The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom - Who Is Null?

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom introduces a new antagonist, Null, adding depth to the franchise's rich lore. While Ganondorf is often the face of evil in the series, other significant villains have emerged since the game's inception in 1987, including Demise from Skyward Sword, Vaati from The Minish Cap, and Zant from Twilight Princess.

In Echoes of Wisdom, players encounter Null primarily in the latter half of the narrative. During this segment, Zelda journeys through the Faron Wetlands and Eldin Volcano to address various rifts disrupting the land. Notably, Null does not make an appearance until after Zelda confronts and defeats Ganon, revealing its identity as the true antagonist. Despite its late introduction, Null's significance is woven into the fabric of the Zelda timeline, suggesting its impact transcends that of typical foes.

Understanding Null in Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Null shares a key trait with Demise, positioning itself as an overarching antagonist within the Zelda universe. In some ways, Null's role surpasses even that of Ganon, given that it embodies a threat to the entire series rather than just a singular installment. Unlike Ganon, who is featured predominantly across the games, Null's narrative begins long before the events of The Legend of Zelda, extending back even prior to Skyward Sword, the series' previously established chronological starting point.

The Origin of Null: Born from the Void

After clearing one of the game's regions, the goddess Nayru reveals the origins of Null to Zelda. Initially, before the world was formed, only an infinite void existed. From this emptiness, life began to emerge, only to be consumed by the entity lurking in the void—Null. Driven by a desire to possess the entire world, Null indiscriminately devoured all life. To counter this threat, the three goddesses created the heavens and the lands in an effort to contain Null's insatiable hunger.

However, Null persisted, generating rifts throughout Hyrule in a relentless attempt to reclaim it into the void. In response, the goddesses devised Tris, an entity endowed with the power to close these rifts. This narrative leads to the introduction of Tri, Zelda's companion, who provides her with the Tri Rod at the beginning of Echoes of Wisdom. This unique weapon allows Zelda to create echoes of various objects and creatures found across Hyrule.

As the story unfolds, Zelda and Tri work diligently to eliminate the rifts plaguing Hyrule and rescue those captured by Null's dark influence.

A New Perspective on Hyrule's Creation

One of the most intriguing aspects of Echoes of Wisdom is the suggestion that Hyrule was not merely created as a home for its inhabitants but rather as a prison for Null. This revelation significantly alters key elements of the Zelda lore that fans have come to know over the years, enriching the narrative with greater complexity. It remains to be seen whether future titles will acknowledge Null as a prominent antagonist in the series or if it will reemerge in subsequent stories.