Summary
Despite theLegend of Zelda’snamesake being Zelda herself, since the franchise’s debut in 1986, Zelda has yet to be fully playable as a protagonist. Although titles such asThe Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracksand thenon-canonHyrule Warriorshave toyed with making Zelda playable, the main series has yet to make Zelda the main focus.
The announcement ofTheLegend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomin June’s Nintendo Direct surprised fans who have longed toput Zelda at the franchise’s helm.Thistop-downZeldatitlewill feature the princess as the perfect protagonist when the game is released in September 2024.
6New Abilities
Conjuring Echoes
AlthoughThe Legend of Zeldaseries consistently mixes the formula with new gameplay mechanics and abilities,Echoes of Wisdomis set to give Zelda a completely original ability: The power to create echoes.
Using the magical tri rod, Zelda can conjure imitations of in-game entities to aid in battles and exploration. The announcement trailer shows Zelda conjuring objects such as tables to climb walls, rocks to throw at enemies, and even beds to make bridges. This new gameplay feature is set to change how players explore the world of Hyrule, with Zelda taking charge as the master of the tri rod.
5A Female Protagonist Is Overdue
Putting A Female At The Center Of A Major Nintendo Franchise
The Legend of Zeldafranchise has yet to have a female protagonist as its lead. Since 1986, Link has led the franchise in defeating demons such as Ganondorf andother primary antagonists.
Zelda, on the other hand, has lacked the spotlight.Echoes of Wisdomoffers the perfect opportunity to put a female at the center of a leading Nintendo franchise that male protagonists have often spearheaded. Likewise, introducing Zelda will diversify gameplay, adding a fresh take on the series' classic sword combat and game mechanics - something that is long overdue.
4New Story And Lore
Original Narratives And Relationships
Along with Zelda being the series' first female protagonist, she will be at the forefront ofEchoes of Wisdom’snarrative, creating interesting and unique opportunities for original storytelling. While the main series of Zelda games have gotten used to Link saving Princess Zelda,Echoes of Wisdomflips this narrative, with Zelda saving Link this time around.
The game raises the question of how and why Link has been kidnapped and what relationship she will have with the game’s main antagonist. Will Zelda face off against the steadfast series villain Ganondorf? Or will there be a new villain Zelda must overcome? Including Zelda as the game’s main protagonist presents new narrative opportunities, adding to the lore and history between the series' main characters in unexplored ways.
3Zelda Can Improve On Link’s Weaknesses
Enhanced Core Mechanics Like Jumping And Swimming
Fans love the heroic protagonist Link, but he hasseveral annoying weaknessesrooted in lore, and plaguing players throughoutThe Legend of Zelda’shistory. Shortcomings include Link’s inability to traverse water and his awful jumping abilities. Resetting the narrative with Zelda presents an opportunity to overcome these flaws.
Hopefully, Nintendo will also rethink Link’s apparent weakness towards the deadly Cuckoos, although this is unlikely. Fingers crossed, Zelda will be at least a bit more resistant to chickens.
2Zelda Is A Better Communicator
Mobilizing Armies Against Evil
Link is known for having little to say. Although the jury is out on whether Zelda will have better dialogue options than Link inEchoes of Wisdom, it is safe to say the princess excels in communication far more than her male counterpart.
Her excellent communication and rallying skills, as shown inThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, make her the perfect protagonist in ruling Hyrule. Zelda’s ability to mobilize allies against the evil Ganondorf demonstrates the character’s capacity as a strong and capable leader.
1Zelda Knows Best
Expert Knowledge Of History And Villains
While Link is out dealing with Cuckoos, Zelda spends quality time with series antagonists (due to being continually captured). Zelda knows the series' villains inside and out, giving her the advantage when defeating them.
Her acute knowledge as apowerful warrior, excellent understanding of Hyrule’s history, andnotable achievements as a princessmake Zelda the perfect protagonist to pick up the hero’s journey from Link.
