This extensive interview delves into the creation of FuRyu's action RPG, Reynatis, slated for a Western release on September 27th. We hear from Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the game's inspirations, collaborations, development challenges, and future plans.
TAKUMI discusses his role in bringing Reynatis to life, from its initial concept to its final production. He highlights the overwhelmingly positive reception from Western audiences, exceeding expectations for previous FuRyu titles. The Japanese player base, particularly fans of Tetsuya Nomura's work (like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts), also embraced the game, appreciating its story and unique gameplay elements.
The influence of Final Fantasy Versus XIII's trailer is addressed. TAKUMI acknowledges the inspiration but emphasizes Reynatis's originality and personal creative vision. He reveals direct communication with Nomura, underscoring the project's genesis as a fan-driven homage.
The interview touches upon the game's development challenges, including technical aspects and balancing. TAKUMI assures that post-launch updates will address these issues, promising a refined Western release. The collaborative process with Nojima and Shimomura is detailed, highlighting the informal, direct communication via social media and messaging apps.
TAKUMI shares his personal preferences for Shimomura and Nojima's works, emphasizing the impact of Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy on his creative journey. He discusses the inspiration drawn from various action games but stresses the unique, holistic approach to Reynatis, aiming for a complete gaming experience beyond just action gameplay.
The interview covers the game's three-year development, navigating the pandemic's challenges. TAKUMI explains how maintaining direct communication with the development team mitigated potential setbacks. The collaboration with Square Enix for the NEO: The World Ends With You crossover is discussed, emphasizing the direct approach and the rarity of such cross-company collaborations in the console gaming space.
The choice of platforms, with the Switch as the lead platform, is explained, balancing market reach with the game's technical demands. TAKUMI acknowledges the Switch's limitations but expresses satisfaction with the final product. He also confirms FuRyu's internal exploration of PC development, revealing a recent PC title developed entirely in-house. The discussion extends to the potential for future smartphone ports, emphasizing a case-by-case approach based on suitability and maintaining the console gaming experience.
The absence of Xbox releases is addressed, citing the lack of consumer demand and internal development expertise as key factors. TAKUMI expresses personal interest in future Xbox releases but acknowledges the current challenges. He expresses excitement for the Western release, highlighting the planned DLC releases to enhance the long-term player experience and prevent spoilers.
The interview concludes with discussions about potential future art books and soundtracks, TAKUMI's personal gaming preferences, and his favorite projects. He emphasizes the strong themes in FuRyu games, particularly Reynatis's message of empowerment for those feeling stifled by societal pressures. The email responses from Shimomura and Nojima provide further insight into their contributions and experiences.
The interview concludes with a fun question about coffee preferences from all participants. The piece ends with thanks to all involved and a list of other TouchArcade interviews.
