Zelda: TotK, Echoes of Wisdom Share Trait That Next Game Could Cement

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Zelda: TotK, Echoes of Wisdom Share Trait That Next Game Could Cement

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Nintendo has truly outdone itself with “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom“. This game feels like a beautiful amalgamation of classic Zelda games and recent innovations, such as Tears of the Kingdom. The art style, enemies, dungeons, and open-world gameplay are all reminiscent of my childhood favorites, yet they’ve been modernized in ways that feel fresh and exciting.

The long-awaited potential final Nintendo Switch game in the Zelda series, titled “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom,” has been released to widespread acclaim among fans, much like its predecessors. This title straddles the line between a spin-off and a mainline game, featuring Princess Zelda as the protagonist in an original top-down adventure. In this game, Zelda utilizes Echoes and her own wisdom to save Hyrule from an encroaching void while other heroes and authorities are unavailable. “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” boasts several appealing aspects, some of which may feel reminiscent of past games.

In the eyes of initial players, Echoes of Wisdom appears as a blend of an old-school Zelda game and the more recent Tears of the Kingdom. Adopting the visual aesthetic from the remake of Link’s Awakening, featuring familiar foes and dungeons, and emulating the free-roaming playstyle similar to TotK‘s Ultrahand and Fuse abilities, Echoes of Wisdom seems both a fitting farewell to the Switch era of Zelda and a compilation of what made the series unique in its early days. However, there’s one subtle gameplay element that Echoes of Wisdom and Tears of the Kingdom have in common, which might hint at future developments.

Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom Aren’t Just About Their Heroes

In the games Tears of the Kingdom and Echoes of Wisdom, Link and Zelda not only interact with various objects, but they also gain more dynamic powers. The former game includes a basic party system which expands as you meet elemental Sages, allowing you to call upon their Vows as toggleable NPC allies, and acquire special abilities after completing dungeons. Meanwhile, Zelda can generate Echoes of enemies, which she can utilize in various ways or deploy as an autonomous attack force. Both systems offer the option for upgrades, but they are key elements that players will probably engage with throughout their gameplay.

How Modern Zelda Has Introduced Allies To Its Formula

In most Zelda games, you seldom encounter non-playable characters (NPCs) serving as companions, except in the Hyrule Warriors series where other playable characters often take on this role. BowWow from Link’s Awakening is one of the few instances that stand out. Interestingly, the latest two games in the franchise have introduced NPC comrades, and Tears of the Kingdom expanded upon this by allowing AI soldiers to join players during certain side quests. This suggests a growing interest in developing this system, which could lead to its inclusion in future Zelda games as well.

The Legend of Zelda Can Do More With AI Partners

The travels of Link through Hyrule are usually solitary, yet there’s typically a companion to join him on his quests. Breath of the Wild deviated from this pattern, but Tears of the Kingdom returned to it with a fresh perspective, and Echoes of Wisdom experimented further. It seems that in future games, non-playable allies could become common, serving as useful tools or means of mobility instead of dungeon items. As for Zelda’s monster summons, it remains unclear if they will return, but they should still fit well within the evolving mechanical environment of modern The Legend of Zelda series.

How Future Zelda Games Can Implement NPC Companions

In future iterations of “The Legend of Zelda” series, companions could play significant roles, either during limited dungeon scenarios or within a character customization system similar to monster raising. To maintain the right balance, these companions should provide aid in combat without taking over, while still allowing for solo gameplay. If skillfully implemented by Nintendo, this feature could become an enduring aspect of the “Legend of Zelda” franchise, starting with “Tears of the Kingdom” and “Echoes of Wisdom.

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2024-10-07 20:34