Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom's Interview With Series' First Female Director

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom – A Groundbreaking Entry

The Legend of Zelda franchise welcomes a significant milestone with Echoes of Wisdom, the first game helmed by a female director, Tomomi Sano. This Nintendo Ask the Developer interview unveils fascinating insights into the game's development and its unique position within the Zelda timeline.

Echoes of Wisdom is doubly historic: it features Princess Zelda as the playable protagonist and boasts the series' first female director. Sano, previously a support director contributing to Grezzo's Zelda remakes (including Ocarina of Time 3D, Majora's Mask 3D, Link's Awakening, and Twilight Princess HD), along with work on the Mario & Luigi series, now leads this innovative title. Her role involved overseeing production, suggesting refinements, and ensuring the game's alignment with Zelda's established identity. Series producer Eiji Aonuma highlights her consistent involvement in Grezzo's Zelda remake projects.

Sano's extensive career, dating back to 1998, includes contributions to various Nintendo franchises, showcasing her versatility and experience.

From Dungeon Maker to Full-Fledged Adventure

Aonuma reveals that Echoes of Wisdom's origins lie in a post-Link's Awakening (2019) initiative. Grezzo, tasked with exploring future directions for top-down Zelda gameplay, initially proposed a Zelda dungeon creation tool. While the final product differs, this initial concept significantly shaped the game's design. Early prototypes explored "copy-and-paste" mechanics and a combined top-down/side-view perspective similar to Link's Awakening.

Grezzo spent over a year on the dungeon creation mechanic before Aonuma's intervention led to a significant shift in direction. He envisioned the copy-and-paste feature as a tool for puzzle-solving within pre-designed dungeons, rather than player-created ones. This pivot unlocked new gameplay possibilities.

The team embraced "mischief" as a core design principle, encouraging creative and unexpected solutions. This led to elements like unpredictable spike rollers, initially a source of concern regarding potential exploits, but ultimately deemed crucial to the game's unique charm. A documented definition of "mischief" guided development, emphasizing player freedom and unconventional gameplay.

Aonuma draws parallels between this "mischief" and Breath of the Wild's Myahm Agana Shrine, highlighting the enjoyment derived from unconventional solutions.

Launching September 26th on Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom presents a unique alternate timeline where Zelda embarks on a rescue mission amidst a Hyrule ravaged by rifts.