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Dissidia Final Fantasy Duodecim 012 Tetsuya Nomura Interview and More

by September 16, 2010 0 comments

Hitoshura has translated the latest interview with Tetsuya Nomura and Mitsunori Takahashi on Dissidia Duodecim and what to expect from the sequel.

While it is indeed a sequel to Dissidia, it also seems to appear to be a prequel as well. Read below to find out more. A big thanks to hito for giving us this awesome info!

Oh, and when you’re done reading, be sure to look at some of the new gameplay footage of Dissidia Duodecim as well!

EDIT: More info regarding Lightning and Cloud’s unique alternate outfits have surfaced thanks to hito again. Apparently, by pre-ordering Parasite Eve: The Third Birthday, you get a code to download Lightning’s alternate outfit that makes her look…like Aya Brea.

By pre-ordering Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Final Mix, you get the code to download Cloud’s Kingdom Hearts outfit.


The meaning of ‘Duodecim’

Nomura: It means ’12’ in Latin. DFF was the 13th battle and marked the end of the gods’ battle, but this time we’re covering the 12th battle before that one so it was named with that meaning in mind. It has other meanings to the development staff.

Takahashi: ‘012’ fitted extremely well with the content of the game, but that’s a spoiler so I can’t talk about it now (laughs). Just remember that it has meaning.

The Concept of the Game

Takahashi: The previous game was for the 20th anniversary, so we’re keeping that celebratory feeling. We’d like for many people to play it, so

Lightning’s illustration was based on an unreleased picture drawn for FFXIII. It was the first time Nomura had drawn the Blaze Edge, which was difficult with all the small parts. Kain’s was originally drawn from a diagonal angle, but since the impression from Amano’s original drawing was so strong he redrew it. He was going to show his eyes at first, but the staff told him they would have him take off his helmet for his EX Burst so to hide his eyes in his illustration.

Selecting the New Characters, Kain to Lightning

Nomura: I said Kain would be a dead cert if we had the chance to make a sequel. Since I wanted to see how a dragoon’s jumping would look in DFF. That was my only request, I left the rest to Takahashi and the rest of the staff.

Takahashi: Lightning was included since she’s from the latest FF title. There are more new characters, but the space limitations of a UMD are harsh and I can’t say for definite. All the original’s characters are present.

Nomura: Unlike the first game it won’t be the same number, or one character from each game, but it’s not something as small as 3 or 4. It’ll be a good number, so please look forward to the follow up reports.

Takahashi: We’re not just selecting characters at random, but focusing on giving them a different feel when playing and on character popularity.

Nomura: The next new character to be revealed was one that Takahashi said, โ€œif you don’t add this character I’m not making the sequel!โ€

Takahashi: The EX Mode is an ultimate attack, and Assist is more something you use little by little. The Assist gauge will fill up even if an attack doesn’t hit, and will decrease as time goes by. You’ll receive the benefit by being aggressive with it. There’s also a new system that symbolizes how EX Mode and Assist oppose each other.

Do you have a choice in what attack Assist Characters use?

Takahashi: You can select the character, but the attacks are set. We’re focusing on bringing out the personality of the characters.

Takahashi: There’s no character [from the first game] that hasn’t been retuned, and most of the characters have new abilities. Frioniel in particular has changed. Every character has a new ‘3P Colour’ costume. The motif was on having an impact and greatly changing the feel. Look out for Garland’s especially (laughs).

Nomura: Some of the new costumes are based on Amano’s illustrations, and they’re interesting with some surprising references. Some of the second costumes from the first game have also been slightly touched up or reworked.

Takahashi: In addition to new [equipment and accessories], we’ve redone the balance on others. The inclusion of the Assist system has had an impact on the equipment.

Takahashi: All the previous game’s are included, and there’s new ones. There’s several more apart from FFXIII’s Orphan’s Cradle, and we’ve added the same number as the amount of new characters.

Do the maps have any connection to the new characters?

Takahashi: I can’t really say (laughs). We didn’t just pick any old locations.

We heard a remix of ‘Blinded by Light’

Takahashi: It’s still been worked on, but we might include nearly double the number of tracks that the first game had.

Carrying over save data

Takahashi: You will be able to, but there’s things which touch on the heart of the new system, so I can’t go into detail on it just yet. We’re not just trying to do the same things as with the last game but to have a title with something new to enjoy, so there’s parts that will carry over and parts that won’t. We’re still looking into how much to carry over.

Nomura: There’s definitely going to be elements that can be carried over, so I hope people who didn’t play the original will play the Ultimate Hits version while they wait.

Takahashi: [In the TGS demo] there’s three difficulty settings, so people playing for the first time or beginners should pick Intro Mode. The summon system has been taken out of the demo, but it will of course be in the final game with new summons as well.

In the demo you could select an RPG style command control.

Takahashi: It’s a complete renewal of the original game’s command battle system. In the first game it was difficult, but we’ve lowered the hurdle on it and worked on the AI, so people who only play RPGs can play it as well. It has kind of a RTS feel to it as well.

Final message

Takahashi: As a sequel, we’re working towards making it so even people who played the original game can experience something new playing it. There’s still more information to come so I’d be glad if people would speculate about it during the wait. And please look forward to seeing the new characters.

No comments yet

  1. Storm Kandrot
    #1 Storm Kandrot 16 September, 2010, 22:43

    Sounds awesome.~
    I’m really glad that Cloud is coming back in this game. (I think O.o)

    Reply to this comment
  2. ForceStealer
    #2 ForceStealer 16 September, 2010, 22:46

    Doesn’t look like it plays any different.
    I’m really sad now that my saved data got erased ๐Ÿ™ I played 30 hours and it got erased, I downloaded a completely clear file just so I could see the rest of Shade Impulse, but if something tangible carries over it’ll be a drag that it wasn’t MY game.
    But maybe you just get one blanket thing for having clear data.

    Reply to this comment
  3. Pan
    #3 Pan 17 September, 2010, 00:50

    I can’t wait to see all the new characters that will be included in this game…But i really hope they don’t choose Garnet Til Alexandros the 17th (shudder) as the other final fantasy ix character.. I.would.die.

    Reply to this comment
  4. Dark & Divine
    #4 Dark & Divine 17 September, 2010, 01:12

    Wow! Kain’s EX-Burst is awesome!!!

    And thanks for the translations, Hito! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply to this comment
  5. RPG Tony
    #5 RPG Tony 17 September, 2010, 03:41

    @ForceStealer
    That sucks man but I think I had it worse. I put 135 hours into mine I accidentally deleted it. I almost went into denial after that happened lol ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

    Reply to this comment
    • Sirnight
      Sirnight 18 September, 2010, 12:25

      Sucks for you as well, but I had over 700 hours clocked, and lost my memory stick..
      And I’m serious about the time. ;_;

      …lol, I have no life. XD

    • Leorik
      Leorik 20 September, 2010, 00:52

      wow i thought me and my freinds had lot of time, we have like 300 hours each but 700 thats a lot,u must realy love the game

    • gilgamesh
      gilgamesh 10 March, 2011, 06:39

      thats nothing over 1800 hours on mine.

  6. GENESIS
    #6 GENESIS 17 September, 2010, 11:22

    Well…”โ€™012โ€ฒ fitted extremely well with the content of the game”
    I hope this not the number of new characters -_-‘

    “Unlike the first game it wonโ€™t be the same number, or one character from each game”

    =/…..I was hoping that Genesis will appear,but I donยดt know his popularity in japan

    Keep waiting

    Reply to this comment
    • Leorik
      Leorik 20 September, 2010, 00:50

      omg i agree i love genisis,it would be so awsome if they added him and zack

    • domo
      domo 19 October, 2010, 23:24

      How’s Zack gonna work though? He and cloud cant both carry Buster Sword….

    • tummy
      tummy 28 December, 2010, 01:27

      I doubt that since they’re adding 6 new characters along with the original…if you’re wondering why six, you should look at the official trailer for 2011

  7. OWD
    #7 OWD 17 September, 2010, 15:02

    I’m totally indifferent to Lightning, but I love me some Tifa. The trailer’s taken down so I’m late, but I hear shit about Seifer? Y/Y? Confirm/Deny? Damn my lack of a PSP =(

    Reply to this comment
  8. Nadia
    #8 Nadia 17 September, 2010, 15:38

    I’m so happy Tifa, Lightning and Kain are going to be in it! We really need some more females on the Cosmos side. I really enjoyed Dissidia, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one just as much. I’m glad Cloud’s returning, of course! xD

    What I don’t understand is the Lightning-Aya thing… Eh, I don’t mind anyway.

    Reply to this comment
  9. Cloud_Strife
    #9 Cloud_Strife 17 September, 2010, 16:26

    Just let there be more Cloud Updates…………

    Reply to this comment
  10. The_Unkown
    #10 The_Unkown 17 September, 2010, 22:46

    seeing as how characters are getting chosen by popularity, I believe Genesis could be in cause his design is based off of Gackt, and he is pretty popular in Japan, also Reno, my top two choices after that theres still Noctis, Vincent, Seifer, Edge, Rydia, Minwu, and Balthier

    Reply to this comment
  11. hellsbells
    #11 hellsbells 18 September, 2010, 00:49

    Everything looks awesome so far. And I hope there will be more updates about Cloud soon as well.

    Reply to this comment
  12. ForceStealer
    #12 ForceStealer 18 September, 2010, 23:53

    And I know this is a stupidly nerdy thing to nitpick about, but fix the way Cloud holds the Buster Sword! It makes no sense to stow it blade-down :rage:

    If you wanna make Zack hold it that way, fine, but come on.

    Reply to this comment
  13. Okami925
    #13 Okami925 19 September, 2010, 00:21

    I’m just happy Tifa, Kain, and Lightning are in it. Here’s hoping for Gilgamesh.
    Anyway, I believe the English cast has finished recording so maybe it will be a simultaneous release? I hope they have Squall’s costume from KH2 as well.

    Reply to this comment
  14. DARK JUANSE
    #14 DARK JUANSE 19 September, 2010, 15:24

    so this dissidia is a prequel of the first one… like they say the last one was the end of the gods so this is like an Ova… GREAT… i hope see more fights like the original dissidia this was a great news!!! for all the fans!!

    It means โ€™12โ€ฒ in Latin. DFF was the 13th battle and marked the end of the godsโ€™ battle, but this time weโ€™re covering the 12th battle before that one so it was named with that meaning in mind. It has other meanings to the development staff.

    Reply to this comment
  15. wubba bubba
    #15 wubba bubba 20 September, 2010, 00:48

    Please, bring in Kefka’s theme on the soundtrack! maybe even remixed. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply to this comment
  16. Eric
    #16 Eric 20 September, 2010, 01:58

    Seems like this will be one Hell of a Game.^^
    But will it still have Tidus? =3

    Reply to this comment
    • Jose
      Jose 25 November, 2010, 23:05

      The News page says All the old characters are in it.

  17. Eve
    #17 Eve 20 September, 2010, 03:42

    I hope Yuna makes it in the game ^^ I don’t mind either one or both would be awesome!

    Reply to this comment
    • tummy
      tummy 28 December, 2010, 02:54

      She does. You can see her in the new trailer

  18. metallover
    #18 metallover 20 September, 2010, 11:05

    OMG, KAIN HAS A FACE!

    Reply to this comment
  19. Gelaide
    #19 Gelaide 2 October, 2010, 05:51

    I hope Celes makes it… Magitek Knights (Celes) > SOLDIER (Zack)! ๐Ÿ˜€

    Reply to this comment
  20. KenByron
    #20 KenByron 7 October, 2010, 02:02

    I really hope Vincent Valentine is included in this series and Cloud would get many more Moves hahaha xD

    Reply to this comment
    • Wostvely
      Wostvely 28 October, 2010, 21:38

      Me too, that would be the only way to use chaos ๐Ÿ˜‰

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