Voice acting and mini-game questions were fielded by the project heads behind the anticipated Final Fantasy VII remake; care of Gematsu.
In an interview held with Dengeki PlayStation, director Tetsuya Nomura and producer Yoshinori Kitase speak openly about what fans can expect in regards to voice acting. “Basically, it will be fully voiced," said Nomura, "We still haven’t decided the voices of the characters that weren’t in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.” The implication here is that all the voice actors who contributed to Advent Children will make their return for the remake.
Searching further, they are asked if even the dating events will be fully voiced. "It would be impossible not to," said Kitase. "However, since it’s different from that time and social situation, we need implement the reproduction of original events carefully.” As fans of the genre can attest, a great deal of JRPG games tend to have side quests as well as any dialogue not in the main narrative line delivered through dialogue boxes. In the case of the Final Fantasy VII remake however, fans can expect the quality of voice acting that was featured in FFVII: Advent Children.
When asked about the many mini-games found in the original Final Fantasy VII, both Kitase and Nomura are looking to blend the old with the new. "We want to put the mini-games that remain favorable among fans in as much as possible," said Kitase. In conjunction to that, Nomura included: There were a lot of things from big to small, but we need to consider a bit whether it’s necessary to create them all with the latest technology."
As the interview went on, they became more vague with their answers, as the topics began moving into ones they couldn’t discuss at present. However, Nomura teased that more information regarding the remake will arrive next year in tandem with some of Square-Enix’s newer titles. After bringing up both Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 and World of Final Fantasy, which are both launching sometime next year, Nomura said, "I think when they’re completed, I’ll be able to release new information." Until then, fans will have to wait for any more information or, more than likely, new gameplay footage.
Information has trinkled onto the web since the remake’s announcement. The first scenario, one of which will make up the more episodic approach to the remake, is now complete. From the sounds of it, Final Fantasy VII remake will be more realized than the original game was, as the team behind it plans to shed more light on Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie.
Since it’s being broken down into parts, we may even hear more on it sooner than we expect.
————————————————————-
Included below is their full interview with Dengeki PlayStation:
Regarding Voices…
Nomura: “Basically, it will be fully voiced. We still haven’t decided the voices of the characters that weren’t in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children.”
So does that mean dating events will be fully voiced?
Kitase: “It would be impossible not to. (Laughs.) However, since it’s different from that time and social situation, we need implement the reproduction of original events carefully.”
Nomura: “Ah, the Honey Bee Inn… (Laughs.)”
Is the map open world?
Kitase: “We can’t say anything yet, but we don’t plan on fussing about whether it’s a so-called open-world or sandbox. But since Nomura is more focused on the creation of the scenery, we want to express an environment character actions affect the scenery.”
Will there be mini-games?
Kitase: “We want to put the mini-games that remain favorable among fans in as much as possible.”
Nomura: “There were a lot of things from big to small, but we need to consider a bit whether it’s necessary to create them all with the latest technology.”
Kitase: “The development staff is also thinking about what to do with the mini-games.”
How’s production going?
Kitase: “We’re at the stage where we can say we’re finally getting started. We have ideas regarding battles, too, but it will take time to drop them into the actual game.”
Final Fantasy VII‘s 20th anniversary is in 2017. Can we expect anything for its original release date on January 31?
Kitase: “I can’t say anything at the moment. (Laughs.)”
Nomura: “Personally, I’m waiting for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 and World of Final Fantasy in 2016. I think when they’re completed, I’ll be able to release new information.”