Square Enix’s newest RPG, The DioField Chronicle seems so as to add its personal distinctive aptitude to the JRPG scene with a mixture of real-time technique gameplay with conventional RPG mechanics and we had been capable of communicate through an e mail interview with three builders.

These had been Square Enix’s Producer Shigeyuki Hirata, Square Enix’s artwork director Takahiro Kumagai, and Developer Lancarse’s growth director and battle designer, Hirofumi Fukui who instructed us extra in regards to the sport’s growth and inspiration from MOBAs and MMO video games.

Shigeyuki Hirata beforehand acted because the producer for Lord of Vermillion IV earlier than becoming a member of Square Enix in 2016. Takahiro Kumagai labored on the backgrounds of Legend of Dragoon, Kingdom Hearts, and Final Fantasy: The Crystal Chronicles earlier than appearing because the director and artwork director of Figure Heads. Hirofumi Fukui labored as a battle designer for Disgaea 4 and Mobile Suit Gundam EXTREME VS-FORCE.

Between the three of them, they actually know their method round RPGs and what might be carried out to innovate and push the style ahead. In the interview, they made it clear that that is precisely what they had been trying to do with The DioField Chronicle. Unlike many Japanese Strategy RPGs, the characters in The DioField Chronicle are managed in real-time taking parts from Japanese RPGs and Western MOBA video games. Here’s what they needed to say: 

We observed that DioField is extra of a real-time technique RPG versus utilizing a grid-based system like say, Final Fantasy Tactics. Could you inform us extra in regards to the choice to make use of this sort of battle system and its benefits of it?

Hirata: Since many orthodox technique RPGs have already been launched, I’ve all the time been looking out for a possibility to attempt one thing new throughout the style.

The impetus for the launch of this new undertaking was the concept that we may create a brand-new technique RPG by combining the real-time parts of MMO or MOBA video games with a extra traditional RPG sport system.

The greatest good thing about this battle system could be that combating in real-time permits the participant to really feel the fun of spontaneous motion. At the identical time, the participant additionally has the choice to cease the real-time component if they want extra time to consider their subsequent transfer. This ensures that the strategic parts inherent to the RPG style are maintained.

With that, I imagine we’ve got achieved an ideal steadiness between these two genres, and in doing so, we’ve got created a unique sport.

You’ve beforehand mentioned that The DioField Chronicle was not solely impressed by older RPGs like Ogre Battle but in addition Western video games like League of Legends and Diablo. Could you inform us extra about how these titles, or another video games, impressed DioField Chronicle?

Hirata: In phrases of controls and the linear motion of characters throughout the sport subject, MOBA titles like League of Legends and RPG titles resembling Final Fantasy XII had been our sources of inspiration.

As we needed to breed using Skills in technique RPGs and be certain that using Magilumic Orbs supplied the gamers with a very thrilling expertise, we took additional inspiration from Final Fantasy Tactics and Fire Emblem for this mechanic.

We discovered it actually thrilling that we had been capable of summon Bahamut as one of many Magilumic Orb particular assaults so early within the demo. Could you inform us extra in regards to the Magilumic orbs and can we be seeing extra traditional summons seem by them?

Hirata: The characters that may be summoned utilizing the Magilumic Orbs are based mostly on these from Lord of Vermillion, which is a title I labored on as a producer. Therefore, followers can anticipate a number of different characters with connections to Lord of Vermillion to make appearances as magical beasts or as Magilumic Orb summons.

We heard that Game of Thrones composers Ramin Djawadi and Brandon Campbell scored the soundtrack for the sport. Could you inform us extra about what it was like working with them?

Hirata: As a giant fan of Game of Thrones myself, I felt that they had been actually the one composers who may create music that might additionally match the ambiance and themes of this title. As such, I approached them myself!

Even although we primarily corresponded through e mail, they had been very fast to grasp the vibe of the title and that made the entire course of a easy one. The distinctive traits of their musical compositions are additionally evident within the sport’s scores.

With this sport, Triangle Strategy, and Tactics Ogre: Reborn all popping out this 12 months, do you suppose the Strategy RPG style has seen a latest resurgence in reputation?

Hirata: I all the time believed that the style had great untapped potential, and it has now been realized in latest instances. As a style with common enchantment, it has now been tailored and expanded in many various methods.

Fukui: Recent progress in online game growth has allowed us to take action way more than we had been as soon as able to and has additionally allowed us to revisit conventional genres with a wholly new strategy. I really feel that the revival of the technique RPG style is solely a pure consequence of those revolutionary advances in online game growth methods.

Mr. Fukui actually isn’t flawed with that final assertion. As video video games grow to be extra superior, it’s pure for builders to search out new inspirations that enable their video games to type new distinctive mechanics.

The DioField Chronicle was actually a nice shock once I received my fingers on the demo. Releasing so shortly after Square Enix’s final SRPG Triangle Strategy, I discovered it refreshing how totally different it was from something I performed earlier than. The gameplay jogged my memory a whole lot of Warcraft and even Xenoblade with its MMO-style auto battles however nonetheless with a particular tinge of conventional JRPG mechanics.

Learning that it was so closely impressed by Western video games makes me much more curious. It’s attention-grabbing seeing how builders are impressed by video games from different cultures and adapt them into their very own works. I very a lot wished to attempt extra.

We’re grateful to Mr. Hirata, Mr. Fukui, and Mr. Kumagai for answering our interview questions, and want them the perfect of luck as The DioField Chronicle quickly unfolds.

The DioField Chronicle will launch on Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.