This time last year, the thought of having a new top-down Zelda in our hands felt like a pipe dream. But then Echoes of wisdom came and reaffirmed the idea that the future of the series was possible Are not is an exclusively open world, 3D.
But our minds are now turning to the series’ other style, one we haven’t seen used exclusively since Zelda II (and not even then full). If Nintendo is open to different gaming perspectives, is it time for another side-scrolling Zelda?
This thought came to mind while reviewing the princess’s latest adventure. Like The awakening of connectionEchoes of Wisdom frequently veers into this sub-style, limiting the hero’s movement to four clear directions as if turned into a standard platformer.
Unlike Grezzo’s most recent (and overlooked) remake Prophecy however, Echoes of Wisdom returns to a side-scrolling view with much greater frequency. This isn’t an occasional gimmick but something that comes up time and time again. An early dungeon switches to this perspective in almost every room, including a climactic boss fight that takes place entirely from one side.
In the past, the series has moved things into the two-dimensional realm, and you can even categorize some A link between worlds‘ picture-based puzzles that match the style. But so far only Zelda II: Link’s Adventure was brave (foolish?) enough to go all in on a different point of view – and that was in 1987.
Perhaps it’s due to that game being considered one of the series’ lower points (though its reputation has improved recently), the punishing difficulty, or Link’s silly running style. , but strangely Nintendo never returned to the side-scrolling style, eliminating the odd appearance here and there, after that rough start. If Echoes of Wisdom shows us one thing, it’s that Zelda deserves more starring roles. But if it shows us two everything, it’s side-scrolling Hyrule that actually works.
We loved the side-by-side approach used in Jabul Ruins, and Link’s Awakening’s Eagle Tower boss fight is a highlight of the game with its perspective-shifting action. Is it time for Nintendo to take another stab at fully 2D adventure?
It’s not that the 2D style is being rejected by modern gamers. Last year, Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes us back to the glory days of Super Mario World. All the talk about displayed hair follicle density and realistic weather systems went out the window when we were faced with a marvelously designed mission, beautifully animated from left to right . Who says Zelda can’t do the same?
In bite-sized portions, Echoes of Wisdom demonstrates what this can look like. Early caves help us solve problems without the privilege of the z-axis, and they’re just as confusing as something with more depth. We also took on enemies, defeated bosses, and overcame platforming challenges this way. Nintendo is teasing that they know how to make a fully side-scrolling Zelda game, but they’re just reluctant to make the whole thing happen.
But what do you think? Would you like to see a completely different side-scrolling Zelda title in the future or is this style better left in the series’ past? You can share your answer in the following poll and then hit the comments section to explain your choice.
