Summary

The upcomingThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdommay include a major piece ofZeldalore unaddressed inBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom. Promotional material released for the new game so far shows thatEchoes of Wisdomrevives some classic Zelda featuresalongside introducing several major new elements to the franchise. But while Zelda navigates a Hyrule torn apart by strange new rifts, she may also be bringing a core part of the franchise’s mythos back to the forefront.

Irrespective of preciselywhereEchoes of Wisdomfalls within thetimeline, it is clear that it is returning to a more classic aesthetic in some respects, considering various similarities toA Link to the Pastand especially theLink’s Awakeningremake. This includes moving away from the increasingly technological Hyrule ofTOTKto what is evidently a more purely magical setting, given the introduction of the Tri Rod as a core mechanic. This also includes a return to more traditional designs for Zelda, Link, and Ganon, even as the former steps firmly into the role of protagonist, but the overall aesthetic may run deeper still.

Link and Zelda from the upcoming game, Echoes of Wisdom.

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Release Date, Characters, & Gameplay Details

Here’s everything to know about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, an upcoming game that gives Zelda the starring role for a change of pace.

Tri Could Be An Actual Part Of The Triforce In Echoes Of Wisdom

The Artifact Has Shown Signs Of Sentience Before

Tri, Zelda’s new fairy companion, is clearly unlike any fairy seen before inThe Legend of Zelda. Their design holds no clear similarities to the humanoid and winged beings seen previously, instead almost resembling a star more than anything else. Tri is deeply connected to the Tri Rod they supply Zelda with, especially so given the matching names, but the implications of this naming convention do not end there. Instead,it seems very likely that both Tri and their gifted tool are connected in some way toThe Legend of Zelda’s Triforce.

Throughout the trailer forEchoes of Wisdom, Tri can be seen trailed by a varying number of small golden triangles. These appear to function as a form of energy for the Tri Rod, and can evidently be expended to create the titular Echoes. Of course, golden triangles have a very specific connotation inThe Legend of Zelda, and combined with the name “Tri,” this association with the Triforce is clearly deliberate. As such, the fact that Tri is specifically described as“mysterious”could be alluding to a hidden connection to the divine artifact.

Princess Zelda meets Tri in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom​​​​​.

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Although the full extent of Tri’s relationship with the Triforce is obviously unclear, perhaps the most interesting possibility is that they are in some way representative of it.Tri could even be an animate Triforcein truth, or at least part of it. This would not be the first time that seemingly-inanimate objects are revealed to be alive inZelda; Fi being the spirit of the Master Sword is an excellent example of this. Moreover, the Triforce transporting Link to Holodrum and Labrynna in theOraclegames has previously suggested it actually has some kind of guiding intelligence.

A collage of Link and Zelda from a variety of Legend of Zelda games.

Oracle of AgesandOracle of Seasonsbegin with the Triforce speaking to Link, saying"Accept our quest, hero!“This implies that each portion of the Triforce is alive, which is further supported by a Linked Game ending that shows each portion transforming into a bird.

Tri’s Known Features Strongly Parallel The Triforce Of Wisdom

Divine Magic & A Shattered Triforce

The fact that Tri partners with Zelda could also point to their true identity in a more subtle way, especially in the context supplied by the title “Echoes of Wisdom.“As Zelda is traditionally associated with the Triforce of Wisdom, Tri could be an entity tied to that particular portion of the full Triforce, which, considering the game’s aesthetic, has a good chance of explicitly being in Zelda’s possession. If the Tri Rod’s power is rooted in the Triforce of Wisdom, then Zelda using it to create “Echoes of Wisdom” would therefore take on a much more literal meaning.

Tri being either an incarnation or otherwise representative of the Triforce of Wisdom specifically would also tie back into the history of Zelda’s portion of the Triforce.The Triforce of Wisdom specifically has been broken into smaller shards on multiple occasionsas a precaution to keep it safe from Ganon, including in the originalThe Legend of Zelda.These smaller shards could then be the true nature of the triangles which the Tri Rod uses as a power source; fragments of a divine Relic being used to create both objects and living beings under Zelda’s control.

Artwork of the Triforce in the Sacred Realm from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

This could in turn be a clue to a major part ofEchoes of Wisdom’s plot. It seems obvious that Zelda will be working to both rescue Link and end the threat to her kingdom by closing the rifts and restoring what they have swallowed up. The wish-granting Triforce would naturally be a perfect way to achieve at least one of these goals. However, if it has been at least partially shattered again, then this could explain how Tri’s available power changes throughout the trailer; a result of Zelda finding some of the missing pieces of the Triforce.

A Living Triforce In Echoes Of Wisdom Could Have A Huge Impact On Wider Zelda Lore

Return Of The Golden Goddesses

Making the Triforce a core factor in the plot ofEchoes of Wisdomwould be a perfect way to reintroduce it to the seriesafter it has been practically irrelevant for several years. AlthoughBOTWandTOTKboth make visual references to the Triforce, neither title acknowledges it by name, or even discusses such an object as a point of interest. However, a reinvention of the classicZeldaera obviously invites such details to become relevant once again, which in turn could lead to an exploration of otherforgotten parts ofThe Legend of Zelda’s lore.

While recent titles have demonstrated the Goddess Hylia’s influence on Hyrule’s culture, the impact of the Golden Goddesses themselves seems to have been left by the wayside. IfEchoes of Wisdomfocuses on the Triforce, the ultimate symbol of these creator deities, then it follows thatplayers may at long last receive further wolrdbuilding focused on Din, Nayru and Farore in turn. Moreover, even with minimal new information on the trio of goddesses, the introduction of Tri as a spirit of the Triforce would still have a fascinating impact on the wider understanding of the franchise.

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If the Triforce is a living entity, or even a trio of living entities as theOraclegames suggest, then Tri could be bringing this relatively obscure detail to the forefront of the nextZeldatitle, which would more than make up forBOTWandTOTK’s omission. Given how the Triforce has been treated in past games, and the Triforce of Wisdom in particular,it is intriguing how well Tri fits the theory of them being a living aspect of the Triforce. As such,Echoes of Wisdomcould easily have massive revelations for this crucial part of the franchise’s lore.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Strange rifts are tearing Hyrule apart, and with Link missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save the kingdom. Armed with the Tri Rod and aided by a mysterious fairy, she must solve puzzles, create environmental “echoes,” and battle enemies while navigating new regions and uncovering hidden secrets.