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The 4 Heroes of Light Interview
AveryZoe
September 12, 2010
T
he Final Fantasy series is an iconic collection of games that has truly stood the test of time. What true gamer has never heard of Final Fantasy? A new Final Fantasy title is always news, so the GoozerNation team jumped at the opportunity to interview the developers of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light--even if our questions had to be translated to Japanese and back again.
What was the inspiration behind the story of The 4 Heroes of Light?
The concept was to create a straightforward adventure! Since the concept was simple, we focused on precisely developing the world, characters, and story progression, rather than having a specific inspiration.
What separates this game from all the other Final Fantasy games on already on the market-what makes it unique?
Perhaps in that it's a traditional adventure that returned to its origins. Even looking at other forms of creative entertainment, returning to the
origin is one form of progression.
What types of challenges do you face as a development while creating an entirely new FINAL FANTASY game like The 4 Heroes of Light versus remaking previous FINAL FANTASY titles?
We kept traditional RPG elements, such as story, graphics, sound, system, etc., but a lot of trial and error went into developing this game with cutting-edge technology and accumulated know-how. There were additional challenges, such as creating the Crown system, a world that gradually opens, and creating a cooperative multiplayer system that matches well with current play styles.
Is it difficult to work within an established series like Final Fantasy, trying to add new content while staying somewhat true to the original form?
As an established series, I'd have to say it is difficult. That said, the basis of FINAL FANTASY has been for each staff that has come together to challenge themselves to come up with a great new title! I believe that this mindset of wanting to create something new is essential to all creative entertainment projects.
Why was the Ds chosen as the platform for this title, and are there any plans to develop on other platforms such as the PSP, 3Ds, or even consoles?
The FINAL FANTASY III and FINAL FANTASY IV remakes for Nintendo DS were well-received, but the staff reunited and began working on this title with the goal of creating an entirely new game while using knowledge and skills we gained in working on the FINAL FANTASY remake titles. We therefore decided on Nintendo DS as the platform from the start. There are currently no plans to develop on other platforms so in the meantime, please enjoy the game on Nintendo DS!
Were there any changes or additions made to the American version of the game?
From the start, our direction was a "traditional RPG"! So there aren't any drastic changes for the North American version.
Is the gameplay in The 4 Heroes of Light generally linear as in previous FINAL FANTASY titles, or is it more of a "sandbox" title?
The beginning is story-driven while we introduce the world, while the latter half allows you to explore the world openly. We've prepared a big twist for the latter half, so please look forward to it!
What upcoming projects are in the works for this development team?
We are already involved in a number of projects. For titles that have already been announced, Matrix, Composer Mizuta and myself are collaborating on FINAL FANTASY LEGENDS The Warriors of Light and Darkness, which will be released on mobile phones in Japan this summer. The Character Design and Art Director Yoshida is working on the PSP title, TACTICS OGRE: Let Us Cling Together. Other members are tackling new titles, so please stay tuned for new information from Square Enix!
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is set to be released in the U.S. on October 5th (it was released in Japan in 2009).
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