Echoes of Wisdom is an exciting and unique addition to the Legend of Zelda series on the Nintendo Switch. Even though it’s not part of the main storyline, it still gives a fresh twist to the Toon Link timeline. This time, though, players don’t play as Link. Instead, the game follows Zelda’s journey, making her the hero of the story. Your mission as Zelda is to save Link, close dangerous rifts spreading across Hyrule, and defeat the evil force causing them.
While Echoes of Wisdom has a similar style and feel to other Toon Link games, it has some big differences. Zelda doesn’t have a sword and shield all the time. Instead, she has to switch to “Sword Fighter” mode, a form where she can fight more like Link. There’s a time limit on this mode, though, which can be extended with upgrades. At first, I found myself using Sword Fighter mode mainly for tough enemies, bosses, and certain puzzles. A handy trick is that Sword Fighter mode also gives Zelda a bit more jumping power! After upgrading your “time meter” for sword fighter mode, I started using this a lot more often.
In her regular Zelda mode, our hero uses a special wand that lets her copy an enemy, items, and more which are called echoes. Instead of just fighting enemies herself, she can summon these echoes of past enemies to do her dirty work. As the game goes on, Zelda can summon more echoes or call stronger ones to the field. It’s fun to watch as her summoned creatures fight the baddies she pins them against, which adds a unique spin to the gameplay.
After helping the people of Hyrule, learning new echoes, and saving Link, the game feels like a fresh take on the Zelda series. It’s a nice change from the usual hack-and-slash action of other Zelda games. Plus, there are plenty of side quests that add extra challenges and items that make the game easier. While not required, these quests can make the journey more enjoyable and help keep the main story feeling like a grind.
The controls are easy to learn, making it simple to jump into the game and start exploring. There isn’t a long tutorial, which is nice—you get right into the adventure! The game’s difficulty is balanced well, with puzzles and mini-games that are challenging but not overly frustrating. This makes it a great choice for both families and solo players alike. The only frustrating side quest, in my opinion, would be the Hyrule Ranch horse races. These time based races really tests the players patience as they try to beat, what some may say, are unrealistic time frames to get the best items the Hyrule Ranch has to offer.
I’ve played almost every Zelda game, and I have a soft spot for the Toon Link ones. Echoes of Wisdom is now one of my favorites in this style, right up there with *A Link to the Past* and *A Link Between Worlds*. It has that classic Toon Link feel, along with some new twists that make it fun and memorable. If your looking for a new Zelda game to play solo or with young ones, I highly suggest picking this game up.
Here’s a pro tip: **Learn the Platboom Echo in the Gerudo Desert as soon as you get there!** This skill becomes incredibly useful later on, especially for a tough puzzle that’s otherwise nearly impossible to solve without it. Missing it would be like missing an essential key in the Water Temple in *Ocarina of Time*—it can make things way harder than they need to be. So, don’t skip over this!
