Today’s Nintendo Direct had plenty of surprises in store, but the highlight was undoubtedly the reveal of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. For the first time in its over 35 year lifespan, fans will play a game in which Princess Zelda, whom the series is named after, is the main protagonist.

Anyone that has tried explaining the Legend of Zelda to others that haven’t played the game are bound to have been met with befuddlement and confusion around the main protagonist being called Link – NOT Zelda. However, the latest game will remove a lot of this confusion, as players will finally be taking control of the princess in this 2D remake.

The reveal for this shocking twist was also executed perfectly within the direct itself, as the trailer started off with the typical format of Link heroically saving the princess from a demonic Ganon. At first, the focus on Link, as well as the familiar artstyle from the Link’s Awakening remake, led me to believe this would be another re-imagining of one of the heroes previous adventures. But after vanquishing his formidable foe, Link is swept away by a strange rift – not before managing to release the princess from capture that is.

With Link and many others across Hyrule in danger, Zelda must journey across the land to save the kingdom from this mysterious force. She’s not alone, as a fairy named Tri will aid her with magical powers, allowing the princess to conjure up items that will help her along the treacherous journey.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is set to release on September 26th 2024, alongside a limited ‘Hyrule Edition’ Nintendo Switch Lite console.

That being said, this was not the only exciting game announced within this year’s June Direct. Despite the launch of the next Nintendo console not too far away, this presentation still included plenty of first-party titles, most of which are set to release later in the year.

Nintendo started the show with a brand new Mario and Luigi game. Titled ‘Brothership’, this iteration of the beloved RPG series will see the brothers explore Shipshape Island, stumbling across plenty of trouble along the way.

Another Mario title unveiled at the show was a brand new Mario Party game: Super Mario Party Jamboree. After the original Super Mario Party disappointed, and Mario Party Superstars provided a hint of nostalgia that left long-time fans wanting more, this next iteration seems to have learnt a lot of lessons from the other party games already on the Switch. This version is set to provide exciting new maps full of fresh ideas, original minigames, as well as finally introduce online multiplayer into the mix.

Nintendo closed the Direct with a glimpse of the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4, which is set to arrive in 2025. Whilst I’m yet to play a Metroid Prime game, my experience with Metroid Dread makes this entry a must-play when it releases. This was one of the few games not to receive a specific release date, which suggests Metroid Prime 4 could be a day one release for the next console.

Other notable announcements include a remaster of Donkey Kong Country Returns, as well as a 2D-HD remake of the original Dragon Quest trilogy.