-- I’ve heard that what started the project was a proposal sent in by the SE Osaka team.
Nomura: Well, there was a time when we were unsure of where we would have Birth by Sleep developed. But then the Osaka team that had helped out with Musashiden II [I believe this is Brave Fencer Musashi in other territories?] said “We would like to work on it!” So we asked them to show us their work on the PSP, and they created a prototype. The prototype was quite good, so we decided to have them work on the game. During the first period of development on Birth by Sleep we had the Crisis Core team work on parts of it. But the Kingdom Hearts series is a Disney series, so they we have that hurdle we have to get passed, and we needed to have constant communication between the Tokyo and Osaka teams. There were a lot of things we needed them to become familiar with. So instead we had them start with working on Re: Chain of Memories.
-- Were there any problems that occurred during development?
Nomura: Not really. There were problems with development during the last leg of development, but that wasn’t only a problem with Birth by Sleep. But it was pretty terrible having to think of names for the Commands. I always think of names in Kingdom Hearts games myself, but since things can change during development I always choose names at the end. But since how many symbols can be used in names changes with each game, sometimes even Commands used in past games have to have their names changed.
-- There were quite a few Commands this time.
Nomura: It was hell (laugh.)
-- Which part of the battles was the part you were most interested in doing?
Nomura: The Deck Commands. Battles change depending on what Commands you are using, so there is an element of trial and error. It also takes into account the players own play-style and interests, so it’s interesting to see in the end how everyone’s Deck is different. Chain of Memories and The World Ends With You had a similar system where you could change around your Commands, and this is like a compilation of that. Because we have this Deck Command system we were also able to use a board game for strengthening your Commands.
-- What kind of Commands did you use?
Nomura: I used the stronger Attack Commands, as well as Detonate type Commands, with one Cure spell. When I played around in Mirage Arena I used Megaflare and Magna type Commands.
-- There are a lot of different gameplay systems at work in the game, but the PSP is able to control them all quite well.
Nomura: The controls in 358/2 Days were a little too complex, so shaved off a little bit here and there. For example, in 358/2 Days you could look up and down while moving, but you can’t in Birth by Sleep. We tried to simplify it.
-- At first Shoot Locks confused me, but I got used to them quickly.
Nomura: Shoot-locks were added pretty much just like they were originally planned, but the way you release the attack took some trial and error. At first we had made it so that the attack released after locking on and releasing the button, but in the end it ended up as it is now. There was quite a lot of things packed into this game, but the Osaka team really did their best for us.
-- It seems that some people requested more complex area maps.
Nomura: Personally, I think that the battles are the funniest part of the Kingdom Hearts series, and that’s what we were thinking about in KHII even more so than in the original game. But some people wanted more areas to explore, so we put more of that kind of thing in, but made sure it wouldn’t interfere with battles.
-- There were quite a few new songs, and it made the battles and events even more exciting.
Nomura: We asked for quite a few songs this time. Not only did we have Shimomura (Yoko) working on the soundtrack, but Ishimoto (Takeharu) and Kawamori (Keiji) helped as well, each giving about five songs. Ishimoto took care of the songs having to do with Vanitas.
-- In Last Episode you use Aqua, but since I had been paying so much attention to Terra and Ven I hadn’t thought she would end up being such an important character.
Nomura: Then it’s all according to plan (laugh.) You could even say she is the true main character.
-- There were things in the story that answered questions, but there were also things that made it even more confusing...
Nomura: Yes (laugh.)
-- First off, the young man with silver hair that stands on the beach saying “This world is too small.” is a young Master Xehanort, correct?
Nomura: That’s true.
-- Then, when Ven’s heart was fractured, someone completed his heart with their own. Was this Sora’s heart?
Nomura: Yes. That was when Sora was born into the world.
-- There was a new type of keyblade that appeared this time, changing the “key” in keyblade to “X” (The X of the Greek alphabet, pronounced “key”. It also has the meaning of “ultimate” or “death”.) It’s quite an excellent name.
Nomura: The name “X-Blade” was Watanabe (Daisuke), the scenario writer’s, idea. How the symbol X ‘crosses’ is symbolic of the crossing of dark and light. The members of Organization XIII get their names by adding an X to the name they had as humans comes from this. Also, the Nobody’s mark looks a lot like Eraqus’ symbol, but you can probably figure out that the reason this is has something to do with Xemnas.
-- Please tell us more about the Unversed mark and their design concept.
Nomura: That mark was an idea thought up by the development staff. It looks like an evil heart doesn’t it (laugh.) The concept was “feelings”. We wanted it to represent “anger” and “joy” among other things.
-- How the Unversed appeared is talked about in the story, but Master Xehanort was controlling Heartless. Were there already Heartless at this time?
Nomura: Heartless will always exist as long as their are hearts in the world. They have exist since long ago. Those who have fallen into darkness can control them.
-- Aqua lays a spell on Kairi’s pendant. Is it to protect her from the forces of darkness?
Nomura: Because of that pendant Kairi was sent to Destiny Island.
-- So Kairi going to Destiny Island wasn’t just an accident.
Nomura: What we wanted to show in the story this time was that “fate is inevitable”. Someday Kairi would go to a place where she would be protected by a hero of light.