At this rate, even Kingdom Hearts 3 will be released before the Final Fantasy VII remake is finished.
[dropcap size=small]B[/dropcap]ack in June of 2015, the shocking trailer for Final Fantasy VII was released at E3 and nearly everyone that was present lost their minds. Wildly hailed as the greatest Final Fantasy game ever created, Final Fantasy VII was released for the PlayStation 1 and since then fans have been begging for a remastered version. It’s been over a year and a half now since the trailer was dropped at E3 and since then we have received nothing more than some gameplay trailers. So what is taking so long?
Progress. Or at least that’s what Final Fantasy VII Remake producer Yoshinori Kitase told Gematsu in an interview two days ago. After releasing a key visual reveal that showed nothing more than just Cloud and Sephiroth, the producer sat down with Gematsu to answer a few questions.
How’s progress on Final Fantasy VII Remake?
Kitase: “We’re still brushing up the scenes we showed you in the trailer. The level of quality we need to hit is coming into view, but there is still some way to go from here.”
If it ends up a series and development takes a long time, will you maintain the quality of the first title throughout?
Kitase: “I think it’s my responsibility to decide the level of quality and maintain that quality to the very end during production of the episodes. Of course, as the episodes progress, it’s only natural that the quality match.”
What will you do to fill the gap between episodes?
Kitase: “Final Fantasy VII spreads out laterally in a compilation. There isn’t a concrete plan, but since we can’t put out a game in just a few months, I want to think of a way to sustain interest in between releases.”
Would you want to put out a movie with the Final Fantasy VII Remake models?
Kitase: “I feel like I want to do various things. (Laughs.)”
What is the possibility of Final Fantasy XV-like downloadable content and smartphone content?
Kitase: “I would like to use [Final Fantasy XV] as a point of reference. While I would like to take measures such as doing live streams to interact with users, with this episode system I think we’ll be using all of our energy on reaching the end of the original game, so I don’t really know whether or not we’ll be able to do things between episodes and other titles.”
Regarding battles..
Kitase: “We’ve solidified the base [of the battle system]. Tetsuya Nomura, of course, and Mitsunori Takahashi, who took part in Kingdom Hearts and Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy, are putting all of their effort into it.”
Regarding Materia and other systems…
Kitase: “There are a lot of things I still can’t say, but we’re not going to remove the things that were popular in Final Fantasy VII.”
Director Tetsuya Nomura said that he would like to show the progress of Final Fantasy VII Remake at some point this year…
Kitase: “I have hope that it will happen, but that still hasn’t been decided. However, when we show it next, I would like to do so in a way that’s a step further than a trailer, such as at an event where people can experience it.”
Please remake Final Fantasy VI!
“Right now, we’re working on Final Fantasy VII… The staff within the company are also saying it [that they want a remake of Final Fantasy VI], but it continues to be put off.”
Kitase didn’t reveal anything too important in the interview but it does sound like the majority of the first of many series in the game has been finished and the visual aspect is all that is left. Fingers crossed that Final Fantasy VII is released sometime this year!
