The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - 6 Similarities The Game Shares With Links Awakening

Highlights

Zelda franchise has had lots of remasters but few full-on remakes like The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.
The art style of Link’s Awakening influenced The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, creating a world of toys aesthetic.
Echoes of Wisdom brings back top-down perspective and 2D segments, nodding to past Zelda games and pleasing fans.

As someone who has played every single Zelda game since the original, I must say that the trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has got me all kinds of excited! It’s like Nintendo is taking us on a nostalgic trip down memory lane with its familiar jingle when opening chests and the return of 2D segments in the gameplay.

In the Zelda series, there aren’t many instances where games have been completely overhauled or remade from scratch. However, numerous remastered versions have been released such as The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Interestingly, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening stands out as an exception because it was remade in 2019.

As a devoted gamer, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities between the upcoming game, “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom,” and its predecessor, “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.” At first glance, it might seem like two distinct titles, but upon closer inspection, there are several nods to “Link’s Awakening” in the trailers for “Echoes of Wisdom.” Here are some of the most notable parallels I’ve spotted so far.

6 The Art Style

In A World Of Toys

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - 6 Similarities The Game Shares With Links Awakening

The revamped version of “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” offered an enjoyable experience primarily due to its unique art style. It seemed as though players had stepped into a playroom filled with toys, given the characters’ shiny plastic appearance. This aesthetic was particularly relevant at the time, considering the popularity of Amiibo figurines from Nintendo, thus reinforcing the toy-like atmosphere.

Although The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom isn’t a follow-up story to the previous game, it does adopt the distinctive visual aesthetic that was featured in its remake. Fingers crossed that Nintendo will delight fans by introducing an Amiibo figurine of Zelda when the game launches, enhancing the play experience with collectible toys. Additionally, it would be exciting if Nintendo decided to expand this art style to other franchises such as Mario and Metroid.

5 A New Game From The Top-Down Perspective

It’s Been A While

In the year 2019, “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” was released, marking the last time the “Zelda” franchise adopted a top-down perspective (in a technical sense). However, since it was a remake, some fans consider this not to be a genuine continuation. The last authentic installment in the series, according to them, was “The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes,” which came out in 2015.

In this game, players can take on the character of one out of three Links, collaborating to solve puzzles. This spinoff of the Zelda series primarily emphasized multiplayer and was successful in doing so. While The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has a smaller scope compared to the main franchise and features Zelda as the protagonist instead of Link, it still aligns with the core elements of the series. Regardless, having a new top-down game will undoubtedly bring joy to many fans.

4 Returning Enemies

From Crows To Moblins

Since the initial release of “The Legend of Zelda” in Japan back in 1986, numerous iconic adversaries have emerged across the series. “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” introduced an entertaining twist to some of these enemies, and remarkably, a few are unique to that game alone. Preliminary trailers suggest that “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” may be incorporating some of these classic foes.

In one scene, Zelda might be depicted tempting Crows towards a fatal trap using a morsel of food. Moblins roam freely across the landscape. Beneath the surface, players may spot Piranhas and Sea Urchins ready to attack Zelda. Interestingly, the trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom doesn’t reveal any enemies from the Mario series such as Goombas or Chain Chomps. However, these characters were present in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, making it exciting to imagine more cameos like those or even Koopa Troopas.

3 That “Tada” Moment

Even Boxes Can Be Wondrous

It would be weird to release a Zelda game without the triumphant jingle that happens whenever players open a chest or receive an item. Even a few of the Zelda games chime in with the music when finding dropped materials from enemies like Rupees. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was a big offender of that which was mostly fixed in the remaster.

As a longtime fan of The Legend of Zelda series, I must say it’s always exciting to witness Link and Zelda’s adventures unfold. With the recent release of the trailer for “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom,” I couldn’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and anticipation wash over me. One particular moment that caught my attention was when Zelda, on several occasions, experienced her signature “tada” moment upon picking up an Echo from ordinary items like tables or boxes.

2 Going Into 2D

Few Zelda Games Have Done It

The Zelda series has had an interesting history with the 2D perspective. At first, it was a big part of it. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was mostly in 2D with the overworld being the only top-down portion. In The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, some of the smaller dungeons had 2D segments.

Through these instances, it’s clear that Nintendo valued 2D gameplay significantly within the Zelda series, particularly noticeable until the release of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, which incorporated 2D elements when Link transformed into a painting. It’s intriguing to find a new game after many decades that continues this tradition with 2D segments, as suggested in the upcoming title The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. In the teaser, Zelda can be spotted navigating underwater and traversing a spider-infested cave in a classic 2D style.

1 Link’s Design

How Much Will He Be In It?

There are numerous spiritual connections between “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” and “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening,” from their shared art style to the 2D sections that seem like tributes. The only aspect that appears to be a direct reference to the remake of “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” is Link’s design.

As a dedicated fan, I’ve always appreciated the unique wardrobe changes that Link undergoes throughout the various installments in the Zelda series. Typically clad in green, each new outfit brings a subtle twist to his iconic appearance. This continuous evolution keeps both Link and the entire Zelda franchise feeling fresh and exciting. While it’s a joy to see Link dressed similarly in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom as he was in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, I can’t help but wonder if there’s a particular reason for this design choice. Only time will reveal the secrets behind this intriguing decision.

2024-08-03 01:44

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – 6 Similarities The Game Shares With Links Awakening