Nintendo’s latest release, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, has been turning heads in the gaming industry despite not reaching the visual standards set by other AAA games on different consoles. The game has been praised as a technical marvel, with its unique physics-driven world offering endless possibilities for players.

During a recent panel at the Game Developers Conference (GDC), Nintendo developers delved into the challenges they faced in creating a world where players can glue things together in Tears of the Kingdom. The philosophy behind the game is centered around “multiplicative gameplay”, where actions and objects combine to create unexpected interactions.

Despite facing difficulties in development, the team pushed forward to create a completely physics-driven world with unique interactions. Early glitchy prototypes were shared, highlighting the team’s dedication to making everything in the game physics-driven to solve issues.

Unexpected discoveries were made throughout the development process, with developers finding joy in uncovering unintended solutions to puzzles. The game’s systems are designed to make spontaneous and fun things happen, including vehicles and complex sound interactions based on voxel technology.

The complexity of Tears of the Kingdom was only touched upon during the GDC panel, showcasing the depth of the game’s intricate design. The game’s success and innovation were further highlighted when it won IGN’s award for the Best Game of 2023.

For more insights on Zelda and Tears of the Kingdom, an interview with director Hidemaro Fujibayashi and series producer Eiji Aonuma is highly recommended. Stay tuned for more updates on this groundbreaking game on Insider Wales Sport.