This extensive interview delves into the creation of FuRyu's action RPG, Reynatis, slated for Western release on September 27th by NIS America. We hear from Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura.
TAKUMI discusses his role in the game's conception, production, and direction, highlighting the overwhelmingly positive international response exceeding expectations. He addresses the Japanese reception, noting particular enthusiasm from fans of Tetsuya Nomura's works, drawing parallels to Final Fantasy Versus XIII as inspiration without direct connection. TAKUMI acknowledges areas for improvement, promising updates focusing on balancing and quality-of-life enhancements. He assures Western players will receive a refined version.
The interview details the unconventional, informal communication methods used to collaborate with Nojima and Shimomura, initiated via direct messages on social media platforms. TAKUMI shares his personal inspiration from Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy series, emphasizing Reynatis' originality despite its inspirations. He discusses the development challenges during the pandemic, ultimately deeming it a manageable hurdle.
The collaboration with Square Enix for NEO: The World Ends with You elements is explained, highlighting the rarity and unconventional approach taken to secure the licensing. TAKUMI addresses the platform choices, explaining the Switch as the lead platform while acknowledging its limitations and the decision to maximize reach across multiple consoles. He also reveals FuRyu's internal exploration of PC development and the differing market dynamics between Japan and the West regarding PC gaming.
The discussion touches on smartphone ports, with TAKUMI stating FuRyu's primary focus remains console development, and smartphone ports are considered only if the console experience translates seamlessly. The lack of Xbox releases is addressed, attributed to limited consumer demand in Japan and the development team's lack of experience with the platform. TAKUMI expresses personal interest in future Xbox releases.
TAKUMI expresses excitement for the Western release, highlighting the planned post-launch DLC content to extend player engagement and prevent spoilers. He reveals that there are currently no plans for an art book or soundtrack release, but expresses a desire to release the soundtrack in the future. He shares his personal gaming preferences, highlighting Tears of the Kingdom, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Jedi Survivor. He concludes by expressing his personal preference for Reynatis over his previous work, Trinity Trigger, and encourages players to experience the game's powerful message of self-acceptance.
The email exchange with Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima offers further insights. Shimomura discusses her compositional process and inspirations, emphasizing the organic flow of ideas during the Reynatis soundtrack creation. Nojima discusses his approach to narrative design, highlighting the shift towards more realistic character portrayals in modern gaming while also expressing a desire to revisit the fairytale-like narratives of older games. Both share their coffee preferences, concluding the interview.
