Famitsu Interview Fully Translated

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Published on November 17, 2010 @ 05:31 pm

Written by Orion

Hello once more.

Waking up early to get us an express copy of the latest Famitsu, the dedicate member of staff, krexia, has got to work, providing us with a full translation of the interview with Tetsuya Nomura that yesterday we only had in part.
Spoilers inside, but if you're eager to see, come over to our forums to view the interview in full or click [Read More]!

NAMINE LEADS THE WAY TO THE FUTURE WHERE SORA AND RIKU SPIN A NEW TALE

Beware of spoilers! Closing in on the story's mysteries

One month has passed since the release of the game itself. For all those users who've seen the ending and can't help wondering about what comes after this in the series, we had an interview with the director, Tetsuya Nomura. It contains spoilers, so anyone who hasn't cleared the game, beware!

A story that started with Namine

-- How did you arrive at the idea of using the data world as the setting this time? --

Nomura: First of all, I thought that I wanted to make "Re:coded" a compact tale. I also wanted some resolution with respect to Jiminy's notes that disappeared in "Chain of Memories". And so I decided to convert the journal to data, and have the setting be its internal world.

-- It's clear that this time, the storylines in each world are basically completed, making it easy to understand. --

Nomura: We made it that way intentionally. I think it's a story that's easy to swallow (laughs)

-- Are the bugs that appeared in Jiminy's Journal a result of Namine writing in the journal? --

Nomura: After "Chain of Memories", while in the middle of repairing Sora's memories, Namine noticed that someone's "pain" was inside Sora. She wrote in the journal, "We must return to free them from their torment," which at the same time created the bugs. That was the beginning of this game's story.

-- Why didn't Namine just tell Sora that directly? --

Nomura: She simply didn't have the opportunity. She became aware of someone's "pain" while Sora was already sleeping. After that, she thought it was her fate to disappear, and she wasn't able to meet Sora until right before she was assimilated by Kairi. She didn't understand how much meaning that "pain" would have. At some point Sora would need to remember. Feeling this, she wrote in the journal.

-- So Namine wasn't thinking that she might create bugs? --

Nomura: She didn't anticipate that at all. The bugs always occur in unexpected places. Namine just wanted to convey a message. The bugs, and the growth of Sora and the Heartless, were all unexpected events.

-- So did the Data Sora have a heart? --

Nomura: In theory he didn't, but I'll leave that up to the imagination of all the users who've seen the ending.

Mysteries of the Secret Movie

-- Watching the Secret Movie really heightens our anticipation for what happens next. --

Nomura: Unexpectedly, it seems everyone has gotten a big shock from the Secret Movie.

-- In the Secret Movie, the King and Yen Sid say that they've learned the location of Ventus' heart, and only Terra's remains. So we might assume the two of them know Aqua is in the world of darkness. --

Nomura: That what we're hinting at.

-- Is there a possibility the King met her during the time he was in the world of darkness after "Kingdom Hearts"? --

Nomura: I can't say anything about that yet.

-- What if the revived Xehanort was not alone? Yen Sid said this, what did he mean? --

Nomura: It was meant literally. What if there were a number of Xehanorts? Imagining that might give you a bad feeling, though (laughs)

<<>>

-- That's scary (laughs). So is there a possibility other members of Organisation XIII will be revived? --

Nomura: If their Heartless were destroyed somewhere, there might be a possibility.

-- At what point in time was Xehanort split into Ansem and Xemnas? Was it while he'd lost his memories? --

Nomura: Something happened between "Birth by Sleep" and "Kingdom Hearts". The incident was in the Ansem Reports in "Kingdom Hearts". Whether or not he really lost his memories... Braig doubted as much in the Secret Movie of "Birth by Sleep".

-- Also, at the present time there's only one Master, and this is the King, right? When did the King become a Master?

Nomura: At the time of "Birth by Sleep", the King was in the middle of his Mark of Mastery exam. So after that, at the time of "Kingdom Hearts", he had become a Master. Yen Sid has retired from being a Master, but he can carry out the Mark of Mastery exam. So this time, he says he's going to put Sora and Riku through the examination. 

-- So, is something about the Mark of Mastery exam written on the letter Sora receives in the ending? --

Nomura: Hmm, I wonder. By the way, Kairi can use a Keyblade, but she won't be taking the exam. 

The Mark of Mastery exam in "3D"

-- Will the format of this Mark of Mastery exam be shown in "Kingdom Hearts 3D"?

Nomura: Yes, "3D" will be the setting for it. The system that will become its core is done, so now we're thinking about how to implement that, continuing by trial and error. In "3D" you will be able to control Sora and Riku, but we're thinking we'll make the main system different for each. In "Chain of Memories", Sora and Riku's ways of using cards were different. We're planning to introduce different ways to play the two of them, like that.

-- Sora and Riku appear as they were in "Kingdom Hearts", why is that? --

Nomura: That's still a secret. I can only tell you that it's necessary for them to be in those forms for the story.

-- Are the worlds that appear the same as in "Kingdom Hearts"? --

Nomura: No, apart from original locations like Traverse Town, we plan to make all the Disney worlds new.We're proceeding with world selection at the moment, and have a lot of ideas we want to include.

-- Are you planning to use the 3D presentation characteristic of the 3DS? --

Nomura: In part, but not exclusively. In "3D" we intend to show the direction of evolution that connects to "III".

-- A connection to "III"?! --

Nomura: Yes. Both the system and story will be connected to "III". The ending of "KH3D" will probably continue in the story of "KHIII".

-- We'll be waiting impatiently to ask about that. So, what about the evolution of the system? --

Nomura: The KH series are basically games where you control a single character. It's fundamentally different to the party play of the FF series, so the course of its evolution is also different. Each has its own things you can and cannot do, so things we couldn't put in "FF Versus XIII" will be in the KH series, and vice-versa.

Looking at the series after this

-- Are you focussing on the release of "Birth by Sleep Final Mix" right now? --

Nomura: Work on that has basically finished. We're recording the new Secret Episode, so I really want those of you interested in plot mysteries to play it.

-- Will the Secret Episode be different to the Secret Movies we've seen so far? --

Nomura: In the Secret Episode, you'll actually be able to control characters. I think you'll be able to relish a different kind of surprise to simply watching a movie.

-- Will we be able to play a demo version of "Final Mix" at the event in December? --

Nomura: Yes, you will. We're preparing both single and multiplayer modes, and you'll be able to play the Monstro battle in multiplayer.

-- What other titles will you be showing? --

Nomura: We'll have demo stages for "The 3rd Birthday" and "Dissidia Duodecim FF". Also, we'll set up one object that appeared at the launch announcement event for "Re:coded", and we're thinking of setting up a place where you can cross paths and connect in "Re:coded", so make sure you come.

-- What about the conference connected to "Fabula Nova Crystallis FFXII", to be held next January? --

Nomura: Preparation is underway for that too. Please wait for details. 

-- Finally please give us a message for your fans. --

Nomura: In "Re:coded", we've made a game that you can play for a long time. I think you'll be able to enjoy it until the release of the next title. We've decided on a release date of January 20th for "Final Mix". I think we'll be able to give a follow-up report on "3D" not too long after that, so please look forward to it.