Echoes of Wisdom really took the Zelda community by surprise as it felt like it came out of nowhere. But with Zelda being the protagonist this time instead of Link, and having a new combat/puzzle solving system, the series was able to once again reinvent itself while still feeling like the classic Zelda games we all know and love.
Story: 6/10
The story here is nothing amazing and doesn’t take any real unpredictable twists or turns, but it is a Zelda game with all the fun that comes with it.
Score: 8/10
The music here is fun and nice, but for a Zelda game this soundtrack doesn’t quite feel like it lives up to its predecessors. However there are some fun tracks that can make you feel nostalgic.
Characters/Character Development: 8/10
Seeing new renditions of classic Zelda characters like Impa and the King of Hyrule is a nice touch to feel like a place you’ve been before while also feeling entirely new.
Graphics: 9/10
The top down diorama style of this Zelda is fun and friendly which makes you really appreciate each setting.
Gameplay: 8/10
This new version of Hyrule is a great place to explore and you'll find yourself wanting to make sure to go through every cave and house as you are almost always rewarded for doing so. Spamming enemies and items really makes you think outside the box on how you can progress through a dungeon or solve a puzzle.
My only gripe is that while summoning an enemy to fight for you can be very rewarding, there are times where an enemy is attacking your echoes and there isn't much you can do besides wait for the fight to be over which can sometimes be a bit frustrating. While you do have the ability to use a sword and other weapons like Link, those times are limited in the beginning and can make you feel like you want to save it for a better opportunity.
Difficulty: 6.5/10 (0 being the easiest, 10 being the hardest).
As with most recent Zelda games, having such few hearts to start can be a real challenge but as you progress with more hearts and accessories the game can feel much easier.
Fun: 8.5/10
If you're a long time Zelda fan, being able to finally control the enemies that have plagued you for so long is a real thrill. It's very nice to finally have a darknut or a lynel on your side and watch them clobber your enemies. With the ability to continuously spawn these creatures as another one dies, you often feel like you have the advantage in a fight.
The map is also big enough to not feel cramped while allowing places to feel close enough together that you wouldn't need to fast travel if you didn't want to. However, towns you visit have very limited things to do and you may find yourself never going back to several of them unless you just simply wanted to.
Recommended for-
- Zelda fans
- Fans of Monster hunting/collecting games.