The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launched to critical acclaim and revitalized the classic Zelda formula with a handful of innovative tweaks. It ushered in a new wave of fans while entertaining those who longed for the days of traditional dungeons in a Zelda game. However, while there is so much to love about Echoes of Wisdom, there is one disappointing element behind it.

Of course, it's hard to deny that Echoes of Wisdom is a great game, as it was not only reviewed very strongly, but showcased the best of Nintendo's gameplay design, at least when more traditional Zelda games are concerned. However, while it's certainly a strong entry in the series, it feels like a weak send-off for the Switch itself, especially when the console's launch titles and first major releases are considered. While it's definitely worth the praise its getting, it's hard not to feel that the Switch deserved a better finale than Echoes of Wisdom.

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Doesn't Feel Like A Strong Send Off

It Doesn't Compare To The End Of The PS4

The Nintendo Switch launched with Breath of the Wild, a truly remarkable and revolutionary title that went on to influence open-world game design in practically every title, and lead to the wonderful Elden Ring. It also saw amazing titles such as Splatoon 2 and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, a sweeping 100-hour-long JRPG, launch within its first year. It was truly a great start to a console that would go on to see the rise of miracle ports, indie darlings, and a further innovation in the open-world format with Tears of the Kingdom.

So, it's disappointing that one of the final flagship titles of the Switch is Echoes of Wisdom, a strong but back-to-basics Zelda title that lacks the epic scope and scale of the Switch's early releases. This is especially true when compared to the PlayStation 4's final roster of first-party games, which included the extraordinarily well-reviewed Ghost of Tsushima and The Last of Us Part 2, not to mention the wonderful Dreams. Where those games felt like a final push to prove just how far the PlayStation 4 had come, Echoes of Wisdom, in some respects, feels like a step back.

It seems a tad disappointing that one of the final flagship titles of the Nintendo Switch is Echoes of Wisdom.

Of course, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is not the final first-party Nintendo Switch game, as players are also getting Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Pokémon Legends: Z-A. However, Mario & Luigi: Brothership similarly feels like a regression in many ways, revisiting an old series and updating it for a modern audience. Additionally, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a nebulous entity as no gameplay has been shown and Game Freak's track record with bad Pokémon games is getting greater.

Nintendo Returning To Basics For The End Of The Switch Feels Like A Mistake

It Should Have Gone Bolder With Its Final Games

Nintendo should have ended the Switch's life with a bang, releasing an experience comparable to Breath of the Wild rather than Link's Awakening. The console deserved one final push to prove just how mighty this tiny piece of hardware has been, a celebration of everything that made cramming all of open-world Hyrule or the Witcher 3 onto a tiny screen so amazing. It deserved something that simultaneously looked back on all the progress made and ushered in the new era of the Switch 2.

Of course, that's not to discredit the incredible work and ion that went into Echoes of Wisdom, nor to label it as an unworthy title. Additionally, that's not to say that there hasn't been a plethora of amazing games on the Nintendo Switch, nor that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond won't offer a next-gen - at least when the Switch is concerned - experience that fans have been craving for so long. After all, it looks like it could be the Nintendo Switch's answer to its competitor's first-person shooters, such as Halo.

The other first-party titles releasing in the Switch's final months are Super Mario Party Jamboree, the third Mario Party game on the Switch, and Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, a remaster of a classic Nintendo Wii game.

However, it is odd that Nintendo's final offerings for the Nintendo Switch, the console that launched with genre-defining video games, are more traditional and pared-back entries into old franchises. Despite the console starting on such a strong footing, its final first-party entries feel more reflective of Nintendo's recent philosophy when it comes to the Nintendo Switch, such as its constant ports of old games or HD remasters that cost a fortune. The Nintendo Switch will have left a lasting legacy, but its final scene will not be its best ed.

Echoes Of Wisdom Is Still A Great Example Of Why The Switch Is Amazing

It Continues Nintendo's Trend Of Innovative Gameplay

While The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom will likely not be ed as fondly as the record-shattering Breath of the Wild, it is still an incredible game that offers what is left of Nintendo's innovative spirit. It gave Zelda fans who didn't enjoy the open-world games a more traditional experience while finally giving Zelda herself the game she deserves. While it's not as bombastic or as breathtaking as some of Nintendo's earlier efforts, it is nonetheless a great game.

Perhaps that's what makes it such a disappointing finale, as it deserves to be as fondly ed as those more impressive titles, and had it been released alongside the console, or even mid-way through its journey, it may have stood a better chance. However, now it feels like a rude awakening that Breath of the Wild was released so long ago, and Nintendo's penchant for pushing the needle when it comes to innovative game design feels like it's coming to an end. Echoes of Wisdom, can, at times, make Breath of the Wild feel like lightning in a bottle.

Metroid, Pokémon, and Mario & Luigi fans will enjoy this last run of first-party Switch games before the Nintendo Switch 2 drops, but for those looking for that final spark - the kind that sent Zelda from being a recognizable brand to a system seller - these games just aren't enough. Of course, the Switch 2 could always launch with another industry-defining game that influences developers for years to come, but, if anything, that'll only serve to overshadow the Switch's final accomplishments. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is an amazing game, but as a last hurrah, it feels a little disappointing.

Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube