Wait... are we actually playing as zelda??

3 minute read

Yes we are! Here it is, the game where you actually play through the game as the legend herself. Now you can truly say you're playing The Legend of Zelda.
 
I've been a fan of Nintendo and Zelda since my childhood. The first Zelda games I encountered came bundled in a Limited Edition Mario Kart Double Dash case. On the outside of the case, you only see the Mario Kart racers—nothing indicated the extra disc where you could play a total of THREE Zelda games. Since I was still too young, my sister was the first to play the first game: Zelda Ocarina of Time. And wow, that took a lot of time. Blood, sweat, and tears in every temple. Both for my sister and for me. But ever since then, I haven't been able to let go of the Zelda games, and I've always watched them with great enjoyment (and eventually played them myself, of course).
 
In this blog, I’ll tell you how the storyline of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom begins, how certain game mechanics work, and which skills you’ll use as a gamer to play the game. Listen well, and let me navigate you through this blog:
 
The game starts off with a chibi-like figure in a blue hood. Zelda-gamers immediately recognize Link through the display of the Master Sword and his typical green tunic that the game teasingly shows. You actually start the game playing as Link. You have the maximum amount of health and high-end fighting items as if you just completed a previous Zelda Game. The game guides you towards a room where you find the archenemy of Link: Ganon. Yes, you start the game with a fight with the usual end boss! But there is a big twist. After you defeat Ganon, he explodes into a purple-like substance which swallows Link! But not before he’s able to shoot an arrow at the contraption that had Zelda trapped. After that, playing as Zelda, you break through the contraption and the actual legend begins.

                                                                    Image credit: Nintendo

The purple-like substance has taken over parts of Hyrule and even swallows certain NPC’s in the game. They don’t always disappear. For example, after being swallowed by the weird goo, the King of Hyrule returns in the form of an evil echo. He blames Zelda for the destruction of Hyrule, has her captured and threatens to eliminate her.
 
In your cell you’ll get a visit from a fairy named Tri, who will be your companion throughout the game. Tri gives you a special rod that you can use to make echoes (hence the name of the game). You can select certain objects and, with help of the rod, recreate an x amount of echoes of those specific objects. 

                                                                              Image credit: Nintendo

You have to use this to escape the prison and become a fugitive to save the Hyrule Kingdom. For the duration of the game you will use echoes in pretty much every playable minute. For example: by creating an echo of a boulder (and placing it correctly) you’re able to sink wooden crates in bodies of water to create a passage Zelda can swim through. If you echo a table or bed onto the crates, the weight isn’t enough for the crate to sink and reveal the passage. You will get stuck if you don’t think through which particular echo you need for that specific situation. Later on, when you’ve collected more echoes, you’re able to get creative with your solutions because you will have many more items to choose from.
 
The game even allows you to echo certain enemies. When you summon echoes of them, they will actually help you by fighting off your other enemies. Sadly, the ‘when they are your enemy their power is a 10/10, when they are your friend their power is a 4/10’ comes into place here. Nevertheless it’s always handy to have extra helpers, if not with strength than with extra cuteness (the aesthetic of the game overall is very cutesy) and the feeling of companionship.

                                                                           Image credit: Nintendo

These features challenge the gamer to use their creativity, problem solution skills and quick thinking. A huge feature of the previous Zelda game Tears of the Kingdom was that the game offers a wide variety of solutions to given problems. In earlier games there’s a very straightforward path to your goals in the game. You need a key to enter a room. To get that key you have to defeat enemy x with the weapons you’re given. But in the particular case of Echoes of Wisdom you can utilise your echoes to defend yourself, to help you fight and much more. It gives you the opportunity to broaden your horizon in which you find solutions.
 
This is actually a very important skill in a lot of today’s working culture. You are expected to think of not only different solutions but different views regarding certain developments either in your company or the market your company is a part of. Everything around us changes so quickly that you have to be able to adapt and grow your own skills as well as lift your company to a higher level and continuously relevant part of society. I would be ecstatic if my employer asked me to enhance those skills further. ‘Yes! If you’ll excuse me, I will now go play Echoes of Wisdom!’
 
This game is a very nice, happy, low-key way of challenging your creative and problem solving skills. Just for fun or as a way to enhance your skills, I personally approve.
 
And with that said, Tri and Hyrule are waiting on me to save Hyrule from destruction!