Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Marks a Bittersweet First for the Series

Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom Marks a Bittersweet First for the Series

Key Takeaways

  • Miyamoto’s absence in Echoes of Wisdom credits marks a first for the Zelda series.
  • 338 developers contributed to Echoes of Wisdom, over half new to Zelda games.
  • Despite the missing credit, Miyamoto continues to work on the Zelda franchise, including a live-action film.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that the absence of Shigeru Miyamoto from the credits of “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” was quite a shock. Having grown up playing his masterpieces like “Donkey Kong,” “Super Mario Bros,” and the original “Zelda,” I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia whenever I see his name associated with a game.


The debut of “The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” was an unprecedented occasion, as Shigeru Miyamoto, a long-standing Nintendo executive, did not appear in the game’s credits for the first time in a Zelda title. This intriguing detail was posted on social media along with a tally of the numerous developers involved in creating “Echoes of Wisdom”.

Shoji Miyamoto, aged 71, joined Nintendo in 1977, not long after receiving a degree in industrial design. Back then, Nintendo dealt primarily in trinkets and playing cards instead of the video games they’re famous for now. Inspired by popular arcade games like Space Invaders, Miyamoto contributed significantly to Nintendo’s first major arcade game, Donkey Kong. The success of Donkey Kong marked the beginning of his career, leading him to work on various projects and eventually rise to become the General Manager of Nintendo’s Entertainment Analysis and Development (EAD) division. Despite being with Nintendo for a considerable time, Miyamoto shows no indication of retiring in the near future.

Although Miyamoto has been associated with numerous Nintendo games since the 1980s, it’s interesting to note that his name doesn’t appear in the credits of “Echoes of Wisdom.” Maxnichols, a user on Mastodon, shared a transcription suggesting this is the first time Miyamoto, who co-created the Zelda series in 1986, isn’t credited for a game. According to the transcription, Miyamoto had already started taking a step back from leadership roles as early as 2015, following Satoru Iwata’s passing and his brief co-presidency with Genyo Takeda. Later, Miyamoto was appointed as Nintendo’s “Creative Fellow,” while Tatsumi Kimishima became the company’s new president. The last two games credited to Miyamoto were “Tears of The Kingdom” and “Pikmin 4.” He served as the general producer for both titles.

Shigeru Miyamoto Is Not Credited in Echoes of Wisdom

  • Zelda series co-creator Shigeru Miyamoto is not in the credits for Echoes of Wisdom.
  • This is the first time Miyamoto’s name did not appear at the end of a Zelda game.
  • Miyamoto’s previous Zelda series contribution was 2023’s Tears of the Kingdom.
  • Miyamoto is producing the upcoming Zelda live-action film along with Sony Pictures.

Speaking of “Echoes of Wisdom”, it’s noted that 338 developers were accredited in the transcription, with over half being first-timers in a “Legend of Zelda” game. Despite Miyamoto not contributing to “Echoes of Wisdom”, his contributions to the franchise remain significant. Miyamoto’s next confirmed venture is a live-action movie adaptation of “The Legend of Zelda”, where he serves as a producer. This production is jointly undertaken by Nintendo and Sony Pictures, with no casting or release details available at present.

Although Miyamoto isn’t listed among the creators, the mechanics and characters in Echoes of Wisdom have struck a delightful balance for both long-time fans and newcomers. It remains unclear when Miyamoto will next present his projects to the public.

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2024-10-04 01:36