Summary
Every race inThe Legend of Zelda’s Hyrule has unique characteristics that set them apart from the rest of the overworld’s inhabitants.The Goron, for instance, have a rock-like, robust appearance and the ability to shield themselves from harm by rolling up into a ball. Zora, on the other hand, are fish-like humanoids known for their aquatic nature and natural swimming ability. The most intriguing race in Hyrule, however, is the Gerudo. Unfortunately,The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdommay take that intrigue away from them, as it introduces a new protagonist that may shake things up considerably.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomisn’t breaking every tradition in the franchise’s handbook, but it is breaking what is arguably the most significant one — Zelda, rather than Link, is its main playable character. While this will certainly affect the game’s familiar combat, it’s also likely to directly influence the role of the Gerudo in the game by potentially lessening the impact of what is their most defining characteristic. Specifically, the Gerudo have been known to treat Link with contempt on account of their matriarchal values and strict laws, but Zelda being a woman should theoretically change all of that. As such,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomwill need to ensure its take on the Gerudo still makes the race stand out as much as it has in the past.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Gerudo Need to Stand Out
Zelda Will Likely Receive Better Treatment From the Gerudo in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
The Gerudo are a society composed entirely of women due to a unique biological quirk that doesn’t allow a Gerudo man to be born but once every century. This Gerudo man, by law, would then be destined to become their next king. While other men have been born into Gerudo society before, the only one to ever appear in theLegend of Zeldaseries isGanondorf, the franchise’s primary antagonist. Unfortunately, once Ganondorf became their king, he betrayed the Gerudo, leaving them with little trust in men. From then on, they chose to preserve and protect their way of life by restricting men from entering their settlements and society.
In pastZeldagames, Link has been unable to enter Gerudo settlements due to being a man. However, being that Zelda is a woman, she should have no problem entering a Gerudo settlement and interacting with the individuals inside. Although it might be interesting to see how this plays out, it may ultimately subtract from what makes the Gerudo so unique.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Gerudo Need a Different Defining Quality
Since Zelda is a woman and should therefore be allowed to enter Gerudo Town with very little trouble inZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, this installment needs to ensure its Gerudo have a different defining quality. IfZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Gerudoare still nothing more than a women-only club, then, to Zelda, they could be just another group of normal people. Based on what has been revealed so far, the Gerudo seem to be speaking with Zelda in a much more casual manner than they have ever been heard speaking to Link, as if she were one of them without actually being one of them.
While this is understandable consideringZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s premise, it still might give the Gerudo the short end of the stick when they arguably deserve much more.
Perhaps the Gerudo inZelda: Echoes of Wisdomare, for some reason, allied with Ganondorf or whatever evil force threatens this iteration of Hyrule. This would make their friendliness toward Zelda more of a front than a natural response to another woman. On the other hand, perhapsZelda: Echoes of Wisdomwill expound onthe culture of the Gerudoto give them characteristics they’ve never had before. In any case, the Gerudo deserve special treatment now, just as they always have.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
WHERE TO PLAY
Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
