'Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom' Features Interview with Franchise's First Female Director

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom ushers in a new era for the franchise, marking the debut of its first female director, Tomomi Sano. This article delves into Sano's journey and the game's unique development process.

Tomomi Sano: A Zelda Pioneer

Echoes of Wisdom is a landmark title, not only for featuring Princess Zelda as the playable protagonist but also for having a female director at its helm. Director Tomomi Sano, in an interview with Nintendo, shared her experience. Before assuming the directorial role, she significantly contributed to Grezzo's Zelda remakes (Ocarina of Time 3D, Majora's Mask 3D, Link's Awakening, Twilight Princess HD) and the Mario & Luigi series, focusing on production management, suggesting improvements, and ensuring gameplay alignment with the Zelda franchise's established style. Series producer Eiji Aonuma highlighted Sano's consistent involvement in Grezzo's Zelda remake projects. With a career spanning over two decades, starting with Tekken 3 in 1998, Sano's contributions extend to various Nintendo titles, including Mario sports games.

From Dungeon Maker to Epic Adventure

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. Initially envisioned as another remake, Grezzo proposed a bold alternative: a Zelda dungeon maker. Aonuma's inquiry about their ideal next project yielded several proposals, with the winning concept eventually evolving into Echoes of Wisdom. Early prototypes explored a "copy-and-paste" mechanic and a dual perspective (top-down and side-view).

Grezzo invested over a year in developing the dungeon creation mechanic. However, Aonuma's intervention, a "tea table upset," dramatically altered the game's direction. While appreciating the initial ideas, Aonuma saw greater potential in using copied items as tools within pre-designed dungeons rather than for player-created ones. Sano illustrated this with the example of a Thwomp, an enemy from Link's Awakening, adaptable to both top-down and side-view perspectives.

Initially, concerns arose about potential exploitation of the "copy-and-paste" system. However, the team ultimately removed these restrictions, embracing a philosophy of "mischief" – encouraging creative and unconventional gameplay. This principle guided the inclusion of elements like spike rollers, despite their unpredictable interactions. A document outlining the "mischief" guidelines emphasized freedom and ingenuity in puzzle-solving.

This emphasis on creative freedom echoes the spirit of previous Zelda titles, exemplified by the Myahm Agana Shrine in Breath of the Wild. Aonuma stressed that unconventional solutions, like bypassing obstacles, are vital for a fun and engaging experience.

Launching on September 26th for Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom presents an alternate timeline where Zelda embarks on a rescue mission amidst Hyrule's rifts.