With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, players have been treated to a first of its kind adventure for the mainline series. Instead of following the standard Link story, they have been put in the shoes of Princess Zelda. Through this, they have gotten a very different type of Legend of Zelda game, and hopefully, it is not the last. There are still plenty of Zelda-focused tales to tell, but also, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom could pave the way for an entirely new type of game.
Over these past couple of titles, The Legend of Zelda franchise has experimented a lot with its formula. While nothing is known about where that will take the series next, it feels like the perfect time to see just what Ganondorf is up to. The series' main antagonist has never gotten a story of his own, but thanks to Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, that could change. It may be a massive departure from what has come before, yet if it is done well, then it could lead to something fans will not soon forget.
It Feels Like the Perfect Time for a Villain-Focused Zelda Game
The Legend of Zelda Has Entered a Very Experimental Era
For years, The Legend of Zelda franchise mostly stayed the same. Of course, each entry introduced new mechanics and stories, but the core gameplay loop was relatively unchanged. However, that all changed with the release of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That game took the franchise to incredible new heights, and as of now, it does not look like Nintendo will ever look back. Not only did Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom further expand upon that fantastic experience, but Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom also delivered something that fans had never seen before.
While there is a chance that the next Legend of Zelda goes back to the basics, if it does not, then the next step seems pretty clear. Players have gotten two massive Link sandboxes and now a Princess Zelda adventure, so there is seemingly only one more route this experimental phase can take. Instead of following in the footsteps of the series' heroes, it may be time for Nintendo to put a villainous spin on Hyrule by following Ganondorf. Through that, players could get a whole new look at the fantasy world and the villains that wish to do it harm, which could make for an experience unlike any other.
Ganondorf's Story Could Lead to Something Truly Unique
A Ganondorf-led adventure could simply take that core Legend of Zelda story and flip it. Instead of fighting to save Hyrule, players would fight to take it over. They would beat back Hyrule's many forces, combat Link, attempt to kidnap Zelda, and cause havoc across the kingdom. The people they have been trying to protect all these years would now be their enemies, and with Ganondorf's incredible powerset, they could spend hours laying waste to everything they hold dear. While it may not really match the tone of past Legend of Zelda games, it might lead to a fantastic adventure.
Nintendo could also use this as a chance to further expand Ganondorf's role in past Legend of Zelda games. Players could see what the character went through during one of the many climatic events in the franchise's timeline, or it could shed light on where he was during titles such as Link's Awakening or Majora's Mask. If that is not interesting enough, it could also explore how he went about setting up his master plan in a prequel, like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Whatever form it came in, it could be very interesting to see.
Nintendo has yet to reveal anything about the next Legend of Zelda game, and after Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, the franchise may return to Link once more. But, if the studio is not done experimenting, then a Ganondorf-led adventure could be a great next step for the series. Even if it comes in the form of a smaller-scale spin-off, it feels like it should be his time to shine.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 85 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- September 26, 2024
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo, Grezzo
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Engine
- Havok
- Franchise
- The Legend of Zelda
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 can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
