The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis one of the most creative entries in the series, and it has raised my expectations for how boss fights are handled.Echoes of Wisdomisn’t just unique because it’s the firstLegend of Zeldagame to actuallyput Zelda in the starring role, but also because of its unique item system. The game’s mechanics allow for a lot of creative problem-solving which applies to all aspects of the game,including boss battles.
Bosses inThe Legend of Zeldaseries have changed a lot over the years. In many of their incarnations,Zeldabosses have had obvious weak spots or proved vulnerable to a specific item, typically whatever item players would have been most recently acquired in the boss’s accompanying dungeon. However,Echoes of Wisdomtakes a very new approach to this formula. After getting used to the game’s new style of approaching boss battles, I thinkwe need moreZeldagames like this one.
My First Fight With Ganon As Zelda Taught Me To Be Creative
Trying To Fight Ganon Like Link Wasn’t The Answer
Fighting Ganon as Link is one of the first things players do inEchoes of Wisdom. This fight plays out very similarly to how it didinLegend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, with one glaring difference: Link loses in the end. From this point on players take on the role of Zelda and begin exploring Hyrule with the help of her handy Tri Rod.
Despite having a massive new arsenal of items thanks to the Tri Rod’s ability to copy enemies and objects from the overworld,I didn’t initially translate this to how I approached bosses. I became overly reliant on using my Darknut Echo as a substitute for Link’s sword or leaning back on my sword charge to play more conventionally. I wasn’t given too much reason to change this habit until I confronted Ganon again.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Happy Ending Hides A Small Tragedy
Despite the upbeat mood it projects, one part of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s ending actually works to obscure a tragic truth.
Beneath Hyrule Castle, players come face-to-face with Ganon as Zelda for the first time. However, despite now playing as the princess with her vast array of new powers,I initially approached the fight like I was Link. I switched to sword mode as often as I could to emulate fighting him as Link, largely ignoring the vast arsenal of echoes I’d accumulated.
Trying to beat Ganon like this was painfully slow, having to avoid his fiery spells to store up more sword power, and wasting a lot of opportunities to hit him. It was also pretty dull, as I was spending a lot of my time simply avoiding attacks. After a few failed attempts, I decided to do what the game intended me to do and begantrying the fight in more creative ways using my echoes.
I’ve Defeated Ganon Before, But Never With An Army Of Snakes
Echoes Of Wisdom Allowed Me To Get Creative With My Choice Of Weapons
Once I stopped trying to fight Ganon the same way I had in previousZeldagames, I began having a lot more fun. I started somewhat conservatively, still using a Darknut Echo for most of my attacks, but I began using blocks of water to help dodge Ganon’s fire attacks. I found that I could even stand inside the water and have it absorb the blow.
I stopped caring about the most efficient way to take downThe Legend of Zelda’s big bad.
I found that I was losing far less health, and progressing through the fight more quickly the more I used my echoes.This inspired me to see just how wild I could get with my style of attack. I stopped caring about the most efficient way to take downThe Legend of Zelda’s big bad and instead focused on the most entertaining ways.
I tried laying traps using sea urchins. I experimented with wolves since their style of attacking from behind felt like a good counter to Ganon’s spinning block. Eventually, I even decided to see if I could beat Ganon by simply spamming a bunch of snakes at him. Surprisingly—although it took a long time for them to chip away at his health—I finally managed to defeat Ganon with my adorable snake armyand a few deflected balls of magic.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - How To Beat Ganon
When players reach the Hyrule Castle Dungeon and try to save their father in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, they will find themselves facing Ganon again.
I’ve played a lot ofZelda, which also meansI’ve defeated Ganon quite a few timesover the years. However, none of my previous experiences offered me the same creative freedom in how I approached the fight. Even games likeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, for all the freedom they offer, hadn’t inspired me to experiment this much with their boss fights.
Echoes Of Wisdom Puts A Creative Spin On Key Items
Echoes Of Wisdom Turns Everything Into An Important Item
The reasonEchoes of Wisdominspired me to be more creative was the way it handles weapons and items. Instead of slowly accruing key items like a hook shot or a boomerang,Echoes of Wisdomconstantly offers new items to work with. While the supply of echoes may initially seem overwhelming, the sheer number opens up a world of possibilities for approaching fights. Don’t want to attack an enemy head-on? You can throw a pot to distract it and sneak around. Alternatively, you can build a tall platform and drop a spiky sea urchin on its head,Looney Tunesstyle.
One Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom NPC Story Deserves To Be A Quest
Although The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom features many side quests, there are still NPCs that would have greatly benefitted from one.
This creative freedom isn’t just limited to combat, as it also makes exploration much more interesting. Gone are the days of needing the hammer to smack down fence posts inA Link to the Past. Zelda can do everything from stacking beds to attaching herself to a bird to traverse Hyrule. While this isn’t too dissimilar to some of the elements introduced inTears of the Kingdom, there is one reason why I gravitated more toward these features inEchoes of Wisdom.
Echoes Of Wisdom Is The Style Of Innovation I Want From Zelda
Echoes Of Wisdom Retains Classic Zelda Elements But Adds A New Twist
For all its many changes to previousZeldagames,Echoes of Wisdomstill feels very much like aZeldagame. I think a big part of that lies in the type of echoes that I can use in the game. I’m not assembling nondescript platforms and fans to create a flying machine, I’m grabbing onto the crows fromA Link to the Pastand having them pull me around. When I send an echo to fight for me, it’s often a classicZeldaenemy like a Moblin or an Octorok.
The Best Thing About Zelda On Switch 2 Might Not Be New Games
Although the Nintendo Switch 2 will have a dramatic impact on new Legend of Zelda titles, its influence will also be seen elsewhere in the franchise.
This adherence to familiarZeldastaples while adding a unique twist is the exact type of innovation I want from aZeldagame. While I thinkBreath of the Wildwas a huge step forwardfor the series, it also left out enough classicZeldaelements that I don’t always feel like I’m playing aZeldagame. I seeBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomas somewhat separate from the rest of the series. They are games I enjoy, butmy brain just doesn’t think of them asZeldagames.
In contrast,Echoes of Wisdomstill feels a lot like aZeldagame. It even reintroduces some older elements like the River Zora and puts a fun new twist on them. I’m happy to see the series grow and change, butEchoes of Wisdomproved that it could do so while still retaining its unique personality. FutureZeldagames are going to have their work cut out for them to live up to this title’s creativity and authenticZeldafeel.
