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The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom |OT| The Legend of Link? Tri Harder!

Beat the first dungeon and I'm not really sure how to feel. On one hand, I LOVE that this seems like a return to classic Zelda. Proper dungeons with really good puzzles with some type of boss at the end. I really do like the idea of having these echos that are different sizes to help solve puzzles. Not 100% but have a feeling this is gonna be a little BoTW/ToTK ish where there is gonna be multiple ways to solve puzzles depending on what you have, even if there is a 'basic' or 'true' solution, which I think is pretty cool.

Some problems though, ugh this combat seems like a chore. Basically spawn some of your own enemies that fight.

Near the end of the first dungeon you do get a power up which allows you to turn into link for a couple seconds to attack with a sword and jump higher, but idk, it just seems messy instead of just traditional combat


Also, going through your echos is some of the worst design ever, c'mon guys. Add some type of categories to choose from. Its just like ToTK when trying to shoot arrows and going through an endless list of attachments. Again, I'm only right at the end of the first dungeon and I have a shit ton. Can't imagine how much worse this is gonna get.
 
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digdug2

Member
This is the type of game I always dream would happen. I love the graphics and the gameplay. I hope Nintendo keeps making these Zelda games in this engine.
Now Final Fantasy needs to use this engine lol
I've been hoping for a 3D Dot Game Heroes remaster or sequel for well over a decade now... and it turns out that it went full circle and this is the game that scratches that itch.
 

Majukun

Member
I must be doing something wrong with my echos menu right?

It's impossible that they just dump ALL OF THEM on the same screen with some basic sorting solution right?


Right???
 

Emedan

Member
Feel like an idiot not realizing I could have been digging for most of my playthrough. Not sure how many items I've missed in the over world so far.
Wait what? How?
I've seen so many spots were I thought that should be possible but assumed I just couldn't?!
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
This game is fun…in very addictive, I can just all the day playing this game.

I also enjoying using echos to fight enemies.
 

Hookshot

Member
Wait what? How?
I've seen so many spots were I thought that should be possible but assumed I just couldn't?!
Same, but I finally got confirmation during a side quest.

So I started wondering if I had an echo that could do it…..did you get the mole like creature that sits in a hole and throws rocks?
 

Hookshot

Member
Running about on top of trees was pretty fun and quite liberating! Also I like that they brought over fire propagation from botw/totk.
There’s a couple of spots where my Zelda is an arsonist Link dreamed he could be.

At first I felt getting on the trees was cheesing it but it’s all designed to allow it. It just aides exploration
 
I'd bet money that the switch 2 will run this game at 120fps if it can be emulated at that speed on my upper-mid tier rig. My cpu isn't even particularly well suited for emulation
Nintendo are not interested in this game running at 120fps it's just not happening even it were possible.
 
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Emedan

Member
Same, but I finally got confirmation during a side quest.

So I started wondering if I had an echo that could do it…..did you get the mole like creature that sits in a hole and throws rocks?
Aaaaah man I'm stupid, of course it does. Thanks!
 

Trilobit

Member
So anyone who has played Wind Waker and remembers the sidequests on Windfall Island: Does the game have any quests similar to those or is it more of a puzzle-action type of game?
 

JimboJones

Member
So anyone who has played Wind Waker and remembers the sidequests on Windfall Island: Does the game have any quests similar to those or is it more of a puzzle-action type of game?
There are minor sidequests in the game then there is one for upgrading your
sword power/meter
. I've only completed the first main dungeon and i'm roaming about the Gerudo Desert at the moment.
 
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Ogbert

Member
So anyone who has played Wind Waker and remembers the sidequests on Windfall Island: Does the game have any quests similar to those or is it more of a puzzle-action type of game?
No.

After five or so hours, the side quests just tend to be incidental, small chores based in the area you will be walking around.
 

DragoonKain

Neighbours from Hell
So far I think this is a solid Zelda game, but I don't love it. I definitely have issues with it. Frankly, I think the combat stinks, I'm just going to be real. I really don't like using echoes to fight enemies. I know you can use the sword for a time, but still. Everything else I like. I like using echoes for non combat things. They're almost like mini puzzles within themselves. Trying to find ways to traverse to heart pieces and stuff. But I think the combat holds this game down from being really good.
 
I must be doing something wrong with my echos menu right?

It's impossible that they just dump ALL OF THEM on the same screen with some basic sorting solution right?


Right???
Just actually found this out. You can hit x or y (can't remember which button) and you can sort by most used, newest etc. It honestly still sucks and could have been much better though. Still found myself going through the slog of a neverending screen as the default lol.
There’s also far too much talking
This is another complaint of mine. Every time I feel like I'm getting into the swing of things and starting to enjoy the game, there seems to be some long talking sessions. Its a frustrating game at the start at least. It seems pretty damn good, but they just had to throw in some minor things which makes it not as enjoyable
 

Hookshot

Member
Mini game spoiler for quite a bit into the main story.

How do I do the first horse race in under 17 seconds? I can do 17.08 but I must be missing some trick. I've got the records on the other races.
 

Ogbert

Member
Just actually found this out. You can hit x or y (can't remember which button) and you can sort by most used, newest etc. It honestly still sucks and could have been much better though. Still found myself going through the slog of a neverending screen as the default lol.
I just think there are too many echoes. There’s no need for at least half the options you are given.

I’m enjoying the game but I’m not sure I really wanted 2d Zelda to turn into BoTW. They could have just iterated on the normal combat.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
The combat and general need to switch between echoes could have easily been remedied by giving Zelda the ability to do a small attack with her staff - and maybe the ability to upgrade it as the game progresses. Make it super weak to enemies, but also able to break things like boxes or activate bomb fish and the like.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
The combat and general need to switch between echoes could have easily been remedied by giving Zelda the ability to do a small attack with her staff - and maybe the ability to upgrade it as the game progresses. Make it super weak to enemies, but also able to break things like boxes or activate bomb fish and the like.
In my recent playthrough I encounter enemy way above my level which can take almost my heart in one attack, so I summoned echoe with shield to distract him while I activate Link ability to attack him from behind.

For me I dont have issue with its combat like most people do, it feels different than Link and personally like that.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
In my recent playthrough I encounter enemy way above my level which can take almost my heart in one attack, so I summoned echoe with shield to distract him while I activate Link ability to attack him from behind.

For me I dont have issue with its combat like most people do, it feels different than Link and personally like that.
I don't mind the actual combat encounters themselves - like you said there are usually good ways to interact with enemies and echoes to do what you need to do. I'm talking more about instances where I have to like summon a bomb fish echo, then switch to Link mode to make the bomb actually explode. It's just too many steps in what should be one (either the bomb fish activates when summoned, or give me the ability to activate it manually with something like a staff attack).

The same is true for things like destroying boxes. You can pick them up and throw them, which is handy - but in some instances (like underwater) you cannot and have to either go into Link mode for a second, or summon an echo to do it for you. Again this could be fixed with just having a light attack button.

Tons of times I just straight up ignore smaller or weaker enemies, because it's not worth going into the echo menu and selecting something that can attack them easily and kill them. Frustration doubles when you summon something to handle them and "oops, that does fire damage and the enemy is immune to fire" and have to select yet another thing.

It's not hugely annoying, but in aggregate over the course of the entire game it adds up to feeling like this could have been streamlined pretty significantly to make the experience less frustrating overall.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
I don't mind the actual combat encounters themselves - like you said there are usually good ways to interact with enemies and echoes to do what you need to do. I'm talking more about instances where I have to like summon a bomb fish echo, then switch to Link mode to make the bomb actually explode. It's just too many steps in what should be one (either the bomb fish activates when summoned, or give me the ability to activate it manually with something like a staff attack).

The same is true for things like destroying boxes. You can pick them up and throw them, which is handy - but in some instances (like underwater) you cannot and have to either go into Link mode for a second, or summon an echo to do it for you. Again this could be fixed with just having a light attack button.

Tons of times I just straight up ignore smaller or weaker enemies, because it's not worth going into the echo menu and selecting something that can attack them easily and kill them. Frustration doubles when you summon something to handle them and "oops, that does fire damage and the enemy is immune to fire" and have to select yet another thing.

It's not hugely annoying, but in aggregate over the course of the entire game it adds up to feeling like this could have been streamlined pretty significantly to make the experience less frustrating overall.
I think this game needed hot keys face button for echo you use the most so you can fast summon them instead pause the action every time you want to summon one.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
I think this game needed hot keys face button for echo you use the most so you can fast summon them instead pause the action every time you want to summon one.
I'd also accept the ability to "favorite" an echo, and have it selectable in a different maybe vertical menu, or even just have your favorites show up before anything else. I more or less just keep using the same 10-15 echoes.
 

Hookshot

Member
I don't mind the actual combat encounters themselves - like you said there are usually good ways to interact with enemies and echoes to do what you need to do. I'm talking more about instances where I have to like summon a bomb fish echo, then switch to Link mode to make the bomb actually explode.
You can activate the fish with her twirl.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
You can activate the fish with her twirl.
Really? Even underwater? I thought I tried that and couldn't get it to work, will re-try.
 

Hookshot

Member
Really? Even underwater? I thought I tried that and couldn't get it to work, will re-try.
Yeah, you need to do it in cramp passageways sometimes. or if the block is midway up an underwater wall.

I agree the twirl should have broken boxes. Twirl spoiler I got an upgrade for it but it still only knocks back enemies it doesn't harm them.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
I'd also accept the ability to "favorite" an echo, and have it selectable in a different maybe vertical menu, or even just have your favorites show up before anything else. I more or less just keep using the same 10-15 echoes.
Yeah I'm pretty far now and I only ever use like 3 or 4 echos at a time.
 

Hookshot

Member
Just completed it, it was fun, not ground breaking. I never did any of Dampe's stuff, not sure why that was in a trailer. Also I can't figure out 1 puzzle but it's a mechanics issue I think, that's going to bug me until I do. Still some side stuff I saw but didn't do so I'll get some more hours out of it.

Shame it probably won't get some hard or brain taxing DLC. There's a lot they could do with limiting echoes.
 

Hookshot

Member
Mini game spoiler for quite a bit into the main story.

How do I do the first horse race in under 17 seconds? I can do 17.08 but I must be missing some trick. I've got the records on the other races.
I looked into this and I was missing something pretty obvious.... You can use tri' powers while on the horse so you can just push the obstacles out of the way or make boxes to jump them.

Hopefully that will save someone else from losing their patience with it.
 

Exentryk

Member
This is such a comfortable game, like snuggle in on a cold day and just relax. Loving it in the first couple of hours.

2Ni7Bjt.jpeg
 
Game is great, I don’t understand the whole it boring because you let others fight for you. That does sound boring, but gettting creative with how things are done rather than just constantly respawning minions play around with other enemies such as environmental perils as well. I’m betting there will be some crazy combos going forward as the game starts to bake in with the public.
 
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Exentryk

Member
I love this gameplay aspect of letting other minions do the work. You can have multiple different minions out. It feels great to keep getting new things/monsters. Love that even traversal can be a puzzle. They've so organically built this puzzle/reward aspect in basic gameplay. Very clever.

Will stop for the night, but can't wait to play more tomorrow.

Kzucnbu.jpg

MFx3EUs.jpg
 

NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt

Biggest Trails Stan
I love this gameplay aspect of letting other minions do the work. You can have multiple different minions out. It feels great to keep getting new things/monsters. Love that even traversal can be a puzzle. They've so organically built this puzzle/reward aspect in basic gameplay. Very clever.

Will stop for the night, but can't wait to play more tomorrow.

Kzucnbu.jpg

MFx3EUs.jpg

Wanted to ask are the framerate drop noticeable and how frequent are they?
 

Hookshot

Member
All side quests done, there were actually some alright ones with some optional challenges, but lots are very simple. all stamps found and all might crystals found.

Yet I'm still 8 heart pieces short. Still need to finish off the dojo in Kakariko but that's probably not rewarding 8 more... I might need to google them tomorrow.
 
All side quests done, there were actually some alright ones with some optional challenges, but lots are very simple. all stamps found and all might crystals found.

Yet I'm still 8 heart pieces short. Still need to finish off the dojo in Kakariko but that's probably not rewarding 8 more... I might need to google them tomorrow.
Have you tried to beat the extra hard records for the horse racing and also the Gerudo crop minigame? Those will give you heart pieces as well.
 

JimboJones

Member
Game is great, I don’t understand the whole it boring because you let others fight for you. That does sound boring, but gettting creative with how things are done rather than just constantly respawning minions play around with other enemies such as environmental perils as well. I’m betting there will be some crazy combos going forward as the game starts to bake in with the public.
I think it also goes without saying that it is also ok to simply ignore some enemies sometimes.
This has been a staple in Zelda games for years that you don't have to fight every enemy you come across.
 

Danjin44

The nicest person on this forum
I think it also goes without saying that it is also ok to simply ignore some enemies sometimes.
This has been a staple in Zelda games for years that you don't have to fight every enemy you come across.
I only fight the new enemy to get their echo but most of the time I ignore most enemies on open fields.
 
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jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
I'm still missing six heart pieces, but I'm not really going for full completion and I think I'll just finish the game now.
 

amigastar

Member
I'm always amazed how much graphics Nintendo can squeeze out of their systems, game looks great. better than Torchlight 3 with UE4.
I'm really curious what they can achieve with Switch 2.
 
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Hookshot

Member
I'm still missing six heart pieces, but I'm not really going for full completion and I think I'll just finish the game now.
6 hearts or 6 pieces? Because I’ve 2 hearts to go but that’s 8 chunks to find.

Whether you want to 100% or not and without going into spoilers I’ll say that I’m personally happy I did all the side quests.
 

jshackles

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it. We have the capability to make the world's first enhanced store. Steam will be that store. Better than it was before.
6 hearts or 6 pieces? Because I’ve 2 hearts to go but that’s 8 chunks to find.

Whether you want to 100% or not and without going into spoilers I’ll say that I’m personally happy I did all the side quests.
Six pieces, 1.5 heart containers :p

I haven't really been doing the side quests. I've accepted all the ones I've come across, and solved the ones that seemed interesting - but a lot of them I just skipped out on because they had the typical sandbox frustrations (bring this item to this person while walking slowly and without jumping, etc.)
 

Hookshot

Member
Six pieces, 1.5 heart containers :p

I haven't really been doing the side quests. I've accepted all the ones I've come across, and solved the ones that seemed interesting - but a lot of them I just skipped out on because they had the typical sandbox frustrations (bring this item to this person while walking slowly and without jumping, etc.)
you’d definitely find more pieces then. Unless you coincidentally stumbled upon the correct side quests in your playthrough.
 

Robb

Gold Member
I’m going through it a bit slow, but I’ve done the first temple and explored the over-world freely quite a bit now.

It’s a strange Zelda game. I almost feel like I’m playing something else a lot of the time, and then get reminded that it’s actually a mainline Zelda game every once in a while.

It’s been a lot of fun thus far though. I haven’t been too bothered by the frame rate, although slowdown is noticeable for sure. Pretty crazy that something as huge as BotW/TotK runs better than this, and that Nintendo was OK with this kind of performance..

Anyway, very happy to see real classic Zelda dungeons return. I hope this is a sign of the future for the 3D entries as well.
 

RoadHazard

Gold Member
I'm always amazed how much graphics Nintendo can squeeze out of their systems, game looks great. better than Torchlight 3 with UE4.
I'm really curious what they can achieve with Switch 2.

They've tried to squeeze a bit too much out of it this time it seems, given the very uneven performance. Quite unusual for a Nintendo game, they normally prioritize smooth gameplay. But it also isn't developed by Nintendo themselves (not the technical side of it at least). But yeah, it does look great.
 

Majukun

Member
they definitely could have done more with organizing the echo..there is already an ungodly amount of them, but then you get enemies with different levels, and those could have been easily categorized together, at least as an option, instead of being sparsed through an unskippable line of items

and that's more infuriating because there are definitely some optimal echoes to use for traversing or combat, so you stay often on the most used tab rotating always the most used ones, instead of experimenting, because doing so means going down the neverending list

seems like a silly issue to have in a game that is otherwise unadultereted and pleasurable fun with no hint of frustration
 
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