Knockback, Combination, Infiltration and… Ultraman? Link’s new abilities in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are one of the greatest attractions to resume the journey beyond the open world of Hyrule that we fell in love with. What if I told you that the origins of the most original new mechanics go back to the time when nintendo made toys?
Failing to see all its possibilities, the Ultraman recalls the abilities with the force of the Jedi Knights of starwars, enabling a new type of constructive action: we lift a material or element, couple them or separate them. Put like that, it doesn’t sound so special, but with a little imagination, infinite possibilities open up when it comes to creating structures and even new types of vehicles with the right engine.
An idea that we have seen in other games, but that fits very well with the philosophy of offering unlimited adventure and freedom to players. And yet, it is also an interesting tribute to the architect of the success of one of Nintendo’s least remembered stages.
Between his years of printing cards and his position as a video game historian, the Big N was dedicated to creating toys, including the original model of Ultramano. A toy that, by the way, bears the signature of the father of the Game Boy.
The Ultramano, Gunpei Yokoi’s toy
Simpler than the mechanism of a jug, but with greater possibilities: Without Gunpei Yokoi it is impossible to understand the success of Nintendo in video games, but long before devising prodigies such as the Game & Watch, the Game Boy and other works of true engineering, His responsibilities in the company included designing toys. Among other things, because long before there was a video game industry, the Big N was a toy company. AND the Ultraman It was a decisive element to make that leap.
What we can consider the first Nintendo video game (or the closest thing to one) was the EVR Race in 1975 an arcade with mechanical and cinematographic components. Its premise, in fact, was not very special either: betting by inserting coins with up to ten players in horse races previously recorded on tapes.
Nintendo’s origins date back almost a century, dedicating itself to creating cards that soon gained enormous popularity throughout Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. After the Second World War, and like almost all historical companies of its time, it had to adapt and one of its central pillars was found in the toy industry, Ultraman being one of its most popular toys.
What did it consist of? Through articulated mechanisms (the pantograph principle) the extensible hand effect is achieved with the peculiarity that it is possible to operate the end through a rope, generating a clamp effect. What was it for? Well, the use was left in the hands (pun intended) of the children who were happy with this and little else in 1966. And it didn’t sell bad at all: 1.3 million unitsas reported in The History of Nintendo.
The creation of the Ultra Hand: creativity unleashed in its purest form
As collected Florent Gorges in his first volume of nintendo history, Gunpei Yokoi was not hired to design toys for Nintendo: he was a maintenance man. One with a university education and who, by the way, had a lot of free time once he finished his work.
Given that Nintendo was far from being a large multinational with lots of machines and that Yokoi’s job only required a few hours, the Japanese genius dedicated himself during working hours to designing his own toys in a small workshop of his own and for his own fun.
At least, until he was caught red-handed by Hiroshi Yamauchi in person. The president of Nintendo no less!
According to Gorges, Yamauchi himself entered Yokoi’s workshop without warning and demanded an account of that device to which he was spending time instead of working.
What the latter does not expect is that, instead of being reprimanded, that idea would ensure him a promotion: the president of Nintendo was amazed and, after perfecting the model, marketed it, becoming one of the first international successes. of the company.
From that minute the history of Nintendo will take an extraordinary turn:
- First, it will focus on the toy industry as a priority.
- As a result of the above, the legendary Nintendo Research and Development department will be created.
- And, finally, Gunpei Yokoi will be put in charge of that department to give free rein to his creativity.
For more than a decade, Gunpei Yokoi demonstrated his endless creativity in creating toys together with four other geniuses. Yes, in 1980 will launch the Game & Watchcausing Nintendo’s first great revolution in the world of video games.
Ultraman: from the toy to the video game and, from there, to The Legend of Zelda
The Ultraman is one of the original pillars of Nintendo’s success, and it is also, in its own way, part of popular culture. Toys may not be produced today (except those that are licensed, of course) but that creative spirit remains latent today through ideas like Nintendo Labo and other genius of the company. Of course, they have not forgotten their past at all.
Who do you like to use the most? the Ultraman It’s the scoundrel of Wario. We have seen him wielding it in almost all his games, especially in the Wario Ware saga (the most creative) but also using it in titles like Mario Power Tennis. A total scoundrel!
However, it is worth remembering that the Ultraman also had its own video game: Grill-Off with Ultra Hand! Of course, that it does not sound to you is totally normal: it could only be claimed in North America in 2010 through WiiWare and from the extinct Club Nintendo.
The game doesn’t have much of a mystery either, for the record: it’s about reaching out the Ultra Hand to interact with different objects, offering that simple and crazy experience for the whole family while preserving that spirit so typical of Nintendo.
Of course, his appearance in the saga of The Legend of Zelda was much earlier: nothing less than in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D. More specifically, in the Bomb Shop. Although, unfortunately, it is only an ornament. Either way, Link has its own extendable hooks.
It is more than clear that Nintendo has not forgotten the legacy of Yokoi or its simple but successful toy. Almost sixty years later, the Ultraman madness returns, but her creativity dazzles like the first time in Legend of Zelda. Of course, it no longer has that curious mechanical design: now it is Link’s own arm.
Or, rather, a mysterious power that emerges from his right hand and that aspires to unleash the creativity of the players and open infinite possibilities within the Hyrule that already fascinated us in The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild. Being, at the same time, a genius and a brilliant tribute to one of the greatest geniuses in the history of Nintendo.