This extensive interview delves into the creation of FuRyu's action RPG, Reynatis, slated for Western release on September 27th by NIS America. We spoke with Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura about the game's development, inspirations, collaborations, and much more.
TAKUMI, director and producer at FuRyu, shares his role in conceptualizing and overseeing Reynatis from inception to completion. He expresses delight at the game's overwhelmingly positive reception, particularly from Western audiences, exceeding the response to previous FuRyu titles. He notes that fans of Tetsuya Nomura's work (like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts) seem to particularly appreciate Reynatis. While acknowledging the influence of the Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer as a source of inspiration, TAKUMI emphasizes that Reynatis is a wholly original creation, reflecting his personal artistic vision.
Addressing potential shortcomings in past FuRyu games, TAKUMI confirms planned updates to address balance, quality-of-life improvements, and bug fixes. He assures Western players that the localized version will be a refined iteration of the Japanese release.
The interview details TAKUMI's informal approach to collaborating with Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima, utilizing direct communication via social media and messaging apps. He reveals his deep admiration for their work in Kingdom Hearts and the Final Fantasy series, respectively, as the driving force behind these collaborations.
TAKUMI discusses the three-year development process, navigating the challenges of the pandemic, and the decision to release Reynatis across multiple platforms (Switch, Steam, PS5, PS4), acknowledging the inherent compromises between maximizing sales and creative vision. He also touches upon the internal consideration of developing directly for PC in Japan.
The collaboration with Square Enix for the NEO: The World Ends With You crossover is explained, highlighting the rarity of such cross-company collaborations in the console gaming space.
TAKUMI reveals his passion for action games as a key inspiration, while emphasizing Reynatis's focus on delivering a complete and enjoyable gaming experience beyond just action gameplay. He confirms that the Switch version, while the lead platform, pushes the system's limits.
The interview also covers FuRyu's future plans, including the possibility of more smartphone ports of premium titles and the challenges of bringing Reynatis to Xbox, citing a lack of consumer demand in Japan as a major factor.
TAKUMI expresses his excitement for Western players to experience the game's ongoing content updates, emphasizing the strategy to avoid spoilers and maintain a unified release schedule. He also discusses the possibility of future art books and soundtracks.
The interview concludes with personal insights from TAKUMI, Alan Costa (NIS America), Yoko Shimomura, and Kazushige Nojima, sharing their gaming preferences and coffee habits.
This detailed interview provides a comprehensive look at the development and vision behind Reynatis, offering valuable insight into the creative process and the challenges faced in bringing this unique action RPG to a global audience. The inclusion of perspectives from the composer and scenario writer adds further depth to the discussion.
