TechGamingNintendo’s new 5-star game makes an even stronger case for Switch 2 releaseZelda Echoes of Wisdom is a brilliant game – but it’d be even better on Switch 2 hardwareWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechGamingNintendo’s new 5-star game makes an even stronger case for Switch 2 releaseZelda Echoes of Wisdom is a brilliant game – but it’d be even better on Switch 2 hardwareWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Zelda Echoes of Wisdom is a brilliant game – but it’d be even better on Switch 2 hardware
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
(Image credit: Nintendo)
It’s been a while since I’ve felt the urge to fire up myNintendo Switch. This last week, however,Zelda: Echoes of the Kingdomdropped through my letterbox – I’d half forgottenI’d pre-ordered the latest Zelda title– and slowly but surely I’ve become obsessed with Nintendo’s latest game.
For me,Echoes of the Kingdomis yet another 5-star Nintendo first-party title – despite a significant conflict of reviews (including a harsh 3/5 fromThe Guardian). I wouldn’t say the same about its previous Zelda title, though, asTears of the Kingdomwas a flop in my view – its fiddly build mechanics disrupted the flow of gameplay to such an extent I abandoned that Zelda title (a first-ever for me!).
What I love aboutZelda: Echoes of the Kingdomis that it leverages Nintendo nostalgia, with a clear link to the Switch remake of SNES classicA Link to the Pastin the updatedLink’s Awakening. However, just like thatLinkremake, there’s a problem withEchoes– the current Switch hardware just isn’t good enough to maintain a stable frame-rate and I find it positively jarring at times.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom â Launch Trailer â Nintendo Switch - YouTubeWatch On
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom â Launch Trailer â Nintendo Switch - YouTube
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom â Launch Trailer â Nintendo Switch - YouTube
Despite possessing one ofthe best OLED TVsat the moment (aPhilips OLED 909is setup) and ensuring it’s in Game Mode with all the smoothing and motion andVRR settingsactivated and maximised, there’s no escaping that Nintendo just really hasn’t optimisedEchoes of Wisdom. And it shows just how aged the Switch hardware is – to struggle with this fairly simplistic-looking isometric game’s graphical demand.
Which brings me to my main point:Echoes of Wisdomepitomises the reason why Nintendo needs tolaunch the Switch 2 imminently. Furthermore, though, it reinforces the idea thatNintendo really needs to maintain backwards compatibilitybetween original and second-gen Switch hardware – as I’m sure the Japanese gaming company will sell yet more titles as a result (I know of people already holding off on buyingEchoes, for example, in wait for a new hardware reveal).
However, it does make me wonder, has Nintendo been benchmarkingEchoes' performance on newer hardware? The lack of optimisation on current Switch models seems somewhat baffling to me.Eurogamer didn’t hesitate to call out the gamefor performance issues either, which I fully agree with.
Because, at the heart of it,Echoes of Wisdomis such a deeply thoughtful and complex game. It requires a lot of thought, but with a full palette of capabilities to navigate through the world – as you can create ‘echoes’ of objects/enemies that accumulate to a massive 127 options all-in – it’s the most exciting Zelda game since the Switch’s launch in my view.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Ultimately a 5-star game such as this deserves 5-star hardware. And that’s my argument for why the Switch 2 should have backwards compatibility too. I justhope Nintendo doesn’t make the same marketing mistakewhen the hardware is finally official. Which I really hope is for the holiday period this year, not March 2025 as now rumoured…
Today’s best Nintendo Switch OLED deals$249.99View$329.99View$349.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nintendo Switch OLED deals$249.99View$329.99View$349.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Nintendo Switch OLED deals
$249.99View$329.99View$349.99View
$249.99View
$249.99View
$249.99View
$249.99
$249.99
$329.99View
$329.99View
$329.99View
$329.99
$329.99
$349.99View
$349.99View
$349.99View
$349.99
$349.99
Show More Deals
Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Sky Stream gets a great new trick that unlocks long hidden potentialA Sky Stream puck update gives you a host of new channels
A Sky Stream puck update gives you a host of new channels
If you ever needed proof that cassette players are back, this is itWe Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean
We Are Rewind has made a portable tape deck so retro it should appear from nowhere in a DeLorean
