Breath of the Wild's most notorious shrine exploit was key for Echoes of Wisdom, series producer says: "If this kind of solution isn't allowed, then it's not fun"

GamesActionThe Legend of ZeldaThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomBreath of the Wild’s most notorious shrine exploit was key for Echoes of Wisdom, series producer says: “If this kind of solution isn’t allowed, then it’s not fun"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

GamesActionThe Legend of ZeldaThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomBreath of the Wild’s most notorious shrine exploit was key for Echoes of Wisdom, series producer says: “If this kind of solution isn’t allowed, then it’s not fun"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Zelda in The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

As it turns out, one of Breath of the Wild’s most famous shrines was a crucial reference when designingThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Sometimes breaking a puzzle can be more fun than completing it the intended way, and Legend of Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma agrees.

“It’s like finding a secret trick in the game, just like the old days… If this kind of solution isn’t allowed, then it’s not fun,” he says. “We talked about how the player can kind of ‘cheat’ in many places. I’m always really happy when I manage to solve something in an unexpected way, doing something where I’m not sure if it’s even OK to do it like that. I guess it ties in with the idea of ‘being mischievous.'”

“Being mischievous” was so important to Echoes of Wisdom that the mentality received its own in-house style guide with three design rules on player freedom. Echoes director Tomomi Sano also agrees that creating a playground for players to experiment with is part of the charm, saying “it almost feels like cheating should be part of what makes this game fun.” Echoes of Wisdom has seemingly taken this philosophy to heart in the way players can mix and match the titular Echoes, which Zelda can copy and paste throughout the world.

Zelda has repeatedly shown that creating a world where the systems remain consistent but can be manipulated and exploited will open the doors for players to find entirely new ways to engage with the game, like aspeedrunner completing Breath of the Wild 50 times in a single day, or aplayer who completed every shrine without using Runes.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom releases September 26 for the Nintendo Switch.

You can check out ourpreview of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and how it prepares us for a world after Tears of the Kingdom

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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

Nemesis board game models and tokens laid out on a board

1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

1

Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

2

Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

3

Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

4

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

5

Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths”

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

Shadow brandishes a gun in Sonic The Hedgehog 3

1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

1

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

2

Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

3

Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

4

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

5

Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

Squid Game season 2

1Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

1

Squid Game season 2 review: “Secures its place as one of the best shows on television right now”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

2

Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

3

Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

4

Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

5

Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”

Contents