Nintendo ADR (OTC:NTDOY) has settled one of the longest-running debates among The Legend of Zelda fans by confirming where Echoes of Wisdom fits in the franchise's intricate timeline.

This game, which puts Princess Zelda in the lead role, takes place in the "Hero is Defeated" timeline — a path created when Link fails to defeat Ganon in Ocarina of Time.

The events of Echoes of Wisdom are set after 2015's Tri Force Heroes and before the original The Legend of Zelda on the NES. Nintendo has labeled this era the "Decline of Hyrule Kingdom," marking a dark period that ultimately leads to the kingdom's first major adventure.

Here's the official synopsis of the game:

"The hero Link sets out to rescue Princess Zelda, who was captured by Ganon. Following a fierce battle, Link defeats Ganon, only to be swallowed up by an eerie rift. It was as if he'd been stolen away... All across Hyrule, more mysterious rifts are forming and taking the people of Hyrule away. Nobody is safe — not even the king himself and his advisers, who have also gone missing. Princess Zelda must set out on an adventure to save her father — the king of Hyrule — the people, and Link."

Untangling The Timeline

In the "Hero is Defeated" branch, the timeline concludes with The Adventure of Link (1987), the sequel to the original Zelda. The "Hero is Triumphant" path, on the other hand, splits into two separate arcs: the "child era," continuing with Majora's Mask, and the "adult era," which leads to The Wind Waker.

While some fans find joy in unraveling the timeline's complexities, series producer Eiji Aonuma has a more relaxed perspective. Speaking to IGN, he said that putting too much thought into the timeline could restrict the creative process. To Aonuma and his team, Zelda games are about innovation and fresh ideas, with the timeline serving as more of a guide than a rulebook.

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