Summary
NoLegend of Zeldagame is complete without a bevvy of hidden secrets and Easter eggs, andEchoes of Wisdomis no different. Being the most expansive 2D Zelda title ever, it’s no wonder that it takes advantage of the wider scope of the game to reference series history while leaving in as many secrets as possible.
It’s clear that inspiration has been taken fromBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdomwith how Echoes of Wisdom liberally borrows from the archives of Zelda history, but, unlike the Switch-era 3D titles, there are also complete features and mechanics that you can miss too. Out of all the hidden details and references, which should you keep an eye out for?
8Volvagia’s Multi-Decade Hiatus
Fiery Return
In the earlier years of the Zelda series, it felt like the developers were constantly pulling from the same pool and enemies and bosses, with certain foes showing up repeatedly throughout 3D and 2D Zelda titles alike, but that trend has slowed down in recent years with more fresh enemies showing up in every new Zelda title.
However, Echoes of Wisdom returns to tradition by bringing back an iconic foe fromOcarina of Time, with Volvagia coming back for the first time since the 90s classic. The fiery dragon even plays similarly, popping in and out of lava-filled holes. Of course, this fight still stands out from the original, since Ocarina and Echoes are vastly different games, but it’s nice to see the dragon is still harassing Gorons all these years later.
7Classic Creation Myth
Hyrule Historian
There are certain consistent themes in the Zelda series, and one which even the most casual fans can recognise is the omnipresence of the three Goddesses; Din, Nayru, and Farore, each associated with one piece of the Triforce.
One of the most common references regularly made to these Goddesses is using their namesake for different biomes (e.g. Eldin, Lanayru, and Faron), but Echoes of Wisdom takes it a step further, going to the effort of directly referencing the creation myth of Hyrule we originally see all the way back in Ocarina of Time.
This myth is often referenced vaguely in Zelda’s history, but this is the most direct nod to its original appearance since Ocarina.
6Dress To Impress
Clothing Choices Matter
A hidden detail easy to overlook in Echoes of Wisdom is the occasional importance of outfits. Early on, we learn that Zelda’s accessories offer passive buffs, but when we unlock the ability to change costumes, it’s easy to assume that these are purely cosmetic and don’t have any gameplay effects.
As it turns out,while most outfits only change her appearance, for a couple of her rarer outfits, Zelda gets some pretty nifty buffs. For example, the Silk Pajamas heal Zelda faster when she’s sleeping, and the Dancing Outfit will give her a wider spin radius.
5Memorable Mount
Straight From Breath Of The Wild
Another optional feature that is a little harder to miss is horse-riding, and Zelda can easily unlock a rental horse, and with a littlemore effort and help from Impa, she can use her own personal horse and summon it from anywhere on the map.
However, what you might have missed is that Zelda’s personal horse is the exact same colour scheme as her horse seen in Breath of the Wild. In Breath of the Wild, Link can find the princess' steed near a statue of the mount, and if registered, will get unique dialogue from the stable-keep.
4Twilight Yetis
Zelda’s Rarest Race
Throughout Zelda history, certain species have shown up again and again, with races like Gorons and Zoras being a staple. However, there are just as many races that have shown up a lot less frequently, and one of these are the Yetis that debuted inTwilight Princess, and are showing up in Echoes of Wisdom for the first time since then.
Back in Twilight Princess, the Yeti’s house is actually a massive frozen dungeon, and as Link travels through it, he learns more about the heartwarming relationship between the couple of Yetis while also helping them cook soup. Seemingly a very family-oriented race, Conde, the lone Yeti in Echoes of Wisdom is shown to miss his brother and father, with the former traveling and the latter unfortunately deceased.
3Chatty Cats
Purrfect Security
In the process of helping out an old man in Kakariko find his missing cat, Zelda will happen upon the Cat Clothes that let her converse with felines in the village to track down clues about the man’s missing cat.
However, what isn’t immediately apparent is that if you keep wearing this outfit, you’ll be able to chat with the various cats hanging around all corners of Hyrule, not just Kakariko. A highlight is chatting with the sleepy cat in Zelda’s own bedroom, who will inform the princess she’s keeping up the security effort, but we aren’t convinced.
2Link’s Bedroom
Humble Beginnings
One of theearliest hidden detailsyou can uncover will require checking out all of the houses in Suthorn Village. If you head to the back corner of the village to the house on a hill next to an axe in a tree trunk, you can find the home of Link, the absent hero who hails from the village.
The bedroom is reminiscent of many of the other houses of our hero we’ve seen throughout Zelda history, closest to the version we see in A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds, and The Minish Cap. If it isn’t clear enough who the house belongs to, we see his iconic green cap hanging on the bedpost.
