After the launch in March of Princess Peach. Showtime! which offered the leading role in an unprecedented way to the highness of the Mushroom Kingdom, another sovereign becomes, on Thursday, September 26, the heroine of a Nintendo epic: Zelda, in Echoes of wisdom, which appears on Switch. Upon discovering the faults that disfigured the lands of Hyrule and swallowed up part of the people, including her knight in service to Link, the princess takes up the torch to close them one by one. It is the last bulwark against the apocalyptic prophecy that is being written.
Playing Princess Zelda necessarily involves a change in the way we understand the world of Hyrule. Starting with the traditional legendary sword, which on this occasion is replaced by a magic scepter with new abilities. The heroine, aided by the spirit of Link, always has the possibility of drawing the sword from its sheath to fight thanks to an activated swordsman mode, but this is very restricted, because it is subject to a limited caliber.
A partner who does the classification.
So we explore familiar locations from the franchise, such as the Gerudo Desert and Lanelle Mountain, with a new plan of attack. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom In fact, it is based on the interweaving of two new skills, entrusted by our companion (a little golden fairy called “Tri”), which generate new mechanics that require more mischief than passion.
In fact, Zelda is able to create “echoes”, i.e. replicas of objects (table, bed, vase, plant, etc.) and monsters encountered during the adventure, which she can reproduce at any time. A power reinforced by that of “synchronization”, which consists of linking herself to elements (rocks, statues, platforms, etc.) to move them or follow their movement.
More than a hundred tools are thus placed in the palm of our hands to progress and it is in the light of this new system that the exploration of Hyrule and its dungeons materializes with a delicious joy.
The Japanese studio Grezzo, in charge of this new installment, was already used to supporting Nintendo in remakes of the saga, such as Ocarina of time, Majora’s Mask (3DS) or Link’s Awakening (Change). It is also the latter thatEchoes of wisdom borrows its aesthetic DNA, in a plump, childlike diorama, here sumptuously densified.
Construction and puzzles galore
However, we can also detect in this new game a clear and precise extension of the change already initiated with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomcharting a new path towards sandbox construction and play. This new appetite for experimentation and DIY manifests itself here in a new setting, alternating phases seen from above and those, from the side and in 2D, which enrich the puzzle panel and the use of duplicate materials and the bestiary.
At the origin of its conception, Echoes of wisdom It was also intended as a creator of super mariooffering the player the possibility of creating their own dungeons. A development process that speaks volumes about the desire to provide an experience built around creativity and freedom of interpretation in the way of overcoming each challenge.
The epic, deliberately focused on reflection and whose rhythm is catchy but never wavering, is thus crossed by a multitude of enigmas, even in its battles. The solution to each puzzle is no longer unique and, if it still satisfies and delights by the very fact of its realization, it provokes an additional feeling of satisfaction. Racking one’s brains is no longer a solitary affair, but rather fuels the curiosity to see other players try it and compare their intentions and methods. In short, with this new stage, Hyrule continues its great metamorphosis towards an experimental Eden.
Pixel opinion in brief
We liked:
- finally being able to play Princess Zelda in a full-length epic;
the ever-renewed inventiveness in the way of approaching confrontations and enigmas; - the feeling of adventure in a miniaturized world full of surprises and devastating charm.
We didn’t like:
- Managing echoes can sometimes be a bit of a chore when your inventory fills up.
It’s more for you if:
- you have the soul of a handyman;
- You long for an adventure that challenges your cunning and imagination.
It’s not for you if:
- You are allergic to the naive aesthetics of the remake of Link’s Awakening ;
- You want to cut monsters with your sword.
Pixel Note:
93 out of 100 echoes
