InThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, it is Zelda’s turn to save Link and introduce new characters and familiar faces that most Zelda fans will instantly recognize. Despite its significantly smaller scope compared toBreath of the WildorTears of the Kingdom, Echoes of Wisdom doesn’t hold its narrative punches.
With Ganondorf eclipsed by a much larger threat, Zelda must become the Priestess of Wisdom with the help of unlikely allies that become iconic characters by the end of the game. With them come pieces of dialogue that will be hard to forget.
10"Well? Don’t Just Stand There! Lock Her Up At Once!"
- King Of Hyrule?
After escaping Ganondorf and making your way back to Hyrule castle, you witness for the first time that rifts are responsible for the abductions and that they can create dark echoes of their victims. Unfortunately, this includes the king, his trusted advisor, and the general.
The impostor king ordering the guards to take Zelda to the dungeons establishes the main hero’s lowest point and the main conflict of the first act. It’s also a jaw-dropping moment that leaves you wondering how you will have any hope of restoring your father, and your innocence.
9"I Suppose I’ll Just Have To Find Another Young Person Stuffed With Potential And Rupees!"
- Great Fairy
One of the most iconic characters in almost every Zelda game, the Great Fairy is a flamboyant entrepreneur who can be both frustrating and amusing to deal with. In Echoes of Wisdom, the Great Fairy shares styling tips that upgrade your number of equipment slots for more than a handful of rupees.
Unless you plan ongrinding with crow echoesfor the two thousand rupees, you likely won’t complete her quest until the final areas of the game. As both a way to inform you that you have completed her quest and a humorously characterizing moment, the Great Fairy is already thinking about her next victim.
The quest rewardfor the Great Fairy is the Might Bell, which can be used to detect nearby might crystals.
8"Thank You."
- Tri
After Null is defeated, Hyrule saved, and the peace of the world restored, Tri goes off with the other sprites back to the goddesses who created them. Before Tri does, they speak to Zelda one final time before they part forever.
In a tearjerker of a scene, Tri finds the words to express gratitude for the first time in its life and makes the simple phrase of “thank you” hold more weight than any Hylian could produce. More than just your travel companion, Tri becomes a dear friend who will be missed.
7"Give It To Me…"
- Null
With the Prime Energy restored, Link saved, and Null defeated, the world is once again safe from Null’s attempts to absorb it. The withering body of Null, however, still seeks the pieces of the Prime Energy despite knowing it is defeated.
This final line from Null perfectly sums up its villainous arc, that its life was perfect before the world was created, and its only purpose is to restore the void. It almost makes Null sympathetic, as you can sense the desperation and anger in its words from being forced to return to nothingness.
6"Yes, This Identity Should Suffice."
- Zelda
Established early in the game, anyone who falls into the rifts is at risk of having dark echoes created in their likeness, impersonating them to thwart your plans and expand the rifts. It’s also established that Zelda is immune to these effects, and can travel the rifts without consequences.
At the top of Hebra mountain, you are shown to be outsmarted, as Null finds a way to create a dark echo of Zelda anyway. Once the impostor starts speaking, you realize the potential it has to use the prime energy and undo all your hard work, adding to the already dire stakes.
Unfortunately, the impostor doesn’t copy your current outfit, no matter how stylish a catsuit is.
- Condé
Living alone atop Hebra mountain, Condé takes his job of cleaning up the snow very seriously, dedicating his time to ensure the never-ending work continues. This is useful for Zelda, as Condé is needed to clear the path forward and fix the rift that’s making his job much more difficult.
Exploring the yeti-sized hut where Condé lives, you see evidence of his family in a child-like drawing, speaking to Condé’s innocence and reverence. After the storm clears, Condé visits the grave of his father, and for the first time you realize how tragic his tale is, and it is the biggest gut punch in the entire game.
4"Wiiiiiife! Can You Hear Me? I’m Right Here!"
- Husband
Near the beginning of the game, you see rifts appearing all over Hyrule sucking up innocent villagers. In one of these scenes, you see a couple becoming separated as the rift catches up to the woman trailing behind. This establishes the stakes of the story and just how dire the circumstances are.
After you are free to explore Hyrule, you can find the villager still by the rift yelling out for his wife into the empty void. While this is a tragic piece of dialogue that shows his entire life uprooted in an instant, it’s also unintentionally funny that he chooses to yell “wife” instead of her name.
3"Get Creative With What You’ve Got!"
- Darston
Throughout the game we see Darston quoting from his slate of 56 nuggets of wisdom left to him by his late father, the previous chief of the gorons. Up until the final boss in Eldin Volcano, Darston struggles to maintain his new responsibilities and relies on the slate when making any decision.
To help Zelda break open the path to finally help his people and close the rifts, Darston destroys the slate while quoting the final nugget of wisdom and simultaneously fulfilling it. It’s a beautiful moment that shows Darston’s growth in self-confidence, making him shine as a young leader outside his father’s shadow.
2"You’ve Grown So Much. In Fact, I Think You Are Already Capable Of Being Chief."
- Seera
Likely the first area you will explore after you are freed is the Gerudo desert, where you will meet the chief’s daughter, Dohna. While you’re still in your secret identity, Chief Seera won’t call off her guards and allow you to close the rifts, despite her daughter’s protests.
Luckily, Dohna believes you, becomes your ally and vouches for you at every turn. From your point of view as Zelda, this gives you insight into Dohna’s wisdom and establishes her as a proud leader, which Seera eventually sees in her too making her growth come full circle.
1"Then We’re Agreed. And When You And I Work Together, We’re A Strong Tide That Lifts All!"
- Kushara
One of the major obstacles preventing you from closing the rift in Zora’s domain is the stubbornness between the two Zora leaders, Kushara and Dradd. Although their disagreements are petty, and their people are tired of it, their pride still gets in the way.
With your help, the two chiefs finally put aside their differences to help a child who is in danger, and you can breathe a sigh of relief about finally being close to closing the rift. In another twist, it’s also implied their relationship is potentially romantic, which makes their new dynamic that much sweeter.
This is the first Zelda game where river zora are non-enemies.
