Introduction: From the moment The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was announced by Nintendo, the game attracted a lot of interest from both the wider gaming public and the fans of the famous series. Although the game made some interesting and even risky decisions, it managed to combine them all into a very wholesome release that enchanted the audience. The reception of the game underlined the lasting appeal of The Legend of Zelda franchise. Besides that, it showed yet again that Nintendo is able to evolve its flagship games and, despite its closed ecosystem, grow as a household name in gaming.
Article: For Nintendo, the production of a new game set in the Zelda universe is always a big challenge. The same gaming series began in the mid-1980s and since then, it has managed to amass a legion of fans across the world. Throughout that lengthy period, the series was willing and able to change. It grows in terms of its gameplay mechanics and the wider narrative of the same fictional universe. It adapted different styles, so the regular characters from the franchises, like the famous Knight Link, went through numerous adaptations. Link alone started out as a simplified pixel art sprite, but then got detailed art style adaptations and finally even full 3D models. But, even as this process of evolution took place, Nintendo worked hard to stay true to the original formula of fantasy adventure, exploration, and gameplay flexibility. The same cornerstones of the game were clearly used for the last game as well, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
However, in this case, Nintendo decided to do something a bit different yet again and instead of Link, placed the focus on the character of Princes Peach. For many studios, this would be a signal to make a risk-free spin-off game, where players place down Link’s sword and shield and replace them with the magic wand of Princess Peach. Nintendo had other plans, which is why Echoes of Wisdom goes way beyond a simple spinoff title. The developers made sure that the new gameplay mechanics, which combine item-based progression with a pretty linear process of dungeon crawling, fit perfectly into the wider storyline. Thanks to this, the game had a bit of the freedom and flexibility that Tears of the Kingdom recently offered as well, but the presence of Princes Peach also elevated the gaming experience to a completely new level. Because of that mix, many believe that Nintendo found a new main branch of The Legend of Zelda series and that the stand-alone adventures of the magical, pink-clad Princess of the Hyrule kingdom are only beginning.
Freedom to Experiment
All successful video games rely, at least in part, on the ability of their gameplay to captivate the audience. No matter if the same gameplay is simplified or exceedingly complex, the process of playing somehow has to connect to the same players. In the case of Echoes of Wisdom, that connection takes the form of endless experimentation. The creativity of the Nintendo developers allowed for the creation of a gaming world that is similar to an endless toy box, where the princess is tasked with saving the Kingdom of Hyrule. Here, the main gameplay mechanic of Princess Peach is to use her magical abilities to create echoes, or copies, of elements in the world around her. The usability of this type of magic is nearly limitless and players can try to replicate and use almost anything around them. An additional layer of fun comes from the fact that this experimentation is in equal measure a means of resolving environmental puzzles – like finding a way around an obstacle – but also a combat principle. Because of that, Princess Peach can create echoes of enemies and set them against each other. This is completely out of the normal that was set in the previous two games from the series, but it is also something that players find exceedingly refreshing and even liberating.
Branching Experience
Another big element that supports the freedom of experimentation is the sheer amount of content that Echoes of Wisdom offers. Many might suspect that the game, especially thanks to its casual, cartoony look, might offer a very linear and relatively short gameplay time. However, while the game provides roughly about 20 hours of gameplay for its main story, it provides a huge number of side quests. These supplement the mainline story incredibly well and offer a range of very useful rewards, which yet again strengthen the main gameplay mechanic. The side quest offers everything from generic mini-dungeons to full small stories with their plots and characters. Naturally, the recognizable Nintendo approach to character creation and story writing is visible here as well. Additionally, many of these optional encounters will provide a burst of nostalgia for older players. But, all of them offer a chance for players to further immerse themselves in the Hyrule kingdom’s troubles, but also to hone their skills of experimentation to a particular build-like approach, which will appear thanks to the loot they generate on these side adventures.
A New Zelda Classic
The combined critical reception of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is clearly stellar. Metacritic score for the game stands at 85, while OpenCritics assessment places the game’s standing at 91% positive reviews that recommend the title. With the game, Nintendo made a title that goes beyond a quick spinoff and instead created an incredibly solid foundation for a different way of enjoying the Zelda gaming universe. The combination of puzzle-solving, free roaming in an incredibly cute world, and the appeal of the vintage isometric 2D Zelda games is something that found instant appeal among the fans of the series. But, the same appeal did not fall short for the newcomers to the world of this series and Nintendo’s development team can take full credit for finding a way to reach both groups. This by no means defines the end of the Link’s own adventures.
There is little doubt that Nintendo will continue the production of games that feature the famous green-clad knight. But, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom appeal is something new in the series and the developers will likely not let it slip by. Because of that, not only are new Princess Peach games incoming, they will certainly continue to experiment with their gameplay mechanics. This is something that other game developers should recognize as well and add to their game, allowing them to keep their old appeal but also entice new players to their unique worlds. Nintendo has adopted the same approach and it is a win-win for everyone involved, including the gaming audience.
Author: Ivica Milaric, game designer and assistant professor of game design at the Novi Sada Academy of Arts, Republic of Serbia