Zelda "Super Mario Maker" Won’t Be in the Works Anytime Soon

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not just another chapter in the rich tapestry of Hyrule's lore. This sequel to the critically acclaimed Breath of the Wild has pushed the envelope of player freedom and creativity to new heights. The game introduces a revolutionary set of powers, allowing players to construct an array of machines, weapons, and tools by utilizing the in-game world's resources. This leap in gameplay mechanics has not only elevated the player's experience but has also fostered a spirit of boundless creativity.

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The Tears of the Kingdom Community's Ingenious Creations

Image: Full Adder (1 Bit Calculator) in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | c7fab's (YouTube Channel)

Nintendo's bold move to enhance the sandbox elements of the game has been met with an enthusiastic response from fans. Since the release of Tears of the Kingdom, players have taken to social media to share their awe-inspiring creations. From makeshift cars to working calculators, the game's emphasis on creative freedom has sparked a new wave of fan-made innovations.

Nintendo's Vision: Creativity within Limits

In a recent interview with Polygon, Zelda producer, Eiji Aonuma, and game director, Hidemaro Fujibayashi, shed light on the balance they strive to maintain in their games. Aonuma emphasized that while Nintendo encourages creativity, it's not a mandatory aspect of gameplay:

When we’re creating games like Tears of the Kingdom, I think it’s important that we don’t make creativity a requirement. Instead, we put things into the game that encourage people to be creative, and give them the opportunity to be creative, without forcing them to,

Comparing with Super Mario Maker

Super Mario Maker and its sequel are shining examples of games built around player creativity. These titles allow players to design Mario levels from scratch, leading to a diverse range of user-generated content that caters to all playstyles, from ultra-difficult challenges to levels that pay tribute to other games. This player-driven creativity has been a cornerstone of the Super Mario Maker series.

When questioned about the possibility of a "Zelda Maker" game, akin to Super Mario Maker, Aonuma provided an insightful response:

There are people who want the ability to create from scratch, but that’s not everyone,

I think everyone delights in the discovery of finding your own way through a game, and that is something we tried to make sure was included in Tears of the Kingdom; there isn’t one right way to play. If you are a creative person, you have the ability to go down that path. But that’s not what you have to do; you’re also able to proceed to the game in many other different ways. And so I don’t think that it would be a good fit for The Legend of Zelda to necessarily require people to build things from scratch and force them to be creative.

Will Zelda Follow in Mario's Footsteps?

Given Aonuma's perspective, it appears unlikely that a Zelda game solely focused on player-created levels and dungeons will materialize. While the team may incorporate more creative elements in future games, these would likely be part of a broader gameplay experience, offering multiple paths and styles of play. For those yearning for a Zelda-centric building experience, exploring other titles that offer similar creative freedom might be the best course of action.

[Source]