The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomlaunched to critical acclaim and revitalized the classicZeldaformula with a handful of innovative tweaks. It ushered in a new wave of fans while entertaining those who longed for the days of traditional dungeons in aZeldagame. However, while there is so much to love aboutEchoes of Wisdom, there is one disappointing element behind it.
Of course, it’s hard to deny thatEchoes of Wisdomis a great game, as it was not only reviewed very strongly, but showcased the best of Nintendo’s gameplay design, at least when more traditionalZeldagames are concerned. However, while it’s certainly a strong entry in the series, it feels like a weak send-off for the Switch itself, especially when the console’s launch titles and first major releases are considered. While it’s definitely worth the praise its getting,it’s hard not to feel that the Switch deserved a better finale thanEchoes of Wisdom.
The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Doesn’t Feel Like A Strong Send Off
It Doesn’t Compare To The End Of The PS4
The Nintendo Switch launched withBreath of the Wild, a truly remarkable and revolutionary title that went on to influence open-world game design in practically every title, and lead to the wonderfulElden Ring. It also saw amazing titles such asSplatoon 2andXenoblade Chronicles 2, a sweeping 100-hour-long JRPG, launch within its first year. It was truly a great start to a console that would go on to see the rise of miracle ports, indie darlings, and a further innovation in the open-world format withTears of the Kingdom.
So,it’s disappointing that one of the final flagship titles of the Switch isEchoes of Wisdom, a strong but back-to-basicsZeldatitle that lacks the epic scope and scale of the Switch’s early releases. This is especially true when compared to the PlayStation 4’s final roster of first-party games, which included theextraordinarily well-reviewedGhost of TsushimaandThe Last of Us Part 2, not to mention the wonderfulDreams. Where those games felt like a final push to prove just how far the PlayStation 4 had come,Echoes of Wisdom, in some respects, feels like a step back.
It seems a tad disappointing that one of the final flagship titles of the Nintendo Switch isEchoes of Wisdom.
Of course,The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis not the final first-party Nintendo Switch game, as players are also gettingMario & Luigi: Brothership,Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, andPokémon Legends: Z-A. However,Mario & Luigi: Brothershipsimilarly feels like a regression in many ways, revisiting an old series and updating it for a modern audience. Additionally,Pokémon Legends: Z-Ais a nebulous entity as no gameplay has been shown andGame Freak’s track record with badPokémongamesis getting greater.
Nintendo Returning To Basics For The End Of The Switch Feels Like A Mistake
It Should Have Gone Bolder With Its Final Games
Nintendo should have ended the Switch’s life with a bang, releasing an experience comparable toBreath of the Wildrather thanLink’s Awakening. The console deserved one final push to prove just how mighty this tiny piece of hardware has been, a celebration of everything that made cramming all of open-world Hyrule or theWitcher 3onto a tiny screen so amazing. It deserved something that simultaneously looked back on all the progress made and ushered in thenew era of the Switch 2.
Of course,that’s not to discredit the incredible work and passion that went intoEchoes of Wisdom, nor to label it as an unworthy title. Additionally, that’s not to say that there hasn’t been a plethora ofamazing games on the Nintendo Switch, nor thatMetroid Prime 4: Beyondwon’t offer a next-gen - at least when the Switch is concerned - experience that fans have been craving for so long. After all, it looks like it could be the Nintendo Switch’s answer to its competitor’s first-person shooters, such asHalo.
The other first-party titles releasing in the Switch’s final months areSuper Mario Party Jamboree, the thirdMario Partygame on the Switch, andDonkey Kong Country Returns HD, a remaster of a classic Nintendo Wii game.
However,it is odd that Nintendo’s final offerings for the Nintendo Switch, the console that launched with genre-defining video games, are more traditional and pared-back entriesinto old franchises. Despite the console starting on such a strong footing, its final first-party entries feel more reflective of Nintendo’s recent philosophy when it comes to the Nintendo Switch, such as its constant ports of old games or HD remasters that cost a fortune. The Nintendo Switch will have left a lasting legacy, but its final scene will not be its best remembered.
Echoes Of Wisdom Is Still A Great Example Of Why The Switch Is Amazing
It Continues Nintendo’s Trend Of Innovative Gameplay
WhileThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomwill likely not be remembered as fondly as therecord-shatteringBreath of the Wild, it is still an incredible game that offers what is left of Nintendo’s innovative spirit. It gaveZeldafans who didn’t enjoy the open-world games a more traditional experience while finally giving Zelda herself the game she deserves. While it’s not as bombastic or as breathtaking as some of Nintendo’s earlier efforts, it is nonetheless a great game.
Perhaps that’s what makes it such a disappointing finale, as it deserves to be as fondly remembered as those more impressive titles, and had it been released alongside the console, or even mid-way through its journey, it may have stood a better chance. However,now it feels like a rude awakening thatBreath of the Wildwas released so long ago, and Nintendo’s penchant for pushing the needle when it comes to innovative game design feels like it’s coming to an end.Echoes of Wisdom, can, at times, makeBreath of the Wildfeel like lightning in a bottle.
Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Continues This Exciting Nintendo Trend
Echoes of Wisdom is the latest in an exciting trend of Nintendo games that goes back to the early 2000s of princess lead adventures.
Metroid,Pokémon, andMario & Luigifans will enjoy this last run of first-party Switch games before the Nintendo Switch 2 drops, but for those looking for that final spark - the kind that sentZeldafrom being a recognizable brand to a system seller - these games just aren’t enough. Of course, the Switch 2 could always launch with another industry-defining game that influences developers for years to come, but, if anything, that’ll only serve to overshadow the Switch’s final accomplishments.The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis an amazing game, but as a last hurrah, it feels a little disappointing.
