Nintendo Every little thing was just lately given the chance to interview Junzo Hosoi, the pinnacle of Gust, about Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the Finish & the Secret Key. The RPG simply launched on Swap this week, marking the top of Reisalin “Ryza” Stout’s story.
We mentioned quite a lot of matters, together with the conclusion of the trilogy, implementing open fields, the opportunity of an English dub for the sequence, way forward for the franchise, and extra. You may learn our full dialogue under.
Many followers began their Atelier journey with the Ryza video games and have grown hooked up to the character. Given her reputation, was it a troublesome determination to make this recreation her last chapter?
After we started drafting the concept for the Secret sequence, I wished to create not solely a narrative what adopted the expansion of a single protagonist, however to make it a trilogy if doable. So in the long run, it was at we had supposed from the beginning. Nonetheless, whether or not it really grew to become a two-part sequence or would proceed as a trilogy was one thing we thought to resolve upon solely after seeing the gamers’ reactions to the sport, so it truly is due to the followers assist that we have been capable of present Ryza’s last story.
What was behind the choice to make this recreation extra open than ever earlier than? How difficult was it for the event group to incorporate the open subject? With this recreation being as open as it’s, does Gust have any curiosity in making a totally open world Atelier recreation sooner or later?
When fascinated by “what makes an RPG enjoyable,” “what makes the Atelier sequence enjoyable,” “what makes the Secret sequence enjoyable and nice,” one of many solutions we got here up with is the open subject. For us, our definition of an open world is one thing that may loved from any angle and is a totally 360-degree expertise. Within the Atelier sequence, actions similar to gathering are major elements, so from the viewpoint of gathering supplies because it at the moment is within the recreation, we thought that it isn’t fairly fitted to an open world. Additionally, to have gamers actually really feel that “Ryza is on an journey,” we determined to make use of the map configuration of an “open subject” the place many smaller maps are connectedly seamlessly to grow to be a single massive area. As gamers progress by the sphere, I believe they’ll get excited on the prospect of questioning what’s up forward, or encountering objects or enemies they’re by no means seen earlier than as they head into a brand new map. We have been actually aware of getting this very RPG-like enchantment of journey, and feeling the fun when reaching a location up forward.
We even have a number of gimmicks to assist gamers advance comfortably by the maps, similar to quick journey, beasts gamers can trip and ziplines, however we’d additionally like gamers to really feel that first second they’ll stroll round and immerse themselves within the open subject, one of many enjoyments of the sport. And because the terrain of the maps are linked, it lets participant visualize of their heads what the map seems like, which is one thing that we wished to create. Additionally, with the ability to transfer to the subsequent map with none loading time is undeniably much less tense, so by making it an open subject, we thought we may take it one step greater within the gameplay expertise. We did have expertise from different titles so we didn’t have zero expertise in creating huge maps or seamless transitions, however the measurement and quantity of it was the most important within the historical past of the sequence, so the dev group members did wrestle lots with it.
For future titles, whether or not they’ll be open subject or open world, or perhaps a brawler remains to be unknown, however we wish to reply to everybody’s expectations, so I believe that we are going to make the higher choice or consideration based mostly on what would make a greater recreation expertise for every specific title.
Atelier Ryza 2 felt prefer it made quite a lot of enhancements over the earlier recreation. What kind of enhancements can followers look ahead to in Atelier Ryza 3?
I believe that doing as a lot as doable to not impede the tempo of gameplay is the most important enchancment of the sport. With the open subject, the loading instances between maps have just about disappeared, and the battles start seamlessly. We’ve additionally decreased the tutorial occasions as a lot as doable and as a substitute made it in order that they are often referenced any time, and one of many smaller elements is that when gamers return to the Atelier, objects will probably be routinely saved.
Koei Tecmo held a survey earlier this yr about Atelier Sophie 2, and a query was included concerning fan curiosity in English voices. Is there a risk that the sequence may obtain an English dub once more sooner or later?
If there are a variety of requests, I believe that it stays a risk. We look ahead to listening to from everybody!
If given the possibility, is there a sure Atelier recreation you’d be serious about remaking (be aware: query was requested earlier than Atelier Marie Remake was introduced)?
Just lately we introduced Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg, which is the third title in our Atelier Collection twenty fifth Anniversary commemorative titles. I’d be serious about asking everybody what titles they’d wish to play.
After we spoke to you in 2019 in 2020, you talked about that gross sales of the Atelier video games on Swap had been rising with every profitable title. Has that also been the case with the more moderen video games? How do you’re feeling about Atelier being on Swap total?
For us, we wish to have as many individuals as doable be capable to play our video games, so we goal to create video games that may be loved on any platform. The gross sales of the Swap variations proceed to develop, however because the sequence progresses we really feel that there’s a rise within the quantity of people that say “I do know concerning the Atelier sequence!” or “I do know Ryza!” not simply from Swap gamers however different platforms as effectively. We’re grateful for this.
What can followers count on from the way forward for the Atelier franchise? Is there one thing that you just’d personally wish to implement down the street?
I’d wish to make the Atelier sequence IP even greater. So as to take action, I believe we have to refine our expressive methods. I hope we will work exhausting on it so that everybody will really feel stunned at what they see.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the Finish & the Secret Key’s at the moment obtainable on Swap.