Echoes of Wisdom is Great, But Zelda Should’ve Been the Lead Years Ago

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As a long-time Nintendo enthusiast and avid Zelda fan, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction when The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was announced during the latest Nintendo Direct. It’s high time that Princess Zelda stepped into the spotlight as a leading character, a role she has long deserved due to her impressive in-game abilities and iconic status within the gaming world.

Enthusiasts of Nintendo globally cheered upon hearing about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s unveiling during the latest Nintendo Direct presentation. This upcoming game marks a significant shift as Princess Zelda takes center stage, long overdue for this iconic character.

1. Typically, Zelda’s power as a sorcerer varies according to the game’s narrative, yet she is often portrayed as quite formidable in combat situations. It seems almost amusing that someone as capable as Zelda gets kidnapped so frequently, but Nintendo consistently sticks to its traditions. The common thread throughout the series has been the backdrop of rescuing a princess while exploring intricate game worlds.

1. It’s long overdue that we have a Zelda game where the princess takes center stage, wielding spells and combat abilities against enemies on her own. Frankly, it’s frustrating that Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom continues to keep the princess from using swords or powerful magic, despite promising an engaging gameplay experience through “Echoes.” However, even though Nintendo has traditionally portrayed Zelda as a peacemaker, her impressive in-story weapons and minor roles in games like Smash Bros. and Hyrule Warriors hint at untapped potential.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed that even when given a chance to play in the past, Zelda games often tone down Link’s abilities to maintain him as the sword-wielding hero. However, the Nintendo DS spin-off Spirit Tracks offers an intriguing twist: you can embody Zelda’s ghost within an armor suit. Unfortunately, she’s not directly involved in the action, but rather serves as a puzzle-solving mechanic, making her role more about strategy and intellect than physical combat.

Users might have found greater satisfaction if Zelda had been playable in specific portions of earlier games, particularly when her role is significant in the narrative. It could have added an exciting twist to control “Tetra” during certain sections of Wind Waker, for instance. Including brief playable sections of Zelda in Twilight Princess would also have been appealing, given that, as a spoiler for an older game, she perishes before the end.

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“Additionally, it’s essential not to overlook the fact that certain Zelda games transform Princess Zelda into Sheik, a formidable ninja character. Imagine a scenario where Zelda assumes the disguise of Sheik to uncover a plot threatening Hyrule. Her transitions between stealth and combat scenes seem perfect for her iconic ninja persona.”

Before the release of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, the only Zelda game with the title character as the main focus was Zelda’s Adventure for the Philips CD-i. Given the infamous poor quality of Nintendo CD-i games, it comes as no shock that this particular game is among the worst of the lot.

1. Lately, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity demonstrated that Zelda from Breath of the Wild had immense potential as a playable character. Utilizing the Sheika Slate, Zelda creatively destroyed enemies in various manners, which made her one of the most enjoyable characters within the game. Regrettably, Tears of the Kingdom failed to build upon this, and it’s disheartening given the massive narrative dedicated to her valiant actions during the countless hours spent exploring.

Nintendo deserves recognition for positioning Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom as a significant mainline game rather than a spin-off. They had the option to make it standalone like Princess Peach’s Showtime, but instead chose to integrate it into the primary series narrative.

It’s hoped that Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom marks the beginning of more games in which the cherished Nintendo character, Zelda, takes a larger role. This isn’t to say we want Link removed from the series completely, but rather, we’d enjoy seeing him and Zelda collaborate more frequently as partners or friends.

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2024-07-30 14:26