standalone Echoes of Wisdom has switched things around – Link is no longer the main character, but Zelda is.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the first game in the franchise to have Zelda as the main focus of the adventure. When Link goes missing after a mysterious force takes him away, Zelda is left to save him and the rest of the kingdom. This change in the main character is quite a bold move, with almost four decades of focusing on Link. But Nintendo has a very funny reason for Link being put to the side – his sword.

Link’s Sword Being "Too Big" Was An Issue While Making Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom

Developers Were Concerned Echoes Wouldn't Be Used

In Nintendo’s Ask the Developer series, producer Eiji Aonuma discusses the fact that Link’s sword really got in the way of gameplay. Aonuma states, “We were initially thinking that Link would be the protagonist. But when we focused on the gameplay using echoes and had Link copying and pasting things into the game field, the sword and shield got in the way.”

He goes on to elaborate on how the developers wanted players to play with echoes, and figured this would be abandoned once they got access to the sword and shield, Link’s typical main armaments. It was then they had the idea to have Zelda be the main character, so that players could use echoes and the focal copy and paste gaming style.

Zelda's quintessential 2D hack-and-slash gameplay partially remains in Echoes of Wisdom through the Princess' temporary Swordfighter Form.

It also was the perfect avenue to give Zelda the main focus in a game. Throughout the years, players have frequently requested a game with Zelda as the protagonist, making Echoes of Wisdom the Zelda game many have been waiting for. Aonuma goes on to say how he always wanted to do the character justice and give her a game that allows her to shine, stating:

“When asked this question, I've always thought, 'Of course, as long as it makes sense for the game and does justice to her as a character to be the protagonist,' and answered that way. I had been trying in vain to figure out what would really do justice to her. But when I saw the team struggling to identify the ideal protagonist for this game, I thought, this is exactly the game for her!”

By creating a game that is quintessentially built for her, it allows the character to really shine. Developers even went out of their way to give her an appropriate but authentic outfit, giving her a hood that mirrors Link’s and his strength after going on so many adventures.

Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Has First Female Director In Franchise History

Tomomi Sano Helmed Multiple Zelda Remake Projects

Zelda being the main character is not the only change to The Legend of Zelda, as this game also features the series' first female director. Tamomi Sano was selected as director for Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, but has been involved with the franchise for a long time. When discussing her previous roles in another iteration of Nintendo's As the Developer series, Sano elaborated on her extensive involvement in the universe:

“Prior to this project, my main role was to the director. As for the remakes that Grezzo worked on, I was involved in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. I was also involved in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD.”

Aonuma stated that Sano is a very in-demand presence for “any game Grezzo works on.” Sano’s involvement in the first Zelda-focused game is no small feat and is a wonderful shake up to the franchise. Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom may not feature Link as the main character, but it gives players a whole new way to play and a character to focus on. Zelda finally has a game that shows off her strengths and was designed for her to flourish. With a new director, new main character, and new fighting style, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom certainly is bringing new life and energy into an already successful franchise.

Sources: Nintendo (1, 2), Nintendo of America/YouTube