Much of the concept art contains hand-scribbled messages that indicate certain elements, and there are often “Designer’s Notes” that delve into the thought process behind the scenes. These short passages reveal interesting facts. Did you know that the hardest part of her design was getting the right Sonia eyes? That Ember Armor is based on a traditional Georgian chokha? Or that the original Hyrule Castle in ancient times only had two floors so as not to appear extravagant?
Seeing such insight and care into every design element made us appreciate a game we already loved even more. There are also “Secret Files” which contain rougher sketches and notes about trying to figure out how certain elements should be depicted in the game. Should the Zonai stake stay green or change color after installation? The developers at Nintendo must have had thousands of these types of discussions during the game’s creation, and reading just a few of them provides a fun look behind the scenes at the studio.
Chapter 2 also features “Background” pages, which focus on specific elements of the game like monsters, clothing, Zonai devices, and even food. They are not written from a developer’s point of view, but come off almost as if they were written by a historian within Hyrule itself. We’d rather take a deeper look at these aspects through the voice of artists and designers, but these pages do detail the nuts and bolts of Hyrule in interesting ways.
The Making chapter gives readers so much new information, but one can’t help but wish there was more. Some striking concept art is presented with very little explanation, such as Hinox who originally sported elaborate metal hats in place of their club-like horns. There’s an entire page dedicated to the ancient hero’s aspect art, a hot topic among fans of the franchise, but no notes on the origins of his design. Master Works doesn’t play all of its cards, but it still reveals enough to keep every page exciting.
Hylian history
The final chapter of the book is called History, and it’s where Zelda lore hunters will jump first, hoping to find the end-all-be-all solution to the timeline and the game’s many other inconsistencies. The History section plays it safe, not making any big revelations, but simply building on what’s already presented in the game. There are certainly some tidbits of lore that will make you raise your eyebrows, like learning that the Gerudo stopped their custom of making men king after Ganondorf, but like the “Background” pages, they’re presented as Hylian historian theories, not facts.
Deep-seated lore issues are definitely still touched upon, such as the connection between Zonai and the barbarian tribe of the Faron region. But instead of a definitive explanation, it is theorized that the barbarians could be Zonai who failed to ascend to heaven, or Hylians who worshiped the Zonai over Hylia.
The History section wants to give details on what you already know, but only asks questions for some of the juicier secrets. The book ends with a lengthy interview between producer Eiji Aonuma, director Hidemaro Fujibayashi and art director Satoru Takizawa. Readers can unravel the beginnings of the game and it’s full of headline-making trivia like the original ‘Tears of the Dragon’ title, Ultrahand is the first gameplay concept discussed and the final boss battle thought up before almost anything else. Any conversation with Nintendo developers is extremely valuable, and this eight-page talk does not disappoint.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Master Works doesn’t offer any answers, but it’s sure to satisfy die-hard fans of one of Nintendo’s best games. Readers who take it primarily as an art book will have plenty to study, and those looking to deepen their knowledge of the game world will walk away with tons of Hylian trivia in their heads. Master Works brings a meticulous look at the Nintendo Switch’s greatest adventure and sets a new bar for Zelda books.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Master Works is out now in Japan. No word yet on a western release, but we’ll be sure to let you know when we hear any news.
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