Zelda: Echoes of Darkness

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Darkness is an action adventure game for the Nintendo Switch. It was developed and released by Nintendo in 2023. The game features the Wind Waker art style. The game is the direct sequel to the 2009 DS game Spirit Tracks, and is about Link and Zelda taking back Hyrule from the rule of the Camanim Empire. 
== Gameplay ==
Alongside the traditional 3D Zelda gameplay, there is a new mechanic brought in: the ability to play as Zelda. While Link can use items and his sword, Zelda can use magic, which are considered her own “items.” Alongside traditional combat in the over world, the duo can encounter “Shadow Wisps”, which force the two in combat in an enclosed space. These forced battles award the Duo with Goddess Wisps, which, if enough are collected, can increase the attributes of Link or Zelda, such as attack, defense, and magic consumption.
The entire world is dungeon-like, similar to Skyward Sword’s overworld, alongside the normal temples and dungeons. Unlike Ss, the game is less linear, the areas are more open, and a day-night cycle is implemented, which can change the areas somewhat.
Link can also use an instrument, a panflute called the Echo Pipes. Link and Zelda can learn songs that can teleport the two, affect the environment, solve puzzles, and whatnot. 
== Plot ==
Echoes of Darkness takes place after Spirit Tracks, in the Adult timeline.
After a short after Spirit Tracks’ events occurred, an unknown evil swept across Hyrule. This evil hypnotized anyone who listens to its song. Link and Zelda, due to their companionship, teamed up to take on this unknown evil, but ultimately failed. In the end, the two were petrified into two different crystals. In their absence, Hyrule was overrun by the evil’s forces, and became part of the power-hungry Camanim Empire. After Hyrule was taken over, Link and Zelda’s prison crystals were found and taken to the island kingdom of Aufshor. A group of people there, the Echorors, who used use magic with mere instruments and songs, kept the crystals in safekeeping. They tried many ways of breaking prisons and freeing the two, but to no avail. Their only option was to wait. And the events of the game begins, 12 years after Hyrule was stolen from the two.
=== Prologue ===
An Echoror, named Epoah runs into the room where a massive prison crystal is. She says that it has been too long that the “songs of evil” of been echoing around the world. She grabs her panflute, and plays a magic song to finally open the crystal. After playing it, it shatters with Link falling out of it. Epoah walks up to him and helps him get up. She asks Link to follow her. Link follows and is guided to the room where Zelda is. Playing the panflute, Epoah opens Zelda’s crystal, freeing her. The two have finally awakened, and are told of what has transpired. Epoah says that Hyrule is now under the control of the Camanim Empire. They only managed to win over the two because of the songs of darkness, which can corrupt the weak hearted. Before she can explain more though, a mysterious chorus is heard through the halls. Then, dark energy comes through the door, pulling Epoah into it. Before she is pulled though, she throws Link the panflute, and tells the two to head to the tallest tower and play the Song of Purity. She then closes the door, buying the two some time to escape. Link and Zelda escape through the window and go through the castle rafters. Link and Zelda refresh on their abilities: Link’s weaponry and items, and Zelda’s magic. For now, Link only has the flute and a sword he found, while Zelda has a floating magic orb as a weapon. The rafters were actually intended to be used as training course for the two, and were left with lots of helpful information by the Echorors. At the top of the tallest tower, Link is taught the Song of Purity by a sign. Playing the flute, the song echoes across the island-Kingdom of Aufshor. The vile dark clouds have disappeared, allowing Link and Zelda to go down and investigate.
=== Welcome to Aufshor ===
Link and Zelda descend from the tower and into the kingdom. The two find Epoah again. But this time, she is unconscious, but not dead. They two leave her and go see the town. However, everyone there is behaving strangely. Everyone in the town is standing upright, but their eyes are grey. They mumbling to themselves. After examining them, Zelda wonders what is the matter. Then, they hear what sounds like a woman singing. The two follow the source of it, and see an idol of some kind, portraying an unknown being. Zelda examines it, and her sacred powers react. Her powers cause the idol to be destroyed, and the singing to stop. The darkness in the area disappears. Everyone is back to normal. As the two try to return to village, but they are stopped by a strange being called a Shadow Wisp. After it touches them, a barrier surrounds them, and bokoblins appear. Using what they have, Link and Zelda slay the monsters. They are then given some Goddess Wisps. After returning to the town, everyone is alright, Epoah included. Epoah explains the what happened was that the Song of Darkness came down and corrupted the town, in an attempt to make them worship a being of great power. This being is the god of the Camanim Empire, a kingdom that took over a lot of them with force. In order to take back Hyrule, they will need to reach it first. Epoah then opens a portal to another land, the first stop on the duo’s journey for reclamation. 
=== Forests of Waud ===
Category:Fan Games
Category:Games
Category:The Legend of Zelda (series)
Category:The Legend of Zelda Games
Category:Action Games
Category:Adventure Games
Category:Action Adventure Games
Category:Nintendo Games
Category:Nintendo Switch Games
Category:2023
Category:Sequels