Wow, we really didn’t expect this. Indeed, if you asked us what series would be getting a new game in this Direct, Zelda would be way down our list.

Sure, a remake or remaster sounded plausible. Like those Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD ports people have been talking about, or a remake of the Oracle games in the Link’s Awakening Switch engine.

And yeah, there was always the possibility of a spinoff here or there. Like a new Hyrule Warriors game based on the Imprisoning War, or a Cadence of Hyrule style crossover.

But a brand-new 2D Zelda title with new mechanics? Starring Princess Zelda herself as the main protagonist?

Damn, if we didn’t see the trailer, we’d think that was a ridiculous prediction. It just felt too soon for Nintendo, especially a year or so after Tears of the Kingdom.

Yet that’s what we’re getting nonetheless. Here’s the trailer for Echoes of Wisdom, showing the game and its unique mechanics:

As you can see, it’s a very… unusual Zelda title. Indeed, swordplay is mostly non-existent in this one, as are traditional items like the bow or hookshot.

Instead, Zelda’s moveset revolves around the Tri Rod. This can be used to copy objects and create echoes of them, as well as summon them for later use. It’s like a cross between Autobuild from Tears of the Kingdom and the Pokémon series, with a bit of Link Between Worlds thrown in here and there.

With the Pokémon inspiration coming from the fact Zelda enemies can be copied the same way. So, you can scan an enemy with the rod, then summon it later to have it aid you in battle. Pretty neat, especially given that some of them have non-combat options too.

And there are quite a few longtime characters and enemies returning in that vein too. For example, not only are hostile enemy Zora returning alongside the friendly ones…

But we’ve also got Redeads as enemies again, alongside the Deku as friendly NPCs. So, if you’re a long-time Zelda fan missing some of the enemies and species from pre-Breath of the Wild era titles, there are quite a few to see in this one.

Either way, that’s Echoes of Wisdom for you. It’s the next instalment in the Zelda series, and a nice change of pace for the series.

So, what do you think about it? Are you excited to try out the Tri Rod and see what it can do in this new adventure? Was this what you wanted after Tears of the Kingdom?

Leave your thoughts in the comments below, on social media, or on our Discord server today!

Source:

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch