The Legend of Zelda Will Finally Have a Playable Zelda

This isn’t the first time we’ve been able to play as Zelda in a video game, but it’s the first time she’ll serve as the main playable character in a full adventure within The Legend of Zelda series. Announced during today’s Nintendo Direct, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was the game of the show for me. For once, it’ll be up to Zelda to save the kingdom of Hyrule, and she’ll be armed with the power of the Tri Rod, which allows her to create echoes. These echoes are imitations of objects found in the environment that Zelda can use to solve puzzles and fight enemies.

Unlike The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will take a more traditional 2D, top-down approach. However, it’s borrowing the open-ended creative ideas established in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom with the new echoes mechanic. Examples seen in the trailer include making bridges out of old beds, throwing rocks at foes, and using water blocks to climb the environment. Even the menu for the echoes resembles the equipment menu from Tears of the Kingdom. The franchise’s Eiji Aonuma, who introduced the game during the Nintendo Direct, said he hasn’t counted all the echoes in the game, so expect it to be a good amount.

Like Tears of the Kingdom, Echoes of Wisdom looks to follow the mantra of giving players their own unique experience based on how they use the tools in the game. The good news is we won’t have to wait long to experience this all-new adventure. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launches on September 26 and could be a Game of the Year contender.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Announcement Trailer