“On my business card, I’m a corporate president. In my mind, I’m a game developer. But in my heart, I’m a gamer.”
Satoru Iwata He embodied the spirit of Nintendo like very few others and made what we know today as Nintendo magic simple and tangible. That unique or omnipresent touch since the turn of the millennium in practically every game that bears that highly recognizable seal of quality. What differentiates Nintendo games from others. And despite the fact that for years he presided over the house of Mario, Link and Pikachu, his character and his closeness to the players they ended up making a difference.
Satoru Iwata He left us in July 2015. Two years before the release of the Switch, and by extension Zelda: Breath of the Wild. And while he couldn’t see the success of both, much of his passion and philosophy is reflected in both the console and Nintendo’s work. In many respects, moreover, it was present in a very special way at its launch: through the best tribute ever made in a The Legend of Zelda game.
A mysterious Guardian Spirit for the inhabitants of Hyrule
There are tributes, winks and cameos throughout the saga of The Legend of Zelda from the original installment for the NES. According to the Japanese manual, the Hands down It is a kind of distant cousin of the Piranha Plant from the Super Mario Bros. saga. Licenses that could be afforded at a time when players did not take the background so seriously, of course. Gradually, these references have appeared very discreetly in each installment to the delight of the fans. By way of surprise.
Without going any further, in Link’s Awakening there are lots of homages to other Nintendo sagas, including a Mario-style platform setting or a curious appearance by Kirby. Breath of the Wild
Iwata’s case goes further. It could not be less. To start, to the west of the Center of Hyrule we find Mount Satoly, a very curious natural elevation of the land. maybe the name Satoly may not seem very special, but both in English (Satori) as in Japanese (サトリ山, which is read Satori San) already leave a curious indication and a truly essential clue.
Finding it is relatively easy, since it is only a little further north of the Shrine of Moratt, which is very easy to locate if we position ourselves just halfway, drawing a straight line between Hyrule Castle and the Gerudo Mountain Range, and the truth is that it is a perfect place to get lost: there is a huge variety of resources that normally They do not appear in this type of biomes and the views are really privileged.
In fact, it is even possible to find a small lake that is very pleasing to the eye, which is accessed through a natural footbridge formed by the fork in the mountain itself and which, moreover, is guarded by a tree whose roots are possible to find buried a chest. One of the many places with a special charm in Hyrule.
And yet, what is truly symbolic is not the place. It is not Mount Satoly itself, but the origin of it. The Hylians named the area after a guardian spirit that, according to legend, appears on certain nights: the Lord of the Mountainwhose name is precisely Satoly (or Satori) in direct reference to mole(u) I(wata). Being, in addition, the great guardian spirit of the game itself and of all the adventurers of Hyrule.
Who is the Lord of the Mountain
Mount Satoly (or Satori) is a mysterious place in itself. It’s not as high as the mountains that surround it, so most of the time it goes relatively unnoticed, but even that has a reason for being, too: from time to time, a conspicuous flash emerges from its pillar-like top. light inviting players to put their adventures on hold and dare to see what is happening.
In fact, only when this light appears, a mysterious event occurs: the spirit of the Lord of the Mountain, a majestic four-eyed artiodactyl being, with luminous skin, very distinctive glowing markings scattered across its skin, and highly recognizable antlers. He appears drinking at the spring surrounded by fairies and small rupinejos.
A unique species in all of Hyrule and that, despite its more than remarkable shyness, can be ridden by Link. Now though it disappears when dismounted and cannot be checked into any of the stables.
if we go to the hylian encyclopedia of the game itself, or references from the official game books, he is considered to be the reincarnation of a sage who died in the lands he protects. Also, he is always very attentive to everything and rarely allows anyone to see him.
The description of the majestic is a tribute in itself to the figure of Satoru Iwata. In fact, if we talk to other inhabitants of Hyrule we will hear a couple of stories in which the Lord of the Mountain shows that determined and special character. That there are so many delicious and rare fruits to be found in the area, perhaps it is because your friends from Nintendo affectionately nicknamed him Kirby for his way of destroying all the candies and sweets in his path.
But to what extent was Iwata involved in the development of Breath of the Wild? A lot. To the point where, with the game already released, Hidemaro Fujibayashi recalled in an interview for the New Yorkerhow much at Nintendo the creators of the game noticed his absence during the final bars.
When he passed away, there were times when we came up with an idea that we would be excited to discuss with Iwata. Then we remembered that he was no longer here.
Miyamoto told me that the same thing happened to him. Ideas would come to him over the weekend and he would suddenly feel that illusion again to discuss it with Iwata the following Monday, but then he would realize reality. The sadness is deep.
In a way we felt that his presence was part of our conversations. We had the feeling that he was watching our work. That became a source of motivation, a drive to improve and be better.
As a curious fact, although at no time referred tothe numbering of the Lord of the Mountain in the bestiary is 004. Coincidence or not, in Japanese the number four (四) and death (死) are pronounced the same: Shi.
In any case, the Lord of the Mountain (or Satori) is an extension of the incomparable spirit of a company president who not only knew how to leave his mark on the industry, transfer his philosophy to the way of creating video games and win the affection of his co-workers and entire generations of players . Leaving at the same time an indelible mark and, at the same time, a great void.
What The Legend of Zelda owes to Satoru Iwata
Iwata never stopped learning in life about this passion that is videogames. He was the president of a large corporation, but he had no qualms about programming, understanding different points of view and, like all enthusiasts, enjoy like another player.
For years, he conveyed those concerns to the players through the interviews of iwata questions. With a humility and complicity that radiate that spirit that has always defined him.
Bearing to the saga The Legend of Zelda very present, everything is said. Being surprised and interested when even Miyamoto himself praised a game. Because Mario’s or Link’s father is extremely demanding of himself, and that he was very amused.
There came a time in development [de A Link Between World] in which the members of the team had to leave what they were doing to enter other projects, so this one was at a standstill. Although it was not the least complicated project, I have been told by some internal sources that the game has turned out very well. Even (Shigeru) Miyamoto whispered to me, “This Zelda game is good!” (laughs)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild it was the first game in the series that Iwata was unable to see finished. And yet, a good part of his excellence comes from that Nintendo magic that is so typical of him. So the mere existence of Lord of the Mountain is a small tribute to a great genius who loved video games.
Because the truly great tribute was how, through the essence of adventure, discovery and the genuine emotion that the medium can bring, it continued through the last great deed of the hero of Hyrule with the vision and philosophy of Satoru Iwata. The soul of the company and, by extension, of the Hyrule that we fell in love with.
