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Phantom Brave Q&A Feature
Derek dela Fuente
10/01/2005
Following success in Japan and the US, Kobayashi-san answers our questions...
2005 looks set to build Koeiās reputation within the European gaming community. With the recent opening of a European HQ more focus will be placed on titles which have received much media acclaim in both Japan and U.S.
The last title following its success is the U.S. is Phantom Brave from Nippon Ichi Software. Derek dela Fuente spoke with Yoshitsuna Kobayashi from the said company about what Phantom Brave offers within its genre.
Set in the year 913, in a world called Ivoire, lives Marona, a 13 year old orphaned girl with a special ability to communicate with phantoms. Her ability brings resentment from others, but cheerful Marona is undeterred. Marona believes in her parentsā teaching that people will one day come to like her as long as she stays compassionate and kind. Marona is a Chroma, a magical mercenary of sorts, in the archipelago world of Ivoire. Unlike most Chromas, however, Marona possesses the power to summon phantoms and is always accompanied by Ash, her dead parents' former companion, as they bid to resolve disputes around the world.
In Phantom Brave players will take on the role of Marona to complete missions assigned by the clients. Players are not alone in their quest though as Marona is able to create custom Phantom troops that you manage and control in battle.
TVG: Please can you tell us a little about yourself and what you have worked on previously?
Iām Yoshitsuna Kobayashi (Nippon Ichi Software: Board of Director & Chief Game Designer) and previous works includes La Pucelle, Disgaea, and Phantom Brave. For Phantom Brave I worked as the game designer and main programmer. For our upcoming title, I will be working as the world setting/scenario writer and head game designer.
TVG: What were some of the aspirations for Phantom Brave and what new elements pertaining to creating RPG ideas have you added or worked on?
Since Disgaea: Hour of Darkness had a dark comedic feel/style; I wanted to create a more heart-warming game that anybody can enjoy. Phantom Brave was influenced by the famous anime series of āAkage no Anneā and āFlandersās dogā. Both of these animes have great heart-warming stories.
TVG: Turn based games have had a rough time of late. Firstly, do you feel this is more of a European/U.S. thing and what do you see as some of the real merits in a turn based game that would be sadly lacking if it wasnāt!?
It is true that some turn-based games have had a very rough time. However, I do not think that the European/U.S. gamers are necessarily avoiding turn based games. An example would be the great success of Star Ocean by Square Enix. As long as we develop quality titles, the market will respond positively.
The greatest merit of a turn based SRPG is the simplicity behind the basic game system. Kind of like playing a chess game, simple yet addicting.
TVG: Please can you tell the readers about Marona the main character in the game and some of her abilities and traits? Also could you briefly introduce a few of the other cast who play a significant part in the game?
Marona is a 13 year old girl who has a unique ability to communicate with phantoms. Her ability enables her to work as a Chroma (Mercenary) to help people in trouble.
In Phantom Brave, Marona is the only playable character with a physical body. By utilizing Maronaās āconfineā ability, players are able to summon phantom characters created on Ghost Island to the battle fields. Players will āconfineā (combine) phantoms with physical objects on the map to materialize and fight enemies.
During the game Ash the Phantom will be Maronaās sidekick/guardian. Ash has an interesting past and will become the focal point later in the game.
TVG: Can you set the scene for our readers in terms of the story and the prime objectives for the player?
Well, Marona believes in her parents' teachings that people will one day come to like her as long as she stays compassionate and kind. Now Marona travels throughout Ivoire with her guardian, Ash the Phantom, to resolve disputes around the world.
The game offers a world of vast seas and small island continents, Ivoire existed in peace and harmony. Ancient mystic forces with forgotten powers now threaten the existence of mankind. Islands, once flourishing with life, now lie as empty wastelands. Remaining decadent cities are corrupted by unnatural events and violence. The shadow of darkness is slowly, but surely, engulfing the world of Ivoire.
Players will initially work as a mercenary to solve disputes around the world and eventually battle the supreme evil of the world.
TVG: Phantom Brave is set on a series of islands and the environments play a big part in the way the battles develop. Can you tell us about the terrains and how this aids and, possibly hinders, within battle?
Knowing your terrain type and elevation is crucial in Phantom Brave. Certain terrain will hinder your characterās movements, leaving you open to enemy blows. Also terrain elevation will affect your attack radius and range. Therefore, players should establish a strategy before the battle begins.
TVG: Over 400 skills and magical spells. Can you tell us about 2 of each that you feel are worthy of a mention?
There are many unique skills in Phantom Brave, but my favourite would be the following:
Dark Eboreus: A devastatingly powerful special sword move used by the legendary swordsman of Ivoire. Rumour says players are able to acquire the move by a secret trickā¦
Karma: A move that helps builds your SP level (Magic points). It helps to strengthen your magician type characters as will as characters with a low SP level.
And magic spellsā¦
Heal: One of the most basic magic spells, yet the most important.
Comet Shower: A super magic spell that will cost you major magic points, in exchange for major damage!
TVG: The Western market appears to be increasingly obsessed with technology and visuals, and may arguably look at titles such as Phantom Brave as being āout-datedā; what are your thoughts on these and do you perceive this an issue to increasing the reception outside of Japan?
Many people ask why we use 2D. There are many forms of artistic expressions and I believe 2D can exist as one too. I do not see the need to make everything 3D, since there are expressions that cannot be expressed with 3D graphics. Many artists in the world still prefer 2D and we love to work with these people as much as we can. Also, you cannot neglect the fact that many people still love the 2D style artwork; therefore, it would be a great joy for us, if we can introduce as many of these great 2D artists as we can.
TVG: Whatās next for the team?
Nippon Ichi Software is currently scrambling to release Phantom Kingdom, a SRPG for the Playstation 2 platform. Titles after Phantom Kingdom are still a secret. (A smile appears on Kobayashi-san face.)
TVG: For future releases, now that Koei has a main UK/European office, can we look forward to simultaneous release around the world and finally have any changes been made to the code for European release?
Simultaneous worldwide release is certainly what we would love to do. However, at the current moment it is a difficult task to accomplish. Perhaps in the near future we will be able to release our titles simultaneously around the world. The Euro version of Phantom Brave is essentially untouched from the U.S. version. We strongly believe in keeping the original integrity of the game. Therefore, we try hard not to change the game.
TVG: Many thanks for answering.
Thank you very much for giving us this interview opportunity. NIS will continue to work hard in developing innovative game titles. Please visit www.nisamerica.com for NIS related news and information. Again thank you very much.
