Dengeki Online Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Interview with Tai Yasue

libregkd · Jun 11, 2014

In addition to the Square-Enix Presents E3 Livestream interview, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD ReMix and Kingdom Hearts 3 co-director Tai Yasue was interviewed by Dengeki Online on the upcoming remaster. Square Enix has since made a full translation of that interview available online. From discussing the problems the team faced with bringing Kingdom Hearts 2 and Birth by Sleep to the PS3 to additions and changes being made to the games for this collection, this extensive interview will cover a lot about the 2.5 collection and gives a very small taste of Kingdom Hearts III. Here is a small parts of the interview:

- You’ve officially announced the release date for Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, how is the development status?

Yasue: It’s practically complete. We are making detailed, final adjustments and setting the trophy conditions now. We are adding in the final cutscenes as well, that’s about all that’s left as far as work goes.

- I heard that work on Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix pretty much started from scratch, how was 2.5 in comparison?

Yasue: It pretty troubling starting KH 1.5 in a stage where we making the game’s composition and system base. But as far as producing went, thankfully we struck a balance between programmers building the foundation for the game on PS3 and replacing graphics, so we were able to progress relatively smoothly.

We had content from the previous titles to use when remastering KH 2.5 which was good, but instead we had trouble figuring out how much we wanted to up the graphic quality, it was a matter of design that was tough. If we did this, then we have to do that and that, kind of problem. (Laughs) Once the schedule was decided, all possible adjustments were made and we’re finishing it up.

- In KH 1.5 new abilities like “EXP Zero” and “Combo Master” were added, will there be new ones in KH 2.5 too?

Yasue: There isn’t anything new. However, we fine tuned the degree of difficulty when you equip EXP Zero in BBS. We took a survey regarding BBS’s degree of difficulty, and overall it had reputation of being well balanced. Since we didn’t want to ruin a good thing, we didn’t make any big changes.

Also, the Mirage Arena won’t have multiplayer elements this time, so we adjusted the enemies strength that way the battles are still high tensioned but enjoyable playing alone. There is a tough boss in the final stages, but we made it faster and changed the AI a little, so it’s a more of a challenge than before. It’s not the type of boss you’ll be able to suppress simply with strength, you’ll have to think about how to fight.

- KH2 had a lot of formidable enemies too, have they been adjusted as well?

Yasue: KH2 was already a complete package, so thinking that messing with it too much would break the balance, we decided not to readjust things. Therefore the Organization XIII data reappearances and armored warrior fights are just as strong as before.

- What kind of work are you involved in regarding development on the newest title, Kingdom Hearts 3?

Yasue: As the development overseer, I work in the office keeping programmers, designers, and planners in order.

Mostly I work as a planner, figuring out how the game plays as a whole. I discuss the systems and gameplay with Tetsuya Nomura, as well as write the business proposals. I’m in the middle between the office staff and Nomura, so I get nudged from both sides. (Laughs)

- What kind of process does development go through?

Yasue: First Nomura decides the concept, while that’s being drawn up, the development team puts together the proposal and art, and we make a trial version. While research and development progresses, a consensus is reached with Nomura, and bit by bit the game reaches completion. When it gets to the final stage, all the elements including the story and battles are put together, and they are adjusted from there until they mesh together nicely.
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You can read the full translated interview with Tai Yasue by visiting this link.

Meilin Lee · Jun 11, 2014

Small correction... this isn't the Square-Enix Presents interview. It's a completely different interview conducted by Dengeki Online.

EDIT: Hope you don't mind libre, but I edited the post to correct this error. Feel free to edit anything else.

Miles · Jun 11, 2014

"There is a tough boss in the final stages, but we made it faster and changed the AI a little, so it’s a more of a challenge than before."
Are they dumb!?! Secret boss in BBS are way to hard and not even fun! So they make it harder??? So i need to mash dodge twice as much now. Great. Jeez Osaka Team.

A Zebra · Jun 11, 2014

Miles said: ↑

"There is a tough boss in the final stages, but we made it faster and changed the AI a little, so it’s a more of a challenge than before."
Are they dumb!?! Secret boss in BBS are way to hard and not even fun! So they make it harder??? So i need to mash dodge twice as much now. Great. Jeez Osaka Team.
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the most optimistic interpretation: making it faster includes making the attacks end faster, giving you more opportunities to actually attack

Miles · Jun 11, 2014

hatok said: ↑

the most optimistic interpretation: making it faster includes making the attacks end faster, giving you more opportunities to actually attack
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If you are saying there AI is fast then that doesn't help. There attacks may end faster but there next attack will come sooner. Now I have to mash dodge even harder and faster than before. He said it was a challenge not a more convenient battle.

A Zebra · Jun 11, 2014

Miles said: ↑

If you are saying there AI is fast then that doesn't help. There attacks may end faster but there next attack will come sooner. Now I have to mash dodge even harder and faster than before. He said it was a challenge not a more convenient battle.
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Well even then, MF isn't a Mirage Arena boss, so we should be looking at how this affects stuff like Xehanort and the Iron Imprisoner

Miles · Jun 11, 2014

hatok said: ↑

Well even then, MF isn't a Mirage Arena boss, so we should be looking at how this affects stuff like Xehanort and the Iron Imprisoner
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Well according to the interview. It will be harder. I don't remember who the last boss is? Armor of the Master?

A Zebra · Jun 11, 2014

Miles said: ↑

Well according to the interview. It will be harder. I don't remember who the last boss is? Armor of the Master?
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There's not strictly a -last- boss, but the final one you unlock is Xehanort's Armour. I forget what it's called. But the most common criticism for that was the boss was easy but had way too much HP

Miles · Jun 11, 2014

hatok said: ↑

There's not strictly a -last- boss, but the final one you unlock is Xehanort's Armour. I forget what it's called. But the most common criticism for that was the boss was easy but had way too much HP
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He was easy? I always died. Never beat him because the fight was way boring and long to continue trying. (I play souls games so I know about trying and dieing =P) I'm super good at 1 2 and recom no problem. I guess it's me.

. : tale_wind · Jun 11, 2014

hatok said: ↑

There's not strictly a -last- boss, but the final one you unlock is Xehanort's Armour. I forget what it's called. But the most common criticism for that was the boss was easy but had way too much HP
Click to expand...

I think its name is No Heart.

DanceWaterDance · Jun 13, 2014

No multiplayer? I never played BBS, so I was waiting 2.5 to try this feature :(

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Dengeki Online Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Interview with Tai Yasue

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