Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Was Originally a Very Different Kind of Game

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Was Originally a Very Different Kind of Game

Key Takeaways

  • Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom originally started as a dungeon editor game with Link as the main character.
  • Zelda takes on a prominent, playable role in the game with unique abilities like copying items and monsters.

As a die-hard Zelda fan who has been eagerly awaiting a game that puts Princess Zelda front and center for years, I was absolutely thrilled to learn about the development of “Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom”. The revelation that this game started out as a dungeon editor with Link as the protagonist only adds to its intrigue.


In a recent Nintendo Q&A session, the creators of “Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” shared that initially, they had a different concept in mind for the game. Had events taken a different course, players might have encountered a Zelda title with stronger resemblances to Super Mario Maker rather than its current form.

Fans of the game “Zelda” have longed for a title that significantly increases Princess Zelda’s presence, ideally making her playable. Nintendo took everyone by surprise with the announcement of “Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom“, marking the first main series game to center around Zelda as the primary character. Similar to other “Zelda” games, this one boasts exclusive skills, items, and techniques, and Zelda’s ability to mimic items and even monsters stands out, aiding her in exploration and combat. Interestingly, it was this particular skill that sparked the game’s creation, although it wasn’t initially planned for such use.

During a conversation with team members like Eiji Aonuma, the developers revealed that the game’s creation started as a type of dungeon editor. At first, only Link could be played, and he had the ability to duplicate items to design his own dungeon, which others could explore later on. Although Aonuma found this idea intriguing, he was particularly captivated by the potential for creative item usage. The initial “dungeon editing” concept continued for a year before it was altered and transformed into the game’s current concept.

Zelda’s “Echoes” Were a Matter of Concern

Aonuma openly shared that it was his decision to overturn the direction of the game midway through its development by a year. He explained that he wanted to thoroughly test and refine the game’s features and feel, which is why the initial concept was given more time to mature. Additionally, he mentioned that he had worries about potential performance issues or even crashes if players exploited the Echoes object cloning feature excessively, so addressing these concerns became necessary as well.

On September 26, the release date of “Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom“, players will soon find out if this game was a worthwhile investment. As the first playable version of Zelda in a main game, fans are bound to have high expectations and hopes for it. However, some fans might also hope for the “edit dungeon” concept to be revisited at a later date. Although it could be more intricate than “Super Mario Maker“, crafting a “Zelda “dungeon by hand could serve as an engaging revamp of the series.

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2024-09-24 01:13