The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Why We Love It

The Legend of Zelda franchise has probably been around since before you were born. If you’ve played the previous releases, you would know that we’ve never actually had a mainline Zelda game with Princess Zelda as the primary playable character, until now. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was only released in September 2024 but has already sold more than 2.6 million copies so far. Many are calling it the best game in the franchise, and it’s not just because we get to play as Zelda. There’s a lot more to unpack about this game. Join us as we review what makes Echoes of Wisdom so special, why you should be excited for this game, and how you can express your love for the franchise with authentic Zelda merch. Discover the Magic of Echoes of Wisdom The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular video game franchises developed by Nintendo. The first video game in the series was released in 1986. So far, there have been 29 games in the Zelda franchise, the latest entry in the lineup being Echoes of Wisdom. Introduction to the Zelda Series Of the 29 overall games in the Zelda franchise, only 20 of them are part of the main series. The rest are remakes, spinoffs, and collections. Typically, games in the main series are released in intervals of 1–5 years from each other. Each new release is connected to the others, thanks to the tremendous job the creators have done in terms of world-building, story, and character development. In each game, players get to interact with or control iconic characters like Link, Princess Zelda, Impa, and Sheik. Besides video games, the Zelda franchise has expanded to include animated series, manga, and merchandise. The gameplay elements in the franchise have been constant. Every entry contains fantasy, action-adventure, role-playing, and puzzle gameplay. Players move a character around the map, engaging in interactions, combat, puzzle solving, and side quests along the way. As the game progresses, they gain items that can prove useful in battles or advancing to new map areas. New releases contain a few gameplay additions to keep players interested. However, fans of the franchise still find the traditional elements interesting, even after the transition from 2D to 3D after 2001. Significance of the New Release Everyone in the Zelda community is talking about Echoes of Wisdom, the latest release in the franchise, and with good reason. Most people are both hyped and anxious to play this game because it’s the first in the series with Princess Zelda as the main protagonist. Others can’t wait to try out her unique ability to create “echoes,” which are copies of enemies and objects that do her bidding. What Makes Echoes of Wisdom Special There are many reasons to play Echoes of Wisdom. Besides the fact that it is the latest entry in the main series, the fairytale adventure game features several other elements that set it apart from its predecessors. Let’s explore why it's so unique! Princess Zelda Takes the Lead Before the game was announced, the irony of having a series named after a character who was never the protagonist had been a long-running joke in the Zelda community. All of that changed with the release of Echoes of Wisdom on September 26, 2024. This brings a refreshing twist in the story narrative, allowing players to explore the princess’ character like never before. For many people, we’re truly getting a legend of Zelda for the first time in the series. According to the storyline, Zelda embarks on a quest to save the Kingdom of Hyrule and one of the most iconic TLOZ characters, Link. Having Zelda as the main protagonist has also changed the traditional gameplay. She is not as strong as previous protagonists, so players have to rely less on brute strength and more on her wit and special skills. Fun Dungeons The dungeons in the new Zelda game are challenging in a fun way. They are massive and contain puzzles that are nowhere near as difficult as the dungeons in TLOZ: Majora's Mask. We don’t want to spoil anything, but we should tell you that solving puzzles in dungeons is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the EOW’s gameplay. It’s a shame that the puzzles rarely take more than a few minutes to solve. Each dungeon also has a boss that must be defeated before Zelda can progress. More Gameplay Freedom in 2D TLOZ has always prided itself on how much freedom it affords players on the map. However, the overabundance of options in EOW makes previous entries look limited. The game is filled with collectible elements and skills that are not necessary for your advancement. Zelda can wield all kinds of weapons, including those owned by Link in past entries. In 2017, Breath of the Wild became the first game in the series to introduce the fully open-world Zelda game. Tears of the Kingdom continued with the concept in 2023. However, while many fans praised the freedom they enjoyed in both games, they also criticized the games for not having the classic Zelda story elements. It would seem that EOW has no such problems. It maintains a similar storytelling style to the classic games while offering you as much freedom as the past two entries, if not more. The series is also making a return to 2D top-down gaming for the first time in years. Echoes Indeed, echoes are the highlight of the game and a major reason for its high demand. Zelda can use a magic wand known as the Tri Rod to create reusable clones known as echoes. These are copies of enemies, tools, and objects that can help Zelda during battles and quests. You can find over 100 echoes in the game. They range from clouds and trampoline to bombfish and wooden crates. Echoes are very useful. They can allow Zelda to travel more easily, hop over trees, heal, and battle from afar. Incredible Music The music in EOW is one of a kind. Although there are several tracks that sound similar to those from previous games, the new renditions sound entirely different from what we’re used to in these games. Some of the best music can be heard in places like Kakariko Village and Hyrule Castle. The Zelda Legacy: Why Fans Are Excited Whether a new release is good or bad, fans of the Zelda franchise will always be excited to play the game. This ride-or-die mentality is a testament to the impact of the series on the world. Historical Significance The Legend of Zelda was a pioneer in the gaming industry when it first came out in 1986. A lot of its gameplay features were unknown before they appeared in its early iterations. For example, the original game was the first console game with a save feature. Also, Ocarina of Time was the first 3D game with a lock-targeting system. Alongside the Mario games and Pokemon, TLOZ is one of the best-selling Nintendo game franchises in the world. Memorable Moments The storyline of the entire series consists of many complex plot points and alternate timelines. There’s no telling whether subsequent games will be set in the past or future. Nevertheless, TLOZ has given us some of the most iconic moments in video game history, such as the following: In Ocarina of Time, Link takes the Master Sword and accidentally opens the gates of the Triforce, allowing Ganondorf to seize power. The first Zelda game began with Link alone in a cave. He meets an old man who gives him a sword and says the iconic line, “It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Take This.” TLOZ, originally a 2D games series, began its transition to 3D with Ocarina of Time. In Majora's Mask, a giant moon destroys everything and everyone in Termina if you don’t stop it in time, creating the most gruesome “game over” scene. Fan Anticipation for Echoes of Wisdom People can’t wait to play as Zelda in the new game and make use of the 100+ echoes available. Many long-time fans are also eager for the return of the old-school top-down camera perspective featured in the release. How EOW Fits into the Zelda Legacy EOW has a bigger impact on the series than the last two releases. Besides the fact that it marks the return of the series to 2D-ish gaming, it also offers some background on Hyrule’s history. It can’t possibly be a sequel to the other games because Zelda and Link are not acquainted when it begins. What You Need to Know About Echoes of Wisdom This section contains what you need to know before you buy The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Key Insights The following is a summary of key facts about the game: It is only available on Nintendo Switch. Despite its 2D nature, you can’t play it on the Game Boy Advance, Wii virtual console, and the like. It is an open-world game offering a great deal of freedom with few limitations. The combat system is more strategic than other Zelda games. Tri is one of the best side characters in the game. No other 2D TLOZ game has more platforming than EOW. Recent Updates Nintendo released an update on October 20, 2024. It helped to fix various issues with the original release, including bugs that stopped players from progressing. Gameplay Expectations Your character is equipped with skills and equipment to battle, travel, solve puzzles, and heal. The Tri Rod allows Zelda to create "echoes," and Bond allows her to bind objects to her while she moves. She also has a Swordfighter form, in which she can engage in combat just like Link. Traveling across the map is easier with echoes, Waypoints (teleportation sites), and horses. Release Details After its release on September 26, 2024, EOW received fantastic reviews on sites like Metacritic and OpenCritic. In Japan, it sold over 200,000 copies in the first week of its release. Global sales crossed 2.6 million copies in November 2024. Gear Up with Zelda Merch from Sugoi Mart Express your love for the Zelda franchise by getting some of the themed products available on Sugoi Mart. Sugoi Mart TLOZ: Tears of the Kingdom Collection We have a collection of merchandise items from the previous Zelda game, which was released in 2023. Items in our collection include the traveling Korok mini pouch, Blind Box, Zelda’s earrings, Purah hair tie, and The Kingdom Tumbler. Other Zelda Merch on Sugoi Mart The following are examples of other Zelda items on our website: The Kingdom Master Sword Pin Zelda Drawstring Pouch Hyrule Crest Puzzle Hylian Crest Pin Zelda Heart Mug Link to the Past Tote Bag Sugoi Mart Nintendo Merch Collection We also offer bonus Nintendo-themed merchandise to complement your Zelda gear. Feel free to explore collectibles from Super Mario, Pokemon, and themed Nintendo Switch online accessories. Join the Adventure: Explore More with Sugoi Mart Finding the best Zelda and Nintendo merch is super easy on our website. Use this direct link to see our Zelda Collection, and this one to view all kinds of video game-related merchandise. We update our stock regularly, so feel free to check-in every day. Visit Sugoi Mart today for exclusive Zelda merchandise and other gaming products.