Theres a significantly larger world map for players to roam and intricate detailing in the fighting style and fiends.
DEADLINE: The relationships in this game are incredibly fleshed out this time around.
Was there a most challenging character to build upon this time?
Square Enix
NAOKI HAMAGUCHI:We worked on every character quite evenly for the game.
So, there was not really a particular character that was treated special.
So, there was more work involved for that specific character in preparing these scenarios.
Square Enix
Barret has to kind of go through confronting his loss twice.
Can you talk more about that?
And thats how the players have gone about it at that time.
Now, we have the ability to do so and just go deepening into this depiction and expression.
I am almost 42 years old, and within our development staff, were all quite close in age.
Regarding Barrets mine hometown inRebirth,the setting with Dyne and Marlene hasnt changed.
But this time, weve depicted the very fierce battle between Dyne and Baret in an extremely moving way.
How have you managed to keep the material and your partnership ideas fresh?
Whos the best at keeping on track or suggesting wild ideas?
So, he will look at it or provide input from that perspective.
Then, that goes back to Toriyama and Nojima.
Then, they adjust and confirm we are all aligned.
But in terms of overall game [experience], that is under myself.
And because of that, I believe we were able to reach this very high quality of work.
DEADLINE: The Loveless stage play section of the game is sure to be the highlight with fans.
Youve got Cloud dressed as a Prince and all this incredibly choreographed ballet dancing.
How did this come about with Nojima and cutscene directors Hidekazu Miyake and Junichi Hayashi?
And for players of the original game, what we mostly imagine is the date scene gondola sequence.
And if we were to replicate this inRebirth, I think it just wouldnt be as entertaining.
I spoke with Toriyama about this and got his opinions on crafting this solid onstage experience.
And at the time, we were all like, Oh, are we really going to do this?
Is it going to pan out?
But looking now as a result, I think, Wow.
That was a pretty good idea, Kitase-san, and I think it turned out quite well.
How do those themes resonate with the whole of the story that youre trying to retell for thisRemaketrilogy?
It was from there that the idea of the lifestream had come to fruition.
And so, in that way, life and death became the primary theme forFinal Fantasy VII.
But, of course, thats something thats not possible in reality.
We see it, we understand it.
DEADLINE: Im scared to ask, but we have to talk a little bit about the ending.
On the final date with Aerith, Cloud looks up and sees the sky split in half.
Cloud can see the rift again, but no one else can.
Can you tease what this means for the fans?
What does it mean for Cloud in the future?
Is he in limbo?
HAMAGUCHI:[Laughs].
But Im excited to see the various interpretations according to each individual.
So, theres going to be quite some time between the release ofRebirthand the third concluding title.
And so, that was something that we wanted to include for people to have these types of questions.
