Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Art Director Says “Cretaceous Period-Like World With Dinosaurs” Inspired the Depths

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Art Director Says "Cretaceous Period-Like World With Dinosaurs" Inspired the Depths

As a gamer who has been captivated by the magical realm of Hyrule since the days of NES and the original Legend of Zelda, I find it absolutely fascinating to delve into the creative minds behind the latest masterpiece, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Satoru Takizawa’s vision for the Depths, inspired by classic sci-fi movies and dinosaurs, is a testament to the power of nostalgia in shaping the games we love.


In The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the world established in Breath of the Wild has been significantly enlarged. Developers added two new regions for players to discover – the skies above Hyrule and the depths beneath its surface. A newly published book, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works, shares insights about the creation and development of these new locales from Nintendo. In an interview within this book (translated from Japanese by Nintendo Everything), art director Satoru Takizawa reveals his initial ideas when he first learned about the concept for the Depths.

Younger Generation’s Perspective: When someone mentions “the underground world,” it often conjures up images of an old science fiction movie set on Earth, where beneath the surface lies a world reminiscent of the Cretaceous Period with dinosaurs or the legendary underworld. For my generation, this association feels quite natural (laughs).

In a fascinating exploration, I immersed myself in designing a realm reminiscent of the Cretaceous Era, teeming with towering flora and creatures roaming freely. However, I came to realize that the aesthetic of this game would adapt according to player interactions.

After establishing the gameplay mechanics for the ‘Depths’, Takizawa and his art team were able to start crafting the subterranean world within Hyrule. The decisions made regarding the Depths’ direction allowed them to maintain Takizawa’s original vision, even though it doesn’t feature dinosaurs. Instead, the completed Depths world aims to merge the concept of an ancient world with dinosaur-like elements, representing the underworld.

Takizawa didn’t specifically mention which film sparked that visual concept, but it might be reminiscent of “Journey to the Center of the Earth” or something similar in theme. Nonetheless, it’s intriguing to learn about the creative influences behind the release of “Tears of the Kingdom” on Nintendo Switch. With such high expectations following the acclaimed “Breath of the Wild”, it’s evident that a significant amount of thought and effort was invested in every aspect of the sequel. Given its positive reception, it’s obvious that all those hard work and considerations were worthwhile!

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2024-09-15 19:39