How Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Was Made: A Look at the Hard Work

Making the game Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was hard work. The people who made it wanted to create new and fun things for players. They faced many problems but kept trying to make the game special.
By Newsroom | Video Games, Technology |

The creation of "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" involved significant creative effort and technical challenges. Developers focused on originality, building upon existing game worlds, and integrating new gameplay mechanics. The process, though demanding, aimed to deliver an innovative player experience.

The Challenge of Innovation

The development of "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" was marked by a strong emphasis on originality, a core tenet of Nintendo's game design philosophy. Developers aimed to build upon the foundation of its predecessor, "Breath of the Wild," while introducing novel elements that would engage players in new ways.

Zelda creators unpack the 'exercise in suffering' that inspired Tears of the Kingdom - 1

  • The game's directors, Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi, emphasized the importance of fresh ideas in their work.

  • A long-held ambition was to allow players to continue engaging with a game world even after completing it, a concept that began to form during the development of "Breath of the Wild's" downloadable content.

  • Developers explored various inspirations for new features, including real-world elements and experimental designs.

Sources of Inspiration and System Design

The creative process for "Tears of the Kingdom" drew from a range of influences, from existing game mechanics to ambitious artistic visions. The development team worked to build robust systems that would support these creative endeavors.

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  • The building feature, which allowed players to construct elaborate contraptions, was inspired by elements readily available within the development environment.

  • For the game's subterranean area, known as the Depths, the art team experimented with a "Cretaceous Period-like world with dinosaurs" before gameplay requirements informed the final artistic direction.

  • Early in the series' history, foundational design documents from Shigeru Miyamoto in 1985 contained core elements that have persisted throughout the franchise.

  • The development of "Link's Awakening" is noted as having a significant, though indirect, impact on later titles like "Ocarina of Time," suggesting a cumulative effect of development experiences.

Overcoming Technical Hurdles

Achieving seamless gameplay and integrating complex new features presented considerable technical challenges for the development team.

Zelda creators unpack the 'exercise in suffering' that inspired Tears of the Kingdom - 2

  • The programming required to enable seamless transitions within the game's environments was a significant undertaking.

  • The ambition to allow players to build and experiment with a wide array of creations demanded the creation of intricate underlying systems.

  • The director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, oversaw the entire development process, guiding the team through these complex challenges.

Developer Perspectives on Creation

Interviews with the game's creators reveal a dedication to pushing the boundaries of game design, even when faced with difficulties. The phrase "exercise in suffering" has been used to describe the demanding nature of game development, yet it is balanced by a sense of satisfaction when a game's quality is evident.

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  • Eiji Aonuma, a central figure in modern Zelda games, highlighted that their focus remains on originality, stating they would not reuse ideas from other games, such as "Elden Ring," despite fan speculation.

  • The team found inspiration for the game's building mechanics in what was "right in front of their eyes," suggesting an approach that valued practical application of ideas.

  • A positive development environment, described as informal and fun, contributed to the successful creation of titles like "Spirit Tracks," where the developers' enthusiasm was palpable.

  • The complementary working styles of Eiji Aonuma and Hidemaro Fujibayashi, one playful and the other more reserved, were instrumental in the series' progression.

Originality and Legacy

Nintendo's approach to game development, particularly within the Zelda series, balances a deep respect for its legacy with a relentless pursuit of innovation.

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Zelda creators unpack the 'exercise in suffering' that inspired Tears of the Kingdom - 3

  • The developers embraced new ideas while remaining mindful of the established "Zelda formula."

  • The act of reusing and adapting the game world from "Breath of the Wild" was a deliberate choice, allowing for familiarity while introducing new possibilities.

  • Nintendo actively encourages creativity, believing that fresh and innovative ideas are fundamental to their games.

Expert Analysis

Game development veterans have often described the process of creating large-scale titles as intensely challenging, a sentiment echoed by Nintendo's own creators. This difficulty, however, is often seen as a catalyst for groundbreaking achievements.

  • The development of "Spirit Tracks" was noted for its smooth and enjoyable process, leading to a well-received game. This suggests that developer well-being can directly impact the final product's quality.

  • The early design of "The Legend of Zelda" in 1985, meticulously planned by Miyamoto and Tezuka, laid a robust groundwork that has enabled the series' longevity and adaptability.

Conclusion

"The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom" is the result of a rigorous development process characterized by a deep commitment to originality and a willingness to tackle complex technical and creative challenges. The developers drew inspiration from diverse sources, experimented with new mechanics, and meticulously crafted the game world and its systems. While the journey involved significant effort, often described as demanding, the focus on innovation and the collaborative spirit within the development team ultimately yielded a critically acclaimed title. The game stands as a testament to Nintendo's enduring strategy of prioritizing fresh ideas within a respected franchise framework.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Was it hard to make Zeld
Tears of the Kingdom? A: Yes, the game makers said it was very hard work and they faced many problems.
Q: Where did the ideas for the game come from?
The ideas came from many places, like things they saw around them and old game plans.
Q: Did they copy ideas from other games?
No, the game makers said they always try to make new and original ideas for Zelda games.
Q: What was one of the hardest parts?
Making the game work smoothly and letting players build many different things was very difficult.