The iconic “Legend of Zelda” series is back with its latest installment “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.” With the release coming up shortly on Sept. 26, 2024, many are waiting to see if the game lives up to fan-favorites “Breath of the Wild” and “Tears of the Kingdom.”
And the excitement for the game is palpable. Of course, with the excitement, comes speculation about the game and how it will be received by critics. On Kalshi, a platform where users can bet on future events, traders have been betting on the Metacritic score of the game since July 14.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Hands-On Impressions: https://t.co/DASoyt2YM7
— metacritic (@metacritic) September 20, 2024
Expect final reviews the middle of next week. Any Metascore predictions for this one? pic.twitter.com/qzqbjn7kZF
Surprisingly, the market started at a forecasted score of 90.3 and almost 2 months later, the current forecast is a nearby 89. However, there have been dips and rises in these last couple of months.
‘The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’ Timeline
June 18, 2024: “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” is announced at the Nintendo Direct along with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Mario & Luigi: Brothership
July 14, 2024: Link was revealed as a playable character in “Echoes of Wisdom” through an unusual source – ESRB. The Entertainment Software Rating Board is the organization behind providing age ratings for video games. Along with giving an Everyone 10+ rating to “Echoes of Wisdom,” their game description revealed Link as a playable character.
August 5, 2024: Nintendo released a second trailer for “Echoes of Wisdom” called the “Traversing Hyrule” trailer. In this trailer, new features are revealed about the game including being able to ride horseback, various regions of the world, and so on.
August 9, 2024: The official Japanese “Legend of Zelda” Twitter/X account revealed two new characters. The new characters were Zelda’s father, King of Hyrule, and a new antagonist named General Ugi.
【ハイラル王】
— ゼルダの伝説 (@ZeldaOfficialJP) August 9, 2024
ハイラルの国王であり、ゼルダ姫の父。#ゼルダの伝説 #知恵のかりもの pic.twitter.com/ceaSmvOvkD
August 20, 2024: Nintendo announced that fans can try out “Echoes of Wisdom” at this year’s PAX West, a gaming convention. There will be a playable demo for attendants to try out.
August 30, 2024: A new “Echoes of Wisdom” trailer is released but this time showcasing the Still World. Zelda’s father and Link are both stuck in this world and she has to go into it to save them.
August 30 – September 2, 2024: Fans were able to play the demo, and reactions were published in articles and on social media. MMORPG’s Joseph Bradford shared his positive impressions and said that he “cannot wait till the full release later on this month.”
September 4, 2024: In New York, there was an exclusive preview event where the press was able to preview a larger portion of the game. NPR’s James Perkins Mastromarino played an 80-minute demo and believes the newest Zelda game “flips both mechanical and narrative scripts.”
September 12, 2024: The official overview trailer is dropped for the game. They showcase more of the world you will be exploring, echoes, the fairy Tri, and other aspects of the game.
September 14-16, 2024: There were reports of “Echoes of Wisdom” being leaked online. Multiple outlets reported the leaks and warned fans to avoid spoilers.
With all of these updates and news over the past two months, it isn’t too surprising that the predictions have gone up and down. However, the shifts have been minor. The lowest predicted forecast was 87.7 and the highest was 91.1. We will have to see if something will rock the predictions and create a larger jump or drop.
What makes “Echoes of Wisdom” different from other Zelda games?
“Echoes of Wisdom” brings something different to the franchise for two big reasons. Firstly, while “Breath of the Wild” and “Tears of the Kingdom” were both expansive open-world 3D games, “Echoes of Wisdom” is returning to its roots with a return to the 2D world (sort of). The game is more 2.5D with certain modern elements to make the game more innovative to fans.
However, this isn’t the biggest change. This is the first mainline game where the main playable character of the game will be Zelda. After decades of being the damsel in distress, Zelda is finally the hero of her own story.
The latest installment in the “Zelda” series has Zelda saving the people of Hyrule with the help of a fairy named Tri. She will be able to use a weapon called the Tri Rod, which can create echoes. These echoes are “imitations of things found in the environment.” Then she can use these echoes to solve problems like making a table or a box to get around or over obstacles.
With Zelda stepping into the spotlight, a return to 2D gameplay, and the power of echoes at her disposal, the game promises to offer both nostalgia and innovation. As we get closer to the release date, we all are wondering – will “Echoes of Wisdom” be able to leave a lasting mark on the legendary franchise?
