Summary
Despite its most noticeable broken traditions,The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdomis the first game in some time in the series to feature a fairy companion. Zelda’s companion inEchoes of Wisdom, Tri, is one of the heroine’s primary ways of pushing back the threat currently plaguing Hyrule, but they also turn out to be a close friend in the end.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Tri has been compared to other fairy companions in the series before, likeOcarina of Time’s NaviandTwilight Princess' Midna. However, despite Tri’s similarities to these companions, they might have even more in common with another of Link’s most memorable companions — Fi fromSkyward Sword.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Tri Is a Lot Like Skyward Sword’s Fi
Tri and Fi Have Similar Abilities and Comparable Purposes
Apart from their names rhyming and being nigh interchangeable, Tri and Fi have powerful abilities and a significant purpose that makes them very much like one another. Ultimately, Fi’s purpose inSkyward Sword, from her creation, is to assist the Chosen Hero (Link) in bringing an end to Demise, one ofThe Legend of Zelda’s overarching antagonists. Interestingly enough,Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Tri assists the titular princess in defeatingNull, a brand-new enemyintroduced to the franchise who also happens to be one of the series' overarching antagonists. However, Tri’s purpose extends beyond merely assisting Zelda and instead mending the rifts found throughout Hyrule to restore it to its former glory.
Both Tri and Fi have unique abilities in their games as well, though they both revolve around providing otherworldly assistance to the protagonist — Fi in her enhancement of Link’s Goddess Sword, and Tri in their ability to help Zelda create Echoes of objects and monsters she finds throughout Hyrule.
Tri and Fi Have a Similar Journey of Growth
One of the more significant similarities between Tri and Fi revolves around the development of their characters throughout their games. When Fi is first introduced inSkyward Sword, she is rather cold and calculating, lacking any emotional understanding of Link’s struggle and simply fulfilling her role as a tool provided to assist him. As the story progresses, Fi gradually becomes more human and less mechanical as she witnesses Link’s response to certain situations and begins gaining a deeper understanding of human behavior. By theend ofSkyward Sword, it is difficult for Fi to leave Link, as she has grown attached to him during their time together, thereby making her farewell one filled with genuine emotion.
Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Trigoes through a similar journey. When Tri is introduced early on inEchoes of Wisdom, they are focused more on being “useful” to Zelda than anything else, but their breakthrough truly takes place at the end of the game, just before they part ways with Zelda. Null has been defeated at this point and Hyrule is saved, but Zelda is still sad about something. At first, Tri doesn’t understand, but they quickly learn that Zelda is disappointed that she and Tri will not be together anymore.
One of the more significant similarities between Tri and Fi revolves around the development of their characters throughout their games.
Upon learning this, Tri begins to feel that same emotion and reflects on it. “Zelda, when I look at you, I feel all warm inside,” Tri affectionately says to Zelda, marking a departure from their initial mission-focused demeanor. With a heartfelt expression of gratitude, Tri leaves Zelda behind in a surprisingly tear-jerking moment, showing their emotional growth and likening their journey even more toFi’s inSkyward Sword.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’s Tri has often been compared to other series companions like Navi and Midna for their appearance alone, although comparisons have also been drawn between the fact that bothMidna and Triare introduced to Link and Zelda, respectively, in a prison cell. However, Tri is even more like Fi when considering the most substantial aspects of their character and purpose. The two are also related to one another in their partnership with their protagonists to defeat the series' two overarching antagonists, Demise and Null.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
WHERE TO PLAY
Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. you’re able to even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
