Click on to read what Miyamoto has to say about his latest work, The Legend of Zelda GC.
Nintendo’s latest demo DVD in Japan features a clip of Miyamoto-san’s commentary on The Legend of Zelda (GC). PGC brings you the highlights translated below:
What is The Legend of Zelda?
The first game in the series was made about 15, 16 years ago. It takes
place in a fantasy world. It is the story of a small kid around the age of
ten going on an adventure fighting enemies. I really wanted to make a
series where players themselves are going on an adventure using their heads,
and using the controller to control the character’s body.
Character Design
When we showed the game last summer, there was a lot of controversy around
the world regarding Link’s cartoon-like face. In Ocarina of Time for N64,
Link was a cool and handsome man. There were a lot of opinions last year.
As we entered this year with people able to try the game out, people who
initially disapproved of the new look, especially Europe, received the game
well. When you are able to touch the game, you feel happy. When you are
able to touch the game, and make the animation move, it is an amazing thing
that lets the players have fun.
In Ocarina of Time, it was the same. We had the same theme of making images
that you can touch. When you can touch the animation that you usually
watch, it’s really amazing. I designed the game, but until it was
made, I did not see the game. After it was done, I tried it, and I was
really happy. I could touch the animation.
Even Beginners Can Enjoy
Anyhow, the theme is making a game where you have fun once you start playing
it. Of course, clearing the game itself is fun, but the fact that just by
playing you can have fun is also very important. Mario is the same. When
you start to play, you have fun. Zelda is also the same. Not only do you
have fun when you play, you also get a sense of adventure. I can guarantee
it.
The controls in Zelda are quite easy. However, you can do a lot of
complicated stuff, which is supported by many systems. Like the auto jump
system. Like pressing a button and having Link face the enemy
automatically. In the industry, many of the basics of action games are
pretty much provided by our Zelda games. We think that even players that
don’t play games on a regular basis will have fun. If they try once, maybe
they will get hooked on videogames for like ten years or so.
Connectivity
We are always thinking of ways to create something extra by connecting the
GC and GBA in our games. In Zelda it is also the same. It is not just
watching from the side. By receiving maps and giving the player hints,
another person can also participate. With the GBA connected, we want
sisters sitting by their brothers to give them advice, and perhaps even
trouble them. Please try the game by connecting your GBA.
Message
This May at the E3, we unveiled the game and let people play it. We were
still in the process of bringing new ideas in the game. Everyone is
anticipating this title. We will launch the series first in Japan this
Christmas. Video games are one of the few media that originate from Japan
and get dispatched across the world. The customers in Japan also have the
merit of playing the games first. Zelda will be released this year in
Japan.
