Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom features a map size that is eight times larger than that of Link's Awakening, providing players with an expansive environment to explore. For the first time in a mainline Zelda game, players can control Zelda herself, utilizing echoes to solve puzzles and battle enemies. Initially, producer Eiji Aonuma intended for the map to be only four times larger, emphasizing that this design choice ensures a distinctive experience that sets it apart from traditional open-world titles.

Key Insights into The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Development

Just before the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, development staff from Nintendo and Grezzo revealed that the game's map size is approximately eight times larger than the 2019 remake of Link's Awakening. Despite the vastness of the world, Nintendo aims to ensure that exploration does not feel overwhelming, thanks to a compact world design filled with secrets for players to uncover.

Echoes of Wisdom marks the first mainline Zelda game to allow players full control of Princess Zelda, developed in collaboration with Grezzo, which previously co-developed Link's Awakening and ported the N64 classics Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask to the 3DS. The art style from Link's Awakening has been retained in Echoes of Wisdom, a detail that has been noted by observant fans.

In a recent installment of Nintendo's Ask The Developer blog series, Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, along with game directors Satoshi Terada and Tomomi Sano, discussed the game's development. Terada explained that the aim was to create a rich content experience that captures a "Zelda-like feeling," which contributed to the decision to make the world map eight times larger than that of Link's Awakening. Aonuma also mentioned that the initial goal was for the map to be only four times bigger, highlighting the ambitious scope of the project.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Will Feature a Map Larger Than Link's Awakening

Map Size:The developers have announced that the map of Echoes of Wisdom will be eight times larger than that of Link's Awakening.

Compact Design:Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma stated that the game's compact design is intended to create a less intimidating experience for players, despite the larger world size.

Initial Plans:Aonuma revealed that Echoes of Wisdom was originally planned to be only four times bigger than Link's Awakening, not eight.

Launch Date:Echoes of Wisdom is set to launch worldwide on September 26.

Aonuma reassured hesitant players that the compact design of Echoes of Wisdom would make its world feel less intimidating and distinct from open-world titles like Tears of the Kingdom. The developers also highlighted the boss battles that players will encounter in the various dungeons of Echoes of Wisdom, as well as the abilities that Zelda and Tri will utilize throughout their journey. Sano mentioned that while abilities like Bind can be used to drop smaller enemies into a bottomless pit, some feats may prove to be more challenging to execute.