Nintendo aims to continue working on innovative 2D entries like The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom
Nintendo has revealed that the successful launch of The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom has inspired them to continue expanding upon such innovative ideas within the 2D Zelda framework. Project and series producer Eiji Aonuma spoke about this and more in an exclusive interview with BBC, shedding some light on what the future may hold for the beloved series.
The 2D entries in Nintendo's beloved action-adventure franchise have been very experimental lately, so this may not come as a surprise to fans. Here are the full details.
The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom will pave the way for new 2D experiences in the franchise
Aonuma took center stage alongside key staff Tomomi Sano and Satoshi Terada from project studio Grezzo in the interview. The team was encouraged to share their views on how the newest 2D entry starring Princess Zelda turned out, to which they claimed that the studio was initially unsure if they could execute the idea well, and if it would be accepted favorably.
Although the solid reception to the game alleviated both Nintendo and Grezzo's fears, it indirectly lighted the way for more projects that will take the series in a new direction. In response to the positive reviews, Aonuma said:
"I think through this game we were able to satisfy a lot of players."
He continued:
"And so this game made me realise that there's still a lot of possibility for these top-down Zelda games as well."
Also Read: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom review
Despite the series shifting to 3D with the genre-defining 1998 classic The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Nintendo did not abandon its 2D roots. The Nintendo Switch continued this trend with the Grezzo remake of the Game Boy title The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
Additionally, there is also the rhythm game spin-off Cadence of Hyrule from the indie studio Brace Yourself Games which was also released for the Nintendo Switch in 2019. Both titles, albeit from third-party teams, deliver wholly on the Zelda fundamentals while introducing their own spin on it.
This proves that even non-Nintendo teams can be as creative as the Mario developers when it comes to it. As such, Aonuma promises that fans can assuredly expect more fresh 2D entries in the series in addition to "dynamic 3D" ones in the future. With the last mainline entry being the universally acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the future of the franchise is as bright as ever.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is available exclusively on Nintendo Switch.