Creators of NieR Discuss Lore, Inspiration

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 inspirations, collaborations, development challenges, and much more.

TAKUMI, director and producer at FuRyu, shares his role in conceptualizing, producing, and directing Reynatis. He expresses delight at the game's overwhelmingly positive reception, particularly in the West, noting a stronger international buzz than in Japan. He acknowledges the game's connection to the Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer as a source of inspiration, emphasizing that Reynatis remains a wholly original creation. He discusses planned updates to address player feedback and assures Western audiences they'll receive a refined version.

TAKUMI details the positive Japanese player response, particularly from fans of Tetsuya Nomura's works, who appreciate the game's narrative progression and unique FuRyu gameplay elements. The interview touches upon the development process during the pandemic, highlighting the team's ability to adapt and maintain communication.

The conversation shifts to the collaborations with Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima. TAKUMI reveals his direct approach, utilizing informal communication methods like Twitter and LINE, rather than formal company channels. He cites his personal admiration for their work in Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy series as the driving force behind these collaborations.

TAKUMI discusses the game's development timeline (approximately three years), acknowledging past FuRyu titles' occasional technical shortcomings while expressing satisfaction with Reynatis' current state and planned improvements. He also explains the decision to release on multiple platforms (Switch, Steam, PS5, PS4), balancing production considerations with creative vision.

The interview covers 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 shares his personal history with the The World Ends With You series, highlighting his enthusiasm for the crossover.

TAKUMI discusses his influences, emphasizing his lifelong love for action games and a conscious decision to create a complete gaming experience rather than solely focusing on graphical fidelity. He explains the challenges of balancing the game's visual appeal with the limitations of the Switch as the lead platform.

The interview continues with discussions about FuRyu's internal PC development processes, the increasing demand for PC versions in Japan, and future plans for smartphone ports of premium titles. TAKUMI expresses his personal desire for Xbox releases but acknowledges the current lack of market demand in Japan as a significant hurdle.

TAKUMI expresses excitement for the Western release, emphasizing the planned DLC releases that will provide new content without spoiling the main storyline. He discusses potential future plans for an art book and soundtrack release.

The interview concludes with TAKUMI's personal gaming preferences, his favorite past projects (highlighting Reynatis), and a message to potential players emphasizing the game's strong themes of overcoming societal pressures.

The email portion of the interview with Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima provides insights into their involvement, creative processes, and personal preferences. Shimomura discusses her compositional approach and the inspiration behind the Reynatis soundtrack. Nojima shares his perspective on scenario writing, comparing his approach across different eras and highlighting Marin's character development in Reynatis. Both share their coffee preferences.

The interview concludes with a thank you to all participants and a list of other TouchArcade interviews.