FuRyu's Reynatis: A Deep Dive with the Creators
NIS America's upcoming release of FuRyu's action RPG, Reynatis, for Switch, Steam, PS5, and PS4 has generated significant buzz. To delve deeper, we spoke with Creative Producer TAKUMI, Scenario Writer Kazushige Nojima, and Composer Yoko Shimomura. This interview, conducted via video call and email, explores the game's development, inspirations, and the collaborative process behind this highly anticipated title.
Development and Inspirations
TAKUMI, director and producer at FuRyu, shared the genesis of Reynatis, revealing his personal inspiration drawn from the iconic Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer. While acknowledging the sensitive nature of the comparison, he emphasized Reynatis as a wholly original creation, born from a desire to explore the potential of that unrealized project. He also discussed the positive reception in Japan, particularly among fans of Tetsuya Nomura's work, highlighting their insightful engagement with the story and gameplay.
Addressing the common FuRyu experience of strong games with minor technical shortcomings, TAKUMI confirmed post-launch updates focusing on balancing, quality-of-life improvements, and bug fixes. The Western release, he assured, will benefit from these refinements.
The collaborative process proved unconventional, with TAKUMI directly contacting Yoko Shimomura and Kazushige Nojima via social media and messaging apps, a testament to his personal approach and the strong relationships forged. He cited his childhood love for Kingdom Hearts and the Final Fantasy series as driving forces behind these collaborations.
Platform Strategy and Future Plans
TAKUMI discussed the platform selection, confirming that all platforms were planned from the outset, with the Switch serving as the lead platform. He acknowledged the Switch's limitations, balancing the desire for optimal visuals with the need for broad accessibility across multiple consoles. He also revealed FuRyu's increasing internal focus on PC development, although the Japanese market's console preference still influences platform decisions.
The NEO: The World Ends With You collaboration was approached directly with Square Enix, highlighting the rarity of such cross-company collaborations in the console space.
Regarding future plans, TAKUMI expressed a personal interest in bringing Reynatis to Xbox, but cited the lack of consumer demand in Japan as a current obstacle. Smartphone ports remain a case-by-case consideration, prioritizing titles suitable for mobile adaptation without compromising the core gameplay experience.
The Creators' Perspectives
Yoko Shimomura described the composition process as driven by feeling, highlighting the creative surge experienced before recording the Reynatis soundtrack. She expressed surprise at the recognizability of her style, attributing it to a maturation of her compositional approach. She confirmed no specific external influences on her work for Reynatis.
Kazushige Nojima discussed the evolution of narrative design, emphasizing the shift towards creating more fully realized characters. He shared his involvement, initiated by Yoko Shimomura, and acknowledged the game's potential connection to Versus XIII without confirming direct influence. He highlighted Marin's character development as a favorite aspect.
Final Thoughts
TAKUMI concluded by expressing his hope that players will enjoy Reynatis for an extended period, highlighting the planned DLC releases to provide ongoing content and encourage continued engagement. While there are currently no plans for an art book or soundtrack release, he expressed interest in making the soundtrack available in the future.
The interview concluded with a lighthearted discussion on coffee preferences, showcasing the personalities behind this intriguing collaboration. Reynatis promises a compelling blend of action RPG gameplay, narrative depth, and memorable music, poised to captivate players worldwide.
