The One Thing Echoes Of Wisdom Does Better Than Tears Of The Kingdom

Whilst receiving plenty of praise, it’s hard to deny how the reception for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom pales in comparison to its predecessor. Tears of the Kingdom‘s huge scale and level of freedom provided for the player is unparalleled in the Zelda franchise. Moreover, the game’s use of experimental abilities such as the Ultrahand no doubt had an influence on the Echo ability in Echoes of Wisdom, yet there’s one area in which TOTK falters and Echoes of Wisdom shows its true strength: the dungeons.

Dungeons are not only a beloved part of the Zelda franchise, 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 the Zelda franchise was built upon. Therefore, as is tradition, both Echoes of Wisdom and TOTK feature dungeons of their own, though there are notable differences between each game. Not only do these differences show how Echoes of Wisdom succeeds where TOTK struggles, 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 dungeons at all times. Every dungeon map in TOTK is 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 that Zelda dungeons should provide.

The puzzles within TOTK‘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 is made more infuriating by TOTK‘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 that Zelda‘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 dungeons work by taking influence from previous Zelda entries, 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 in Echoes of Wisdom, despite its familiarity. Each step taken into a new dungeon provides a sense of mystery and uncertainty as the player has no idea where to begin.

That’s not to say Echoes of Wisdom only 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 disposal to aid Zelda in reaching another room or towards some treasure. The puzzles in Echoes of Wisdom are more unclear and confusing, with the trade-off being the feeling of accomplishment the player feels when they find a solution that exceeds what TOTK was able to offer.

Puzzles aren’t isolated into single rooms either. Dungeons in Echoes of Wisdom are 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, whereas Echoes of Wisdom asks 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 the Zelda franchise. The dungeons in Echoes of Wisdom benefit 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 mainline Zelda entries. 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 the Zelda series. 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.

It’s also worth making note of what worked in prior Zelda entries. 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 future Zelda entries could continue to deliver on one of its best features.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube

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.

Released

September 26, 2024

Developer(s)

Nintendo , Grezzo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Engine

Havok

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+

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