Zelda Series Welcomes First Female Director: Echoes of Wisdom Interview

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom marks a pivotal moment, being the first Zelda game helmed by a female director. This article delves into the insights shared by Tomomi Sano and explores the game's development journey.

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – Developer Insights Unveiled

Meet Tomomi Sano, the Zelda Franchise's First Female Director

Renowned for its epic storytelling and intricate puzzle dungeons, the Legend of Zelda series welcomes a groundbreaking entry with Echoes of Wisdom. Nintendo's recent "Ask the Developer" interview highlighted two significant aspects: Princess Zelda's debut as the playable protagonist and Tomomi Sano's role as the series' first female director.

In her interview, Sano described her previous role as supporting director, contributing to Grezzo's remakes of Ocarina of Time 3D, Majora's Mask 3D, Link's Awakening, and Twilight Princess HD, along with experience on the Mario & Luigi series. She oversaw production, suggested refinements, and ensured Grezzo's gameplay aligned with Zelda's established style. Series producer Eiji Aonuma noted her consistent involvement in Grezzo's Zelda remake projects.

Image from Nintendo's Ask the Developer Vol. 13 Sano's two-decade career began in 1998 as a Stage Texture editor for Tekken 3. Her Nintendo credits span various titles, including Kururin Squash! and Mario Party 6, and several Mario sports games (Mario Tennis Open, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash, Mario Golf: World Tour).

Echoes of Wisdom's Genesis: A Zelda Dungeon Creator

Following the success of the 2019 Link's Awakening remake, Grezzo, the co-developers, were tasked with shaping the future of top-down Zelda gameplay. While initially considering another remake, they proposed a bolder concept: a Zelda dungeon creator.

Aonuma's request for their ideal next game yielded diverse proposals. The winning concept, while similar to the final product, differed significantly in its early stages. Two prototypes explored a "copy-paste" mechanic and a combined top-down/side-view perspective.

Grezzo's Satoshi Terada explained that one prototype allowed Link to copy and paste objects to create dungeons, termed "edit dungeon" due to its player-created gameplay.

Over a year was dedicated to this dungeon creation mechanic before Aonuma intervened, significantly altering the game's direction. While appreciating the initial ideas, he saw greater potential in using copied items as tools within pre-designed dungeons rather than for creation.

Sano illustrated this with the example of a Thwomp, explaining how its copy-paste functionality allowed for creative problem-solving in both top-down and side-view contexts.

Initial concerns about potential exploitation of the system led to restrictions, later deemed unnecessary and removed. This fostered "mischievous" gameplay, encouraging creative and unconventional solutions. Aonuma emphasized the desire for "out there" features, exemplified by the unpredictable yet integral spike rollers.

A document outlining the principles of "mischief" guided development, emphasizing freedom and unconventional problem-solving. Three key rules were established: "Paste anywhere, anytime," "Solve puzzles using absent elements," and "Ingenious solutions bordering on cheating should be fun."

This emphasis on freedom echoes the spirit of previous Zelda titles. Aonuma compared it to Breath of the Wild's Myahm Agana Shrine, where motion controls allowed bypassing obstacles. He stressed that unconventional solutions are crucial for enjoyable gameplay.

Launching September 26th on Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom presents an alternate timeline where Zelda rescues Hyrule amidst dimensional rifts. Further details on gameplay and story can be found in related articles.