The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Reviews
It's great to finally get to play as Zelda, but working out how to take an active part without being able to fight is rather hard work
Despite some ambitious ideas, beneath the surface Echoes of Wisdom is surprisingly uneven Zelda adventure. Few of its headline mechanics are utilised to their potential which means that, while enjoyable and charming, it ultimately feels less essential than other modern 2D entries.
I went into The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom wondering about where the direction of more classic Zelda games might go. Now, after rolling credits, I was delighted to see that Nintendo has (mostly) been able to find a nice middle ground about how to best pay tribute to this classic adventure series’ past while also incorporating elements of where it is now, thanks to the likes of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and its sequel. While it’s true that echo summoning is full of potential it also has its limits, as proven by that last pesky dungeon and many of the 127 featured echoes doubling up for one other. This, combined with the Nintendo Switch continuing to show its age via some less-than-ideal technical performance, holds Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom back from achieving true legendary status. However, Zelda’s time in the spotlight is still a refreshing and often surprising top-down adventure that, thanks to its central idea, comfortably stands apart from what’s come before.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a great adventure with interesting mechanics and exciting puzzles.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Zelda's actual legend is amazing.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom brings some new ideas to the table, but in the end, the game is more about modernizing the classic 2D Zelda experience. The attention-grabbing echo copying mechanic has its pros and cons, but where Echoes of Wisdom consistently hits is in the tried-and-true design of its world and dungeons, which are as good as any the franchise has delivered in the past. This may be Zelda's first starring adventure, but past Legends still echo strongly here.
Anarchic, exciting and at times ingenious: The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom is an adventure that will test your brains without overstressing your fingertips. It doesn't last long and hardcore gamers will perhaps complete it too quickly, but the journey is sensational and enveloped in the usual 'made in Nintendo' magic that makes it a must-have in any case.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Even though I love this franchise a lot, innovation is always welcome. The echo system is a fascinating blend of new ideas and established concepts. Using random objects and enemies isn’t totally new, but making them the main form of offense is. Transplanting 3D ideas into a 2D plain is a tough challenge, but the devs have handled it nicely. I wish the echoes were easier to scroll through, and the combat could have been harder. But I loved exploring every inch of this world. Even after the credits rolled, I still went back for more. If you’re looking for something charming and unusual, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is right on the money.
While Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom successfully brought exciting new concepts to Nintendo's iconic series and helped revolutionize open-world games – Echoes of Wisdom feels like a big step forward for classic Zelda. The game is a punchy cocktail of old school Zelda, expertly blended with modern mechanics from the series’ two open-world giants. As a result, Nintendo has created something that feels both nostalgic and uniquely fresh. It may have taken 38 years for the series's titular princess to finally get her own game, but boy was it worth waiting for. Echoes of Wisdom not only demonstrates that Nintendo is capable of wowing Zelda fans, but it can breathe new life into its legendary series. Echoes of Wisdom is a resounding success, a masterclass in creativity, and a worthy debut title for the series’ legendary princess.
There’s a unique thrill to playing as Zelda: Sorcerer Supreme, but some hours into Echoes of Wisdom, especially the more that Zelda conjures bigger and badder creatures to smite her enemies, it still leaves the player wondering when, exactly, we get to play as Zelda: The Hero of Time. Nintendo remains a market leader in giving players what they didn’t know they needed rather than what they adamantly wanted, and Echoes of Wisdom is an excellent showcase for why that is, but it’s hard to shake just how many of Zelda’s problems could be solved just by letting her have a sword and an ocarina in the first place.
Ultimately, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom can be said to be a successful experiment. Impersonating the princess is not only genuinely fun, but it offers a new perspective on the entire imagery of the kingdom of Hyrule.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom gives Princess Zelda a starring role, combining new and classic elements to deliver an inventive title that's one of the most delightful in the series yet.
The Zelda license is making a magical return to Nintendo Switch with a title that brings a welcome breath of fresh air.
Review in French | Read full review
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is another amazing game of the beloved franchise. The way it blends traditional concepts, with all the new ideas of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, is simply great.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Overall, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has a lot going for it. There is a lot to do and discover without being overwhelming. The visuals are vibrant and fun, and the characters are cute. Although the controls can be annoying at times, it is satisfying when you finally get past an obstacle. It will be interesting to see where Nintendo takes us for the next Zelda installment in the future.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom combina la tradición y modernidad de Zelda en un paquete completo, coherente y hermoso.
Review in German | Read full review
The Nintendo Switch isn’t lacking in charming titles, but The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom takes the cake. From a thriving take on Hyrule that’s a joy to explore and interact with, to a whimsical gameplay loop that encourages thinking outside the box, Zelda’s long-awaited time in the spotlight also happens to be one of the series’ best games yet.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom flips the script, putting the fate of Hyrule on Princess Zelda's shoulders. While the game offers a vast world to explore with charming visuals and music, it suffers from repetitive gameplay elements, as many challenges can be overcome with the same few Echoes, though it still provides enjoyable moments of creativity and discovery.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is another triumph for Nintendo, an essential game on the Switch, which is absolutely unmissable.
Echoes of Wisdom does a good job setting up Zelda with fun and creative powers and a vast and adorable world to save. Echoes add fun creativity to puzzle solving, though do also have a tendency to break the game.