The dangerous undertaking Zelda deserved .

The wisest princess in Hyrule has total to preserve the day in The Legend of Zelda : Echo of Wisdom . Yep , Link will have to hold off because it ’s all about Zelda in The Legend of Zelda : Echoes of Wisdom .

Story

Echoes of Wisdomwastes no time with its storey . As soon as you load into the secret plan , you ’re hurtle into the realm of Hyrule as , surprisingly , Link ! Like the original plot , you hack and slash your way of life up to Ganon and shoot down him in a fierce one - on - one battle . While this would normally be a triumphant triumph , today it is only the first . Link is captured by the rifts and Zelda is left to pick up the pieces and save Hyrule from destruction .

Starting the game with Link is a wonderful dividing line to actually playing it as Zelda . It is one of my favorite narrative parts of the game because it foreground that Link is given the Triforce of Courage while Zelda owns the Triforce of Wisdom . She does have the power to do some of the hack - and - bash techniques we know and love from playing Link , but at the end of the day , Zelda will always have to rely on her marbles over her physical art ( indicated by her Energy streak ) . This is a common theme throughout the news report . If she want to have something or needs to access a place , she must find a way to get the multitude in control of that point or area to agree . This includes detect secret entrances into caves , help people deal with their feelings in a salubrious agency , and using the Echoes she has gathered to furnish an agreeable resolution to any quest .

In a way of life , the mode the story wager out is representative of her identity as the princess of Hyrule . As a phallus of the royal mob , she must utilize the realm ’s resources and people wisely to keep them secure and happy . She does not simply show up and solve a state of affairs ; she listens , analyzes the situation , and finds the best possible solution from what she has . At the same time , the way she solves problem always learn those she helps something crucial . This constituent stimulate the story more compelling and makes it feel like a true Zelda secret plan rather than just making her a female iteration of Link .

Zelda after purifying the Hyrule Castle rift in Echoes of Wisdom

However , the story behind Echoes of Wisdom stands up even if you do n’t take Zelda into account . In this adaptation of Hyrule , the land is constantly pervade with rifts . They steal hoi polloi away , change those who have manage to escape them and are now molest the land worse than ever before .

The environments and characters in Hyrule have all been developed with this in mind . We see characters who are traumatized from the break , their family members who have to take care of them , and a salmagundi of perspectives about what ’s happening through different NPC . When Zelda is deemed to be the perpetrator of the rifts by the fake king . Many characters nigher to her in Castle Town are notably uncertain and lost while others in further settlement , like Kakariko , are either infuriated , likewise confused , or have no estimation what ’s run on with Hyrule at all .

What ’s more , we can see the change in emotion within characters as severance come and go . There is a noticeable worry for lose friends when severance have swallowed them up that contrasts greatly with the way people come together as break are cleared out . These picayune particular make exploring all of the little intricacies of the game and its quality so worth it .

Link being absorbed by the rift at the start of Echoes of Wisdom

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

Score:5/5

Puzzles

Like most Legend of Zelda games , puzzle - solving is a crucial aspect of Echoes of Wisdom , and in this case they ’re quite originative . No teaser can only be solved through a single answer ; alternatively , every teaser has a myriad of potential solutions limited only by your Echoes and resource . I spent many hours gleefully solving puzzles in the batty and crudest ways I could find . Sometimes this mean pile six quondam beds on top of each other while other times I expend 15 second dredge piece of furniture around in a room until I could create the perfect staircase . result like that wo n’t be everyone ’s cup of tea , but it certainly was mine .

It ’s important to take note that these creative solutions workplace for populace exploration as much as they do for job - solving . After all , if you need to climb Eldin Volcano , who articulate you need to come after the way of life ? you may just heap together block of water between ledges as if you were build a weewee lift in Minecraft . Or , if you ’re feeling a lilliputian more venturous , summon a crawling wanderer and use it to climb up anything you ’d wish . Not only is it fun , but the game actively encourages you to attempt these affair by hiding item on gamey shelf you ’d never be able to reach in a regular Zelda secret plan . I ’ve already entirely finished the plot , but I ’ll in spades play back it to see how far I can go with just my will and the Tri Wand .

Combat

Generally , I savor the elan of fight introduced in this secret plan . Testing out different echo during each fight was fun and allowed me to play in any room I like : I could take opposition on from far by using prospicient - range monsters like Wizzrobes , or summon Darknuts to get up close and personal ; if I wanted to agitate myself , I could summon rock music and drop them over and over until I reached victory . One of my personal favorite method : summons an army of crows to attack enemies that came near me . I let them do the work of combat while I scavenged the rupees they knocked out of enemies in the area .

All of this goes to show that Echoes of Wisdom ’s fight is truly made for everyone . With 127 Echoes to select from , you may fight back however you want . foot your favorite monster summons , call forth items to apply against monsters , or transform into Zelda ’s Swordsman Form if you need to precipitate back on old - school fighting proficiency . With these endless opportunities comes a myriad of different armed combat experience and the guarantee that you ’ll never be bored of scrap .

Art Style

The Legend of Zelda : echo of Wisdom is in the same adorable art style as the remastered version of Link ’s Awakening . part are drawn minuscule with large headspring and ignominious oval eyes , like much cuter Funko Pops . I ’m usually not a fan of the consummate blackened eyes , but these remind me a bit of Kirby and the Chao from Sonic due to their shape . Their faces are simple but full of expression , adding a spirit to the game that you ca n’t get from prowess expressive style alone .

The environment is just as pretty as the people . The expanse out of doors of rifts are brightly color in with plenty of greys and whites to balance them out . The grain are just as complete . Paths cutting through grassy areas look as if the eatage is more or less growing over them , all wooden items have different form of grain to countersink them apart , and the shading and highlights from the sun are immaculate . This includes inside theatre as the light clamber through the window and brings living to the home . It really feels like someone put a lot of love and detail into the game ’s appearance . The only thing I ’m missing is a photo way to catch it all .

Score:4.5/5

Talking to a cat for a quest in the Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

Verdict - Zelda stands tall as the Priestess of Hyrule

I had very high hopes as soon as Nintendo harbinger that Zelda was the star of this claim and I was not disappointed . She took on a living of her own through her identity as the Princess of Hyrule and her stead in the enfranchisement as the proprietor of the Triforce of Wisdom . Her identities affected her actions , how she helped people and even the human body of scrap players have entree to .

Every twist and turn in the secret plan had me excitedly working my mastermind for the most fun solution I could call back of , from building bridge out of layer to sending crow after any monster that walked near me . The only matter better than the creative teaser solving and beautiful surroundings is the fact that this plot only act upon so well because Zelda is the champion . The game match her so well that my friends and I have jokingly denote to it as the " Legend of Link " . In short , it ’s a approximate unflawed Zelda title .

[ Disclosure : A free copy of the game was provide to PGG by the publishing firm for review purposes . ]

Solving a puzzle in the Deku Scrub prison in Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

Does echo of Wisdom have you ready to take up a Zelda - play battle of Marathon ? look into out ourZelda Games Tier Listfor our recommendations on what Zelda title to play next .

Fighting enemy monsters in a cave in Echoes of Wisdom

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

Zelda returning to Castle Town after being rescued in Echoes of Wisdom

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

Purifying the River Zora region in Echoes of Wisdom

Screenshot by Pro Game Guides

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