The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis finally here, and it has lived up to its lofty expectations. As the first mainline game in theZeldaseries to feature the titular princess herself as protagonist,Echoes of Wisdomtakes a refreshing approach to gameplayand narrative design, helping it stand out in an ever-growing ocean of innovative and memorableLegend of Zeldareleases. With that in mind, fans of the game may be surprised to learn that it was developed by a non-Nintendo studio known as Grezzo.
Grezzo, which was founded in 2006, has primarily served as a support studio during its 17-year tenure, building a resume that includes the likes ofOcarina of Time 3DandMajora’s Mask 3D, though it has seemingly been expanding its repertoire in recent years. Its relationship with Nintendo seemed to advance back in 2015, when the famous Japanese developer brought Grezzo onboard forThe Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, a brand-new entry in the franchise that went beyond the scope of the aforementioned remasters. Then, Grezzo helmedLink’s Awakeningin 2019, a considerably more ambitious remake of the 1993 original that is essentially an entirely new game. Now, withEchoes of Wisdomlanding to rapturous applause, it’s clear that Grezzo is just getting started.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Solidifies Grezzo as a Key Part of the Franchise’s Legacy
Echoes of Wisdom Is Grezzo’s Boldest Project Yet
While bothTri Force HeroesandLink’s Awakeningare well-received, successful games, they are effectively what one would expect from a studio of Grezzo’s caliber and tenuous connection to Nintendo.Tri Force Heroeswas only ever released on the 3DS, limiting its mainstream exposure and prestige in western markets, andLink’s Awakening, though certainly more high-profile, is a remake of an older game rather than an entirely new product.
ButEchoes of Wisdomis a far morenotable and inventiveZeldagame. Of course, there’s the fact that it is the first game in the series to actually feature Zeldaas the main playable protagonist, which is a landmark in its own right, but there’s also the gameplay innovations that it introduces. Mechanics like the Tri Rod build off systems from entries likeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, but they have their own intricacies and characteristics that make them unique and enjoyable to experiment with. They may not be quite as ambitious or expressive as mechanics like Ultrahand, but they certainly show that Grezzo isn’t afraid to experiment.
More than anything, theinnovation and creativity on display inEchoes of Wisdomsuggests that Nintendo’s confidence in the studio has grown significantly over the years. While it’s never clear just what the future will hold for theZeldafranchise, it seems safe to assume that Grezzo’s relationship with the series and Nintendo won’t be ending anytime soon.
Echoes of Wisdom’s Success Could Pave the Way for More Grezzo-Led Zelda Projects
IfEchoes of Wisdomcan be considered a manifestation of Nintendo’s confidence in Grezzo, then its strong critical and commercial performance could lead to additional ambitious Grezzo projects down the road. Maybe the studio could be Nintendo’s go-to team for more games with Zelda as the protagonist, perhaps even beyond the moreold-schoolZeldaformula present inEchoes of Wisdomand theLink’s Awakeningremake; Grezzo could conceivably make a Zelda-led game on the scale ofBreath of the Wild, building onEchoes' foundations in major ways.
Of course, games likeEchoes of Wisdomprove how futile it is to try andpredict what theZeldafranchise will do next, but considering Grezzo’s strong track record thus far, there’s a good chance the studio will lead even moreZeldagames down the road. Hopefully, the developer is given the time and resources it needs to make more special, high-quality, creative entries in the series.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
WHERE TO PLAY
Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
