Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Timeline Placement Is a Breath of Fresh Air

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Summary

  • Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom defied Zelda timeline norms, causing controversy.
  • The new Zelda game Echoes of Wisdom returns to established timeline patterns.
  • Future games should follow the clear timeline placement for Echoes of Wisdom.

The intriguing aspect of the timeline in the series “The Legend of Zelda” is one of the most puzzling elements in video game history, considering its evolution spanning nearly four decades. Throughout the years, the timeline of “Zelda” has expanded significantly, with titles such as the latest “Breath of the Wild” and upcoming “Tears of the Kingdom” even pushing boundaries by altering established patterns within the franchise. The recent confirmation that “Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” fits into this timeline suggests promising developments for the future of the series.

The games “Breath of the Wild” and “Tears of the Kingdom” haven’t done anything specifically wrong regarding their placement in the timeline. Given their high acclaim as some of the best “Zelda” games, it’s not a big deal if they don’t alter the existing complex timeline too much. However, these two games have been particularly puzzling for long-term fans due to their unclear positions in the “Zelda” timeline. The game “Echoes of Wisdom” resolves this issue by adhering to the series’ traditional standards, which could potentially set a new trend.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Place on the Timeline Should Be the First of Many

Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Are Notorious for Their Weird Timeline Placement

Unlike earlier games in the Legend of Zelda series, which were set within one of three distinct timelines stemming from Ocarina of Time – namely, the Fallen Hero Timeline, Child Timeline, and Adult Timeline – Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are located significantly after these events. In reality, their position on the timeline is almost insignificant because they’re so far removed from earlier installments that they almost become irrelevant to the series’ history.

In essence, “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” is positioned at least 10,000 years after a previous victory over Calamity Ganon, an event that occurred far beyond the timeline of the earlier games in the series. This time placement in the “Zelda” universe makes it challenging for longtime fans who enjoy connecting elements from current and past games to draw such connections between “Breath of the Wild” and the upcoming game, “Tears of the Kingdom.

Echoes of Wisdom’s Place on One of Zelda’s Branching Timelines Is a Good Sign for the Future

Contrarily, the latest addition to the series, titled Echoes of Wisdom, accomplishes what Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom did not by firmly establishing its position in one of the established storylines that the franchise has been recognized for. To clarify, Echoes of Wisdom unfolds within the Fallen Hero timeline, following after the events of Tri Force Heroes and preceding the original Legend of Zelda game. By doing so, it offers fans a solid understanding of its position within the series’ timeline, prioritizing consistency and connection to the overall plot over anything groundbreaking or revolutionary.

For devoted fans who’ve followed the Zelda series for a long time, it can be quite challenging to find links between current games like Breath of the Wild and upcoming ones such as Tears of the Kingdom, due to their placement in the series’ timeline.

It’s quite plausible that the positioning of “Echoes of Wisdom” on the timeline indicates where the series might be headed in the future. If it doesn’t, perhaps it ought to, as this could suggest that subsequent Zelda games may not delve as deeply into the series’ lore as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have. The era of Zelda that Breath of the Wild represents has been remarkable and impactful, but maintaining a connection between all games in the series is significant because it strengthens the bond many gamers have built with The Legend of Zelda over the past few decades.

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2025-02-07 00:55