In a 1996 interview, Shigeru Miyamoto discussed Nintendo's creative trade-offs. He believed that even if commercial products are polished to perfection, the company should not be satisfied with mere completeness but should continue to pursue fun and innovation.
This interview took place after the release of Super Mario 64 and before the original launch of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. At that time, both the Mario and Zelda series were being planned simultaneously, and Shigeru Miyamoto noted that the boundaries between the two had begun to blur.
In the interview, Kenji Eno discussed the changes between the pre-release version and the retail version of Super Mario 64. Miyamoto believed that early demos might have appeared more innovative, while the retail version offered a higher level of polish. He categorized games into "well-crafted" and "fun," noting that public perception of Nintendo was gradually shifting from "fun" to "well-crafted," and that the company had invested significant effort into the latter.
Miyamoto also stated that Super Mario 64 had proven the team's ability to create solid 3D action games, and that the next step should be to pursue even more engaging results. Contemporary commentary surrounding this old interview cites the original The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as an example, arguing that innovation and execution can coexist, while also suggesting that even a faithful remake may not replicate the innovative significance the original held at its time of release.