Summary
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomhas fans excited about exploring a new version of Hyrule. But, considering the game’s major threat,Echoes of Wisdom’s map might not be what it appears.
Some of the most memorable parts of mostZeldagames are exploring the map, finding its secrets, and mastering new mechanics to traverse new areas.Zelda’s first major game as a protagonistalready looks to have plenty of these sorts of experiences, but there might be more hiding just out of sight. The game’s major threat will be rifts spreading over Hyrule caused by Ganon’s final attack before his defeat, but ifZeldafans have learned one thing, it’s that Ganon’s defeat rarely means the danger is over. Almost nothing is known about the rifts thus far, except that Link disappears into one just after freeing Zelda, meaning that she will likely be on a quest to free him from whatever lies beyond them. These rifts, and the mystery of what’s on the other side, might be the secret to spicing up the map inEchoes of Wisdom.
What Secrets Lie Beyond Hyrule’s Rifts
Zeldagames love to experiment with new mechanics, such asTears of the Kingdom’s Ultrahand ability, which might hold links to Zelda’s new echo powers. Powers like those are useful in all sorts of ways, from combat to exploration, but sometimes, the new mechanics relate more to traversal.A Link Between Worldsfocused on Link’s newfound ability to travel the 2-dimensional walls of Hyrule, andTears of the Kingdomencourages all kinds of creative vehicle creation. In recent years, the act of exploring has become much more integral to the series. So it’s possible that, on top of the tri rod, the rifts might present another new traversal mechanic.
With Zelda searching for Link after seeing him disappear into the rift, it’s only natural that she might venture into one herself. Where she ends up afterward is anyone’s guess, but one location from the series’ past doesn’t seem out of the question. The kingdom of Lorule was introduced inA Link Between Worldsas Hyrule’s darker mirror universe counterpart. In that game, Link got to explore both kingdoms in full, doubling the size of the game’s map. The dark aura emanating from the rifts feels reminiscent of Lorule’s darker version of the kingdom, possibly hinting at a connection to the previous game. WithEchoes of Wisdomalready sharing surprising similarities toA Link Between Worlds, a Lorule reference might help cement its nearby placement ontheZeldaseries' timeline.
In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment from the gameplay trailer, Zelda can be seen in an environment that looks visibly different from the rest shown. The ground seems to float on a swirling purple backdrop, and only certain parts of the overworld are present. It’s very likely that this location exists beyond the rift, given their visual similarities, but it remains unclear if this location is another dimension, a strange dungeon, a depiction of what the rift has swallowed, or something else entirely. Some fans even speculate that it might be a version ofTwilight Princess' dark worldbased on connections between the game’s companions. Whatever the case, locations such as this can expand the game’s map beyond what players initially might expect, offering more chances to explore the unknown.
There’s still quite some time remaining beforeEchoes of Wisdomwill be released, so perhaps some of these questions will be answered in later updates. However, with a secret like this, it might be better to let fans discover it on their own. Some players have already made alink between theEchoes of Wisdommap and previous games, proving that it’s difficult to sneak much past them. With people on the lookout for clues and content already, keeping a few features under wraps might benefit Nintendo in the long run. As fans eagerly await their chance to step into Zelda’s shoes, it may remain a mystery exactly where they’ll be stepping onceEchoes of WIsdomcomes out.
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’re able to even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
