Abstract
- Xbox Wire Japan 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 recreation from the creator of the Suikoden sequence, the late Yoshitaka Murayama.
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is out there now for Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Home windows, and with Sport Move.
Beginning at the moment, gamers can immerse themselves on the planet of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, which continues a wealthy legacy of memorable JRPGs guided by the stewardship of the late Yoshitaka Murayama and his staff 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 recreation experiences like Suikoden, Eiyuden Chroncole: Hundred Heroes is now obtainable for gamers on Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Home windows, in addition to with Sport Move.
![Producer and Art Director Junichi Murakami](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/Junichi-Murakami_photo-207b40b36477e0cdbc8d.jpg)
Producer and Artwork Director Junichi Murakami
![Studio Head and Illustrator Junko Kawano](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/Junko_Kawano_photo-0bd3e20f796eb3f38673.jpg)
Studio Head and Illustrator Junko Kawano
![Director Osamu Komuta](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/Osamu_Komuta_photo-6fd4387fcd088bd7dbaf.jpg)
Director Osamu Komuta
To commemorate its launch, Xbox Wire Japan 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 staff’s honest responses conveyed how a lot Hundred Heroes embodies the imaginative and prescient of Murayama, with a staff that was constructed across the want to make “probably the most attention-grabbing recreation of [their] lives”.
The Kickstarter launched again in July 2020, and now Hundred Heroes is almost 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 aid that we will lastly ship the product to everybody, however there are nonetheless some issues that we received’t know till it goes on sale. Though I’m anxious in some methods, there’s a sense of accomplishment in figuring out that we’ve lastly come this far after working laborious collectively for an extended time period.
Director Osamu Komuta : We’ve been engaged on this recreation for about three and a half years now, so we’re all exhausted (laughs). We’ve been working laborious as a staff 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.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-01-d696770ad96b4853a4b3.jpg)
Studio Head and Illustrator Junko Kawano: I really feel just about the identical manner as these two do, so that they’ve accomplished a lot of the speaking. It’s been too lengthy since I’ve labored on a shopper title, and I really feel like, “Nicely, these days just about everyone seems to be already engaged on patches”, so I actually must preserve going till the final minute… I’m wondering if I’ll really feel accomplished 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 desire to individuals to concentrate to?
Komuta: Because the title suggests, there are numerous characters. We wish gamers to go on adventures with their favourite occasion and put together for battles with them. We additionally need them to strive utilizing characters they meet alongside the way in which, and hopefully take pleasure in switching characters round. In most RPGs, you’ll practice the abilities of, otherwise you discover the ability 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 skilled and introduced up.
Murakami: When it comes to design, we’ve put numerous thought into every of the characters and made certain that every had a definite persona. Even for a single mini recreation, the characters have totally different appears ready only for that recreation. Principally, I don’t suppose we’ve lower any corners, so should you play by the sport completely, I feel you will notice many good issues that you simply anticipated when beginning to play the sport.
What are among the features of Hundred Heroes that you simply targeted on from a JRPG standpoint?
Murakami: I’m certain every of us has our personal ideas on numerous issues and what we have been specific 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 factor 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 all of the sudden spending time in a sizzling spring (laughs). I feel the great thing about JRPGs is that they include a versatile mindset the place enjoyable is hybrid, permitting gamers to start out enjoying with playing cards no matter location. I really feel that Hundred Heroes has been capable of carry that essence out very nicely.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-02-8e2a58bbda8aa212a11c.jpg)
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 aspect dishes, and each considered one of them is scrumptious”. Absolutely, there’s a storyline that runs by the richness of variation and selection like a makunouchi bento. However should you take a aspect journey for a break, you may soak in a sizzling spring, play a card recreation, get into the theater…… and have enjoyable. There are various variations within the story.
We have been notably 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 occasion you’ve got fashioned, so I imagine that gamers will benefit from the abundance of choices and the event the sport offers in response to their selections.
The pixel artwork of the characters in Hundred Heroes is extraordinarily detailed, which appears to be a uncommon path to take nowadays. 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 dimension that was acquainted from previous video games, however we realized that if we continued on this method, it could be troublesome to differentiate the individuality of the greater than 100 characters Kawano had created, and it could even be troublesome to precise the individuality of the characters themselves.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-03-a43080ad9a64c6366b89.jpg)
As well as, the expressions themselves appeared a bit old style, so we determined to extend the decision. Nevertheless, 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 changing into extra like an illustration.
After making an attempt numerous strategies, we determined that the present dimension would require extra method, however would enable us to correctly specific 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 on the lookout for.
There are a number of battles obtainable: 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 recreation was a JRPG. Along with this, Murayama’s concept of RPGs was to make it potential for anybody to finish the sport, even when could the primary time of their lives that they’ve performed such recreation. As long as you recognize the fundamental guidelines, anybody can advance and full the story in HH.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-04-7d269f669562ca780927.jpg)
At first, we thought-about utilizing symbolic encounters, however we determined to make use of random encounters for this recreation, as we thought it could be simpler for gamers to grasp (the sport). We additionally wished to respect the preliminary idea of clearly separating between the scenes, particularly when the video games change between normality and battle.
Within the very early phases of planning, we had two concepts, and considered one of them was to have the battle transition happen on the spot, which is quite common nowadays. The thought additionally got here up through the starting stage, however since we wished to precise the transition correctly, we determined to make use of random encounters with clear transitions, that might 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 throughout the story.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-05-5fd7835116fe61669ced.jpg)
In fact, there is a component of problem within the recreation. The upper you set the problem throughout the recreation, 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 forth. have been additionally seen in Gensou Suikoden. Did you plan to incorporate these techniques from the start of the venture? Is there a cause why you determined to make use of it once more in Hyaku Eiyouden? Additionally, what did you modify from the previous video games to raised swimsuit at the moment’s recreation expertise?
Murakami: All of those components have been included within the Kickstarter stretch aim, together with warfare, single fight, and the Fortress City.
Kawano: Together with the cook-offs, too.
Murakami: The backers are followers of Murayama’s video games, so it appears that evidently these components have been required. All of them have been practical 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 goal to incorporate all the weather we promised within the Kickstarter program.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-06-0a5aef7e9d9a7989df13.jpg)
Komuta: From the very starting of the venture, we wished to develop the Fortress City facet of the sport. We weren’t speaking a couple of fortress the place everybody may collect, however somewhat a city the place individuals may construct their very own city, as if we have been placing in a complete different recreation the place individuals may construct their very own city.
Murakami: It was borderline loopy to think about such factor (laughs).
Komuta: It’s true that once we began imagining the Fortress City, it was not a simple activity. It might have been higher if it was simply an automated development of components, reminiscent of town rising because it ranges up, however this time, we wished to contains components reminiscent of constructing buildings of your personal selecting, and calling within the individuals wanted to construct and keep them. Some individuals instructed me that I used to be making one other recreation throughout the recreation (laughs).
Murakami: When you get into that part, HH will get increasingly attention-grabbing. 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 notably robust?
Murakami: Initially, HH began with the truth that Murayama had many followers abroad, since Kickstarter and crowdfunding on the whole has not been too acquainted inside Japan. That’s why we didn’t embody 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 method 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’s going to have a JRPG-like end. We’ve been making an attempt to create one thing that’s uniquely Japanese, somewhat than specializing in international nations.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-07-5c3cde8b9078fdfd36b4.jpg)
Kawano: When it comes to the response from individuals abroad, we obtained assist for “making a recreation that Murayama likes,” and we anticipated that there could be many followers all over the world. In reality, once 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 everywhere in the world. We didn’t actually put together something particular for anybody place, however in contrast to Japanese followers, we obtained requests from American followers which might be a bit extra hardcore, reminiscent of wanting a mode with the next stage of problem.
Eiyden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will probably be obtainable on day one with Sport Move. What’s your impression of the subscription service?
Murakami: When the concept of distributing Hundred Heroes by Sport Move first got here up, It acquired me pondering since I used to be but to think about it as an choice. I assumed it over very nicely and determined that our precedence ought to be to unfold consciousness of Hundred Heroes somewhat than to goal for the celebs with the primary recreation.
Once we settled on this path, we realized that our core followers had already turned their consideration to us. The backers of Hundred Heroes are a very powerful, and we are going to produce the work they need, however I felt that their assist alone wouldn’t be sufficient to proceed the sequence — if that was the one solution to proceed the sequence, it could not final.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-08-63f317e9f03a9c16b260.jpg)
What I needed to do as a producer was to extend the quantity of people that may play Hundred Heroes and broaden the bottom of the fan neighborhood. I assumed that Xbox Sport Move could be the easiest way 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 growth of Hundred Heroes?
Murakami: Reminiscences abound (laughs). One of many issues that was unprecedented was the (COVID) lockdown throughout growth. I’ve very fond recollections of that particular setting, the place we needed to staff up with individuals we didn’t know and had by no means met face-to-face from the start of growth to create the sport.
Komuta: About half of the individuals on my staff have by no means met me face-to-face.
Kawano: All the pieces was accomplished on-line, principally from house.
Murakami: There are various such episodes. However probably the most memorable one was when Murayama and I launched the Kickstarter venture.
Komuta: After we launched the Kickstarter, we reached our aim right away. All of us went a bit of 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 anxious.
Kawano: Sure, you are feeling the sense of accountability build up (laughs).
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-09-904f0c341da044231b48.jpg)
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 manner.
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 manner I may escape from this (laughs).
Komuta: I had numerous blended emotions working by me, however above all, I used to be blissful. Even now, I can’t overlook what Murayama stated at that second. He stated one thing alongside the traces of, “I can’t cease my arms from shaking”.
Kawano: It was like that from the start, and it was a particular sort of recreation manufacturing proper as much as the top.
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 recreation, as a result of we’ve created a recreation that may be performed in any manner you want and might be enjoyable regardless of the place you choose up the items.
![Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/04/ECHH_PreLaunch-10-177941fb985d6887c0e7.jpg)
Komuta: If you happen to play the sport usually, you could get the sensation that “It’s only a common JRPG”, however should you benefit from the deep variations, reminiscent of taking aspect journeys, going off to the aspect, gathering your mates and altering to a special occasion, I feel you’ll find HH very attention-grabbing. If you happen to take pleasure in these aspect contents, I can assure you’ll really feel the enjoyable of HH.
Murakami: It’s troublesome to think about what sort of particular person may expertise a JRPG for the primary time. However one factor I’m certain of is that whoever experiences JRPGs by HH for the primary time will discover all the things new and contemporary. I feel they are going to be capable to take pleasure in a recreation 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 totally different voice actors for all of the characters. All characters have their actions and results modified intimately, and there are additionally situations for every of them. General, I feel you may benefit from the recreation with out pondering too laborious about it. There may be not a single troublesome factor to do, so in that sense, I hope that newcomers will be at liberty to present it a strive.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is out there now for Xbox Sequence X|S, Xbox One, Home windows, and with Sport Move.
![Xbox Live](https://assets.onestore.ms/cdnfiles/sfw-service-web-onestore-onerf-2017-11-8-12/store/common/images/xbllogo_black.png)
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – Digital Deluxe Version
505 Video games
$79.99
Get probably the most out of your journey with the Digital Deluxe Version, which incorporates the next content material:
• Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes full recreation
• 1x Simple Journey Pack: (6x Therapeutic Herb, 4x Therapeutic Incense, 2x Revive Drugs. 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 the use of magical objects often known as “rune-lenses,” the land’s historical past has been formed by the alliances and aggressions of the people, beastmen, elves, and desert individuals who reside there.
The Galdean Empire has edged out different nations and found a know-how that amplifies the rune-lenses’ magic.
Now, the Empire is scouring the continent for an artifact that may increase 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 develop into mates.
Nevertheless, a coincidence will quickly drag them into the fires of warfare, and power them each to reexamine all the things they imagine to be proper and true.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes grew to become the #1 funded Kickstarter online game of 2020 due to phenomenal assist from the neighborhood. 505 Video games is really honored to publish Eiyuden Chronicle and work with Rabbit & Bear to assist ship a memorable gaming expertise to followers. The aim of Rabbit & Bear and 505 Video games is to ensure Eiyuden Chronicle reaches its true potential and delivers a worthwhile JRPG the neighborhood will take pleasure in.
![Xbox Live](https://assets.onestore.ms/cdnfiles/sfw-service-web-onestore-onerf-2017-11-8-12/store/common/images/xbllogo_black.png)
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
505 Video games
$49.99
PC Sport Move
Xbox Sport 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 the use of magical objects often known as “rune-lenses,” the land’s historical past has been formed by the alliances and aggressions of the people, beastmen, elves, and desert individuals who reside there.
The Galdean Empire has edged out different nations and found a know-how that amplifies the rune-lenses’ magic.
Now, the Empire is scouring the continent for an artifact that may increase 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 develop into mates.
Nevertheless, a coincidence will quickly drag them into the fires of warfare, and power them each to reexamine all the things they imagine to be proper and true.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes grew to become the #1 funded Kickstarter online game of 2020 due to phenomenal assist from the neighborhood. 505 Video games is really honored to publish Eiyuden Chronicle and work with Rabbit & Bear to assist ship a memorable gaming expertise to followers. The aim of Rabbit & Bear and 505 Video games is to ensure Eiyuden Chronicle reaches its true potential and delivers a worthwhile JRPG the neighborhood will take pleasure in.