The Zelda timeline has always been a hotbed for discussions and theories among fans. With the latest addition, Echoes of Wisdom, Nintendo has added yet another layer to this already intricate tapestry.
Echoes of Wisdom finds its place in the ‘Hero is defeated’ timeline—an entry nestled between Tri Force Heroes and the decline of the Hyrule Kingdom. Here’s how Nintendo officially describes this new chapter in the saga:
In this latest adventure, Link embarks on a mission to save Princess Zelda from the clutches of Ganon. Following a gruelling battle, Link triumphs over Ganon, only to be consumed by a mysterious rift. It was as if he’d vanished into thin air. Meanwhile, across Hyrule, more of these ominous rifts appear, whisking away its inhabitants, sparing no one—not even the king and his trusted advisers have escaped this fate. Now, Princess Zelda must embark on a quest of her own to rescue her father, her people, and, of course, Link.
As Nintendo points out, this timeline originates from Ocarina of Time’s ‘lose’ scenario, when the Hero of Time is overpowered by Ganondorf. The other outcome, where ‘The Hero is Triumphant’, leads to separate timelines involving Link’s ‘child’ and ‘adult’ eras.
In the provided image, you can see that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom stand apart on this timeline map.
Previously, Nintendo mentioned that Zelda timelines influence the game development process only to a certain extent. In recent talks, producer Eiji Aonuma shed light on why gameplay often takes precedence over narrative in this acclaimed series.
What’s your take on these updates to the timeline? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
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