Whilst receiving plenty of praise, it’s hard to deny how the reception forThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdompales in comparison to its predecessor.Tears of the Kingdom’s huge scaleand level of freedom provided for the player is unparalleled in theZeldafranchise. Moreover, the game’s use of experimental abilities such as the Ultrahand no doubt had an influence on the Echo ability inEchoes of Wisdom, yetthere’s one area in whichTOTKfalters andEchoes of Wisdomshows its true strength: the dungeons.
Dungeons are not only a beloved part of theZeldafranchise, but a necessary inclusion for each game. The dungeons best illustrate the elements that are core to the series as a whole. They encapsulate the exploration, action, and sense of discovery that theZeldafranchise was built upon. Therefore, as is tradition, bothEchoes of WisdomandTOTKfeature dungeons of their own, though there are notable differences between each game. Not only do these differences show howEchoes of Wisdomsucceeds whereTOTKstruggles, but it also shows the potential for dungeons included in future entries.
Tears Of The Kingdom’s Dungeons Leave A Lot To Be Desired
The Game Often Favors Scale Over Substance
Tears of the Kingdom’s dungeons, while impressive in terms of scope, often provide little for the player to do within them.The game is committed to guiding the player through the dungeonsat all times. Every dungeon map inTOTKis given immediately to Link, with glowing objective markers clearly showing the player where each activation point is to reach the boss. It makes for a repetitive structure that loses any sense of mystery or excitement thatZeldadungeons should provide.
The puzzles withinTOTK’s dungeon themselves leave a lot to be desired.Many of the puzzles blocking the activation points are incredibly simplistic, with clear visual cues telling the player which of Link’s abilities should be used. It makes for a sense of progression that feels unsatisfactory as the player isn’t challenged to use any sense of critical thinking.
This frustration makes the simplistic puzzles all the more agonizing for the player.
This is made more infuriating byTOTK’s obsession with creating large areas to explore, which can be a detriment to the dungeon’s overall enjoyment.TOTK’s Fire Temple, for example, is a chore just to reach the puzzles themselves, as Link must travel across the ruins on several winding tracks that quickly get confusing. This frustration makes the simplistic puzzles all the more agonizing for the player, losing that sense of accomplishment thatZelda’s dungeons usually achieve.
Echoes Of Wisdom’s Dungeons Feel Fresh Yet Familiar
Zelda’s Echo Ability Is Used Effectively For Puzzle-Solving
In contrast,Echoes of Wisdom’s dungeonswork by taking influence from previousZeldaentries, mainly through its replication of the older games' dungeon structure. In every dungeon, Princess Zelda must find the Boss Key. Smaller keys unlock other rooms of the dungeon, while the map is kept hidden and must be found in order to view the dungeon layout and hidden treasures. There’s a reason this structure works so well inEchoes of Wisdom, despite its familiarity.Each step taken into a new dungeon provides a sense of mysteryand uncertainty as the player has no idea where to begin.
That’s not to sayEchoes of Wisdomonly borrows from previous titles. The dungeon puzzles in this game make great use of Zelda’s new Echo ability. Rather than offering a single solution, puzzles are more open-ended.They encourage experimentation from the player to use the Echoes at their disposalto aid Zelda in reaching another room or towards some treasure. The puzzles inEchoes of Wisdomare more unclear and confusing, with the trade-off being the feeling of accomplishment the player feels when they find a solution that exceeds whatTOTKwas able to offer.
Puzzles aren’t isolated into single rooms either. Dungeons inEchoes of Wisdomare often built to encourage the player to consider the area’s layout as a whole. Lanayru Temple, for example, requires the player to change the temperature multiple times, identifying how a certain fan affects each room and what pathways will become accessible to Zelda.TOTK’s dungeon puzzles are often isolated, whereasEchoes of Wisdomasks the player to engage with every aspect of the area. By learning the dungeon’s layout,the player discovers the path forward entirely on their own, making for a more satisfying experience.
The Next Mainline Zelda Game Can Learn From Echoes Of Wisdom
Dungeons Are At Their Best When Players Are Left To Their Own Devices
Echoes of Wisdom’s greatest strength is in its experimentation. Allowing players to approach the world in their own way gives a renewed sense of discovery to theZeldafranchise. The dungeons inEchoes of Wisdombenefit most from this open nature. The freedom the player has to tackle the dungeon their own way is what needs to be kept for future mainlineZeldaentries.TOTK’s restrictive dungeon structure contrasted with the sheer freedom the player had throughout the rest of the game, and that proved to be its downfall.
Scale and ambition are also important factors to consider for future dungeons in theZeldaseries. While initially daunting,Echoes of Wisdom’s dungeons never became too large or complex. Some problem-solving would be required, but it wouldn’t take long to put the princess back on track.TOTK’s ambition for its dungeons often outweighed what was offered, making for large areas that felt empty. Sometimes less is more, and that’s a good philosophy to keep in mind heading into future entries.
All that changed was simply giving more freedom to the player.
It’s also worth making note of what worked in priorZeldaentries.Echoes of Wisdom’s own dungeon structure followed that of many classic entries, and it worked wonders for the game. All that changed was simply giving more freedom to the player. By building on what has come before, and by creating dungeons that harness that same experimentation and discovery, there’s no doubt that futureZeldaentries could continue to deliver on one of its best features.
Source:Nintendo of America/YouTube
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.
