Is The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom an Open-World Game

We’ve seen some open-world The Legend of Zelda games before, with Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom coming to mind, but Echoes of Wisdom is a little different. While yes, it is possible to explore pretty much all of Hyrule once you reach a certain point, there is a certain path you need to follow.

So is The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom an open-world game?

For about the first two to three hours, depending on how much time you spend exploring the initial areas, you’re forced down a pretty linear path in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. This involves the opening with Link, Zelda escaping the crumbling ruin, her returning to Hyrule Castle and escaping its dungeons, and getting to the Suthorn region. Once you complete the Suthorn Ruins in the Still World and fix your first rift with Tri, things really open up! 

At this point, two campaign quests open up, and you get to choose which one to pursue. You can head to Gerudo Desert or Jabul Waters. There’s a rift dungeon in each region to complete, then repair. If you try to visit other areas, you’ll find them peaceful and in no immediate danger. I suggest going to Gerudo Desert, which features enemies a little less strong around it, then Jabul Waters after.

However, I found this is sort of fun! To do this kind of unplanned exploring, you need to go to the Suthorn Prarie area that is just north of Suthorn Village. Just follow the path out of Suthorn Forest that is repaired after fixing the Suthorn Ruins rift. When you do, you’ll happen upon a monster called a Crawltula. It will be on some of the broken columns, and it will run down to attack you when you get close. Defeating it to get its echo allows you to spawn one near trees or cliffs, use the reverse bind technique, and then “ride” along as it scales that area. Doing so allows you to reach regions that you don’t need to go to yet. 

Here’s a screenshot I took showing exactly where you’ll find it on the map, as well as its journal entry so you know what you’re dealing with when you get one.

There are three things I think you need to know if you do try this trick to fill out The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom map and take advantage of the game’s open-world elements. The first is that you will still get to take sidequests from those locations! Which is fun for getting resources. It makes completing certain missions, such as the one from the Smoothie Shop to make 10 different recipes, easier.

The second is that you can encounter some unique dialogue! The Deku Scrub NPCs in Faron Wetlands, for example, will talk about how peaceful it is and they hope it stays that way forever. (Oh, those sweet summer children.) The third is that, because you technically aren’t supposed to be there yet, you’re probably going to encounter enemies that you will be harder than you’re used to! I found I could still beat them. However, if you do defeat one and learn how to make that echo, odds are you can’t summon it yet. Tri’s level and power limitations will prevent it! 

To continue with my Faron Wetlands example, I went there immediately after Suthorn Forest. Tri was at level two, which meant the summoning power reserves were four. I defeated an Electric Wizzrobe using a pair of Tektites. The Electric Wizzrobe requires five power to summon. So that meant no summoning that echo for a while!

So yes, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is an open-world game in that after the introductory area you could go anywhere. However, the way campaign quests work, you need to complete certain missions before additional story tasks pop up. 

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is available for the Nintendo Switch.