Summary

Zelda may be the leading protagonist ofZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, but she hasn’t been able to overshadow Link entirely due to one of the game’s most powerful mechanics. Specifically,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Swordfighter Form effectively brings Link into the picture, despite attempts by Grezzo and Nintendo to leave him out.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing forZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Swordfighter Form to allow players to briefly play as “Link” in the game, but it does suggest something about the series' future.Echoes of Wisdom’s innovationcan’t be denied, but the impact of Link’s sword on the franchise apparently can’t either.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Tag Page Cover Art

Ever since it was announced, theGrezzo and Nintendo’s choice to feature Zelda asZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s main protagonist has been largely shrouded in mystery, aside from the point of view that suggests the role is long overdue for the titular princess. However, in an interview with Nintendo during “Ask the Developer Vol. 13, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom — Part 3,” the developer stated, “We were initially thinking that Link would be the protagonist. But when we focused on the gameplay using echoes and had Link copying and pasting things into the game field, the sword and shield got in the way.”

In retrospect, this development decision makes complete sense, considering the amount offreedomZelda: Echoes of Wisdomgives playersto create their own progression. If Link were the game’s protagonist, it might have removed that feature entirely. That being said, perhapsZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s story could have simply taken Link’s weapons away from him, forcing him to use the Tri Rod and the echoes it can create to move forward in the game.

The main obstacle with that, however, might have been the fact that Zelda reacquires Link’s weapons as players progress through the story.

Regardless of whether Link’s sword got in the way ofZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s unique gameplay during development, it still managed to find its way into the game via Zelda’s Swordfighter Form. Fairly early on inEchoes of Wisdom’s story, Zelda acquires Link’s “mysterious sword.” Upon obtaining the blade, Zelda gains the Swordfighter Form, which allows her to briefly transform into a Link-esque version of herself who can fight with a sword using a similar move set to the iconic tunic-wearing hero. She even makes the same battle cries and grunts that Link is known for while the form is active.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Swordfighter Form just goes to show how difficult it is to exclude Link’s sword from the picture. This is likely not due toEchoes of Wisdom’s Tri Rodand echo system being unable to account for Link’s skill with a sword, as it’s possible to play through most of the game’s content without even using the Swordfighter Form. It’s also likely not even an indication of a lack of innovative ideas on Grezzo and Nintendo’s part, as the ingenuity of both developers has been proven in the past.

TheSwordfighter Form’s presence inZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and therefore the inclusion of Link’s sword, may merely highlight the challenge of attempting to erase a trademark piece of the series' gameplay and image that has been around since its humble beginnings nearly four decades ago. There is a wide variety of different approaches for players to take inZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, but they simply aren’t enough to reverse decades of one of the series' most recognizable gameplay elements — and that may remain true of future installments.

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!