Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis poised to be one of the most unconventionalZeldatitles to date, which has fans speculating on just what the game has in store for them. A new look at the Japanese key art forThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdommight offer a clue for fans lucky enough to spot it. After a surprise announcement in the last Nintendo Direct,Zeldafans have been eagerly awaiting the next entry in the series,Echoes of Wisdom. One thing that has captured the attention of players is the way the upcoming game breaks series traditions.
With Zelda as the player character, new mechanics have been introduced in order to make her playstyle unique. But, for players who want more familiar mechanics, a look at expanded key art for the game holds some hope. A recently revealed image of theJapanese key art forEchoes of Wisdomfeatures surpriseshidden from the American version. The most interesting of these new inclusions can be seen in the top left corner, where fans have noticed a Hylian character paragliding, suggesting that the mechanic may be returning fromTears of the Kingdom.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Might Feature Paragliding as Introduced in Breath of the Wild
In recent years, theZeldaseries has been dominated by one major story.Breath of the Wildintroduced the story of Calamity Ganon, which has taken the form of a loose trilogy of games. Followed byHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and completed withTears of the Kingdom, this trilogy has been central to theZeldamythos for an entire generation of players. So, as the franchise moves on from that story to tell others, it’s important forEchoes of Wisdomto mirrorTears of the Kingdomin a few ways. While the spirit of the games is similar, focusing on allowing players to solve challenges in their own way, a more direct mirror could come in the form of borrowing certain mechanics.
For that reason, including some version of the paragliding mechanic that has been so important in the last few games is an excellent idea. By incorporating recent fan-favorite successes, Nintendo can show a direct evolution in its design philosophy. It’s unclear exactly how paragliding would fit intoEchoes of Wisdomgiven its top-down perspective, but the inclusion of the mechanic in the key art nearly confirms that it will be present in some form. Between the return of the paragliding mechanic and the puzzle-solving freedom presented by the Tri Rod,the legacy ofTears of the Kingdomis safely preservedwithinEchoes of Wisdom.
A Link to Zelda’s Past Could Help Echoes of Wisdom Succeed
As one of Nintendo’s most beloved series,Zeldagames don’t have to work too hard to become modern classics, but that doesn’t stop the development team from putting its all into every title. That’s how a series continues to be great after decades in the spotlight. But, needed or not, remembering and building on the past is a great way to help new games in a series succeed. So, it’s no surprise thatEchoes of Wisdomlooks to reference pastZeldagamesin multiple ways. Be it returning enemies, recurring themes, or borrowed mechanics, like the return of paragliding, these nods to the history of the franchise ensure longtime fans stay invested while welcoming newcomers.
In a game that surprised fans from the moment it was announced,Echoes of Wisdomhas a lot to prove. Experimentation on an established formula isn’t always well received, so the game may need to work doubly hard in order to thrive. The risky maneuver of changing what fans expect might be the cause of the many nods to the series’ history. Who knows what else might return from past games, such asZeldacharacters players would love to see more of, or locations they haven’t visited since earlier entries. All of these possibilities and the chance to step into a new era of Hyrule’s story ensure thatThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomcan earn a spot among fan’s favorite entries.
