Revised Famitsu Interview with Nomura Fully Translated
- Details
- Published on October 7, 2014 @ 10:08 am
- Written by Joey
We got a small taste of Tetsuya Nomura's recent interview with Famitsu that had been edited earlier which revealed that Kingdom Hearts III will be developed on the Unreal Engine 4. Thanks to Goldpanner, the revised edition of the interview has been fully translated!
"As the titles have piled up, I think Sora's originality has come out." (Nomura)
Kingdom Hearts -HD 2.5 ReMIX- by Square Enix was released on the Playstation 3 on the 2nd October 2014. Just in time for its release, we published an interview with director Tetsuya Nomura in our 9th October issue and 16~23rd October joint issue of Weekly Famitsu. We are now posting a corrected and edited version of that same interview.
>An even more universal game with HD remastering
—The main illustration you drew for the box art of KH2.5 is once again a gorgeous composition. Please tell us your concept for the illustration, as well as any things that gave you trouble.
Nomura: I drew the characters of the three included titles just like KH1.5. The surrounding Keyblades suggest the Keyblade War which Master Xehanort, the main focus of the image, is largely concerned with. At first I drew Xehanort even bigger, but I made him a little smaller due to the placement of the logo. Also, as this was to be used for box art, the rating symbol would be added in. The symbols used overseas, especially the European version, are rather large. The Disney characters can't be covered up by that mark, so I laboured over the layout.
—So that's what you took into consideration for that composition. Also, KH titles always have memorable taglines, and KH2.5 is no exception with the tag 'an unforgettable journey'. What intentions were involved in it?
Nomura: In the beginning the publicity side came up with a blurb, but I wanted to use simpler, 'catchier' words, so we decided through a heated discussion. I was in San Diego for the 2014 International Comic-Con, so I was hitting up the publicity guys on LINE (dry laugh). Finally we moved towards settling the intentions I wanted to convey in a KH way, and based on how KH2.5 includes some of the most important 'journeys' in the series, the publicity side went with something that highlighted 'what kind of journeys' they are.
—We see. Now we will ask about the game content of KH2.5. Were there any parts you were particularly attentive to during production?
Nomura: Due to size issues, in the KH 358/2 Days (hereon Days) cinematic work included in KH1.5 we left out combat and just went with text intermissions that explained, but many fans pointed out that it was a shame, and that weighed on me. As KH Re:coded didn’t have the volume of Days, we were able to follow-up on that part by creating cinematics for the battles and Disney world stories as well as adding some narration by Mickey. Mickey both opens and closes KH Re:coded, so he was the best choice for the narrator. Also, as KH Birth by Sleep (hereon BbS) was going from a handheld console to a non-portable one, we needed to adjust the controls and such. At first, we were also looking for a way to include the multiplayer section as it was. This wouldn’t have been too difficult if we were only working on BbS, but as we had three titles’ worth of work on our plates for KH2.5, we included it reworked into a single player feature.
—Did you have any feelings reexamining your own past work when producing KH1.5 and KH2.5?
Nomura: Replaying games made years ago often does let you feel their age, but I’ve never felt that way with KH games. I think perhaps the HD remastering has made them even more universal. Also, my impression from playing it after so long was, wow, I didn’t think there were so many specialised worlds in here. Perhaps that’s because they were easy to use game-wise when I included them. For Olympus Coliseum etc, we staff went along with our planning under the assumption that, while we still hadn’t decided on whether to include something, there might always be a KH3 (laughs). There’s also Sora’s growth as a character. In KH1 I was incredibly conscious of keeping things ‘Disney-like’, but as the titles have added layers I think an originality has appeared.
—After your long involvement with the series, what do you think is the particular charm of Disney works?
Nomura: It is the extremely loving and careful way they show and handle their characters both inside and outside the works themselves. I think this is what makes Disney works top class worldwide. This is very important with games too, according to the type, and the whole thing can become good or bad depending on the way the characters are handled. I’ve learned a lot from that.
—That’s rather deep. Can you please recommend any Disney works, or talk about any you’ve seen recently?
Nomura: I think I’ve spoken about this before, but I like The Lion King, that hasn’t changed. Recently, I was invited to the preview of Frozen, and I thought it was really good. Now that Pixar’s Mr Lasseter has also become the chief creative officer at Disney, I expect that from now on there will be even more works that are even more challenging. As a fan I am really looking forward to Big Hero 6 which premieres in December.
—Speaking of Frozen, there were reports that co-director Mr Tai Yasue made a statement regarding content with a point about ‘if Frozen were to appear in KH’.
Nomura: That surprised me too. I checked with Yasue, because we haven’t touched upon it at all, and there’s been no talk about what we’d do ‘if we put it in for now’. I do understand, though, because interviewers overseas do talk about their wishes for what they’d like to happen. In response, we Japanese don’t give clear yes or no answers. Then sometimes they take it as as ‘fact’. It was misinformation that came from a difference in culture.
—So that’s what it was. Now, how do you actually choose new worlds?
Nomura: The shape the process is taking for KH3 is everyone sharing what sort of things we’d like to do on what sort of worlds, and then making decisions looking at that. A wide range of works fall within our targets so there are a lot of candidates, but we can’t make them all, and in the end we also need the OK from Disney. But, the staff working on KH3 are pushier than they’ve ever been (laughs). They get highly passionate on the spot, elaborating to me exactly why we ‘just have to do this!’, so it’s difficult to make choices.
>The highlights of each title and the recommended features in Final Mix
—Now we will ask about each title included in KH2.5. What are the highlights of the HD version of KH2?
Nomura: KH2 has denser maps and directed parts compared to KH1, and there are also more characters. We have made it easier for you to see the expressions of even the characters at the back of the screen, which I think makes HD an even greater blessing for the information-packed KH2.
—It does feel a little difficult to play KH again after having left it for a while. What are your thoughts on the degree of difficulty?
Nomura: KH has been called a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' from the early days, and that concept hasn't changed since. Finding a strategy after much trial and error is something I believe games ought to involve, and I think to put as much of that into KH as possible. However, the 'sheep' side of things is the premise that people who aren't very good with action can play too. That's why if you level up you can defeat the last boss. Above that, we have structured the game so that it offers extremely difficult features such as Proud Mode and hidden bosses for those who want to challenge themselves outside the box. I wanted to make it so that you could investigate and discover ways to defeat those more efficiently by paying attention to the timing of your abilities etc., too. Thanks to our staff, I think we were able to make that broad range of difficulty a reality.
—We see. KH titles are definitely the kind of games that give back the more you play, or perhaps absorbing is better way to put it. We agree. You added many such extra challenges to KH2 in Final Mix. Which do you recommend?
Nomura: The Lingering Will. It was one of the greatest fights of the entire series, and still is. He is ridiculously strong and difficult to defeat, but I'd like you to try and experience a glimpse of that strength for yourself, even if you can't win. I also think that you will have different feelings playing BbS depending on whether you've fought him or not. KH2.5 does include BbS as part of the set, so after playing KH2 and fighting the Lingering Will, I'd like you to then play BbS.
—Next, please tell us about the highlights of the HD version of BbS.
Nomura: In some ways, HD had an even greater impact on a game made for a handheld compared to KH2 which was for a home console. It's beautiful, of course. I could say it feels like something completely new and unseen. As for the plot, having three protagonists means there are many memorable scenes, and I couldn't single one out. If I were forced to say, I might say the secret movie. I think it's one of the most moving scenes in the series so far, and I really want you to see it in HD.
—Do you have any particular recommendations from the factors added to Final Mix?
Nomura: The Secret Episode. It goes a step further than any of the other secret movies in the series so far by letting you play it as an episode. There's an urgency to the plot and battles, and I'm glad I tried putting it in. By the way, the words 'Birth by Sleep -Volume Two-' show up at the end. That points out that Aqua's story of the developments in the Realm of Darkness does exist. That she didn't necessarily just wander lost in the darkness for ten years, and that there is a story she experienced. However, it is not shown - that episode lives up to its other name, 'A fragmentary passage...', and it cuts off there. I'd like to get a chance to tell that story somewhere, though.
—We are very interested in Aqua's Episode. There were multiplayer sections in the original version. What do you think about the compatibility of KH and multiplayer?
Nomura: If I had to say one way or the other, I think perhaps the players of KH want to be made to be immersed completely in the world they are playing, so I don't think we will actively move towards multiplayer. Perhaps something that gives an asynchronous feeling of being connected, like in Re:coded, would fit better. Of course, I do consider multiplayer elements if it would fit the title, such as in KHχ (Key), where the premise is based on the Keyblade War, and BbS, where the three main characters made for interesting opportunities.
—Lastly, please tell us about the highlights of the HD version of Re:coded.
Nomura: It's been turned into cutscenes and given voicing - the whole thing is a highlight. The dialogue in parts that were shown through text in the original version have also been polished up in order to be voiced, so I think the overall impression is considerably different. There are also textual intermission sections, which feel fresh as they are voiced by Mickey. Also, we adopted the style of the original animated films for our directing. For example, in Alice's world, we had the voice actor read parts that had been written out straight in the subtitles with a 'catlike' inflection. (Translators note: he says sentences ending in '～dana' were read as '～danya', which represents a cat's meow.) I think there are lots of things like that to discover in this title. Also, because Days, which was included in KH1.5, was divided neatly into chapters by day, it was organised like a sequence of short, connected stories. In Re:coded, we were careful to try and connect the longest story to watch as possible by including Disney Worlds, battle scenes and narration.
—This is the second time Re:coded has been remade. What sort of significance did each title have?
Nomura: It was first developed for mobile phones, which was a challenge. We had issues with volume, and we tried to change the play style for each world so as not to become monotonous. That concept was passed down after that, despite us basically starting from scratch when we remade it for the Nintendo DS as Re:coded, with that eccentric growth system and such. I think of all the titles in the series it's the one that's the most sheer fun.
—With all the new scenes, the cinematic work the HD version became is a gorgeous title. We were surprised at the content of the completely new scenes.
Nomura: We put in two completely new scenes. The 'Tome of Prophecy' appearing in one is connected to KHχ (Key), so you'll come to understand what sort of power it holds. I included that element in KH2.5 because many people right now have the impression that χ(Key) is 'detached from the series', and I wanted to convey that there is indeed a firm connection. The other scene is set just before the scene in KH3D when Axel and the others wake up. I think many questions will come bubbling up if you look deeply into it, so please see what your imagination comes up with.
—By the way, with the shift to the next gen consoles underway, especially overseas, would you say you want to release KH1.5 and KH2.5 on the Playstation 4 or the Xbox One?
Nomura: The future plans aren't decided, but since we've only just finished work on KH2.5, we would need a little more time to look into the technical aspects of HD remastering for next gen consoles.
>The reason that enigmatic trailer was put out
—Let us bring up a slightly older topic. You used the opening section of KH3 in a recently released trailer for KH2.5, didn’t you. The conversation between those strangers was rather enigmatic.
Nomura: I had received so many responses after releasing that play video previously, and I could feel that people were eagerly anticipating KH3. I really wanted to put out some sort of message, even though I couldn’t show any content at that time. And, I wanted to show everyone that KH3 begins somewhere nobody is expecting, with speaking from new voice actors that haven’t appeared in the series before. I really enjoyed seeing everyone try to guess who those two are.
—We definitely were surprised. We hadn’t expected it to begin like that at all.
Nomura: I wanted to go with an introduction that wouldn’t make fans be like ‘yeah, we knew that’ upon seeing the opening section, and that would have both fans who knew the series and fans who didn’t be like ‘what’s this? What’s going to happen next?’ and start feeling anticipation. I do this every time, but I want to try and make things even for both fans and newcomers. By the way, the conversation between those two is actually a lot longer, it goes for over two minutes. When you hear their conversation, you’ll understand the flow of everything so far.
—The phrase ‘Lost Masters’ appeared in the conversation…
Nomura: That may not necessarily deserve capitalisation. It just means what it says, ‘Keyblade Masters who have been lost’ (laughs).
—Oh, is that so (laughs). We are very much looking forward to KH3, but there will be a bit of a wait to go after KH2.5 is released. In the meantime, are there any new developments for the series?
Nomura: Counting the developments in PC browser game KHχ (Key), I’d like to think that fans will spend the least amount of time possible separated from works from the series.
—We do wonder how KHχ (Key) will go from here.
Nomura: The scenarios of KH3 and KHχ (Key) are intimately related, so they are being written at the same time. That’s why the plot of KHχ (Key) has been on pause for a little while, and I am very sorry, but I have to ask you to please wait a little longer. We are also currently investigating developments that would allow more people to experience KHχ (Key).
—KHχ (Key) isn't the only title that hasn't been covered in KH1.5 or KH2.5. There's KH3D, too.
Nomura: That's true. Aside from KHχ (Key), which is currently still open for service, KH3D is the only title in the series not remastered in HD. I personally don’t like leaving it as the odd one out, so I think it’s an issue that requires consideration.
>Sora's mobility in KH3 is what?!
—Once more, may we ask about the state of development on KH3?
Nomura: It’s moving steadily along the estimated schedule. As an effect of us changing the game engine to Unreal Engine 4, which we did for several reasons, we had a lot of problems with the image creation, but we have been able to progress without incident with the collaboration of Epic Games.
—That's a drastic change, to be sure. However, at the same time, our hopes for the finished product have risen. What sort of work are you yourself currently doing on it?
Nomura: Right now I am in the middle of writing the scenario and selecting worlds. I'm also drawing new clothes for Sora and Riku.
—Wow, we wish we could see it already! By the way, out of scenario writing or world selection, does one come first before you proceed?
Nomura: I do them parallel. I create the rough story, then the staff work out the details of how play will flow in-game. Then I fit each world in while keeping the flow of the plot in mind. After that, we take it apart and go along making decisions about the main story and the story of each world.
—We see. So, how is the action part coming along right now?
Nomura: When I went to Osaka the other day and saw how development was coming along, Sora’s mobility was too high. He’d reached a level where just moving around would probably make him invincible (laughs). Of course, he can’t move like that from the beginning, but it looks like by the end he will be incredible. I’m looking forward to the next check. In a previous trailer Sora fought by transforming his Keyblade. The variations of those are also turning out to be amazing. It’s close to the way the original Keyblade wielders fought in BbS.
—We can't wait for the next announcement. Now, we’d like to ask a little about your work outside KH3. FFXV was announced at Tokyo Game Show 2014, wasn't it?
Nomura: That's all up to the company. I can't say any more than that right now.
—Previously you said that various jobs had fallen into your lap. Are those keeping you busy, too?
Nomura: I do have many projects other than KH3. For some reason in this timing I have received many offers from both inside and outside the company, and I will be responding to those first. There are things that were given to me individually, and there are many things related to games, things outside games, and things that are yet to be announced. The closest thing is that at in October I am going to Comic Con which is being held in New York. While I have been given those jobs, I do intend to keep moving my own projects forward.
COMMENTS
thanks for the translate was good
Nomura: The Secret Episode. It goes a step further than any of the other secret movies in the series so far by letting you play it as an episode. There's an urgency to the plot and battles, and I'm glad I tried putting it in. By the way, the words 'Birth by Sleep -Volume Two-' show up at the end. That points out that Aqua's story of the developments in the Realm of Darkness does exist. That she didn't necessarily just wander lost in the darkness for ten years, and that there is a story she experienced. However, it is not shown - that episode lives up to its other name, 'A fragmentary passage...', and it cuts off there. I'd like to get a chance to tell that story somewhere, though.
So Nomura wants to be able to tell the story of Birth by Sleep: Volume II. Interesting...
"
Due to size issues, in the
KH 358/2 Days(hereon
Days) cinematic work included in
KH1.5we left out combat and just went with text intermissions that explained, but many fans pointed out that it was a shame, and that weighed on me. As
KH Re:codeddidn’t have the volume of
Days, we were able to follow-up on that part by creating cinematics for the battles and Disney world stories as well as adding some narration by Mickey."
Great to hear! Sometimes it feels like fan feedback isn't taken on board.
"At first, we were also looking for a way to include the multiplayer section as it was. This wouldn’t have been too difficult if we were only working on BbS, but as we had three titles’ worth of work on our plates for KH2.5, we included it reworked into a single player feature."
However, this excuse just doesn't cut it for me. I was very much anticipating the multiplayer and would have waited even longer for it to be in the game.
So Nomura wants to be able to tell the story of Birth by Sleep: Volume II. Interesting...
Probably more like he regretted for shelving that ''mystery'' game back then when they were working on KH 3D three or two years ago in the first place.
Probably more like after KH3 or giving a return to Xehanort saga after a new saga started.
So does anyone else think BBS vol. 2 may be told throughout KHIII in the form of Aqua having flashbacks?
So does anyone else think BBS vol. 2 may be told throughout KHIII in the form of Aqua having flashbacks?
Seems likely although I don't mind if there's another game in the works presented as an HD Collection.
Seems likely although I don't mind if there's another game in the works presented as an HD Collection.
+1
KH3 already sounds filled to the brims with content (SDG trip, Riku + Mickey trip, finding VAT, the connection to χ + Maleficent, battling XIII Darknesses with 7 Lights). I'd prefer another game and not another instance of 3D (= changing a huge part of the series' mythos in a 10-minute cutscene).
And I am not saying this often because it's not a very popular opinion, but I think 3D + χ + BBS Vol 2 needs to happen before 3, even if that means delaying the 3rd one and creating another HD entry. Btw
3D Final Mix HD
BBS Volume 2
χ Movie
sounds plausible, no?
Yeah, there's already so much that will be going on, adding Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- will just be way too much. While in III I can see Aqua say a couple things that's been going on while in the RoD, Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- deserves it's own game so the story can be told properly.
We'll get it someday I'm sure. Nintendo will ask for another game eventually.
Good interview. Seems there's hope for DDD HD fans given he doesn't like it being odd man out.
Seems the Frozen bit was a bit of culture confusion.
Culture confusion is probably the nicest way of putting it without singling any one person out (which was likely the case). Yasue specifically stated each and every time he spoke about Frozen that it was only a personal wish or interest of his own that has no impact on KH3's development. He was very clear and impossible to misunderstand.
Yeah, there's already so much that will be going on, adding Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- will just be way too much. While in III I can see Aqua say a couple things that's been going on while in the RoD, Birth by Sleep -Volume Two- deserves it's own game so the story can be told properly.
We'll get it someday I'm sure. Nintendo will ask for another game eventually.
Screw Nintendo. :biggrin: I say they got their share of games, we don't need another pared down KH experience.
So does anyone else think BBS vol. 2 may be told throughout KHIII in the form of Aqua having flashbacks?
Nah. It'd do better as a standalone game. KH3 is filled to the brim with things to cover, plus the fact there will be more plot dumped on top of everything else involving the Foretellers/Lost Masters and the Xehanorts and...yeah. There is no room for Aqua to have flashbacks about her time in the RoD when there is an immediate threat unless her experience is directly tied to the plot issues that will be covered in KH3.
As a standalone, the dev team could easily reuse assets from KH3 and release it post-KH3 in order to give people what they want and more. As seen with Infamous: First Light, there might actually be a market for games like these that come out after a major game as a way to expand on the narrative of a character.
I'd use MGS: Ground Zeroes as another example but it was much too short to really count imo.
I'm all for DLC episodes, though. But...after KH3.
I'm all for DLC episodes, though. But...after KH3.
Yeah. If we get a KH3D HD, that should be enough for all of us until KH3.
Hmm.. I don't know. It seems like it would be hard to make a BBS Vol II to fill that 10 year void. Most KH games span a year. Days which originally was supposed to have a mission for each day was cut back and skips many days/weeks between key events. Plus, since III is the last game of the Xehanort saga I'm sure Nomura already has some ideas in his head for the next saga. I think the idea is cool and all, but at the same time I don't want them to rush it and push back the next main story.
I'm all for DLC episodes, though. But...after KH3.
Yeah. If we get a KH3D HD, that should be enough for all of us until KH3.
IMO it would be anticlimactic to release a prequel after the saga is over.
Unless it'll have something to do with the next one. Which I could see Nomura trying to do.
Personally, I don't think having BBS Volume 2 after KHII would be a bad thing. BBS Volume 2 would be shedding light on what Aqua was doing and possibly other things that were going on between games. So all it would do is add to KHIII's story and will probably lead into and foreshadow things in the later games.
Hmm.. I don't know. It seems like it would be hard to make a BBS Vol II to fill that 10 year void. Most KH games span a year. Days which originally was supposed to have a mission for each day was cut back and skips many days/weeks between key events. Plus, since III is the last game of the Xehanort saga I'm sure Nomura already has some ideas in his head for the next saga. I think the idea is cool and all, but at the same time I don't want them to rush it and push back the next main story.
Except Aqua didn't "experience" those 10-12 years she's been in the RoD. Those years certainly passed but time is distorted in the Realm of Darkness. Aqua knows she's been there for a long time but she hasn't the slightest idea of how long its actually been. A game that covers her adventures would work in the same way.
Events would happen and they could be far apart or really close together but because time perception is distorted, it'd just...happen.
IMO it would be anticlimactic to release a prequel after the saga is over.
Unless it has something to do with the next saga, like FudgementGuardian said. If they don't have time to do something for BBSv2 before KH3 (and they shouldn't even try to) & the story doesn't fit in KH3, then why not just have it after KH3 as a little extra?
It wouldn't even be anti-climatic if they make some clever hints that make the audience want to know about what happened spread throughout KH3.
Unless it'll have something to do with the next one. Which I could see Nomura trying to do.
Personally, I don't think BBS Volume 2 coming after KHIII would be a bad thing. It would be shedding light on what Aqua was doing and possibly other things that were going on between games.
Exactly. And people like Aqua enough to really want to see more about her.
With the way things are going, if BBS Vol. 2 were going to be made before KH III finished development or even at all, I feel like it would be best represented by a cinematic than DLC for KHIII or a new game if it were added into a possible DDD HD remaster.
Playing BBS 2 would be a great way to hold us over until KH 3...as long as it didn't slow down 3's production any. I would really like to see it on Vita someday. Even if we don't get it until after KH 3.
With Birth by Sleep: Volume II, I am of two minds on two different points:
Point I: The release
While I agree with Lnds500 that it would make more sense to release it before Kingdom Hearts III, I can also understand that releasing it before is going to be a bit much since resources need to be allocated to that while the development team is still working on III, especially if it would be in an HD collection with Dream Drop Distance and Chi.
Point II: Game versus Cinematics
I always kind of envisioned Birth by Sleep: Volume II as a full fledged game where you split off between Aqua, Mickey and Riku. Aqua's journey would involve the worlds steeped in the Realm of Darkness (i.e.: Cinderella's world, Aurora's world etc.). I also always kind of envisioned that she would come across Aya Brea and perhaps even Oswald the Rabbit. Riku's would involve his work with DiZ and meeting a lot of people along the way while Mickey would alternate between the Light and Dark Realms.
Anyway, what I am saying is that the game could work as an actual game with Chi being relegated to being a cutscene movie or something. On the other hand, I can see Volume II also being a movie while Chi is made into a playable game since part of the draw for Chi is the way that you play a fun Kingdom Hearts game in a fairytale-esque setting with dashes of canon creeping into the series as time goes on.
I also agree a Vol 2 wouldn't feel quite right post KH3 even with things leading to a new saga. I want Xehanort's arc to end with 3, adding anything else concerning his saga afterwards would feel off to me no matter how they wrap it.
Though I'm not really interested in anymore games before KH3. I'd be perfectly fine if the main plot details or what BBS vol 2 would've been ending up as unlockable scenes in the theater mode or journal. Sorta like DDD's momentos.
I'm going to agree with everyone saying that vol. 2 should be released in some form before the final installment of this saga. Those events are going to seem pretty inconsequential to the entire saga if they're all revealed after Xehanort goes down. Unless they have more to do with the next saga, which would be great and all, but I sort of doubt that's the case.
An extended batch of cutscenes would probably be best. Or maybe something cool like a graphic novel. Or something along the lines of Advent Children production value (only less full of garbage) but that's treading way too deep into wishful thinking so I'll stop.
Playing BBS 2 would be a great way to hold us over until KH 3...as long as it didn't slow down 3's production any. I would really like to see it on Vita someday. Even if we don't get it until after KH 3.
If any new game were to come before KH3 it would take away from production time, even if it was indirect. Nomura would have to keep eye on the project, with no matter where he's at in the terms of 3's production, would slow it down.
But like Gram said:
I feel the same. Only way I can see it working partially is if it gets a dlc episode treatment in III. Even then idk...
If it were to get the cutscene treatment, which would be a bit of a bittersweet moment since it wouldn't be a playable game prior, I'd want it in a "1.5, 2.5, 3D, X, BBS v2" package. I know it sounds like a lot but I can dream!
If any new game were to come before KH3 it would take away from production time, even if it was indirect. Nomura would have to keep eye on the project, with no matter where he's at in the terms of 3's production, would slow it down.
You're forgetting about Yasue. Yasue oversees the KH titles more than Nomura has at this point.
Also, in regards to BBSv2 slowing down KH3... I wouldn't even care. I realize a lot of people are eager to leave this series once the current saga is over but this is a story Nomura wanted to tell us and I want to see it. Especially if it helps wrap things up for a series that has created more questions over the years than it has given answers.
You're forgetting about Yasue. Yasue oversees the KH titles more than Nomura has at this point.
True, I did not think about him. Nomura could possibly just got over scenario writing with him and leave it from there. Though I still think he'd drop in from time to time, seeing this franchise is baby.
True, I did not think about him. Nomura could possibly just got over scenario writing with him and leave it from there. Though I still think he'd drop in from time to time, seeing this franchise is baby.
Of course he drops in. That isn't necessarily what Taochan is saying.
He's in constant contact with the development team. LINE, video chats, emails, phone calls. Nomura might not be there physically but he's still directing things. Important stuff has to be run by him before it can be done.
Yasue is there to handle the day-to-day, though, which is why it is possible for Nomura to work on multiple things without it impacting KH3.
It's better to not think of this as Nomura being all in or not at all, but that KH3 is his primary focus and he's got his fingers in a bunch of other things and can split his attention if needed.
Technically, they could start KH3 by playing as Aqua in the Realm of Darkness. Kind of like playing as Roxas at the beginning of KH2. This way maybe her experiences can set up the later events of KH3. She's been seeking to foil one of Xehanort's plots in the Realm of Darkness. Runs into and fights Vanitas and beats him. Apparently though he was just stalling her. After realizing it, she rushes to see Xehanort gathering his new organization 13. Cue title screen. That is if they want to put it in KH3 after all.
Soooo about the other things discussed in the interview. xD
It sounds like Nomura wants to find a way to port DDD as well, which I'd welcome. And what he said about the multiplayer in BBS wasn't very convincing to me.
He initially had MX appear bigger on the box art? Like that eye of his wasn't big enough?! :P And I think it's cool that he still considers the Lingering Will to be a great highlight and the most challenging boss in the series.
Technically, they could start KH3 by playing as Aqua in the Realm of Darkness. Kind of like playing as Roxas at the beginning of KH2. This way maybe her experiences can set up the later events of KH3. She's been seeking to foil one of Xehanort's plots in the Realm of Darkness. Runs into and fights Vanitas and beats him. Apparently though he was just stalling her. After realizing it, she rushes to see Xehanort gathering his new organization 13. Cue title screen. That is if they want to put it in KH3 after all.
I'm not entirely sure how that might work out since Aqua's time in the Realm of Darkness was meant to be a full story rather than one told solely through a prolonged prologue. I can somewhat see them trying to tell a prologue in III through Xehnaort or Eraqus' eyes when they were young, but Aqua not so much. I'm not arguing against it, I just don't see it happening quite like that.
Soooo about the other things discussed in the interview. xD
It sounds like Nomura wants to find a way to port DDD as well, which I'd welcome. And what he said about the multiplayer in BBS wasn't very convincing to me.
He initially had MX appear bigger on the box art? Like that eye of his wasn't big enough?! :P And I think it's cool that he still considers the Lingering Will to be a great highlight and the most challenging boss in the series.
*looks at post*
*sees himself constantly dying to the Lingering Sentiment*
????SQEX?????????????????????????????????? - ????.com
This must be one of the outside projects Nomura was talking about : a Hatsune Miku collaboration.
I'm of several minds on the topic of BBSv2, I love all the characters featured in that scene, I'd love to play as them, but also... I feel like there's nothing substantial there. Like, if Nomura wants to make a bigger story out of them that's cool, he'll find a way, but I think bbsv2 would work as well as unlockable cutscenes in X or a cinematic thing.
????SQEX?????????????????????????????????? - ????.com
This must be one of the outside projects Nomura was talking about : a Hatsune Miku collaboration.
I'm not entirely sure why I find this hilarious, but I do. XD
In all seriousness, I do think that it's interesting to see Nomura branching out a bit and trying to spread his wings a little. He could take something from this and apply it to Kingdom Hearts III. [strike]Yasue probably sent him there to do research on how to make a musical world for Frozen.[/strike]
I'm of several minds on the topic of BBSv2, I love all the characters featured in that scene, I'd love to play as them, but also... I feel like there's nothing substantial there. Like, if Nomura wants to make a bigger story out of them that's cool, he'll find a way, but I think bbsv2 would work as well as unlockable cutscenes in X or a cinematic thing.
I also think there's not much of substance involved, but in a manner of speaking I'd like to see something like a miscellaneous game covering all the insubstantial gaps, maybe strung together by a strong central thread. String KHX, BBSv2 and like... what was the one remaining "missing storyline" Nomura once mentioned years ago? What Riku was doing between CoM and the end of KH2? Yeah, that. Dump 'em all into one game.
I don't know what the gameplay would be like for that - maybe Data Sora goes wandering through some other documents, or every incident is just a challenge map of some sort - but at this point we have so many small pieces that will never be a game that the only way to make them a game is to stick 'em together.
Gram
October 7, 2014 @ 02:18 pmOffline