Mario and Zelda director Takashi Tezuka is retiring from Nintendo.

Takashi Tezuka has been with Nintendo since before the company was just beginning to make a name for itself in the Western world. Joined Punch Out as a part-time worker in 1984!! As a sprite designer, Tezuka has helped create dozens of beloved titles.

Next month, Takashi Tezuka will retire after 42 years of enormous influence. Surely everyone will celebrate. But as Nintendo loses one of its most highly accomplished employees, it's worth taking a look back at that man's career.

Finally punch out

For the original Super Mario Bros., Takashi Tezuka took on the dual role of assistant director and graphic designer. he the following year <젤다의 전설>has tripled from writer to graphic designer to full-fledged director. If Tezuka had left the gaming industry for whatever reason and jumped straight into home gardening, his name would still be revered today.

But he wasn't like that. His career was a whirlwind of incredible achievements. He was the director and graphic designer for Super Mario Bros. 3. Tezuka went on to serve as top director on Super Mario World, the all-time Zelda classics A Link to the Past, and Link's Awakening. Super Mario 64? Assistant director. Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask? supervisor. Paper Mario? supervisor.

Indeed, from that point on, Tezuka is generally credited as a supervisor or producer, showing the trajectory he ultimately took following his hands-on director role in previous titles. But producing Nintendo games is still amazing, and Tezuka's name has appeared dozens of times in this role, including almost every 3D Mario and 3D Zelda game.

Now, I'm not sure which games will feature Tezuka's end credits, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder's “Gathering at Bellabell Park” Switch 2 exclusive content is the latest to quote him anywhere I've seen. Nonetheless, he left behind a tremendous legacy, and here at TheGamer we salute his decades of incredible accomplishments. Your passion shines through, Mr. Tezuka.