Nomura talks completion percentage and Square Enix characters with Daily Mirror

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Daily Mirror had the opportunity to interview Tetsuya Nomura at D23 Expo this past weekend about KINGDOM HEARTS 3 and its development.

Nomura declined to say what percentage of completion KH3 is at with its development because it's difficult to gauge with just a number. However, they do have everything planned out and are proceeding accordingly, which is why they could confidently announce the release window of 2018.

Regarding the inclusion of characters from other Square Enix properties such as NieR and Dragon Quest, he explained that while it's not impossible, it's also not something he's actively seeking to do due to the large number of original characters that already exist. If the opportunity arises, it's certainly worth considering, but it may not be worth including new characters if they cannot fully commit to them.

Nomura is also asked about a common trait in his character designs: the belts and zippers. While that was his preference around 15 years ago, he's not particularly conscious about adding them these days. In fact, it was because people teased him so much about the belts and zippers that he sought to include them even more!

Nomura admits he's the type of person who will not back down when confronted and will double-down instead. If people try to provoke him by saying "Kingdom Hearts 3 is being delayed", he jokes that he may actually try to delay it.

Read the full interview on Daily Mirror.

 

[ultima-demi]

C'mon guys let's all try and get KH3 delayed!

 

[gosoxtim]

the sqaure enix cameo is intresing

 

[OathkeeperRoxas XIII]

But people will probably still do that with the 'teasing' so it's the saying never poke a sleeping bear?

 

[DarkosOverlord]

Nomura, stop joking and bring Sephiroth back.
13 years old me still waits to see Sora legit defeating him.

 

[vangerme]

LOL god Nomura is such a tool (in a good way....kind of? LOL).
Honestly I feel like this is just his way of fool-proofing in case it actually does get delayed...like "haha gotcha it's getting delayed because you guys kept annoying me about it (but really we need more time so I'm delaying it)"

I swear if this game isn't out in 2018 I will fight Nomura myself

 

[Alpha Baymax]

Nomura, stop joking and bring Sephiroth back.

I genuinely think that Nomura is serious with that. Plus, Cloud and Sephiroth's arc was resolved in Kingdom Hearts II. No point in dragging that even further.

 

[Zettaflare]

I genuinely think that Nomura is serious with that. Plus, Cloud and Sephiroth's arc was resolved in Kingdom Hearts II. No point in dragging that even further.

It was? Sephiroth is still haunting Cloud. We didn't even see if Cloud beat him in KH2.

Plus if you take what happened to Zack in consideration, no way is that story arc complete.

 

[DarkosOverlord]

Who cares about Cloud in KH. That tool is not even Cloud, it's Vincent with a wig.
KH started a Sora - Sephiroth routine that I want to see to completion.

 

[Alpha Baymax]

It was? Sephiroth is still haunting Cloud. We didn't even see if Cloud beat him in KH2.

Plus if you take what happened to Zack in consideration, no way is that story arc complete.

Some stuff is left to interpretation. You can argue the same thing about Tifa's disappearance too. Final Fantasy characters serve as nothing more than cameo characters with occasional intertwining with the main plot, but they're really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

 

[DarkosOverlord]

Aside from the fact that I think explaining almost all there is to know about Heartless, Keyholes and Ansem to the hero, not to mention installing the right gummis to reach new worlds are kind of a big deal in the grand scheme of things, that is not that relevant when talking secret bosses.

I'd like to see Sephiroth back, main plot and Cloud be damned.
By far one if not the most popular characters of the FF franchise according to many polls, powers that were well implemented in the series, and became a staple many are fond of.
If Nomura thinks he shouldn't be here for this game, he really misread an opportunity for a recurring trope and will smash more than one's childhood hopes.

 

[Zettaflare]

Some stuff is left to interpretation. You can argue the same thing about Tifa's disappearance too. Final Fantasy characters serve as nothing more than cameo characters with occasional intertwining with the main plot, but they're really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

It not being important to the main plot shouldn't prevent it from returning. It wasn't relevant to the plot in KH1, 2, and BBS yet the still developed and expanded on it. They could easily do the same in KH3 without it interfering with the storyline

 

[Alpha Baymax]

Aside from the fact that I think explaining almost all there is to know about Heartless, Keyholes and Ansem to the hero, not to mention installing the right gummis to reach new worlds are kind of a big deal in the grand scheme of things, that is not that relevant when talking secret bosses.

That kind of comparison is apples and oranges.

I'd like to see Sephiroth back, main plot and Cloud be damned.
By far one if not the most popular characters of the FF franchise according to many polls, powers that were well implemented in the series, and became a staple many are fond of.
If Nomura thinks he shouldn't be here for this game, he really misread an opportunity for a recurring trope and will smash more than one's childhood hopes.

It's the whole Laguna Loire situation from in Birth by Sleep again. Laguna could have been in Birth by Sleep, but because he was selected for Dissidia 012, he was omitted.

It not being important to the main plot shouldn't prevent it from returning. It wasn't relevant to the plot in KH1, 2, and BBS yet the still developed and expanded on it. They could easily do the same in KH3 without it interfering with the storyline

Judging from Nomura's response in the interview, him and his team seems fairly reluctant of adding back Sephiroth. And when you really think about it, he's also the current director of Final Fantasy VII Remake too. He sees Kingdom Hearts III and Final Fantasy VII Remake as entirely different projects, so I don't blame him for not wanting to integrate Sephiroth into Kingdom Hearts seeing as he's developing the character for the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

 

[Chaser]

The twitter mentions for khi about this article is ridiculous. Y'all have joked about delays for years, especially when there wasn't even a release date to delay and when Nomura jumps on this bandwagon it's suddenly "too far" and "this joke is in poor taste", as if every single delay joke so far hasn't been in poor taste. SMH!!

 

[DarkosOverlord]

That kind of comparison is apples and oranges.

"Final Fantasy characters serve as nothing more than cameo characters with occasional intertwining with the main plot, but they're really not a big deal in the grand scheme of things."

"Leon and the others a really important tho"

"Apples and oranges"

Can't help but feel some leaps in logic. I didn't compare Leon to Sephiroth if that's what you meant, merely proving FF characters aren't just cameos.

 

[gosoxtim]

The twitter mentions for khi about this article is ridiculous. Y'all have joked about delays for years, especially when there wasn't even a release date to delay and when Nomura jumps on this bandwagon it's suddenly "too far" and "this joke is in poor taste", as if every single delay joke so far hasn't been in poor taste. SMH!!

chaser what do you think sepiroth in kh3 yeah or nah be differnt this time

 

[Lonbilly]

Personally, I would love to see Sephiroth, Cloud and Tifa's story wrapped up in KH at some point, but not at the expense of losing time for the main plot which already has a LOT it needs to accomplish.

I wouldn't mind seeing that subplot patched into the game later on in a Final Mix DLC pack, seeing as how Sephiroth was Final Mix only in KH1 for Japan. We only got him and the other secret bosses because of how long the localization time was.

 

[UltimaXOmega]

Noctis in KHIII or riot.
Darth Vader for secret boss.

 

[Squood!]

I do hope Sephiroth comes back since they're still deliberating on it. I beat him in 1, beat him in 2, and saw the story with him and Cloud play out in both of them. I want KH3 to show how that story ends, especially if Zack could get involved.

Also Cloud being a party member for the fight.

Don't get me wrong, I do want other FF bosses too. I just want Sephiroth back for one last round as well.

 

[NuclearCheetos15]

I get he's just joking.. but considering the companies more recent track record, is that really something he should be gloating about? From a business perspective.. that's just bad business.