With Sony dominating the gaming headlines over the past couple of weeks – PS5 Pro reveal, the 30th Anniversary Collection and State of Play – its’ easy to forget that one of Nintendo’s biggest new games of 2024 is about to launch exclusively for the Switch. Shining the spotlight on Princess Zelda instead of Link, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has a September 26 release date. While there’s no official launch time, the Nintendo support page suggests that fans may have to wait until 2pm UK time in order to start playing. “Content will usually be available at 14:00 GMT on the day of release,” reads a Nintendo support post. Daily Express has contacted Nintendo for clarification, and will update this article with any official announcement regarding the release time.
Pre-order customers can pre-load the game early, although with a file size in the single digits, downloading shouldn’t take too long if you do decide to wait until launch.
If you’re on the fence about the game and not sure whether it’s for you, then the good news is that early reviews have been largely positive.
Critics seem to like the game’s new Echo ability, which lets Zelda make copies of various items and enemies. The dungeon design, creative puzzle solutions, and beautiful overworld are also singled out for praise.
However, some reviewers have criticised the game’s performance, as well as Zelda’s limited ability to engage in traditional combat.
The performance issue is interesting, because the similar looking Link’s Awakening also suffered from frame drops in the overworld.
In the few hours I’ve played so far, I can confirm that the frame-rate does drop at times, although it’s not as regular or severe as Link’s Awakening.
Likewise, switching between echoes can be a little clumsy and time consuming, occasionally disrupting the game’s momentum.
Despite a few issues, Echoes of Wisdom is miles better than Princess Peach Showtime, which is another recently released Switch game where you get to play as the female support character.
Available from the Nintendo eShop for £49.99, Echoes of Wisdom tasks players with saving Hyrule from mysterious rifts that are swallowing residents.
With Link falling victim to one of these dark rifts, Zelda teams up with a fairy named Tri, who gives the Princess a magical Rod that can create copies of items and enemies.
Players can use these Echoes to overcome obstacles, bypass enemies and even defeat monsters.
You can create makeshift bridges using the Echoes of old beds, distract enemies by conjuring up rocks and throwing them in the opposite direction, or call on bats to destroy any monsters that might be in your way.
