When considering what is more important in a video game, often the biggest clash is between the gameplay and the story. While some prefer a thrilling narrative regardless of anything else, others would rather have a mediocre story if it meant incredibly engaging mechanics to utilize. Of course, these two considerations aren’t mutually exclusive, but it raises a big question for game developers in regards to which should be the priority. While many settle on a story-first approach, those at Nintendo often do the opposite.
In an interview for The Washington Post, Eiji Aonuma, the producer of The Legend of Zelda series, offered some insight on how the development of Zelda games typically goes. He mentioned that the story is used as a “vessel” within which the gameplay is created from beginning to end. Afterwards, the story can be molded around it to help the player understand the experience better and provide context. Aonuma stated that this offers the team more creative freedom when developing gameplay concepts, allowing them to not be constrained by pre-defined rules set by the narrative that could otherwise stifle creative ideas.
This unique approach shines a light into what makes Nintendo games so unique compared to the gaming industry at large. Whether or not this approach is preferable is up to personal opinion of course, but it’s easy to see how Nintendo manages to always push the limits of creativity thanks to this methodology. Besides, the stories are typically quite good even when written in this way; Zelda games in particular are quite well-known for being compelling and deep in a way that enamores the fans around them.
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Written by Abbie Maxwell
Lifelong Nintendo fangirl, Abbie holds a special place in her heart for video games. She has always strived to provide tips and tricks to make the experiences of those who share her passions that much better.
