When Nintendo released "The Legend of Zelda" in 1986, the title character was barely an afterthought.
The legend was really about the swordsman Link, who crossed the land battling monsters and braving treacherous dungeons before finally rescuing Princess Zelda from the clutches of the evil Ganon.
"The Legend of Zelda" became a classic and spawned one of the most successful franchises in gaming history. Link, Zelda and Ganon have seen their characters evolve through numerous sequels and spinoffs. Yet until this week's release of "The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom" for the Nintendo Switch, Zelda had yet to take a starring role in the series.
Zelda's debut as the playable hero in "Echoes of Wisdom" is a delightful, lengthy and at times innovative adventure, though one that misses an opportunity to give the protagonist a chance to truly shine.
Despite the game's draw being the long-awaited chance to play as Zelda, "Echoes of Wisdom" opens with the player in control of Link. The hero soon confronts Ganon, who has imprisoned Zelda within a gem.
Link emerges victorious in the ensuing battle, but at the moment of his triumph he is swallowed up by a growing rift. Before falling into the chasm, he shatters Zelda's prison with an arrow.
With Link out of the picture, it's up to Zelda to close the rifts that are growing all over the world and save her kingdom.
Zelda has demonstrated martial prowess in other games, but despite being tasked with saving the realm, she doesn't get to show them off here. Instead, she has the ability to summon "echoes" to help her in her quest. Echoes range from everyday items like tables and chairs that she uses to traverse the environment, to monsters that will take care of the game's combat.
The use of echoes is a new mechanic to the series, and it generally works well as players use them to solve puzzles in their own way. For example, to slip unseen past enemies, a player may construct a staircase from boxes and chairs to get to higher ground or could instead conjure a pot to hide in until the coast is clear.
It's also fun to collect the game's myriad creatures, then summon them to do Zelda's bidding in combat. Many of the foes will be familiar to fans of the Zelda franchise, and getting the chance to use them in a fight brings a unique gameplay element to "Echoes of Wisdom."
The game shares an esthetic with 2019's remake of "Link's Awakening," with cute, cartoonish characters and a whimsical tone. But it's a surprisingly meaty experience, especially after the halfway point when the puzzles become harder to solve and interesting mechanics are thrown the player's way.
And yet, even with Zelda's unique abilities, "Echoes of Wisdom" plays it safe by often presenting the protagonist as a stand-in for Link. She has the same quiet determination and even a similar physical appearance, especially over the first part of the game. "Echoes of Wisdom" could just as easily have been a game in which Link is the main character.
Zelda's lack of fighting skills means combat intensity is dialed down, especially when compared to recent entries in the series like last year's "Tears of the Kingdom." Zelda will spend a lot of the time simply staying out of harm's way while summoning monsters to do the fighting.
She does eventually get the power to channel Link and use his sword-fighting skills, but is only able to do so in limited bursts. And it's another example of the series leaning on Link's abilities, rather than giving Zelda her own method of directly dealing with danger. While she has a lot more agency in how it happens, Zelda is still getting others to fight her battles.
Link's presence hangs over "Echoes of Wisdom," and he plays a vital role in the events of the game. While that is understandable given the character's popularity, it would have been interesting to see Nintendo take a chance and craft an adventure for Zelda that didn't involve Link at all.
That Zelda's time in the spotlight is serviceable rather than spectacular does not detract from "Echoes of Wisdom" as an enjoyable experience and a solid entry into the franchise. But after decades of waiting for her to take a starring role in the iconic series that bears her name, her hero turn falls a bit flat. Hopefully there will be further adventures to flesh her out as a hero in her own right.
"Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom" is rated E10+, meaning generally suitable for players 10 and older, by the Entertainment Software Rating Board and retails for around $80. A digital copy of the game was provided for review purposes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2024.
Curtis Withers, The Canadian Press
