EoW's villain redemption should set a precedent

Key conclusions

  • Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom features Princess Zelda as the main character for the first time, setting it apart from other Zelda games.
  • The game redeems the river Zoros by portraying them as friendly, marking a significant departure from their usual antagonistic role.
  • Echoes of Wisdom's depiction of the River Zoros should set a precedent for future Zelda games to explore a friendlier interaction with the species.



No matter how many similarities it has with the rest of the series, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is one of the most distinctive Zelda titles ever made as it takes elements of the franchise's past and future and combines them into a hybrid game that is more than worth a try for newcomers and veterans alike. With the titular Princess Zelda as the main character for the first time in the main line Zelda the game Echo of Wisdom stands out among other contributions. However, while this may be the biggest change, it is far from the only one.

One of the most unique elements Zelda: Echoes of WisdomHyrule is a way of incorporating the Zoros River into its story. Nobody but longtime fans The Legend of Zelda can understand how important it is for the Zoros River to be represented as they are Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomas it's unlike anything the series has done in its nearly 40-year lifespan. All this requires Zelda: Echoes of WisdomThe depiction of the Zoros River has since become a canonical event for the franchise, and each subsequent installment has taken note and followed suit.


Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom has finally redeemed the River Zoros

The Zoros Rivers have always been antagonists in The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of ZeldaRiver Zoras has been around since the beginning of the series in 1987 with the release The Legend of Zelda for NES. Raka Zoros has since returned in numerous installments, despite being left out of some of the franchise's better-known entries, such as Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Major's Maskand Wind alarm clock. What sets them apart from the friendly Sea Zoras, who probably became even more famous than the River Zoras after release Ocarina of timeis that they were largely antagonistic throughout The Legend of Zelda series.


The River Zoros started out as one of the main enemies Link faced The Legend of Zelda in 1987 and have continued in this role ever since, although their behavior has changed over the decades. Zelda: A Link to the Past saw the Rivers of Zoras play their most significant role since the first game, with the Zoro King assisting Link by giving him a pair of flippers that allow him to warp with Whirlpools. Despite this, the rest of Hyrule's Zoros River remained antagonistic to Link.

Other friendly Zoros rivers have occasionally appeared in other parts, e.g
Link Awakening
and
Adventures on four swords
but their worlds are still filled with the enemies of the Dawn River.


Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's Redemption of the River Zoras should set a precedent

While The Legend of Zelda used to paint the river Zoros as villains, Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom redeems the river Zoros, making it a friendly subspecies of Zoras in his world. Instead of showing the river Zoros attacking Zelda, Echo of WisdomIn the story, Zoros of the River and Zoros of the Sea mend their longstanding feud when they realize they must work together if they hope to survive the looming threat of the Silent World trying to swallow Hyrule whole. It's the first series in nearly 40 years, but it probably won't be the last.

From this point on, it would be interesting to see the river Zoras and the sea Zoras portrayed in the same light as two subspecies of Zoras in Hyrule that are kind to the main character and will help them with whatever they need. This could have given more opportunities to delve into Zora's river lore than the series has in the past as they have a different role. I hope Zeldathe future takes note Echo of Wisdomapproach and commemorates the redemption of the river Zoros as a canonical event.

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