Fairy Tail 2, the PlayStation 5／PlayStation 4／Nintendo Change／Steam title which permits gamers to relive the climax of the extremely standard magical battle fantasy collection Fairy Tail, was launched on December 13, 2024 (December 12 in Japan and Asia). To commemorate the discharge, we carried out a particular interview with Hiro Mashima, the creator of the unique Fairy Tail collection, and Hiroshi Kataoka, the producer of the sport Fairy Tail 2!
IGN: Thanks each for taking outing of your busy schedules to affix us immediately! As Fairy Tail 2 was launched on the twelfth (in Japan and Asia), to start with, may you inform us about how this title started – the way it was proposed (by Koei Tecmo) to Mashima-sensei?
Kataoka: 4 years in the past in 2020 we launched the primary Fairy Tail sport, however it solely lined up till the Tartaros Arc. The ultimate chapter, the Alvarez Empire Arc, remained as pivotal and unfinished ‘homework’ from the earlier sport, and we felt that probably the most thrilling half completely needed to be tailored, however it took us plenty of time to consider the easiest way to adapt it right into a sport. As soon as we had roughly settled on the content material that we thought would work, we introduced our proposal of the sport define which included each the principle story and an authentic storyline. How did you’re feeling once you first noticed it, Mashima-sensei?
Mashima-sensei: After I noticed the proposal this time, whereas it was an RPG, there have been motion game-like parts which made me very pleased.
Kataoka: This time there generally is a chain of combos in battles, so the way in which it performs is near an motion sport.
Mashima-sensei: Sure, the fight system has modified from the earlier sport! I believe it’s actually cool.
Kataoka: I believe that one of many strengths of RPGs is with the ability to take the time to showcase grand, elaborate strikes. Nevertheless, since this sport incorporates action-like parts and options fast-paced battles, we confronted many challenges in enhancing the visible impression of linking combos with out disrupting the gameplay stream. We had been ready obtain permission to create shorter variations of consecutive casting sequences of the identical magic spells, which I believe resulted in it coming collectively properly.
Kataoka: As you change into rather a lot stronger on the sector, you possibly can immediately knock out enemies with a single hit, defeat 10 or extra enemies with particular strikes and extra, so I believe the action-like really feel has elevated considerably, which has in flip actually elevated the gameplay really feel as a Fairy Tail sport.
Mashima-sensei: Additionally, I believed the map was nice.
Kataoka: It truly is huge. After I performed it myself and arrived at Hargeon, seeing the port unfold out earlier than me was actually shifting.
Mashima-sensei: Ooh! I’m wanting ahead to that!
IGN: When making the fields, did the event workforce give attention to any particular factors?
Kataoka: On this sport, the explanation we made the world map seamless was to faithfully recreate the state of affairs from the unique the place the Alvarez Empire is attacking from all sides, enhancing immersion and conveying a way of journey. Within the early levels, gamers primarily discover the map following the story, however within the later levels, the explorable space expands considerably, providing a robust sense of journey, so I hope gamers will attempt operating via the sector.
Mashima-sensei: I discovered it actually enjoyable to really be capable of stroll round this setting of the Kingdom of Fiore. The location of the cities are faithfully recreated as they’d be within the authentic collection. I hope followers of the collection will stay up for that facet.
Kataoka: Moreover, on this sport as gamers journey via the open subject, they’ll see plenty of interactions amongst characters so I hope gamers will get pleasure from that as nicely.
IGN: Are you able to inform us what sort of interactions we are able to see?
Kataoka: For the reason that open subject is kind of giant, simply strolling round generally is a bit boring so we added conversations. Since exploration is completed in a celebration, we included varied dialogues that seize the essence of the Fairy Tail guild members. Moreover, for these enjoying a Fairy Tail sport for the primary time, we made positive that these conversations will help them perceive the relationships between the characters.
Kataoka: For instance, they even provide you with a warning with traces like “I scent treasure” when there is a treasure chest close by or recommend “Let’s take a break” when there’s a spot to relaxation.
Mashima-sensei: Wow, that is superb! It actually offers the sensation of touring with companions, making the journey plenty of enjoyable.
Kataoka: For the earlier sport, you usually talked about wanting a way of journey, so we had been meticulous in capturing that feeling this time.
Kataoka: Additionally, Plue is hidden all through the world.
Mashima-sensei: “Discover Plue,” proper!?
Kataoka: I hope gamers will attempt to discover him by counting on listening to his voice or from trace dialogues from companions.
IGN: We spoke about how the battle system had modified, how concerning the graphics?
Kataoka: It has been 4 years because the earlier sport, so I believe the standard of the fashions and motions have considerably improved! I’d need to say we put probably the most effort into the facial expressions. Whereas we additionally labored onerous on this within the earlier sport, the dev workforce labored onerous to make much more variations of facial expressions, so I believe we’ve been capable of have every character show an expression that greatest matches the state of affairs for a lot of scenes.
Mashima-sensei: The standard is extremely excessive, and I used to be actually happy! Except for the fashions, I believe they’re known as stills? The only illustrations had been all so spectacular I’ve misplaced a little bit of confidence (laughs). There was an illustration of Natsu and Zeref going through one another and it had the identical impression because the drawings I did again then. Even now, I nonetheless assume it would’ve been good to make use of because the field artwork.
Kataoka: After I shared that story with the individual answerable for it, they had been extraordinarily thrilled.
IGN: I might wish to ask concerning the sport’s story as nicely. On this installment, gamers can relive the Alvarez Empire Arc, which is the climax of Fairy Tail. Have been there any challenges in growing the story portion of the sport?
Kataoka: The unique collection featured many one-on-one battles, however for this sport we needed to create Fairy Tail vs. Alvarez Empire workforce battles, so we consulted on making small changes to the order of battles and improvement of the story. And we acquired plenty of recommendation and options for changes to the story improvement and dialogue to make it even higher, so I imagine we achieved a really clean and coherent gameplay expertise.
IGN: By the way in which, do you, Kataoka-san and Mashima-sensei, have any favourite characters or scenes from the Alvarez Empire Arc?
Kataoka: The whirlwind of developments within the Alvarez Empire Arc that included the unraveling of mysteries and the decision of plot twists are what I vividly bear in mind being amazed at each week when it aired. There are such a lot of iconic scenes and features, however for me, the second when Erza all of the sudden stops Natsu and Grey actually struck me and that scene is etched in my reminiscence.
Mashima-sensei: Thanks.
Mashima-sensei: For me, I believe it will be August. I believe that issues that had been added to the setting later, together with the foreshadowing of the battle with August, labored nicely and it’s an element that I actually like. Even when your entire story is not included, I need the battle itself to be thrilling.
Kataoka: We have made positive to faithfully recreate the story, and I believe the ultimate scene turned out rather well.
Mashima-sensei: I am wanting ahead to that!
IGN: So that you got here up with August’s setting later.
Mashima-sensei: I usually provide you with concepts afterward. In fact, even once I say “later,” it is often a couple of episodes earlier than it is mirrored into the story. Within the case of August, it labored notably nicely. I’ve heard many individuals say they had been utterly fooled by it. “It wasn’t Larcade, it was you!” (laughs)
Kataoka: I used to be utterly fooled as nicely. (Laughs)
Mashima-sensei: August was a really robust character within the authentic collection, so I hope the battle with August is as difficult within the sport as nicely.
Kataoka: Sure, he is an extremely robust character as a result of he can copy magic. Even when studying the unique manga, I puzzled who could be stronger if he fought Zeref. And naturally, he is fairly highly effective within the sport.
Mashima-sensei: It will be an issue if he is too robust, although (laughs).
Kataoka: In any other case, gamers won’t be capable of end the sport (laughs). We have made him fairly robust as the ultimate buildup earlier than the battle with Zeref.
Kataoka: One factor I’d personally wish to ask is how way back did you resolve on the content material of the ultimate chapter?
Mashima-sensei: I used to be fairly torn till the tip about whether or not Zeref or Acnologia could be final. As a result of I expanded the story a lot, there have been many issues that had been added later. For instance, there is a character named Dimaria who can cease time, and he or she was so highly effective that I could not work out how she could possibly be defeated, so the sudden look of “that character” was an thought I got here up with afterward.
Kataoka: Oh, actually!
Mashima-sensei: It felt like stay storytelling! There are plenty of cases the place it will have been higher with out sure settings… Whereas I’ve repeated a few of these regrets, it’s enjoyable to create a narrative as you go alongside!
Kataoka: And was there any explicit motive behind having 12 members within the Spriggan 12?
Mashima-sensei: Initially, I made a decision on 12 companion characters who would play energetic roles. From there, I then determined that every of them would defeat one of many 12 enemy characters. Nevertheless, Erza ended up defeating two of them. (laughs)
Kataoka: That’s true. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: In video games, it is often one thing like ‘4 Heavenly Kings,’ however right here we’ve got 12. (laughs)
Kataoka: As those making it, I actually contemplated, “12, huh…” (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: I think about creating the fashions will need to have been plenty of work.
Kataoka: However I used to be decided to ensure that preventing all members of the “Spriggan 12” would undoubtedly occur, so I instructed the event workforce from the beginning, “Battle the entire Spriggan 12! This can be a should!”
Mashima-sensei: That is fantastic to listen to. I am wanting ahead to it.
IGN: Along with reliving the unique story, this sport additionally consists of an authentic storyline. How did the event of the unique story come about?
Kataoka: From the second we first proposed the sport, we mentioned that we needed to incorporate an authentic storyline. And truly Mashima-sensei requested that the unique story be very well-developed, so we put plenty of effort into it. For the ultimate boss of the unique story, our thought of battling a specific character on the very finish was the one half proposed from the very starting.
Mashima-sensei: I believed all the unique eventualities had been nice. I believe it’s clear that plenty of onerous work has been put into them!
Kataoka: Thanks. For the reason that foremost story is kind of severe as it’s the closing chapter, we needed one thing to convey out the lighthearted and energetic really feel typical of Fairy Tail that will be extra informal to play. We even puzzled if we would get in bother for going overboard… (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: It wasn’t an issue in any respect! (Laughs) It was enjoyable!
Kataoka: That’s good to listen to. I’m actually pleased you loved it.
IGN: Talking of authentic content material for the sport, within the Digital Deluxe version, there’s an in-game characteristic known as Atelier Lucy. May you tell us extra about this?
Kataoka: After the earlier sport, Mashima-sensei talked about on X that “it will be good to have one thing like an Atelier Lucy,” and that’s the place the concept started. The IP producer of the Atelier collection (Junzo) Hosoi additionally welcomed the concept, so we proposed it, acquired approval and made it occur. Since matching the synthesis system within the newer Atelier collection would make it a bit too difficult to play, we’ve put in a easy system, and I imagine it’s very enjoyable.
Mashima-sensei: That is actually nice. I additionally love the Atelier collection, so despite the fact that what you made this time is a parody, it does not really feel misplaced in any respect. If there is a sequel, I might love for it to be absolutely developed.
IGN: Wouldn’t it be good to actually have a collaboration title like ‘Atelier Fairy Tail’?
Mashima-sensei: Sure, I’d like that to occur sometime (laughs).
Kataoka: Truly, we’ve included acquainted parts from the Atelier collection, like Barrel!
Mashima-sensei: I used to be actually pleased once I found that. There have been fairly a couple of character variations too!
IGN: This sport consists of additionally features a wealth of DLC corresponding to outfits and a further state of affairs. Have been there any explicit facets you targeted on in creating these?
Kataoka: For the DLC outfits of playable characters, we needed to create a way of togetherness, so we included outfits from the 8-Island restaurant the place they labored within the authentic collection, formal put on with a marriage motif, and college uniforms to evoke a picture of faculty life. As for the extra state of affairs, I personally actually preferred the Battle of Fairy Tail episode, so I considered combining it with a sizzling springs theme.
Mashima-sensei: Each time new outfits had been despatched over, I might say, “that’s superior!” I believed it was unbelievable that every character had their very own distinctive outfit fairly than everybody sporting the identical factor. It was extremely artistic and spectacular.
Kataoka: There are even characters sporting glasses with the college uniforms. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: The designs are actually superb! I need everybody to see all of them!
Kataoka: We’re additionally contemplating some absurd battles within the Enviornment, like preventing Zeref, August, and Larcade concurrently. Think about going through six members of the Spriggan 12 directly. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: Are you able to even beat that? (laughs)
Kataoka: That is the place gamers might want to stage up their characters and hone their expertise. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: That sounds thrilling.
IGN: To shut, may you share a message for these eagerly anticipating the discharge?
Kataoka: We have saved you ready a very long time because the earlier sport, however the launch is lastly right here. Our whole workforce has poured their love for Fairy Tail into this undertaking and with the cooperation of Mashima-sensei and everybody at Kodansha we’re lastly at completion. We have created one thing actually satisfying in in fact not solely the story, however the gameplay too, so I hope you may give it a attempt.
Mashima-sensei: I really assume this work is crammed with love for Fairy Tail, and I am actually wanting ahead to enjoying it myself, so I hope everybody will stay up for it too.
