Abstract
- Xbox Wire Japan just lately had an opportunity to talk with Studio Head and Illustrator Junko Kawano, Producer and Artwork Director Junichi Murakami, and Director Osamu Komuta at Rabbit & Bear Studios.
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was funded by way of Kickstarter with a complete of 46,307 backers that have been anticipating a brand new sport from the creator of the Suikoden sequence, the late Yoshitaka Murayama.
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is on the market now for Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Home windows, and with Recreation Move.
Beginning as we speak, gamers can immerse themselves on the earth of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, which continues a wealthy legacy of memorable JRPGs guided by the stewardship of the late Yoshitaka Murayama and his workforce at Rabbit & Bear Studios.
Funded by way of Kickstarter again in 2020, with a complete of 46,307 backers that have been hungry for extra Murayama-esque sport experiences like Suikoden, Eiyuden Chroncole: Hundred Heroes is now out there for gamers on Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Home windows, in addition to with Recreation Move.
Producer and Artwork Director Junichi Murakami
Studio Head and Illustrator Junko Kawano
Director Osamu Komuta
To commemorate its launch, Xbox Wire Japan just lately had an opportunity to talk with Studio Head and Illustrator Junko Kawano, Producer and Artwork Director Junichi Murakami, and Director Osamu Komuta at Rabbit & Bear Studios, the place the workforce’s honest responses conveyed how a lot Hundred Heroes embodies the imaginative and prescient of Murayama, with a workforce that was constructed across the want to make “essentially the most fascinating sport of [their] lives”.
The Kickstarter launched again in July 2020, and now Hundred Heroes is sort of right here. How are you feeling?
Producer and Artwork Director Junichi Murakami: Really, I haven’t settled down emotionally in any respect but. There’s a sense of reduction that we will lastly ship the product to everybody, however there are nonetheless some issues that we gained’t know till it goes on sale. Though I’m anxious in some methods, there’s a sense of accomplishment in understanding that we’ve got lastly come this far after working exhausting collectively for a protracted time frame.
Director Osamu Komuta : We’ve been engaged on this sport for about three and a half years now, so we’re all exhausted (laughs). We’ve been working exhausting as a workforce to patch the sport, however now we’re closing into the discharge of the sport. On one hand, I’m a bit relieved, however then again, as Murakami talked about, I’m additionally excitedly ready to listen to the reactions of the gamers as the sport goes on sale in two weeks’ time.
Studio Head and Illustrator Junko Kawano: I really feel just about the identical method as these two do, so that they’ve finished many of the speaking. It’s been too lengthy since I’ve labored on a client title, and I really feel like, “Effectively, these days just about everyone seems to be already engaged on patches”, so I actually should maintain going till the final minute… I’m wondering if I’ll really feel finished as soon as it’s launched and everybody has performed it.
What are the highlights of Hundred Heroes, out of your perspective, particularly the elements you want to individuals to concentrate to?
Komuta: Because the title suggests, there are plenty of characters. We would like gamers to go on adventures with their favourite get together and put together for battles with them. We additionally need them to attempt utilizing characters they meet alongside the way in which, and hopefully take pleasure in switching characters round. In most RPGs, you’d prepare the abilities of, otherwise you discover the facility of particular person characters, however in HH, the enjoyable is rooted within the number of characters. The depth of the sport turns into primarily based on the variety of characters that you’ve got skilled and introduced up.
Murakami: By way of design, we’ve got put plenty of thought into every of the characters and made certain that every had a definite persona. Even for a single mini sport, the characters have completely different seems ready only for that sport. Mainly, I don’t suppose we’ve got reduce any corners, so in case you play by means of the sport totally, I feel you will note many good issues that you just anticipated when beginning to play the sport.
What are among the elements of Hundred Heroes that you just targeted on from a JRPG standpoint?
Murakami: I’m certain every of us has our personal ideas on varied issues and what we have been explicit about, however I imagine JRPGs are distinctive in the way in which they painting the character of the story and the characters. There may be at all times an added component the place “something goes in a JRPG.” RPGs from abroad pursue actuality, however within the case of JRPGs, after an intense battle, the gamers are immediately spending time in a sizzling spring (laughs). I feel the fantastic thing about JRPGs is that they comprise a versatile mindset the place enjoyable is hybrid, permitting gamers to start out taking part in with playing cards no matter location. I really feel that Hundred Heroes has been in a position to carry that essence out very nicely.
Komuta: Murayama at all times talked in regards to the makunouchi bento when explaining RPGs. He would say that “RPGs had quite a lot of facet dishes, and each one among them is scrumptious”. Certainly, there’s a storyline that runs by means of the richness of variation and selection like a makunouchi bento. However in case you take a facet journey for a break, you possibly can soak in a sizzling spring, play a card sport, get into the theater…… and have enjoyable. There are various variations within the story.
We have been significantly cautious about ensuring that when the participant goes off on a tangent, the sport may have a correct response to no matter she or he does. Even a single line of dialogue could change relying on the get together you’ve shaped, so I imagine that gamers will benefit from the abundance of choices and the event the sport supplies in response to their selections.
The pixel artwork of the characters in Hundred Heroes is extraordinarily detailed, which appears to be a uncommon course to take lately. How did you resolve on this?
Murakami: Once we first began planning the sport, we had already determined to make it an evolution of pixel artwork, or dots. Once we started to think about what sort of decision we wished to make use of, we began with a measurement that was acquainted from previous video games, however we realized that if we continued on this method, it will be troublesome to differentiate the individuality of the greater than 100 characters Kawano had created, and it will even be troublesome to specific the individuality of the characters themselves.
As well as, the expressions themselves appeared a bit old style, so we determined to extend the decision. Nonetheless, growing the decision would inevitably improve the variety of dots, so the quantity of labor elevated. Moreover, if the decision is elevated too far, the pixel artwork could find yourself turning into extra like an illustration.
After attempting varied strategies, we determined that the present measurement would require extra method, however would permit us to correctly categorical the detailed design and equipment that adorn the characters Kawano has created. The scale and really feel of the design matched the sense of expression that we have been in search of.
There are a number of battles out there: regular battles (with a celebration of 6), boss battles, duels (1 vs. 1), and wars. What are the highlights and key factors of every? Additionally, was the choice to make use of random encounters primarily based on the texture of previous JRPGs?
Komuta: The adoption of random encounters was primarily based on the premise that this sport was a JRPG. Along with this, Murayama’s thought of RPGs was to make it attainable for anybody to finish the sport, even when could the primary time of their lives that they’ve performed such sport. As long as you already know the essential guidelines, anybody can advance and full the story in HH.
At first, we thought-about utilizing symbolic encounters, however we determined to make use of random encounters for this sport, as we thought it will be simpler for gamers to grasp (the sport). We additionally wished to respect the preliminary idea of clearly separating between the scenes, specifically when the video games change between normality and battle.
Within the very early phases of planning, we had two concepts, and one among them was to have the battle transition happen on the spot, which is quite common lately. The concept additionally got here up through the strategy planning stage, however since we wished to specific the transition correctly, we determined to make use of random encounters with clear transitions, that will set the tone and temper and put together the participant for battle. The battles themselves are somewhat easy command battles; even in case you are new to the JPRG style, when you get used to it and begin leveling up, it is possible for you to to maneuver on inside the story.
In fact, there is a component of problem within the sport. The upper you set the issue inside the sport, the extra you’ll have to play across the attributes and the order of actions. There are many difficult battles ready for you, and we hope gamers may have a good time strategizing and overcoming.
The system of strongholds, one-on-one battles, wars, and so on. have been additionally seen in Gensou Suikoden. Did you plan to incorporate these methods from the start of the mission? Is there a cause why you determined to make use of it once more in Hyaku Eiyouden? Additionally, what did you alter from the previous video games to higher swimsuit as we speak’s sport expertise?
Murakami: All of those components have been included within the Kickstarter stretch objective, together with struggle, single fight, and the Fortress City.
Kawano: Together with the cook-offs, too.
Murakami: The backers are followers of Murayama’s video games, so plainly these components have been required. All of them have been real looking targets if we acquired the finances and timeframe proper, so we included them as gadgets, however we’ve already completed all of them. We began from the purpose the place we needed to intention to incorporate all the weather we promised within the Kickstarter program.
Komuta: From the very starting of the mission, we wished to develop the Fortress City facet of the sport. We weren’t speaking a few citadel the place everybody might collect, however somewhat a city the place individuals might construct their very own city, as if we have been placing in an entire different sport the place individuals might construct their very own city.
Murakami: It was borderline loopy to think about such factor (laughs).
Komuta: It’s true that after we began imagining the Fortress City, it was not a straightforward activity. It could have been higher if it was simply an automated development of components, equivalent to the town rising because it ranges up, however this time, we wished to consists of components equivalent to constructing buildings of your personal selecting, and calling within the individuals wanted to construct and preserve them. Some individuals instructed me that I used to be making one other sport inside the sport (laughs).
Murakami: When you get into that section, HH will get increasingly more fascinating. To start with, you don’t even have the Fortress City.
What sort of response did you obtain from abroad gamers (after Kickstarter)? Had been there any areas the place the response was significantly robust?
Murakami: Initially, HH began with the truth that Murayama had many followers abroad, since Kickstarter and crowdfunding typically has not been too acquainted inside Japan. That’s why we didn’t embrace Japan in our crowdfunding actions at first. When the crowdfunding began, we got here to suppose, “No, there are undoubtedly Murayama followers in Japan as nicely,” so we determined to strategy them too, and thus the order was first abroad after which home. The sport itself is developed by Japanese individuals with Japanese sensibilities, so it can have a JRPG-like end. We’ve been attempting to create one thing that’s uniquely Japanese, somewhat than specializing in international nations.
Kawano: By way of the response from individuals abroad, we obtained assist for “making a sport that Murayama likes,” and we anticipated that there can be many followers world wide. In reality, after we launched the crowdfunding, the most important variety of assist got here from the U.S., and the second largest was from Japan. In addition to that, we even have obtained assist from France and the Asian area, but in addition from Brazil, and actually from all around the world. We didn’t actually put together something particular for anyone place, however in contrast to Japanese followers, we obtained requests from American followers which might be a bit extra hardcore, equivalent to wanting a mode with the next degree of problem.
Eiyden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will probably be out there on day one with Recreation Move. What’s your impression of the subscription service?
Murakami: When the thought of distributing Hundred Heroes by means of Recreation Move first got here up, It acquired me considering since I used to be but to think about it as an possibility. I believed it over very nicely and determined that our precedence must be to unfold consciousness of Hundred Heroes somewhat than to intention for the celebs with the primary sport.
Once we settled on this course, we realized that our core followers had already turned their consideration to us. The backers of Hundred Heroes are an important, and we’ll produce the work they want, however I felt that their assist alone wouldn’t be sufficient to proceed the sequence — if that was the one approach to proceed the sequence, it will not final.
What I needed to do as a producer was to extend the quantity of people that might play Hundred Heroes and broaden the bottom of the fan group. I believed that Xbox Recreation Move can be one of the best ways to extend alternatives for individuals who have by no means performed this style to select up the sport and see it. After contemplating these concepts, we determined that we should always go for it.
Are you able to inform us about among the memorable occasions within the improvement of Hundred Heroes?
Murakami: Recollections abound (laughs). One of many issues that was unprecedented was the (COVID) lockdown throughout improvement. I’ve very fond reminiscences of that particular surroundings, the place we needed to workforce up with individuals we didn’t know and had by no means met face-to-face from the start of improvement to create the sport.
Komuta: About half of the individuals on my workforce have by no means met me face-to-face.
Kawano: All the pieces was finished on-line, principally from house.
Murakami: There are various such episodes. However essentially the most memorable one was when Murayama and I launched the Kickstarter mission.
Komuta: After we launched the Kickstarter, we reached our objective straight away. All of us went somewhat loopy at that second.
Murakami: If it have been a lottery ticket or one thing, I might merely be blissful, however within the case of crowdfunding, the extra it goes up, the extra I acquired frightened.
Kawano: Sure, you are feeling the sense of duty build up (laughs).
Komuta: I couldn’t imagine our dream would collect a lot assist.
Murakami: I acquired the sensation that the expectations have been being taken on board in a brand new method.
Komuta: I felt like I used to be taking over one thing nice.
Kawano: Whereas I felt grateful, it additionally got here with a sense of heavy commitments being positioned on my shoulders.
Murakami: I had the sensation that there was no method I might escape from this (laughs).
Komuta: I had plenty of blended emotions working by means of me, however above all, I used to be blissful. Even now, I can’t neglect what Murayama stated at that second. He stated one thing alongside the traces of, “I can’t cease my palms from shaking”.
Kawano: It was like that from the start, and it was a particular sort of sport manufacturing proper as much as the tip.
Lastly, what’s your message to Xbox gamers who’re new to the JRPG style?
Kawano: We’ve created a spot the place individuals can play in quite a lot of methods. We hope you’ll benefit from the sport, as a result of we’ve got created a sport that may be performed in any method you want and may be enjoyable irrespective of the place you decide up the items.
Komuta: In case you play the sport usually, you might get the sensation that “It’s only a common JRPG”, however in case you benefit from the deep variations, equivalent to taking facet journeys, going off to the facet, gathering your mates and altering to a unique get together, I feel you will see that HH very fascinating. In case you take pleasure in these facet contents, I can assure you’ll really feel the enjoyable of HH.
Murakami: It’s troublesome to think about what sort of individual may expertise a JRPG for the primary time. However one factor I’m certain of is that whoever experiences JRPGs by means of HH for the primary time will discover the whole lot new and recent. I feel they are going to be capable to take pleasure in a sport they’ve by no means performed earlier than, a sort of worldview they’ve by no means traveled in, and a sense they’ve by no means had earlier than. We’ve used completely different voice actors for all of the characters. All characters have their actions and results modified intimately, and there are additionally eventualities for every of them. Total, I feel you possibly can benefit from the sport with out considering too exhausting about it. There may be not a single troublesome factor to do, so in that sense, I hope that newcomers will be happy to provide it a attempt.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is on the market now for Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Home windows, and with Recreation Move.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – Digital Deluxe Version
505 Video games
$79.99
Get essentially the most out of your journey with the Digital Deluxe Version, which incorporates the next content material:
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes full sport
• 1x Simple Journey Pack: (6x Therapeutic Herb, 4x Therapeutic Incense, 2x Revive Medication. 3x Runeshard of Return, 1x Gold Coin)
• 1x Headquarters Customized Object
• Season Move: [3x Original Wallpapers by Junko Kawano, Story Expansion: The Chapter of Seign, Story Expansion: The Chapter of Marisa, Story Expansion: The Chapter of Markus and HQ Makeover Pack (Golden & Pink Headquarters Exterior Paint)]
• Digital Mini Artbook
• Digital Soundtrack
Our story begins in a single nook of Allraan, a tapestry of countries with various cultures and values. By dint of sword, and by means of magical objects often called “rune-lenses,” the land’s historical past has been formed by the alliances and aggressions of the people, beastmen, elves, and desert individuals who stay there.
The Galdean Empire has edged out different nations and found a expertise that amplifies the rune-lenses’ magic.
Now, the Empire is scouring the continent for an artifact that may develop their energy even additional. It’s on one such expedition that Seign Kesling, a younger and gifted imperial officer, and Nowa, a boy from a distant village, meet one another and turn out to be mates.
Nonetheless, a coincidence will quickly drag them into the fires of struggle, and drive them each to reexamine the whole lot they imagine to be proper and true.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes turned the #1 funded Kickstarter online game of 2020 due to phenomenal assist from the group. 505 Video games is actually honored to publish Eiyuden Chronicle and work with Rabbit & Bear to assist ship a memorable gaming expertise to followers. The objective of Rabbit & Bear and 505 Video games is to ensure Eiyuden Chronicle reaches its true potential and delivers a worthwhile JRPG the group will take pleasure in.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
505 Video games
$49.99
PC Recreation Move
Xbox Recreation Move
Our story begins in a single nook of Allraan, a tapestry of countries with various cultures and values. By dint of sword, and by means of magical objects often called “rune-lenses,” the land’s historical past has been formed by the alliances and aggressions of the people, beastmen, elves, and desert individuals who stay there.
The Galdean Empire has edged out different nations and found a expertise that amplifies the rune-lenses’ magic.
Now, the Empire is scouring the continent for an artifact that may develop their energy even additional. It’s on one such expedition that Seign Kesling, a younger and gifted imperial officer, and Nowa, a boy from a distant village, meet one another and turn out to be mates.
Nonetheless, a coincidence will quickly drag them into the fires of struggle, and drive them each to reexamine the whole lot they imagine to be proper and true.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes turned the #1 funded Kickstarter online game of 2020 due to phenomenal assist from the group. 505 Video games is actually honored to publish Eiyuden Chronicle and work with Rabbit & Bear to assist ship a memorable gaming expertise to followers. The objective of Rabbit & Bear and 505 Video games is to ensure Eiyuden Chronicle reaches its true potential and delivers a worthwhile JRPG the group will take pleasure in.