Square Enix's 'The DioField Chronicle' Creators Chat Game, Inspirations

This extensive interview delves into the creation of FuRyu's action RPG, Reynatis, slated for Western release on September 27th. We hear from Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura.

TAKUMI, director and producer at FuRyu, shares the genesis of Reynatis, revealing its inspiration from classic titles like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, while emphasizing its unique identity. He discusses the overwhelmingly positive international response, contrasting it with the enthusiastic but more nuanced reception in Japan. The influence of Final Fantasy Versus XIII is addressed, with TAKUMI acknowledging its inspirational role while stressing Reynatis's originality.

The interview touches on the game's development challenges during the pandemic, the planned post-launch updates to address balancing and bug fixes, and the collaborative process involving direct communication with Nojima and Shimomura via informal channels like Twitter and LINE.

TAKUMI details the collaborations with Square Enix for NEO: The World Ends With You elements, explaining the direct approach taken to secure the licensing. He also discusses platform choices, acknowledging the Switch's limitations while justifying the multi-platform release strategy. The conversation expands to FuRyu's internal PC development, future smartphone ports, and the lack of Xbox releases due to market demand and technical expertise.

The email portion of the interview features Nojima and Shimomura. Shimomura reflects on her compositional process and the unique challenges of adapting her style across different technological iterations. Nojima discusses his evolving approach to game narratives, contrasting modern expectations with the simpler storytelling of earlier games. Both share their involvement in the Reynatis project and their perspectives on its development.

The interview concludes with a lighthearted question about coffee preferences, and a final message from TAKUMI encouraging players to experience Reynatis's powerful themes and enduring gameplay.