Closing Fantasy Resonance is only one month away, bringing the enduring collection into the world of HD-2D for the very first time.
Forward of its launch, Nintendo Wire had the chance to take a seat down with the sport’s producer, Keisuke Nakashima, and the director, Hiroto Furuya, to speak in regards to the upcoming recreation, its distinctive visible fashion, their historical past with Closing Fantasy, and way more.
Nintendo Wire: For me personally, Closing Fantasy VI was my first actual expertise with the Closing Fantasy franchise. I’m curious, for every of you, the way you turned accustomed to the collection and what introduced you to it. What was that first expertise for you?
Keisuke Nakashima: For me, the primary recreation I performed was Closing Fantasy V on the Tremendous Famicom. I used to be very younger, so the sport truly belonged to my dad and mom. On the time, it was fairly tough for me to play as a result of I used to be so younger. Nevertheless, that’s the primary recollection or reminiscence I’ve with a Closing Fantasy recreation.
Hiroto Furuya: My first expertise with a Closing Fantasy recreation was Closing Fantasy VII. However the one that actually left an enduring impression on me was Closing Fantasy VI, significantly in the way in which that the pixel-based occasion scenes have been introduced and constructed.
For instance, the opera scene, the Setzer occasion, or the Falcon popping out of the ocean. These are all issues that actually left an enduring impression on me. A lot in order that there was a time in my life after I performed the sport each vacation. That’s how a lot I like that recreation. It’s one of the vital memorable Closing Fantasy video games for me.
One thing that struck me the second I sat down with you was the art work behind us (pictured within the picture above). To me, it instantly provides off Terra driving Magitek armor vibes. It feels very Amano, and I completely love that art work. I’m curious if there’s a connection there, and what different inspirations went into creating the art work for the sport.
Keisuke Nakashima: The one that created this piece is the principle illustrator for Closing Fantasy Resonance.
Once we initially requested to have this art work created, there wasn’t any explicit course given to particularly recall Closing Fantasy VI. Nevertheless, there was a selected motif that was very Closing Fantasy-like. So we requested them to attract a mysterious woman and Bahamut.
The objective was to make sure that the illustration provides off that Closing Fantasy vibe instantly whenever you set your eyes on it. There was a hope to have the mysterious woman driving Bahamut, and that was the preliminary imagery we requested.
However whenever you actually give it some thought, with Terra and the Magitek armor as nicely, there are two entities that usually wouldn’t work together or mesh. They’re opposites in a way.
That sort of dichotomy additionally exists inside Closing Fantasy Resonance. So these are perhaps the connecting tissues between the 2 titles.
With HD-2D and the way Sq. Enix has utilized it within the Octopath video games and now in Resonance, I’m curious if there have been any challenges or something that couldn’t be carried out in previous titles that you just have been excited to deliver to life in Resonance?
Keisuke Nakashima: One factor that involves thoughts is actually the occasion scenes and the way in which we carried out the digicam work for these sequences.
Asano himself was internally referring to it as “dynamic HD-2D,” the place you actually see that intense, dynamic digicam work included into these pixel-based sequences.
Usually, I feel what we’ve seen previously for HD-2D video games is that there shall be an impact, then a fade to black, after which there shall be a scene change.
Right here, we see the characters truly performing that out by way of these occasion sequences. In order that’s undoubtedly one change that involves thoughts.
Understanding that the core of this recreation sort of began with a cell title with Courageous Exvius, I’m wondering for those who may elaborate extra on the enlargement of that into Resonance, rising from that seed and creating one thing that I feel Closing Fantasy followers can actually gravitate towards and recognize throughout all views of the collection.
Keisuke Nakashima: As a significant premise, sure, the sport relies on Closing Fantasy Courageous Exvius, however we got down to create a brand new console recreation whereas nonetheless retaining the enchantment of Closing Fantasy Courageous Exvius.
That was the overarching idea behind the event.
When it got here to the battle system and a few of these different facets, we actually needed to problem ourselves in order that we may optimize it for the console expertise. We didn’t draw back from altering issues in any manner.
By means of the situation and different facets, the sport is stuffed with iconic Closing Fantasy components.
Hiroto Furuya: There are three main components we thought of.
The primary consists of issues like magic and the job system.
Second, it’s a story of grand scale. It’s an epic story about saving the planet and saving the world.
Third, Closing Fantasy has all the time challenged itself to push the bounds of cutscenes and graphics.
With all three of those factors in thoughts, the event staff actually poured their love for the franchise into growing the sport, hoping that love will come by way of and be communicated by way of the expertise.
That’s what we really believed in as we labored on growing this recreation.
Clearly, this recreation is 100% HD-2D, and I do know we acquired our first style of HD-2D within the mainline Closing Fantasy collection with the opera scene within the Pixel Remaster of Closing Fantasy VI. Now that you’ve this wonderful recreation below your belt, is there a recreation that you just’re actually hoping to sort out subsequent?
Keisuke Nakashima: [Laughs] At present, nothing is within the works, and we don’t have visibility into what initiatives are within the works throughout the broader firm.
Hiroto Furuya: Personally talking, I’d prefer to sort out Closing Fantasy VI. [Laughs]
After I noticed the wererats for the primary time within the demo, I squealed. I used to be so excited to see a beloved little Closing Fantasy VI enemy in HD-2D. It was such a tremendous expertise.
Keisuke Nakashima: The wererats have been actually powerful.
So as to incorporate them into Resonance and place them on that 3D background, Asano and others had talked about that they didn’t totally mix nicely with the background. So we needed to rework the lighting, the pixel artwork, and so forth to essentially make it work inside Resonance.
In Courageous Exvius, we noticed a number of collaborations, generally with different Sq. Enix titles and generally with issues past that. We have now to ask if there could be any potential for that inside Resonance.
Hiroto Furuya: Initially, we don’t have any plans for the time being.
Keisuke Nakashima: I feel it could be attention-grabbing if we may do this, however as a result of it’s a standalone console expertise, we felt it was essential for the worldview to be established by itself as a single recreation.
Hiroto Furuya: There are needs there, and we’re exploring that choice, however there are not any plans for the time being.
An enormous thanks to Keisuke Nakashima and Hiroto Furuya for taking the time to talk with Nintendo Wire!
Closing Fantasy Resonance launches on October seventeenth, 2026. Keep tuned to Nintendo Wire for extra protection as we get nearer to launch.
Take a look at extra Closing Fantasy content material
We Played Final Fantasy VII: Revelation | Our First Impressions
Final Fantasy VII Revelation deep dive shows 10 minutes of combat and exploration
Final Fantasy VII Revelation to receive two story expansions focusing on Sephiroth and Vincent