Instead of a Zelda remake, which some fans may have expected, Nintendo surprised everyone with a brand new series entry, putting players in the princess’s shoes instead.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom announcement trailer started like any previous installment. Link battles off a horde of enemies to free Zelda from a crystal. However, this time around, Link gets sucked into a strange rift, and this time it’s up to Zelda to step up to the plate and save Hyrule. Instead of wielding a sword, Zelda wields a mysterious staff that can duplicate items called echoes. Once the princess learns an echo of something she can re-create it however many times you like to help traverse the map and move past obstacles.
Wooden boxes, old beds, tables, and water blocks are just a few items Zelda can use. The first trailer gives players a first look at how the duplication system works. For example, Zelda duplicated multiple beds to scale a wall. Instead of traditional combat, the staff can create echoes of monsters, and each enemy has a unique set of abilities that can be used for different situations. Nintendo set out to create an experience that will be different for players, based on how they decide to use echoes.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launches on September 26, 2024. Nintendo also announced a new Nintendo Switch Lite Hyrule edition to celebrate the new title that will also be available on the same date.