Of all of Nintendo’s long-standing franchises, The Legend of Zelda is easily one of the most well-known. Despite how ubiquitous this series is, in the eyes of many there’s a subtle divide among the games. The classic Zelda gameplay was a top-down 2D formula, with a 3D style being adopted later on by Ocarina of Time. For a while there was a balance between these two, yet in recent years it feels like 3D has taken the role as the main way new games would be made. It seems now that may be rectifying itself however, thanks to the contributions of the first new 2D Zelda in almost 11 years, Echoes of Wisdom.
The information provided comes from an interview conducted by BBC. In said interview, Eiji Aonuma and the directors Tomomi Sano and Satoshi Terada were asked about their feelings around the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and how it would be received by fans. The takeaway at large seemed to be concern over whether the unique gameplay of Echoes of Wisdom as well as Zelda’s newfound role as the protagonist would align with fans of the series. Much to the relief of all those involved, the reception this innovative entry received was generally positive, although it raised a big question for many: What does the future of 2D Zelda games look like now?
Thankfully, in the same interview, Aonuma commented on this as well. He explained that he felt like it “might be close to impossible” to add more to the classic 2D Zelda formula. The Legend of Zelda franchise is quickly approaching 40 years old, and so it’s easy to see how it could feel difficult to continue to innovate on such a tried and true format. Despite this, it seems like Echoes of Wisdom changed the perspective on this, with Aonuma expressing a newfound appreciation for the possibilities there is to be had. When discussing the future of the franchise, he mentioned that they’re hoping to continue to create both dynamic 3D Zelda games alongside the 2D top-down formula the series is known for.
It certainly seems as if fans of The Legend of Zelda have a lot to look forward to. Many mourned the loss of the 2D formula, as the last new top-down Zelda game prior to Echoes of Wisdom was A Link Between Worlds over a decade earlier. Yet now it seems more likely than ever that there will be more to come sooner or later. Whether you prefer the classic 2D format or the newer 3D format, it seems that the future of the franchise has a spot for both thanks to Echoes of Wisdom.
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Written by Abbie Maxwell
Lifelong Nintendo fangirl, Abbie holds a special place in her heart for video games. She has always strived to provide tips and tricks to make the experiences of those who share her passions that much better.
