Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom: Should You Go To The Gerudo Desert Or Jabul Waters First?

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The opening section of is fairly linear, but it doesn't take long for Zelda to be presented with a significant branching path. After Zelda makes her way to Suthorn Village and takes care of some business there, the main quest offers a choice between venturing into the Gerudo Desert to the west or heading northeast to Jabul Waters. While the 50/50 isn't as overwhelming as the complete directional freedom offered in and, there's not a lot of information to help make the choice.

Since both avenues are presented as equal options, it might be easy to assume that there's no real benefit to choosing one over the other, and it's true that won't actively punish Zelda for either path. Even so, the perks that each route offers aren't the same, and the order ultimately affects the gameplay experience despite leaving the basic story unchanged. It's fine to pick on a whim, but for those considering the decision carefully, one option ultimately emerges as the more attractive path overall.

Although the Gerudo Desert is often a location that shows up later in games, places the arid zone almost directly to the left of Suthorn Village. In the absence of any other factors, this is already a strong enough reason to prioritize it. While Jabul Waters isn't too far up the road to the northeast, it's still a longer walk, and clearing out an area near the bottom of the map first just makes sense.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom combines the freedom of recent titles with the structure of classic games, and it's absolutely worth playing.

Gerudo Desert also makes for a good starting area in terms of content. It's not a massive commitment, as the quest line there doesn't get too tangled, and the challenges found in the desert aren't particularly intense. Most overworld threats can be easily avoided in the largely open expanse, and puzzling through the primary dungeon should be a breeze for veterans.

Buying the Gerudo Sandals prevents Zelda from sinking in quicksand, which isn't relevant