Aonuma:
After much consideration, we decided that the game’s setting would revolve around large, mysterious rifts appearing in Hyrule. We needed something that would compel a princess to take action, portraying a world in danger.
A princess holds the responsibility of her country’s well-being. Therefore, the motivation to fight came from the idea of Hyrule being threatened and transformed.
Sano:
Once the decision was made to incorporate rifts into the game’s setting, the challenge was in the design aspect. The rifts lead to the Still World, a mysterious place where swallowed entities disappear. This unexplored realm presented a unique visual challenge for our team.
The concept of a cracked ground leading to a void world seemed simple in theory. However, translating this concept into visuals raised numerous questions for the designers at Grezzo. They had to consider details like the expansion of the rifts, their depth, and the transition between the game field and the void world.
Aonuma:
Balancing the sense of imminent danger with a protagonist who isn’t traditionally a fighter made the creation process quite challenging. We strived to convey the looming threat hovering over Hyrule without resorting to overly gruesome visuals.
Sano:
One of the major challenges was portraying the scene where the king gets swallowed by a rift, serving as Princess Zelda’s main driving force to embark on her journey.
Terada:
While establishing the initial world setting proved to be difficult, we also pondered over Link’s role in the game and how the gameplay mechanics would incorporate echoes. We had to maintain the essence of The Legend of Zelda series while exploring new storytelling avenues.
Aonuma:
Maintaining the legacy of The Legend of Zelda while introducing fresh elements was a delicate balancing act. We had to carefully consider how much to evolve the lore and history of Hyrule in a way that stayed true to the series.
Terada:
The extensive history and lore of the series posed a challenge when introducing new plot elements. We had to ensure that our decisions resonated with the established fan base while pushing the boundaries of storytelling.
Aonuma:
With this new title, we aimed to offer a different perspective by focusing on Princess Zelda’s individual quest, deviating from the traditional narrative structure of the series. This shift allowed us to explore new storytelling possibilities and create a fresh experience for players.