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

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom represents a pivotal moment in the franchise's history, marking the debut of a female director, Tomomi Sano. This article delves into Sano's journey and the game's unique development path.

Tomomi Sano: A Zelda Pioneer

Echoes of Wisdom is groundbreaking, not only for featuring Princess Zelda as the playable protagonist but also for being helmed by the series' first female director. Sano, in an interview with Nintendo, shared her experience, highlighting her previous contributions to Grezzo's Zelda remakes (Ocarina of Time 3D, Majora's Mask 3D, Link's Awakening, and Twilight Princess HD) and the Mario & Luigi series. Her role involved overseeing production, suggesting improvements, and ensuring the game's alignment with the Zelda franchise's established style. Series producer Eiji Aonuma emphasized her consistent involvement in Grezzo's Zelda remake projects. Sano's extensive career, spanning over two decades, also includes work on various Mario sports titles.

From Dungeon Maker to Epic Adventure

Aonuma revealed that Echoes of Wisdom's origins lie in a post-Link's Awakening initiative. Grezzo, leveraging their top-down Zelda expertise, initially proposed a Zelda dungeon creation tool. While the final product differs, this concept significantly shaped the game's development. Early prototypes explored "copy-and-paste" mechanics and a blend of top-down and side-view perspectives.

The project underwent a significant shift when Aonuma intervened, redirecting the focus. He envisioned the "copy-and-paste" feature as a gameplay enhancer rather than a pure dungeon creation tool. This led to innovative mechanics, allowing players to creatively utilize copied objects, as illustrated by the example of the Thwomp.

Initially concerned about potential exploits, the team ultimately embraced the freedom this system offered, encouraging "mischievous" gameplay. This philosophy, documented in a development guideline, emphasized unconventional solutions and creative problem-solving. The inclusion of elements like spike rollers, despite their unpredictable interactions, exemplifies this commitment to unconventional fun.

Aonuma drew parallels between this "mischievous" approach and the Myahm Agana Shrine in Breath of the Wild, highlighting the enjoyment derived from unconventional solutions.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launches September 26th on Nintendo Switch, presenting a unique Zelda adventure where Princess Zelda takes center stage in a Hyrule ravaged by rifts.