September 4th 2024.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the newest game in the beloved franchise, and GameCentral had the opportunity to go hands-on with it. This game is the first in the series where players can control Princess Zelda herself, and it looks like it's going to be a thrilling experience.
Last year's Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom, was a hit with fans. However, the only downside was knowing that it would be a long wait until the next mainline entry in the series. Nintendo tends to release at least one Mario and Zelda game every year, but they are usually spin-offs, remasters, or remakes. For example, this Christmas, we can expect Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario & Luigi: Brothership, both of which have different gameplay from the mainline Mario games.
It's not common for Zelda to have spin-offs, likely because the main character, Link, is more grounded and less malleable than Mario. That's why the prospect of a game where Princess Zelda is the protagonist is so exciting. Despite the series being named after her, she has never been the lead in a Nintendo-developed game before. This is a significant moment for the franchise, and from the initial reveal, it's clear that she's not just a simple palette swap for Link. Zelda has her own unique abilities, which revolve around creating echoes of animate and inanimate objects, such as a wooden crate or a Moblin.
The developer behind the game has not been officially confirmed, as Nintendo likes to keep this information under wraps until the game's release. However, based on the visual style and top-down viewpoint, it's believed to be third-party studio Grezzo. The graphics are similar to 2019's Link's Awakening remake, but with a smoother frame rate and less extreme depth of field effect. While the character designs may not be everyone's cup of tea, the game itself is utterly charming from the very beginning. The simple mechanics lead to a wide range of possibilities, making it a classic Nintendo experience.
The game's premise, as seen in the trailers and dialogue snippets, is that rifts have opened up in the land of Hyrule, taking Link and other innocent people away. At the same time, a mysterious force is possessing or creating copies of major figures in the realm. Princess Zelda is imprisoned by the king, and the game begins with her in jail, paying homage to the beginning of A Link to the Past. However, she receives help from a fairy-like creature named Tri, who has gifted her with the Tri Rod. This rod allows her to register objects and create echoes of them. For example, a simple wooden table can be used to climb up to higher levels or stacked to reach even greater heights.
One of the most useful early items is a bed, which not only allows players to rest and regain health, but its length makes it perfect for creating bridges by stacking multiple beds. At first, players can only create three echoes of simple objects, but as they progress, this limit can be increased. Even with a limited number of echoes, there are multiple solutions to every obstacle. For instance, crates blocking the way can be destroyed by dropping boulders on them, setting them on fire, or bouncing over them using a trampoline.
The game also features side-scrolling 2D sections, more than what was seen in Link's Awakening. One of the most interesting enemies is the Strandtula, which can be copied to create vertical strands for climbing. Any enemy can be copied, and Princess Zelda can create her own army of Moblins, Keese, and a special Zol variant called Ignizol. This enemy can set things on fire, making it a useful ally for taking down other enemies and obstacles.
In addition to the main gameplay mechanics, there are other elements hinted at in the first village and through items found in crates and pots. These will likely be explained later in the game, but it seems that there is a food and recipe crafting system. Players can gather ingredients like grapes and electro apples and mix them to create drinks with elemental buffs.
The demo concludes with a dungeon inside one of the rifts, which functions similarly to traditional Zelda dungeons, complete with a compass and map. However, the puzzles and combat revolve around using echoes. Two new abilities are also introduced in this dungeon, including the ability to bind yourself to an object and move it or be moved by it. This is useful for reaching objects that are out of reach or attaching to moving platforms. One creative use of this ability was holding back the neck of a Deku Baba so that an echo could attack without fear of retaliation.
In short, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is shaping up to be a fantastic addition to the franchise. With its charming visuals, simple yet diverse mechanics, and the chance to control Princess Zelda herself, it's a game that fans won't want to miss out on.
Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom is the highly anticipated new installment in the legendary Zelda series. As gaming enthusiasts eagerly await its release, GameCentral was given the opportunity to go hands-on with the game and experience the unique gameplay of playing as Princess Zelda herself.
Last year's Zelda game, Tears Of The Kingdom, was a hit among fans, but the only downside was knowing that it would be at least another five years before the next mainline entry in the series. While Nintendo tends to release a Mario and Zelda game every year, these are usually spin-offs, remasters, or remakes. For instance, Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario & Luigi: Brothership are both set to release this Christmas, but they differ greatly from the traditional gameplay of a mainline Mario game.
It's not surprising that there may be a Zelda remaster released alongside the upcoming Switch 2 console next year, but Zelda has typically had fewer spin-offs compared to Mario. This is likely due to the fact that Link, the main protagonist, is a more grounded and less versatile character than Mario. This is why the idea of a game where Princess Zelda takes the lead is so exciting.
Despite the series being named after her, Zelda has never been the main character in a Nintendo-developed game - until now. It's clear from the initial reveal that she is not simply a palette swap for Link, as her abilities are completely different. She can create echoes of objects and creatures, using her new ability to her advantage in the game.
The game's developer has not yet been revealed by Nintendo, but it's likely to be a third-party studio like Grezzo, given the similar graphics and top-down viewpoint to 2019's remake of Link's Awakening. However, this has not been confirmed. The visuals are nearly identical, with a smoother frame rate and less intense depth of field effect. The character designs may not be to everyone's taste, but the overall charm of the game is undeniable.
Our hands-on demo allowed us to skip the beginning of the game, but based on trailers and dialogue, the premise is that rifts have opened up in the land of Hyrule, taking Link and others to unknown places. At the same time, a malevolent force is possessing or creating copies of major figures in the realm. As a result, Zelda finds herself imprisoned by the king and must start the game in jail, in a nod to the beginning of A Link to the Past.
Luckily, she is aided by a fairy-like creature named Tri, who only she can see. Tri gives her the Tri Rod, which allows her to register and create echoes of objects. The first example is a simple wooden table, which can be used to climb to higher levels or stacked to reach even greater heights. As the game progresses, Zelda can create echoes of more complex objects and creatures, such as the Moblin.
There are also side-scrolling 2D sections, more than in Link's Awakening, and we particularly enjoyed the Strandtula enemies that can be copied. These spiders produce a vertical strand that can be used to climb, making them useful allies. In fact, any enemy can be copied, allowing Zelda to build her own army of Moblins, Keese, and even a helpful Zol variant called Ignizol.
The Ignizol can set things on fire, and by targeting enemies for her allies to attack, Zelda can also set flammable objects ablaze. We're not sure how powerful the enemies under her control can become, but we encountered a Darknut - a formidable foe despite its cute name.
Exploring the first village and gathering items from crates and pots hinted at other gameplay elements, such as food and recipe crafting. These will likely be explained further in the game, but it seems that food can be mixed to create elemental buffs.
The game's mechanics are elegantly simple, and our demo culminated in a dungeon within one of the rifts. These dungeons function like traditional Zelda dungeons, complete with a compass and map. The puzzles and combat, however, revolve around using echoes.
In the first dungeon, two new abilities are introduced. The first allows Zelda to bind herself to an object, moving it along with her or being dragged along by the object. This comes in handy when reaching out-of-reach objects or moving platforms. Our personal favorite was using this ability to hold back a Deku Baba's neck while an echo attacked without fear of retaliation.
Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom is shaping up to be an exciting addition to the Zelda series, with its unique gameplay and the chance to play as Princess Zelda for the first time in a Nintendo-developed game. With charming graphics and classic Nintendo mechanics, it's sure to be a hit among fans. We can't wait for its release.
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