Summary

• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's release date is in September, and there is much speculation as to where it falls on the timeline.
• Ganon's role as the villain is uncertain, as the trailer shows Link defeating him before vanishing into a rift.
• Calamity Ganon may be Demise, and Echoes of Wisdom could reveal the true nature of the villain.

Nintendo recently unveiled The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom at their June 2024 Direct, a game that many had no idea was even in the works. With a release date set for September of this year, it's amazing that the historic company was able to keep the game under wraps in an era where leaks are as common as day-one patches. While the presentation did an excellent job of explaining the game’s backstory and how the titular Princess Zelda will be traversing the lands of Hyrule, there is still so much yet to learn about the anticipated adventure title.

There was much to unpack with same timeline as A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds. What’s also up in the air is who will be the game's central villain.

Ganon May Not Be The Villain In Echoes Of Wisdom

Link Is Shown Defeating Ganon Before Vanishing Into The Rift

At the beginning of the trailer, it shows Link defeating Ganon, freeing Princess Zelda in the process with his bow. Just after slaying Ganon, a strange rift opens in the floor, swallowing up Link and setting up Zelda for her own solo adventure. This may imply that Ganon is not the ultimate antagonist in EoW. Of course, Ganon has resurrected countless times, and it's very possible he could still be the game’s bad guy. Yet, to show his defeat so plainly seems to imply that something else is afoot.

Few installments have been as impactful to Zelda canon as Breath of the Wild.

As the Zelda series entered its “Era of The Wilds” in Breath of the Wild, it introduced Calamity Ganon, a swirling cloud of malice and destruction. Many believed this swirly cloud of hatred was the spiritual manifestation of Ganon’s evil. That said, a compelling alternative theory has long been making the rounds that Calamity Ganon is not really Ganon at all but the demonic force known as Demise. Demise was introduced in 2011’s The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. When defeated, he curses Link and Zelda, promising to resurrect again and again through the ages as a plague on Hyrule.

The Real Villain May Be One Seen Before

Calamity Ganon Could Actually Be Demise

Many of those familiar with Zelda lore understandably assumed that Ganon/Ganondorf were the manifestations of this cyclical evil. Ganondorf even shares Demise’s fiery red hair, which many consider an obvious clue linking the two characters. However, a growing number of believes that Calamity Ganon may actually be a spectral manifestation of Demise’s consciousness. A flashback in BOTW shows the Master Sword in a damaged state as Link enters the Sleep of Restoration. Demise was sealed away in the Master Sword at the end of Skyward Sword, and it may be that Demise escaped when the Master Sword was damaged.

If such a theory turns out to be true, it may be in Echoes of Wisdom where we learn the true nature of the destructive force known as Calamity Ganon. It is also very possible that an entirely new villain will be introduced, as the Zelda series has done so many times. It would certainly be refreshing to see Zelda combat Ganon on her own, but introducing a new villain that could potentially be Zelda’s own personal nemesis is an intriguing idea. As the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom nears, much of it remains a mystery.