The latest entry, Echoes of Wisdom, offers a wondrous overworld for our new protagonist, the titular Zelda herself, to explore. One of the most enjoyable aspects of a good Zelda game is discovering optional dungeons, which makes you feel like a true adventurer, taking on unexpected challenges. Deep in Hyrule’s hinterlands lies an abandoned dungeon lost to time and enshrouded in a foggy mystery: the Eastern Temple.
Spoiler Warning:
The rest of this article may contain spoilers for Echoes of Wisdom about the story, gameplay mechanics, and other details that you might not wish to see. Continue reading at your own risk.
This mini-dungeon is northeast of Hyrule Castle–if you’ve reached either of the Zora domains, you’ve gone too far. The dungeon is guarded by various sub-species of Moblins, and despite their numbers, a brave archeologist named Sago has made it to the entrance; however, his courage falters when faced with the monster inside. Now, it’s Zelda’s turn to prove that you don’t need the Triforce of Courage to face Hyrule’s darkest corners.
The Eastern Temple combines combat with puzzle-solving. The dungeon is crawling with Sparks–lightning fast, electric, spherical enemies. These creatures are tricky to face, but bombs or Sea Urchins should do the trick. In this dungeon though, defeating them doesn’t always yield the rewards you’re looking for. The key to progressing is the yellow boxes you’ll find in different rooms. You’ll need to guide each Spark into the box to unlock the way forward. Sparks move along in fixed patterns along the walls it is attached to. This is where the new Binding mechanic comes into play; by manipulating the objects in the room, you can create new walls for the Sparks to follow and redirect their path. Learning to maneuver the Sparks can be challenging at first but bring no shortage of fun.
The dungeon culminates in an epic boss fight with Smog, a one-eyed storm cloud who is eager to play a deadly game with Zelda. Smog moves just like the Sparks, but he’s larger and capable of long-ranged eclectic attacks. After taking enough damage, he splits into three mini-Smogs which are invulnerable to attacks. To defeat him, you must use the same maneuvering tactics you’ve learned throughout the dungeon to make the clouds collide, reuniting Smog into a single form and making him vulnerable once more. Upon his defeat, you’re rewarded with a Piece of Heart and an ancient charm that boosts Zelda’s defense–not that you’ll need it, of course!
The Eastern Temple masterfully blends of combat, creativity, and puzzle-solving, demonstrating the level of depth and innovation that this amazing entry has to offer. Zelda’s journey through this dungeon reminds the player that courage isn’t always tied to destiny–it’s in the heart of every true adventurer who is willing to take on the unknown.
