Nintendo director recalls intense development of Super Metroid

Yoshio Sakamoto, director of the 1994 classic Super Metroid, has shared recollections regarding the intense working conditions during the game's development at Nintendo's former Higashiyama headquarters.

Sakamoto described a period of extreme overtime where the development team essentially lived at the office. He noted that the team often worked through the night, with ten to fifteen staff members taking turns sleeping in a dedicated nap room. Due to constant use and lack of cleaning, Sakamoto recalled that other employees once described the smell of the nap room as being “like a zoo.”

Sakamoto also mentioned that Gunpei Yokoi, who served as his section chief at the time, frequently criticized the team's extreme overtime. Yokoi reportedly questioned whether the staff were “trying to produce a work of art” given their level of absorption in the project. While the development process was difficult, the resulting game is now considered one of the most influential titles on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.