Reynatis Interview: Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura discuss the game, coffee, and more

This extensive interview delves into the creation of FuRyu's action RPG, Reynatis, slated for Western release on September 27th. We hear from Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura. The discussion covers various aspects of the game's development, inspirations, and collaborations.

TAKUMI, director and producer at FuRyu, shares the genesis of Reynatis, emphasizing his role in conceptualization, production, and direction. He expresses delight at the overwhelmingly positive international reception, noting that the game's buzz is significantly stronger outside Japan. He also comments on the Japanese player response, highlighting the game's appeal to fans of Tetsuya Nomura's works (like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts) who appreciate its thematic resonance and stylistic choices.

The interview directly addresses the Final Fantasy Versus XIII comparisons, with TAKUMI acknowledging the inspiration drawn from the original trailer but emphasizing Reynatis's unique identity as a wholly original creation. He confirms communication with Nomura, stating that the game is intended as a fan-made interpretation of what Versus XIII might have become.

TAKUMI discusses planned updates to address player feedback, including boss balancing and quality-of-life improvements, aiming for the Western release to be the most refined version. He details the informal nature of his collaborations with Shimomura and Nojima, relying heavily on direct communication via social media and messaging apps.

TAKUMI reveals his personal inspirations, citing Kingdom Hearts as a formative influence on his values and his choice of Shimomura, and his appreciation for Nojima's work on titles like Final Fantasy VII and X. He also discusses his approach to game design, balancing the need for broad platform appeal with his directorial vision, acknowledging the Switch version pushes the console's limits.

The conversation touches upon the NEO: The World Ends With You collaboration, explaining the direct approach to Square Enix and the challenges of securing such a rare cross-company collaboration in the console space. TAKUMI shares insights into the game's development timeline (approximately three years), navigating the challenges of the pandemic, and the team's ability to maintain effective communication.

The interview also explores FuRyu's internal development processes, their consideration of PC development, and the reasons behind the lack of Xbox releases (primarily due to market demand in Japan). TAKUMI clarifies FuRyu's focus on console development, with smartphone ports considered on a case-by-case basis depending on suitability.

The concluding portion features email responses from Shimomura and Nojima. Shimomura discusses her compositional process and the creative energy she experienced during the Reynatis soundtrack's creation, while Nojima reflects on his approach to storytelling across different eras of game development. Both share their coffee preferences, adding a lighthearted touch to the end of the interview. The interview concludes with TAKUMI's message to potential players, emphasizing Reynatis's strong thematic resonance with those who feel stifled or marginalized by societal pressures.

The interview includes several images throughout, showcasing the game's art style and providing visual context. The original image formatting is preserved.