Nintendo has brought Princess Peach and Zelda to the forefront in their own games. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a significant game for the series, combining linear dungeon crawling and key item-style progression with freeform problem-solving. This game is one of the best Zelda games, even without Link. The game’s main character switch does not have a substantial impact on the gameplay. Surprisingly, making Zelda the central character makes the story more engaging. The player feels more involved as they explore Hyrule to seal mysterious purple rifts across the kingdom. Zelda interacts with the world and fights enemies indirectly, with the help of a floating friend named Tri. This companion allows the player to create echoes of defeated enemies and specific objects found throughout the game. While managing these echoes can become cumbersome, it adds an element of creativity to the game. The game encourages creativity in problem-solving, similar to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. The toy-like art style and occasional side-scrolling segments give the game a unique feel. However, the inconsistent framerate is a drawback. Despite the quirky echo system, the game maintains a distinct Zelda feel by incorporating classic key items into the echoes. This gives the player a sense of progression that was missing in Breath of the Wild. The variety of options adds depth to puzzle-solving and exploration. The game’s combat focuses more on puzzles than actual fighting. While there is still combat, summoning echoes to attack enemies isn’t as thrilling as traditional swordplay. Additionally, Zelda can directly engage in combat using Link’s sword, but this drains her energy quickly. The optional automaton system adds some depth to combat, providing high-risk, high-reward options without draining energy. Completing side quests and hunting down collectibles adds depth to the game and can extend playtime significantly. Exploring Hyrule feels like a combination of A Link to the Past and Breath of the Wild, with familiar elements from both games present. It’s a mix of the past and the present of the Zelda series, honoring and making the best of both halves.