The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Release Date, Characters, & Gameplay Details (2024)

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the next game in the Zelda franchise, and it's set to shake things up in a major way. In place of the typical hero Link, Princess Zelda herself takes the center stage, a similar shift to Princess Peach: Showtime!'s recent approach. Like that title, the core gameplay of the series is also adapted to fit the change in character, although many of Zelda's defining elements will still appear in Echoes of Wisdom.

This isn't technically Zelda's first outing as the protagonist, but her other starring role was in the infamous Philips CD-i game Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, a non-canonical entry made without Nintendo's involvement. Things look much more promising this time around, with the charming art style of the Link's Awakening remake returning for a fluid top-down adventure. After the massive adventure that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom brought to the table in 2023, Echoes of Wisdom should be a nice way to return to Hyrule without the same level of intense commitment.

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Release Date

When Echoes Of Wisdom Is Launching

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will release for Nintendo Switch on September 26, 2024, following the early autumn release model that the Link's Awakening remake employed. With Nintendo presumably saving many of its major announcements for a Nintendo Switch successor in 2025, this will be one of the biggest releases to fill out the rest of 2024 on the platform, coming in ahead of Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario & Luigi: Brothership.

A new Hyrule Edition of the Nintendo Switch Lite will also be available on September 26. Like several of the Zelda variants made for previous consoles, the console features a metallic gold coloration and the Hyrule Crest emblazoned on the back. A small Triforce symbol is also tucked underneath the right analog stick. Switch Lites sell at an MSRP of $199.99, losing the hybrid possibilities of the standard Switch in favor of an exclusively handheld proposition.

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Characters

A Few Familiar Faces Are Returning

Although Link isn't claiming the starring role in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, he will still appear in the game in a reduced fashion. The story appears to begin with Link rescuing Zelda from Ganon, who shows up in his classic boar-like form. As Link breaks the crystal holding Zelda, some kind of dark dimensional rift spreads and traps him while she makes her escape. More rifts like these cause problems across Hyrule, leading to other disappearances throughout the kingdom.

Zelda's quest to save Hyrule from these rifts and rescue Link is assisted by a new character named Tri, a mysterious fairy who gifts her with a staff called the Tri Rod. Following Zelda around throughout gameplay footage, Tri appears to be taking on the role of a constant companion, similar to previous characters like Navi, Fi, and Ezlo. Another classic source of wisdom returns in the form of the Great Deku Tree, which was first introduced in Ocarina of Time and reappeared in several subsequent 3D Zelda games.

No character names make it into the trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, but Zelda does interact with a number of NPCs in gameplay footage. One figure appears to be an inventor in the vein of Robbie from Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, with similarly comical tufts of hair and oversized glasses. A Gerudo woman and a Zora character that might be a princess like Ruto or Mipha also appear, and a variety of enemies both familiar and new populate Hyrule.

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Gameplay

Puzzles & Combat Revolve Around The Tri Rod

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom builds on the gameplay foundation of the Link's Awakening remake, but a shift away from Link's traditional sword and shield makes for a very different approach to progressing through its world. Instead, Zelda makes use of the Tri Rod, which grants her the power to duplicate objects and creatures found across Hyrule. These duplicates called Echoes import some of the tinkering found in Tears of the Kingdom into the top-down style of play, although the focus here is more likely to be on solving discrete puzzles than unfettered creativity.

In its most straightforward form, this can mean stacking objects on top of each other to let Zelda reach new heights, from traditional goals like scaling plateaus to clambering up to more unusual destinations like treetops. Some Echoes can block gusts of wind, while others can distract enemies or set fire to flammable environments. Despite the clarity of the challenges presented to Zelda, the solutions can be more open-ended than with previous gimmicks like flattening Link into walls or shrinking him down to fit into small environments.

Since Zelda lacks a sword, the Tri Rod is also her key tool in combat. Throwing echoes at enemies has the potential to damage them, whether due to blunt force impact or elemental effects. Duplicating enemies can send them forward to fight other foes, waging battle by proxy on Zelda's behalf. Some duplicated creatures can also provide new movement possibilities, and gliding in the talons of a bird seems like an interesting way to open up areas that might otherwise be inaccessible.

The big changes in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom might not be for everyone, and the Tri Rod approach makes for a less immediate approach to action than traditional Zelda games. As a fresh twist on a time-honored series, however, it definitely has the potential to be a memorable experience. Zelda fans have had plenty to enjoy on the Nintendo Switch, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom could be a nice way to sunset the console as Nintendo transitions to the Switch's inevitable successor.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Franchise

The Legend of Zelda

Platform(s)

Switch

Released

September 26, 2024

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Genre(s)

Adventure