Takumi, Nojima & Shimomura Interview on Coffee and Final Fantasy XVI

FuRyu's Reynatis: An Interview with the Creators

NIS America's upcoming release of FuRyu's action RPG, Reynatis, for Switch, Steam, PS5, and PS4 prompted an in-depth conversation with Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura. The interview, conducted in stages (a video call with TAKUMI, translated by Alan from NIS America, and email exchanges with Nojima and Shimomura), delves into the game's development, inspirations, collaborations, and much more.

TAKUMI's Perspective

TAKUMI, director and producer at FuRyu, shares his role in conceptualizing, producing, and directing Reynatis. He expresses delight at the overwhelmingly positive international response, noting significantly more engagement from Western audiences than within Japan. He attributes this partly to the game's resonance with fans of Tetsuya Nomura's work, citing parallels drawn with Final Fantasy Versus XIII.

While acknowledging the Versus XIII trailer as a source of inspiration, TAKUMI emphasizes Reynatis' originality and unique identity. He discusses the ongoing updates planned to address feedback and refine gameplay elements, assuring Western players will receive a polished version.

The conversation touches upon the collaborative process, revealing TAKUMI's direct and informal approach to contacting Shimomura and Nojima, utilizing Twitter and LINE messaging. He details his personal appreciation for their prior works, specifically citing Kingdom Hearts (Shimomura) and Final Fantasy VII and X (Nojima) as key influences.

TAKUMI also addresses the game's development timeline (approximately three years), navigating pandemic challenges, and the platform selection, explaining the balance between maximizing reach (Switch, PS5, PS4, Steam) and delivering a high-quality experience. He confirms FuRyu's internal exploration of PC development, highlighting a recent PC title.

The discussion extends to the NEO: The World Ends With You collaboration, explaining the direct approach to Square Enix and the rarity of such cross-company collaborations in the console gaming space. TAKUMI also reflects on the technical challenges of developing for the Switch, acknowledging its limitations while aiming for a visually impressive game.

Regarding future plans, TAKUMI expresses interest in Xbox releases but cites the current lack of consumer demand in Japan as a significant hurdle. He clarifies FuRyu's focus on console games, with smartphone ports considered on a case-by-case basis based on suitability. He concludes by expressing his hope that players will enjoy Reynatis' long-term appeal, including upcoming DLC content.

Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima's Insights

The email exchange with Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima offers further context. Shimomura shares her creative process, highlighting the spontaneous flow of compositions during the Reynatis soundtrack's development. She acknowledges her distinctive style but finds it difficult to articulate its defining characteristics. She confirms no specific game influenced her work on Reynatis.

Nojima discusses his approach to scenario writing, emphasizing the shift towards more fully realized characters in modern games. He reflects on his involvement with Reynatis, initiated through Shimomura, and hints at potential connections to Versus XIII without confirmation. He highlights Marin's character development as a favorite aspect. Finally, he shares his gaming preferences, including Elden Ring and Dragon's Dogma 2, humorously admitting his struggles with action games.

Concluding Thoughts

The interview concludes with a lighthearted question about coffee preferences, followed by a final message from TAKUMI encouraging players, particularly those who feel marginalized, to experience Reynatis' powerful message.

The piece ends with thanks to all participants and a list of related interviews.