The following contains spoilers forZelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis unique in many ways, but its handling of the Triforce is one of its more defining characteristics. AsEchoes of Wisdomgives the Triforce a different name, it opens the door for it to join an exclusive club that only two other games are currently a part of.
While it has only happened a small handful of times,when aZeldagame renames the Triforce, there is a narrative reason for it. In the case ofZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, that reason is tied to its creative powers.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Renames the Triforce
A Link to the Past and Skyward Sword Are the Only Other Two Entries to Rename the Triforce
The Triforce has almost always been referred to as such, and that is likely what just about any fan oftheLegend of Zeldaserieswill know it as. However, only two games apart fromZelda: Echoes of Wisdomhave dared to give it a different name for one reason or another, likely being linked to those games' placement in theLegend of Zeldatimeline. The two games in question areZelda: A Link to the PastandZelda: Skyward Sword.
Zelda: A Link to the Pastactually refers to the Triforce by two different names during its story: the Golden Power and the Master Force. It is obviously called “Golden” due to its gold color and material, but the “Power” part of its name is more likely connected to its intended use by Ganon.A Link to the Past’s storyeventually reveals that Ganon had initially acquired all three pieces of the Triforce in an attempt to conquer Hyrule, but his plan was thwarted when the goddesses trapped him within the Sacred Realm, sealed by the seven Sages.
The other name given to the Triforce byA Link to the Past, the Master Force, isn’t used as often but still applies to its narrative in the same way.Zelda: Skyward Sword, on the other hand, calls the Triforce the Ultimate Power, which, at the time, made it the firstZeldagame to change the name of the Triforce in 20 years.Skyward Sword’s antagonist, Demisewanted the Ultimate Power all to himself, that he might take the world for his own.
In an attempt to lay hold of the Ultimate Power protected by the goddess Hylia, Demise laid siege to Hyrule but was imprisoned by Hylia in the Sealed Grounds. Inthe story ofSkyward Sword, Link eventually obtains the Ultimate Power and then takes it to the top of the Statue of the Goddess, where he uses it to wish for Demise’s destruction. This helps to give meaning to the Triforce’s new name of “Ultimate Power,” as it has the power to grant the wishes of those who acquire it.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Calls Its Triforce the ‘Prime Energy’
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomjoins this exclusive club ofZeldainstallmentsthat refer to the Triforce by another name with its own nickname for the iconic symbol. Specifically,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomcalls the Triforce the “Prime Energy,” and for a good reason. Whereas the Triforce is generally desired for the raw power it provides the wielder,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomcalls the Triforce the Prime Energy due to its ability to “energize” or give life to all creation. This is ultimately why Null,Echoes of Wisdom’s antagonist, desires the Prime Energy, as Null hungers for Hyrule to be pulled into the endless void that existed before life itself.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdommay not be the lastZeldagame to rename the Triforce, so it will be interesting to see how future installments handle the icon. However, whether it is called by its normal name or by something else entirely,it’s good to have the Triforce backafter it was missing in the last two 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 may even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
