A Polygon video feature explores the surprisingly long history of games in which players have been able to control Princess Zelda, ahead of the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. That title is notable for being the first mainline Zelda game to let players control the princess herself rather than series hero Link, but the piece argues this is far from the character's first playable appearance. Presenter Clayton Ashley traces her various playable roles across Nintendo's history, highlighting how the franchise has long sidelined her despite her being its namesake.

The video runs through several examples predating Echoes of Wisdom, including the notorious Philips CD-i Zelda games from the 1990s and her playable inclusion in the Super Smash Bros. fighting game series. By tracing this history, the piece contextualises Echoes of Wisdom's significance while showing that Nintendo had previously found other, often lower-profile, avenues for making Zelda playable outside the mainline series.