Summary
The Legend of Zelda’s next entry has beenrevealed to beEchoes of Wisdom. However, the release date is far away, and there won’t be any other game updates or additions to the series in the meantime. As a result, it’s the perfect time to look to the past and play games that may have been overlooked.
As a series that’s been active for decades,Zeldahas no shortage of games set across itsbranching, convoluted timeline. Naturally, there are some games that stick out from the rest as the favorites, but they’re far from the only options. These games, on the other hand, often end up being forgotten or brushed aside, but they’re still worth trying out while waiting forEchoes of Wisdom.
The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Release Date, Characters, & Gameplay Details
Here’s everything to know about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, an upcoming game that gives Zelda the starring role for a change of pace.
10Spirit Tracks Puts Link & Zelda On A Journey Together
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Trackswas the second game in the series released for the Nintendo DS. This means that it makes use of both screens, the touchpad and stylus, and the mic as part of the game’s mechanics. However,some of those mechanics aren’t as smooth or intuitive as they could’ve been, and that makes some sections of the game a bit harder to get through, especially parts that involve the train whistle.
In this game, Link worked to become a train conductor, and it seemed like he almost had a normal life. However, evil finds a way, and Zelda is betrayed because Chancellor Cole wants to use her body to bring back Malladus.With her spirit separated from her body, she relies on help from Link to stop Malladus, providing aid along the way by possessing enemies and fighting in their bodies.
9Link Gains The Ability To Shrink In The Minish Cap
Another game for a handheld system,The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Capwas released for the Game Boy Advance. This game ended up overlooked for a long time for a few reasons, andthe biggest one might just be how difficult it was to track down a cartridge before its re-release on the Wii U Virtual Console. Now, it’s easier to play since being added to theNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack classic gameslibrary.
Chronologically,Minish Capis the second in the timeline, taking place after the events ofSkyward Sword. After Vaati traps Zelda by turning her into stone and unleashes monsters into Hyrule, Link teams up with Ezlo, a magical hat, and starts his journey to restore the Picori Blade. Not only is this a story about helping Zelda and Hyrule, butit also tells about the creation of the Four Sword, a prominent item in the following game in the timeline.
Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Could Have A Surprising Placement On The Zelda Timeline
The trailer for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom offers some interesting hints as to how it may relate to the franchise’s infamous timeline.
8Four Swords Provides A Unique Multiplayer Experience
Four Swordsisn’t exactly its own game, but instead a portion ofThe Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.It makes up a unique section of the game that’s multiplayer-only, which isn’t seen in mostZeldatitles. As part ofA Link to the Past, the way to play this title was on the Game Boy Advance, but it later received its own port on DSiWare with new content and a single-player mode for its anniversary.
As a multiplayer game, the mechanics and style ofFour Swordsare different compared to the standard single-player modes.The Four Sword divides Link into four Links, and each one can only carry a single item at any one time, meaning that items have to be swapped out through the use of pedestals and used strategically, since Link can’t just keep them in his inventory. To add a bit of competition, each player fights to gather Rupees, which aren’t shared across all four Links.
7Oracle Of Seasons Sends Link To Holodrum
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasonswas released for the Game Boy Color, but it’s now available on Nintendo Switch Online, making it more accessible than it used to be.Link’s central item for this journey is the Rod of Seasons, which lets Link change the seasonsand affect the surrounding environment. The result is a unique approach to the types of puzzles that are included in the game.
InOracle of Seasons, Link is called by the Triforce and taken to a dark forest where he finds Din, the Oracle of Seasons. However, she’s kidnapped by Onox shortly after meeting Link and sealed into a crystal, which results in the Temple of Seasons sinking and causes the seasons to keep changing. From here,it’s Link’s task to gather essences capable of creating a seed that cleanses evil, which is crucial for rescuing Din.
6Oracle Of Ages Takes Link To Labrynna
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Agesis connected toOracle of Seasons, and it was also released for Game Boy Color, then later re-released on Nintendo Switch Online. This time,Link’s key item is the Harp of Ages, which lets him travel between the past and present. In essence, the harp is similar to the Ocarina of Time, but it focuses on switching between the past and present instead of allowing him to teleport to various locations.
Just like inOracle of Seasons, the Triforce calls Link and leads him to meet with Nayru, the Oracle of Ages. Instead of being sealed in crystal, Nayru is possessed by Veran, a sorceress who wants to kill the Maku Tree.Herpossession of Nayru disrupts the flow of time, and Link has to collect essences to both save Nayru and create a seed that lets him enter Veran’s tower.
5Phantom Hourglass Captures The Essence Of The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglasstakes place beforeSpirit Tracks, and it was also released on the Nintendo DS. This means that it also makes use of elements unique to the DS, such as the touchscreen and stylus. As for its setting, Link travels between islands in the World of the Ocean King, which makes the world feel similar toTheWind Waker’s Great Sea (the two oceanic regions are adjacent), and Tetra even makes an appearance as Link’s friend.
Set after the events ofWind Waker, Link travels around the Great Sea with Tetra and comes across the Ghost Ship.Tetra is captured inside the ship, but Link is unable to help her and instead falls into the ocean, later washing ashore on an island where he meets characters willing to help him rescue Tetra. In order to rescue her, Link has to use the Phantom Hourglass, which helps him find the spirits in the Temple of the Ocean King that are needed to save her.
4Link Travels Between Hyrule And Lorule In A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worldsis set some time after the events ofA Link to the Past. It was released for the Nintendo DS, and even received a sequel two years after its release calledTri Force Heroes. In this game,the primary feature is Link’s ability to become 2D and merge into walls, which lets him enter Lorule as well as explore areas that would otherwise be inaccessible to him.
In the beginning ofA Link Between Worlds, Link, a blacksmith’s apprentice, simply takes the task of delivering a sword to Hyrule Castle, and he ends up starting a journey to fight against Yuga.Link ends up with the Pendant of Courage and a curse that lets him merge onto walls, both of which are required for his goal of helping both Hyrule and Lorule against Yuga. Unfortunately, a history of war combined with present day betrayal and theft make this a difficult task for Link.
3Tri Force Heroes Makes Another Attempt At Multiplayer Gameplay
Set afterA Link Between Worlds,The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroestries to bring a multiplayer experience to the Nintendo 3DS by using a similar set-up toFour Swords. In this game,three variations of Link need to work together to solve puzzles, and each one starts a level with different items, meaning that some strategizing is required to help each other make progress. Unfortunately, the online matchmaking functionality could make playing this game a bit difficult.
Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Proves BOTW & TOTK Are The Series’ Future
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom continues the series' ethos of exploration that was introduced in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Tri Force Heroestakes place before the Era of Decline on the branch of the timeline that results in Link’s failure inOcarina of Time. However,Tri Force Heroes' setting and story are much more lighthearted compared to other titles, and it has a focus on fashion due to taking place in the fashion-obsessed kingdom of Hytopia. In this game, Link has to solve the crisis of Hytopia’s princess being cursed with wearing a jumpsuit.
2Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity Brings The Action To Hyrule
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamityis a hack-and-slash game like its prequel,Hyrule Warriors, and it expands on the world ofBreath of the Wild.Most of thegameplay revolves around large battles and strategic objectives, but there are also puzzles that require the use of items fromBreath of the Wild, such as the Sheikah Slate and paraglider. Additionally, Link isn’t the only option for playable characters, and even Divine Beasts can be controlled and used against enemies.
Time travel and alternate timelines play a role inHyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, and as a result,it provides a happy ending that can help ease the pain that the Champions went through inBreath of the Wild. When a Guardian is sent back from the future and warns Hyrule about Calamity Ganon’s return, the kingdom is able to prepare. The Guardian also plays a crucial role in summoning help from the future that changes the fate of several characters.
1Changes From The First Game Make Zelda 2 Overlooked
Zelda 2: The Adventure of Linktook a different path from the first game in the series, and a lot of the gameplay elements that it featured haven’t been included in a main game since then.Zelda 2shifted to put a much heavier focus on RPG elementscompared to its predecessor. In a lot of ways, it seems inspired byCastlevaniadue to the side scrolling style and system that had Link gain experience points and gave him limited numbers of lives.
InZelda 2, Link gains a mark that looks like the Hyrule Crest on the back of his hand, and he searches for Impa to get answers. This leads to Impa revealing thatthe original Princess Zelda is trapped in a sleeping spell, but still alive and sealed behind a door that Link is now able to open due to the mark on his hand. From there, Link takes the task of waking up Zelda from her enchanted sleep.
As a series that has lasted for decades and continues to produce incredible games, there are a lot of gems that end up overlooked in favor of the most popular titles. Although some of them are more difficult to find now due to age and the systems they originally released on, Nintendo Switch Online helps out by providing access to older games. With a new game on the horizon, playing overlooked games can help pass the time while waiting forThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Strange rifts are tearing Hyrule apart, and with Link missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save the kingdom. Armed with the Tri Rod and aided by a mysterious fairy, she must solve puzzles, create environmental “echoes,” and battle enemies while navigating new regions and uncovering hidden secrets.
