Ahead of the Final Fantasy VII Remake's launch, Square Enix introduced the amazing geniuses behind the highly anticipated reimagining of their hit role-playing game (RPG). Discover what the remake creators have to say about the new title as they share their experiences from the game's early stages leading to the release, as well as hints as to what fans can expect on March 3, 2020.
Yoshinori Kitase on Producing: 'The Right Time Has Finally Arrived'
Over the last decade, Producer Yoshinori Kitase had a preemptive response memorized to answer the question often thrown by fans and journalists: "When are you making the Final Fantasy VII Remake?"'
As if on autopilot, Yoshinori would say, "If the 'right time' comes along, we might just do it someday!" Now that the 'time' has finally arrived, he said the game surpassed even his own expectations, but the members of the development team were great at ensuring the spirit of the original game was kept.
Tetsuya Nomura on the Concept Design: 'New Bosses Will Appear'
Fans often worry that the size of the game would be too large for their devices. For Director and Concept Designer Tetsuya Nomura, there is no reason to worry at all. There are a lot of things to look forward to, like new bosses that will add excitement to the story, and the size won't be a problem.
Nomura added that he has been carrying these ideas around for a long time, so he is just as excited as anyone about the release.
Kazushige Nojima on the Story: 'There Was Some Fear'
Kazushige Nojima of Stellavista Ltd. admitted that adding a 'new current of wind' to the Final Fantasy VII Remake was exciting but at the same time, frightening. "There will be much less room for player imagination," he said.
According to him, that fact alone considerably changes the feel of the story and he fears that people who loved the original version might not take it very well. Still, he's convinced that if fans will feel the same fiery connection he felt with Cloud, the gaming experience would be extremely amazing.
Naoki Hamaguchi on the Game Design: 'New But Familiar'
Co-Director Naoki Hamaguchi had nothing but respect for the original Final Fantasy VII version. That's why in the Remake, she and the entire development team made sure to match the current generation's expectations with a new and improved technological power and entertainment quality while keeping the game's original elements. After all, these elements are what charmed and captivated millions of players around the world.
Motomu Toriyama on Scenario Design: 'A Pantheon of Entertainment'
On designing the scenes, Co-Director Motomu Toriyama said they "used the newest visuals, voice acting, and character facial expressions" to make the Final Fantasy VII universe appear more realistic. He added that there is a lot to look forward to, including the all-new Honey-Bee Inn at the Wall Market, which he described as a "pantheon of entertainment."
Shintaro Takai on Visual Effects: 'Various Elements of Playfulness'
For Graphics and VFX Director Shintaro Takai, Final Fantasy VII Remake is unlike other major games known for their photorealistic effects. According to him, this title is realistic, and at the same time, expresses various elements of playfulness. He added that you'll notice this difference as you explore every corner of Midgar.
Teruki Endo on the Game Battles: 'We Needed a New Design Philosophy'
Battle Director Teruki Endo said he was challenged in searching for a new battle design philosophy. Thus, in the Remake of this hit RPG, he and his team worked hard to create new strategic elements for each boss and enemy. While they admitted they had a hard time introducing many new abilities in this version, they still believe their creation will excite fans along the way.
Takako Miyake on Game Environments: 'It's Like Midgar Actually Exists'
In remaking the RPG, Environment Director Takako Miyake and the graphics team had to constantly answer the question, "How would Midgar look if it existed in real life?"
"We examined those portions that were once left to the players' imaginations, fell outside of the on-screen area, or were between scenes, and tried to supplement them in detail," said Miyake. He added that the new and improved version would allow fans to feel as though Midgar actually exists.
Iichiro Yamaguchi on the Lighting: 'A Fresh and Modern Standard'
Lighting Director Iichiro Yamaguchi wanted to retain the original game's lighting elements but admitted that he carefully attempted to add a fresh, modern standard to recreate the world he had in mind.
"In the world of the game, just like in real life, if there is not some form of light then you won't be able to see anything," said Yamaguchi. "When putting up just anywhere, Midgar could lose its token Midgar-ness, and Cloud wouldn't be Cloud anymore."
Masaaki Kazeno on Character Modeling: 'Charming, Fresh, Nostalgic'
Like many fans and those in the development team, Masaaki Kazeno had been so strongly influenced by the original Final Fantasy VII. Hence, as the director of the Character Modeling team, he did everything in a way that shows "both charm and freshness whilst keeping that nostalgia."
Yoshiyuki Soma on the Animation: 'The Characters Are Alive There With You'
Animation Director said they have done their best to ensure that fans will feel as if the characters are alive. "We really hope you enjoy the story of Midgar on a huge screen, with Cloud and his friends," he added.
