may not always move forward with royal grace, this game manages to capture the best of the old and the new, blending linear progression with a freeform style of play that fans have grown to adore. It’s easily become one of my favourite Zelda titles, even without Link’s iconic green tunic draped over my back.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this game is how little Zelda’s shift to the main character changes the gameplay. Sure, you’re not playing as the mute swordsman this time, but the mechanics feel so familiar that there were moments in my 23 hour playthrough where I briefly forgot I wasn’t controlling Link. The most surprising difference for me, though, was how much more engaging the story felt with Zelda as the star. Instead of following the predictable journey of a hero destined to save the day, this time it’s Zelda’s kingdom that’s under siege, and you, as the ruler of Hyrule, must seal mysterious purple rifts scattered across the land. This shift makes the stakes feel higher, and as I explored the beautifully crafted world, I felt deeply connected to the narrative.
Echoes of Wisdom: New Gameplay Mechanics
Of course, the game reminds you frequently that you’re not Link. Zelda’s interactions with the world and enemies are much more indirect, thanks to her trusty floating companion, Tri. With Tri’s help, you can create echoes of any enemy you’ve defeated or objects you’ve encountered along the way. Defeat a Moblin once, and you can summon it to fight for you in future battles. You’ll also frequently summon objects like beds, boxes, and even trampolines to solve puzzles or navigate obstacles.
At first, this might sound like a quirky, experimental mechanic that doesn’t fit with Zelda’s traditional sword-and-shield combat style, but the echo system is surprisingly deep. It encourages the same kind of creativity that Tears of the Kingdom embraced, only this time in a 2D Zelda game with a charming, toy-like art style reminiscent of the Link’s Awakening remake.
How the Echo System Reinvents Classic Zelda Items
The brilliance of the echo system lies in how it replaces classic Zelda items with new, inventive echoes. You won’t have a hookshot, but a floating floor tile found deep in a cave might help you leap across large pits. You won’t find the shovel from previous games, but a mole-like creature will dig up secrets for you. Skyward Sword’s Gust Bellows isn’t here either, but the Wind Cannon lets you blow away sand just as effectively.
These echoes are hidden throughout dungeons and caves, giving Echoes of Wisdom a sense of progression that I missed in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. As you explore, you’ll find not just new summonable creatures but essential tools that fundamentally change how you traverse the map. One of my favourite discoveries was the Water Block, which allowed me to swim up walls and completely altered how I approached the game’s verticality.
Puzzle Solving: Creativity is Key
The game’s puzzles are where the echo system truly shines. When you spot a chest just out of reach, your mind races as you consider the wide array of creatures and objects at your disposal. Do you summon a monster to hit a switch, or stack items to reach new heights? There’s rarely just one solution to a puzzle, which makes the “aha!” moments feel rewarding.
Nintendo has done a great job of giving you the freedom to approach challenges in multiple ways. You might summon a creature to fight an enemy for you, or you could stack objects in a way that allows you to bypass enemies entirely. The sense of freedom and creativity here rivals what we saw in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, only in a 2D space.
Combat: A Mixed Bag
While puzzles are the game’s highlight, combat feels a little less polished. The echo system works great for solving problems, but summoning creatures to fight for you often feels slow and clunky. Watching your summoned monsters gradually whittle down enemies isn’t as satisfying as swinging a sword yourself. This isn’t to say combat is bad far from it but it doesn’t quite reach the same fluidity and fun as previous Zelda games.
Thankfully, Zelda isn’t entirely reliant on her summons. She has access to Link’s sword, and at any point, you can switch to “Swordfighter Mode” to attack enemies directly. However, this ability is tied to a rapidly depleting energy bar, so you have to be cautious about when and how often you use it. Running out of energy mid-battle can be a hassle, especially during tougher fights or boss encounters.
Later in the game, combat becomes more interesting thanks to the optional automaton system. These buildable robots don’t use up your echo points and offer a variety of unique combat options. However, they also require manual winding and can break if they take too much damage. It’s a neat high-risk, high-reward mechanic that adds a little extra strategy to battles.
Side Quests Galore
If you’re a completionist, Echoes of Wisdom offers plenty of side content to keep you busy. While the main story took me about 23 hours to complete, I spent plenty of time chasing down side quests, hunting for collectibles, and exploring optional mini-dungeons. These side quests are often tied to tangible rewards, such as new echoes or upgrades, and the game’s quirky cast of characters makes the extra effort worth it.
One standout side quest involves helping a village of Deku Scrubs, who are obsessed with sweets. The charm and humour sprinkled throughout the game make these side quests a delight to complete.
A Love Letter to Long time Fans
In many ways, Echoes of Wisdom feels like a love letter to both the past and the present of Zelda. Long time fans will notice nods to the SNES classic A Link to the Past as they explore Hyrule, while newer fans will appreciate the modern gameplay elements borrowed from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The world is a hybrid of old and new, with parts of the map lifted directly from the SNES game and others clearly inspired by recent entries in the series.
The game even includes two rival Zora tribes: one based on the modern fish-tail design, and the other with the finned faces of their 1986 counterparts. This blending of eras gives the game a sense of history and continuity, honouring what came before while pushing the series forward.
Cutting Grass Just Got Better
One of the most iconic mechanics in the Zelda series is cutting grass, and Echoes of Wisdom puts a new spin on this tradition. Instead of using a sword, Zelda can use her Spin ability to mow down grass with ease. This simple yet satisfying action now feels smoother than ever, allowing you to farm rupees, hearts, and items with little effort. It’s a small but welcome improvement that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
Conclusion: A New Classic is Born
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom may break from tradition by placing Zelda in the spotlight, but it still holds true to what makes this series so beloved. It’s a masterful blend of old-school progression, inventive new mechanics, and an engaging story that will keep both long time fans and newcomers hooked from start to finish. While combat may not be its strongest suit, the puzzle-solving, exploration, and sense of discovery make this one of the best Zelda games in years.
Whether you’re a fan of the 2D classics or the newer open-world entries, Echoes of Wisdom strikes a perfect balance that honours the past while carving out its own unique place in the franchise. Zelda’s time in the spotlight has arrived, and she’s more than earned her crown.
