RecentZeldagames have made every effort to feel different and fresh, andThe Legend ofZelda: Echoes of Wisdomis already showing off how it plans to continue this trend. Aspects such as the Echo system seem to completely redefine howZeldais played. However, there’s one major series mainstay which could finally return inThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomdespite its absence in recent predecessors.
One unfortunate effect ofZelda’s otherwise successful movement towards innovation is that many series traditions have been seemingly left in the dust. For example, the series' dungeon design is cited to have dramatically shifted withBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom. After all, the traditional approach to linear game design simply didn’t mesh well into an open world. However, both games also omitted one of the series' most important story elements. With that in mind,Echoes of Wisdomcould be the perfect time for the Triforce to make its return.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Could Finally Bring Back the Triforce
The Legend of Zelda’s Iconic Trio
The Legend of Zeldais, with a few exceptions, generally a cluster of relatively unrelated stories that feature similar themes. Until the Switch era games, the series was largely organized within thedefinitiveZeldatimeline;BotWandTotKhave slightly more unusual placement there. Of course, the most important element that united these games are the three characters who recur most often: Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf.
Accordingthe lore ofSkyward Sword, Ganon or Ganondorf is the incarnated form of a generational grudge. Likewise, the subjects of this grudge, Link and Zelda, are destined to reincarnate over and over through the rest of time. Ganon can sometimes reincarnate alongside them, but is sometimes canonically the same character fought in a previous game.
The Triforce Represents the Importance of Zelda’s History
However, the curse of reincarnation is not the only thing that unites this trio. Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf are also united by the Triforce, an unimaginable power that is split between three parts. The Triforce of Courage belongs to the heroic protagonist, Link. The Triforce of Wisdom corresponds to the revered princess, Zelda. Finally, the villainous Ganondorf wields the Triforce of Power.
Though the Triforce has appeared across many different games, its appearance and role are relatively consistent. For one, it is perhaps the most iconic symbol inThe Legend of Zelda. More importantly, it is most often a literal object of desire. One party or another will want to use it to either seal great evil or usher in a tyrannical reign of villainy.The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Timeis one of the series' most iconic entries, and certainly a major reason the Triforce is the icon it is today.
Until very recently, Triforce was a legitimately major subject of the story inZeldagames. Although the symbol of theTriforce is occasionally referenced throughoutBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, the relic itself is by no means prominently featured in either game. The Triforce is never mentioned explicitly, and it is certainly never deliberately used as it was in classicZeldagames.
The Triforce Could Make its Big Comeback in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Although Zelda has never been playable before, andEchoes of Wisdomis shaking things up in plenty of other ways, it is also a return to form in one major aspect.Echoes of Wisdomis reviving the classic 2D format ofZeldagames, and this calls into question if the game will bring along other series traditions its predecessors had abandoned.
Breath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomwere relatively light on story.The Legend of Zelda:Echoes of Wisdommoving in the opposite direction would be a very welcome change of pace. If the game were to take this approach, surely this would be the perfect moment for theTriforce to return toThe Legend of Zelda.
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!
