STACK #239 September 2024

GAMING FEATURE

visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

DYK?

The binding Echoes aren’t the only weapon in Zelda’s

This isn’t actually the first time that Zelda has been playable, but it is the first time that the princess has taken the lead protagonist’s role in a mainline Zelda game.

arsenal, as she has the ability to bind herself to objects. In some ways similar to the Ultrahand from Tears of the Kingdom , but without the construction element, an object which Zelda

binds then moves as she does. With some careful manoeuvring, it may be used for removing a roadblock, or for sending an enemy off a cliff, just to give two examples. The bind feature can also be used the opposite way, known as reverse bind. With this, Zelda can be moved by objects – say, by

Zelda is back this month, and this time more than ever as the fabled princess steps into the role of main protagonist. Yes, she’s out to save her kingdom - including the missing Link. Let’s take a look at just some of what we can look forward to in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom . Words Amy Flower

The story This all-new adventure in the long-running saga sees curious purple rifts opening up throughout the kingdom of Hyrule, and stealing its citizens including, yes, our usual hero Link. Luckily, he managed to release his princess from Ganon’s gem prison seconds before disappearing. So, it’s up to Zelda herself to take action, teaming up with mysterious fairy Tri whose magical abilities will help her save Hyrule – and, hopefully, Link! As well as your main quest, there are also side quests to look forward to, helping various Hyrulians out with their troubles. The look The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom recalls the cute retro-meets-modern graphical style of the 2019 Switch remake of the 1993 Game Boy outing Link’s Awakening , which saw the viewing angle change from 2D to 3D. We’ll be visiting all sorts of familiar regions in Hyrule, too, ranging from the Gerudo Desert

The echoes Does Zelda take over the familiar swordplay of Link? No! As we mentioned, she wields the mysterious Tri Rod. This handy staff offers up numerous abilities, chief amongst them the ability to conjure copies of environmental objects – “echoes” – that can then be recreated wherever you like. One example is a simple table. Once in Zelda’s arsenal of echoes, it can then be conjured anywhere in the land – which may come in handy, say, for climbing on and reaching an otherwise unreachable platform.

attaching herself to a moving platform or, and this is super-cool, grabbing hold of a bird and flying. The travelling As well as navigating her land via echoes, bind, reverse bind, and convenient fast travel sites for zipping between waypoints, Zelda also has access to trusty horses, merely by creating a carrot echo. As well as adding even more cuteness to

proceedings, horses are fast, can trample smaller enemies, and can also jump over some smaller obstacles, such as fences. The fights

Naturally there’ll be battles throughout Zelda’s quest, so echoes of things like boulders can come in mighty handy for taking on assailants. Even cooler though is that you can create echoes of any combatants that you may come across, and then employ them as an ally in future battles. • The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is out Sep 26

Another example might be a shrub. Need to make your way past some hot air? A handily placed shrub echo just may do the trick. When it comes to echoes you do have to use that wisdom that’s there in the game’s title though, for you can only have a specific amount of them onscreen at any one time, all depending upon how many triangles appear by the fairy Tri.

to the Kakariko Village at the base of the Eldin Volcano, and, of course, Hyrule

Castle. There are also watery sections to look forward to, such as Jabul Waters with its feuding denizens.

SEPTEMBER 2024

jbhifi.com.au

6