We almost had a The Legend of Zelda video game where players could create their own dungeons. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, launching later this week, allows players to obtain “echoes” of items and enemies to explore, fight, and solve puzzles. A recent Ask the Developer interview from Nintendo uncovered that this concept originated from the original “edit dungeon” idea for Echoes of Wisdom, as explained by Grezzo game director Satoshi Terada.
Although the game took a different direction by focusing on the echoes mechanic, I’m still excited to play Echoes of Wisdom. However, a part of me wishes we had gotten a The Legend of Zelda dungeon maker game. While it’s understandable that Echoes of Wisdom evolved, Nintendo should consider revisiting this concept in the future.
The Zelda dungeon-maker game we missed
During early development phases, the team explored a concept where “Link could copy and paste various objects, such as doors and candlesticks, to create original dungeons,” shared Terada. Nintendo director Tomomi Sano also elaborated that the concept involved copying objects during the adventure and using them to build dungeons in specific locations.
While Super Mario Maker 2 focuses on level creation, the “edit dungeon” concept in Echoes of Wisdom blends dungeon creation with the expected exploration in a 2D Zelda game. Producer Eiji Aonuma found the dungeon-creation aspect intriguing but was captivated by the possibility of placing items in the game field to fight enemies.
Nintendo’s knack for reinventing and refining game concepts resulted in a unique experience with Echoes of Wisdom. Although it can lead to disappointment when original ideas are discarded, it highlights Nintendo’s commitment to innovative game design.
Why we need a Zelda dungeon-maker game
Currently, the Chamber Dungeons in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening remake offer a limited glimpse into dungeon creation. Indie games like Super Dungeon Maker and Quest Master exist, but lack the polish of a first-party Nintendo game like Super Mario Maker 2.
Super Mario Maker 2 stands out for its user-friendly level creation and sharing features. Unlike other level creators, Super Mario Maker 2 offers an intuitive experience that appeals to players. A Zelda Maker game with a similar approachability, allowing players to create dungeons across different eras of 2D Zelda games, would be a fantastic addition.
The potential of a The Legend of Zelda dungeon-maker game is vast, evident from the excitement generated by the Nintendo interview. While Echoes of Wisdom offers a new Zelda experience, revisiting the “edit dungeon” concept someday could unlock another phenomenal idea.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launches for Nintendo Switch on September 26.
