Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Must Atone for One Sin of BotW, TotK

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Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Must Atone for One Sin of BotW, TotK

As a long-time fan of The Legend of Zelda series, I can’t help but feel both excited and apprehensive about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Having grown up playing the classic titles that defined the franchise, I’ve come to appreciate the rich storylines and linear progression that have long been a staple of Zelda games.

The groundbreaking games, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its successor, Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, revolutionized the series by introducing a fresh direction based on its history but ultimately transforming it into something new and distinct. While these titles have been widely praised by critics, not all gamers have embraced them due to their departure from the conventional Zelda gameplay and the overwhelming size of their open worlds. The expansiveness of these games’ new eras has become a double-edged sword, leading to one of their primary criticisms. Now, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, an upcoming release, aims to address one of the major flaws of BotW and TotK.

As a gamer, I was excitedly anticipating the next installment in The Legend of Zelda series, expecting it to build upon the open-world exploration and mechanics introduced in Breath of the Wild and its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. However, when I booted up Echoes of Wisdom for the first time, I was immediately struck by its unique take on the franchise.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Needs to Be More Story-Driven Than BotW and TotK

Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Its Sequel Largely Neglected Narrative for Their Open Worlds

It’s undeniable that The Legend of Zelda’s latest era has been incredibly successful, with Zelda: Breath of the Wild taking home the prestigious Game of the Year award in 2017 and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom expected to be a strong contender for the title in 2023. Yet, despite their triumphs, these games have been criticized for deviating significantly from The Legend of Zelda’s classic storyline-focused gameplay. While their open worlds are undeniably impressive and industry benchmarks, many feel that they fell short in the narrative department compared to traditional Zelda games.

In larger open-world games, keeping a clear focus on the story can become quite challenging due to the abundance of distractions. The more expansive the game world, the higher the risk that the storyline may be overlooked or forgotten. This issue is likely why some recent Zelda titles, such as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, have received criticism in this regard. It’s unfortunate that these games, which were once known for their compelling narratives, have strayed from their linear roots.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Needs to Be a Traditional Story-Driven Zelda Experience

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel that The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom owes us a more compelling narrative to make up for its predecessors’ shortcomings. From what we’ve been shown so far, this game appears to be on a smaller scale. However, the freedom to explore every inch of the map with the help of Zelda’s Tri Rod makes up for it, ensuring that we stay engaged in the story rather than being distracted by other elements.

To ensure that the main story takes center stage in “Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom,” the game may need to restrict its map and additional activities. While it’s possible that this title has achieved a good blend of size and narrative, only time will tell once the game is released on September 26, 2024.

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2024-07-26 13:34