Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Appears to Be Wearing Its Franchise Connections on Its Sleeve

Highlights

• Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom includes numerous references to previous Zelda titles, hinting at connections to the series’ past.
• The map appears nearly identical to the version of Hyrule found in A Link to the Past.
• Assets and enemies from Breath of the Wild and other Zelda games are referenced in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.

The Legend of Zelda series has always been known to feature recurring characters, items, and themes in each installment, but The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom seems to be taking that tradition to a whole new level. This could be because of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s massive shift in featuring Zelda, rather than Link, as the playable protagonist for the first time in a mainline Zelda game and its desire to keep veteran players attached to the series’ past. There is also the possibility of these references having something to do with Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s placement in the Zelda timeline. Regardless, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom appears to wear its franchise connections on its sleeve.

Not much has been revealed yet about the full extent of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and that is unlikely to happen until the game is released on September 26. However, in breaking down the announcement trailer alone, keen-eyed fans may notice references to a wide variety of other Zelda games hidden within Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s world. Whether these references mean anything remains to be seen, but they are there nonetheless.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom References Several Different Installments

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Art Style Is Identical to the Link’s Awakening Remake

One of the most obvious connections Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has to another franchise installment can be found in its art style. Specifically, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s art style is identical to the remake of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. While that could imply some kind of connection, it’s impossible to tell between all the other franchise references included in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and the fact that the original Zelda: Link’s Awakening did not feature this new art style.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Makes References to A Link to the Past and Oracle of Ages/Seasons

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom also makes references to Zelda: A Link to the Past and Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons. Most prominently featured is Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s map layout, which is almost a 1:1 replica of the map from Zelda: A Link to the Past, apart from a few outliers. Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s design for the monster presumed to be Ganon is also seemingly pulled from the design for Ganon in Zelda: A Link to the Past and Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Uses Assets From Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom

There are several noticeable assets from Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that seem to have been reused in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Firstly, the design on Link’s hood and sword resembles Zonai architecture, which is put on full display in Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It’s also possible to spot a Sheikah lamp in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s announcement trailer that is nearly identical to the same lamp that can be found in homes throughout Zelda: Breath of the Wild‘s Hyrule.

Some Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Enemies Were Pulled From the Child Timeline

Some of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom‘s enemies have also not been seen together in a Zelda game since those games that fit into Zelda‘s Child Timeline, which includes Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Zelda: Majora’s Mask, and Zelda: Twilight Princess. Specifically, the Lizalfos, ReDead, and Walltula have all made a return in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, despite this game seeming to have no other clear connections to the Child Timeline.

There are other minor references in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom to installments like Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, which just goes to show how much of the franchise’s past the upcoming Zelda title is leaning on. It could be that Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom finally embraces the multiverse in a mainline Zelda installment, despite the non-canon spin-off Hyrule Warriors having already done so. However, all of that remains to be seen and will be disclosed once Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launches on September 26.