Dengeki Interview with Nomura on 2.8

Meilin Lee · Sep 23, 2015

In a new interview with Dengeki Playstation, director Tetsuya Nomura discusses the final remaster before Kingdom Hearts III, where he further clarifies the difference between X[chi]/Unchained X[chi] and Back Cover, how the decision to make 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue came to be, and some hints on what to expect from 0.2 Birth by Sleep (including how it was originally planned to be included in KH3!). The fully translated interview can be read below:

--When were the plans for 2.8 set into motion? Could you tell us the aim of exclusively using the PS4 console again?

Nomura: We started thinking about it after completing 2.5 HD ReMix. It was about the time that we had finished deciding on the packaging, when we thought “What about a HD version of KH3D?” We had been talking about KH3, but since KH3D is such an essential preface to the story, I thought that, no matter what, I wanted to make an HD version of KH3D before KH3 was sold. When I was thinking about whether or not to release KH3D HD on its own, the time until we could play KH3 became shorter--rather than being affected by a change to the KH3 engine's initial plans. I knew I wanted everyone to get a taste of the world of KH3 as quickly as possible, no matter what. That being said, just like with 1.5 and 2.5, I thought about how I wanted to package KH3D's essential story with a product that was a part of KH3 and its technology. In result, it was inevitable that the console would be the PS4.

--I'm really excited to play KH3D on a non-portable console, but in regards to X[chi], why did you decide to make the story into a theatrical production?

Nomura: Kingdom Hearts X[chi] and Kingdom Hearts Unchained X[chi] are both still running games, and they've still got a lot left to cover. For that reason, our intention is actually not to show the story as it is right now. In X[chi] and Unchained X[chi], from the players' perspective, the story is continuing onward, but in Kingdom Hearts X[chi]: Back Cover, the story is told from the character of the players' affiliated unions, the Foretellers. Since X[chi] and Unchained X[chi] are online games, there are probably fans that think the hurdles to jump are too high. However, in order to tell the full story of Kingdom Hearts, the Foretellers are very important characters, so I wanted to make sure players encountered the world of X[chi] and Unchained X[chi] some way or another. The Foretellers aren't really characters that can be fit into the timeline somewhere, so we are dedicating their story to a theatrical production.

--Please tell us more about the details and aim of the brand-new supplement based on BBS, which is different than any of the HD remasters so far.

Nomura: Actually, this was what I worried about the most. We showed this for a bit in the secret episode of BBS: Final Mix, but the concept for two chapters of BBS is something we've had for a while, and because of problems with time, it's become just a morceau. That concept itself is living on as a setup, so it was our plan to show it at the beginning of KH3, but since the volume of material in KH3 has increased, I was thinking it was something we just touched on a little. Just as I explained in your previous question, we won't show the whole thing of the initial concept, but we decided to show it ahead of KH3 as a short episode.

--Could you please tell us precise release dates, as well as the progress in development at this time?

Nomura: It's not quite time for us to give an exact release date, but we're planning on a release in 2016. As far as production goes, since we're working on it alongside KH3, we're using the same technology in some parts, and I can't talk about what current phase we're on.

--Can you tell us more about what you've had to change for KH3D, such as going from two screens on the handheld to one on the console, etc.?

Nomura: Since everything in the original was developed with the idea of having two screens, we're having to reproduce everything so that it fits one screen, so it's much different than the other HD releases, as it is more of a “remake.” Since the original design for the 3DS was a lot of fun to play with, in order to keep that same fun while remaking it for the PS4, we're having to cover a lot of ground and make lots of changes. I will have more details in the next interview, so please wait until then.

--Do you have any kind of added elements decided?

Nomura: Unlike 1.5 and 2.5, we're working with three productions that are not simply a change to HD. As I said before, we're combining KH3D into one screen so it's basically a remake, and the other two productions are completely new and both utilize KH3 technology--since the density of the original products are so great, we don't really have any big added elements. There will be items to collect that are newly added, like what you saw in 1.5 and 2.5.

--Will the movie for Kingdom Hearts X[chi]: Back Cover be a completely new product?

Nomura: Yes, it's completely new. We're making it with the same technology used in KH3, and the characters that appear are all new characters, so the Foretellers and Chirithy will need voices, so we have to work on casting as well as making their models, the scenes...everything will be made from scratch. However, while deciding the scenes, we were writing scenes for the base game Kingdom Hearts X[chi] at the same time, so we inserted some of those scenes into X[chi]. So, the story will be one that players of X[chi] will more easily understand in the timeline.

--Can you tell us what you mean by the title “Back Cover”?

Nomura: Both X[chi] and Unchained X[chi] were made with the concept of a “fairy tale,” so based on the other side we chose the title “Back Cover.” X[chi] and Unchained X[chi] are told from the players' perspective--the front side, so the perspective of the Foretellers is considered the “back side.”

--Could you tell us more about the movie's details and highlights, as well as the amount of content?

Nomura: People currently playing X[chi] and Unchained X[chi] already know this, but we have not really seen much of the Foretellers as individuals outside of each of their organizations. In this production, we hope to make clear the thoughts of each Foretellers, as well as why they formed their unions, and I think what they'll have to say will be very interesting. As far as the content volume goes, since this won't be the length of a full game, I can only tell you that it will be in the format of a short story.

--Will Aqua be the main character in the realm of darkness for Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth by Sleep? Also, will the story be about what's happened in the ten years that have passed? (As in, the period of time before the BBS secret episode, where she met Ansem the Wise?)

Nomura: That's right. Aqua is the main character, so the story will follow Aqua through the realm of darkness. However, the flow of time in the realm of darkness is different, so it's not simply ten years that have passed. The beginning of the story is after the secret episode in BBS: Final Mix, but the story's ending is the finale, so I can't talk about it. Actually, we prefaced to it in the secret episode, but in the opening, just before the new journey in KH3, we'll tell you about King Mickey meeting Aqua again, who has been hidden away all this time...it will be that kind of introduction.

--As far as gameplay goes, how has the system and action changed? Please tell us about this along with the content volume.

Nomura: It is similar to the flow of BBS, but we plan to include a portion that resembles KH3. For details, please wait until the next information release. As far as volume content goes, this short story will be about the length of one world in the usual KH series. We want to give the players something they'll be satisfied with by letting them experience KH3 gameplay in a sample size.

--Can you tell us about the meaning of 0.2's title, “Fragmentary Passage?

Nomura: As far as content goes, we can't include a full volume of content to play with like the second chapter of BBS, so it's just a “fragment,” and we left that part of the subtitle. '0.5' is one of the letters and numbers that appeared in the secret episode of BBS: Final Mix, and that meant full volume, so we decided on '0.2' this time, to indicate that there will be more content to come. However, the remaining passage will be told in KH3, so we wanted to show that this production is closely related to KH3.

--Finally, 2.8 will be an extremely important bridge title to KH3, won't it? Can you tell us about any noteworthy points in that connection?

Nomura: For 1.5 and 2.5, we added the word 'ReMIX' to the title, but for 2.8 we're adding 'Final Chapter Prologue'. This is not to say that this is the final chapter in the KH series, but it does mean that 2.8 will continue to pull the curtain closed on the story of the Dark Seeker. As I stated earlier, the content serves as a preface to KH3, starting with the Dream Drop Distance HD, and Kingdom Hearts X[chi]: Back Cover will also be very important to the KH series. I mentioned this in a previous answer, but 0.2 Birth by Sleep is closely related to KH3. It's definitely no mistake to say that the three productions packaged in 2.8 are all in preparation for KH3.
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Source: KH13.com

. : tale_wind · Sep 23, 2015

Interesting to hear that Back Cover will be using KHIII technology as well!

libregkd · Sep 23, 2015

...

Menos Grande · Sep 23, 2015

(...)I thought about how I wanted to package KH3D's essential story with a product that was a part of KH3 and its technology. In result, it was inevitable that the console would be the PS4.

(I love how this makes no sense, so it was inevitable to ignore XBOX ONE, because of reasons)

The Foretellers aren't really characters that can be fit into the timeline somewhere, so we are dedicating their story to a theatrical production.

I am actually bothered by this, sure they do a " fake time travel thing", but they are on the past aren't they?
Just as I explained in your previous question, we won't show the whole thing of the initial concept, but we decided to show it ahead of KH3 as a short episode.

I am happy they didn't just cancel it, as BBS 2 would probably be better than all those DS games, but I am worried about being just one world, hope it comes back full in KH 3

--Could you please tell us precise release dates, as well as the progress in development at this time?

(An answer is unacceptable, they skipped the ps3 gen >(!)

--Can you tell us more about what you've had to change for KH3D, such as going from two screens on the handheld to one on the console, etc.?

Nomura: Since everything in the original was developed with the idea of having two screens, we're having to reproduce everything so that it fits one screen, so it's much different than the other HD releases, as it is more of a “remake.” Since the original design for the 3DS was a lot of fun to play with, in order to keep that same fun while remaking it for the PS4, we're having to cover a lot of ground and make lots of changes. I will have more details in the next interview, so please wait until then.

I really hope they get this right! Until now in the games I've played the touchpad was almost useless would trade for my start button any day.

Nomura: That's right. Aqua is the main character, so the story will follow Aqua through the realm of darkness. However, the flow of time in the realm of darkness is different, so it's not simply ten years that have passed. (...) this short story will be about the length of one world in the usual KH series.

Why do you torture me with a such tiny game?

---

I am kind of underwhelmed. Even though Kingdom hearts 3D is important plot wise, it must be the shortest Kingdom hearts games ever , even those games at Nintendo DS that are fillers in comparison have more gameplay to it, 358/2 goes out of its way to give us multiplayer (and the ability to play as Donald duck, that was my main reason to buy KH I), Recoded have those hacking gimmicks and such (even though It was boring replaying KH I one more time). So It is a short game bundled with a movie, and a demo... I had high hopes for BBS as It was an actual new game promised for ages, so I don't see why this collection will have a full price tag.

Explode · Sep 24, 2015

Figured that 0.2 was originally intended to be a part of KH3. Though it sounds like part of it might still be, which is pretty exciting that there may be more. Maybe this way they can tell most of the story that they wanted to, but without bothering those who only want to play as Sora (which still baffles me, but I digress).

Menos Grande said: ↑

I am kind of underwhelmed. Even though Kingdom hearts 3D is important plot wise, it must be the shortest Kingdom hearts games ever , even those games at Nintendo DS that are fillers in comparison have more gameplay to it, 358/2 goes out of its way to give us multiplayer (and the ability to play as Donald duck, that was my main reason to buy KH I), Recoded have those hacking gimmicks and such (even though It was boring replaying KH I one more time). So It is a short game bundled with a movie, and a demo... I had high hopes for BBS as It was an actual new game promised for ages, so I don't see why this collection will have a full price tag.
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Kingdom Hearts 3D is not a short game. I believe my playtime of the main story was 38 hours first time through. 60, after doing most of the optional stuff. Knowing what you're doing, you could probably casually beat it in about 20-25 hours. For context, my most recent playthrough of Kingdom Hearts 1 Final Mix was like 18 hours, if you include cutscene time.

Also, consider DDD is a newer game compared to the other games featured in previous collections, there's more that they have to do to port it, and it's being released on a current gen console. Coupled with the fact that there's completely new stuff, the price isn't unreasonable. FFX/X-2 Remastered is $50 on PS4, as is FF Type-0 HD. Both are older than KH3D (one by 11+ years) and feature no new content (aside from FF XV demo with pre-order of Type-0 HD).

That being said, this could just be a placeholder price that they change later. I think $50 would be smarter, but for what's included, they're well within their rights to charge $60.

Patman · Sep 24, 2015

Menos Grande said: ↑

The Foretellers aren't really characters that can be fit into the timeline somewhere, so we are dedicating their story to a theatrical production.

I am actually bothered by this, sure they do a " fake time travel thing", but they are on the past aren't they?
Click to expand...

I assume he meant they' ll barely be brought up in KH3. At least not with a good enough excuse to throw a powerpoint presentation summarizing what they did back in Chi for those who missed it (so pretty much everyone).

Chad Thundercucc · Sep 26, 2015

A little disappointed by the length of BBS0.2.

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Dengeki Interview with Nomura on 2.8

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