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: Pioneering a New Era in Zelda
Echoes of Wisdom is groundbreaking, not only for featuring Princess Zelda as the playable protagonist but also for being helmed by the first female director in the Zelda series. 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, Twilight Princess HD) and the Mario & Luigi series. Her role involved overseeing production, suggesting improvements, and ensuring the game's alignment with the established Zelda style. Series producer Eiji Aonuma noted her consistent involvement in Grezzo's Zelda remake projects. Sano's extensive career, beginning in 1998 with Tekken 3, spans over two decades and includes work on various Nintendo titles.
From Dungeon Maker to Epic Adventure
Aonuma revealed that Echoes of Wisdom's genesis followed the 2019 Link's Awakening remake. Grezzo, leveraging their top-down Zelda expertise, initially proposed a new remake. However, they presented a more ambitious concept: a Zelda dungeon maker. Several prototypes emerged, including one with a "copy-and-paste" mechanic and another blending top-down and side-view perspectives.
Grezzo spent over a year developing the dungeon creation mechanic. However, Aonuma intervened, significantly altering the game's direction. While appreciating the initial ideas, he envisioned greater potential if copied items served as tools within pre-designed adventures, rather than for complete dungeon creation.
Sano explained how this shifted the focus, citing the example of using a Thwomp enemy from Link's Awakening in both top-down and side-view contexts. Initial concerns about potential exploits were eventually dismissed, leading to a more playful and creative approach. The team embraced "mischief," defining it with three core principles: freedom of placement, puzzle solutions using unconventional items, and ingenious uses of game mechanics.
Aonuma compared this "mischief" to the Myahm Agana Shrine in Breath of the Wild, emphasizing the fun of unconventional solutions. The removal of restrictions resulted in elements like unpredictable spike rollers, deemed crucial to the experience.
Echoes of Wisdom, launching September 26th on Nintendo Switch, presents an alternate timeline where Zelda rescues Hyrule from rifts tearing across the land.
