Summary
During a recent Nintendo Q&A, the developers behindZelda: Echoes of Wisdomdiscussed how the game started out with a different idea in mind. If things had turned out differently, players could have found themselves with aZeldagame more similar toSuper Mario Makermore than anything else.
Zeldafans have been asking for a game that gives the princess a more prominent role - and preferably a playable one - for years. Nintendo surprised everyone byannouncingZelda: Echoes of Wisdom, the first main series game to put Zelda in the main playable role. Just about everyZeldagame has unique skills, items, and techniques, and this one is no different, with Zelda able to copy items and even monsters to help her explore and fight. This ability is where the game really got its start, but it wasn’t intended to be used this way.
In aQ&Awith the development team, includingEiji Aonuma, the developers discussed how the game began its development as a dungeon editor of sorts. Initially, Link was the sole playable character, and could copy items to create a custom dungeon, which others would then be able to play through. While Aonuma thought it was an interesting idea, he was the most intrigued by the notion of copying items and using them creatively. The original “edit dungeon” idea was in the works for a year before it was upended and redirected into the concept that it has today.
Zelda’s “Echoes” Were a Matter of Concern
Aonuma admits that it was his idea to “upend the tea table” and change the focus of the game significantly a year in. He says that he wanted to be able to verify the features “and their feel,” so he allowed development of the original premise to continue. He also admitted that he’d initially had concerns that the game could become laggy or even crash if players pushedEchoes object cloningtoo far, so that needed to be addressed as well.
WithZelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s release datelanding on September 26, players will soon be able to learn for themselves if this particular gamble was worth it. As Zelda’s first playable outing in a main game, fans will likely have high expectations and hopes for it. Of course, it’s also possible that some fans may want to see the “edit dungeon” concept revisited at some point in the future. While it might have to be a bit more complex thanSuper Mario Maker, the notion of hand-building aZeldadungeon could be an interesting refresher for the series.
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 may even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
