AlthoughZelda: Echoes of Wisdommay be a first for the mainline series, it also seems to share a ton of similarities with what has come before. Of course, the core concept is practically the same as it is with everyLegend of Zeldagame, save for the fact it stars Princess Zelda this time around. Along with that, players can also expect a few features from pastZeldagames to crop up here, including the Stamp Rally. But perhaps the biggest surprise is the fact that an entire boss seems to have come back from the dead forZelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
Introduced inZelda: Ocarina of Time, the giant fire serpent Volvagia has made its grand return to wreak havoc on the hero of Hyrule all these years later. This time around, it appears as an echo residing within another fiery temple in the Still World and will once again test the player’s mettle. However, while it may be the same boss, the actual fights could not be more different.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Ocarina of Time Approach this Boss Very Different
Zelda: Ocarina of Time Pitted Players Against the Fiery Volvagia
Players are first introduced to Volvagiaduring their adventures inZelda: Ocarina of Time. Long ago, the serpent lived in the depths of Death Mountain, and it was there that a legendary hero defeated it. But Ganondorf ends up reviving it by the time ofOcarina of Timeso that it can protect the Fire Temple. So, it is up to Link to head into that mountain to destroy it before it can escape and destroy Hyrule.
What ensues is a pretty tough boss fight that sees Volvagia fly around the battlefield asLink tries not to fallinto the holes in the ground. It pretty much operates like a Whac-A-Mole game, where the dragon will pop out of various lava-filled holes and players must bash its head as it does while avoiding its attacks. After players successfully strike it, Volvagia will fly into the air and act all intimidating, allowing players to strike it with arrows before it heads back for more Whac-A-Mole. Occasionally, giant rocks will also fall from the sky, with this process repeating until players are able to defeat it.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom brings Volvagia Back Better Than Ever
Volvagia makesits grand return inZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, but this time, the fight is very different. Players will encounter the dragon within the Eldin Temple, where it serves as the dungeons' primary boss. Much like inOcarina of Time, the fight itself is filled with lava, and if the player is not careful, then they may burnt to a crisp. However, the battlefield and actual mechanics are extremely different.
SincePrincess Zelda cannot fight without using echoes, the battle is built around that rather than the standardLegend of Zeldacombat ofOcarina of Time. There are multiple platforms for players to navigate, with Volvagia bouncing between them. Players will want to summon ranged or flying echoes to damage it, and utilize their bind ability to stun the dragon so that it cannot fly through the sky or between platforms. Once stunned, they can strike it with their sword, arrows, or echoes, causing immense damage.
Grezzo could have just copied and pasted Volvagia, but it went the extra mile by actually making the battles feel very distinct. The battlefield looks different, the dragon operates differently, and the moves required to defeat it are unique to the game they are set in. Of course, players will likely be debating about which iteration is best for years to come. But the fact they are able to do that is fantastic to see, and hopefully, more forgotten bosses will get their time to shine inZelda’s future.
