We are just four days away from the arrival of a new The Legend of Zelda, and while we are not talking about a sequel to Tears of the Kingdom, the promising Echoes of Wisdom does not shy away from anyone or any comparison. The adventure starring Zelda is like a mini Tears of the Kingdom, but the truth is that Nintendo had a different type of game in mind: nothing less than a game similar to Super Mario Maker where we would create dungeons within The Legend of Zelda universe.
In a recent question and answer session, Nintendo revealed fascinating details about the development of their upcoming game The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. The game director, Tomomi Sano, who becomes the first woman to direct a Zelda title, along with developer Satoshi Terada from the company Grezzo and producer Eiji Aonuma, shared how the initial concept transformed into the game that will be released this week.
The initial idea behind Echoes of Wisdom was proposed by Grezzo, an external development team known for collaborating with Nintendo on other Zelda games. According to Aonuma, Grezzo was asked to present ideas for a new game in the franchise, and among the proposals stood out one that combined top-down and side-scrolling 2D view, along with the ability to “copy and paste” elements to create new dungeons in the style of Super Mario Maker levels. This concept evolved into the creation of a “dungeon customization and editing system,” where players could design their own challenges for others to play.
Eiji Aonuma believed that this project deserved more ambition
However, although the idea of creating custom dungeons was initially well received, Aonuma saw a greater potential in having Zelda as the protagonist and that miniature visual approach. During the testing process, he suggested that the copied and pasted elements be used not only to create dungeons but also as tools within the game itself to help the protagonist overcome challenges and defeat enemies. This new mechanic, called “Echo”, transformed the game concept, moving from being a dungeon editor to an adventure that uses these elements in the main gameplay.
Tomomi Sano explained that the initial development of Echoes of Wisdom focused on creating dungeons, but the evolution towards using “echoes” to progress in the adventure gave the game a new dimension. According to Sano, this change in direction took about a year to implement, and it was a crucial process to ensure that the original ideas fit well into the final gameplay. During this time, the team experimented with different ways to integrate the “echoes” into the game structure.
With the release of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom scheduled for September 26, fans of the series are eager to see how this innovative mechanic is implemented in the game. The collaboration between Nintendo and Grezzo promises to offer a fresh experience, while maintaining the essence of the Zelda series, and opening new possibilities for exploration and puzzle-solving, two of the most beloved pillars of the franchise.
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