Final Fantasy VII Remake had three directors: Tetsuya Nomura, Motomu Toriyama, and Naoki Hamaguchi. Needless to say, it was a demanding project — one that had to try and please fans of the original Final Fantasy VII and newcomers alike — but we like to think that the development team pulled it off, for the most part.
However, news has broke that Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 2 — now in development — will have just one director: Naoki Hamaguchi. A quick recap: Hamaguchi has worked on the Final Fantasy series since Final Fantasy XII, but he wasn't placed in the role of a director until Remake. Being the sole director on Part 2 is quite the step up in terms of responsibility, then.
This info comes directly from Nomura himself, who recently spoke to Famitsu (as translated by Gematsu). He said: "Since we were able to solidify the base gameplay in the first part of Final Fantasy VII Remake and are able to see what we need to improve upon in the future, Naoki Hamaguchi will be entrusted as the director on the next part, while I’ll be involved as the creative director on all things Final Fantasy VII, including the Remake and mobile titles. My basic involvement in the work won’t significantly change, so please give me your continued support."
We actually interviewed Hamaguchi back in May of last year, after Remake had released. He talked at length about the title's combat system, and how the team had reworked different parts of the original game. Seemed like a nice guy!
Anyway, what do you make of this news? Do you have high hopes for Remake 2? Leave Midgar in the comments section below.
[source gematsu.com, via famitsu.com]
Comments 21
Well that's a little worrisome but it is better than having 3.
I don't see this ending well.
Not part 2, all of it.
When it's finally over people will be like "FF7R makes season 8 of "Game of Thrones" look good in comparison."
The thing that bothers me about this is that it sounds like they're just getting started. Then again I guess a lot of the tech side of things was done when they made part 1 (and the PS5 port)
Please lock Nomura up in the basement but don’t actually use any of his work unlike Kojima. Or just give him that Battle Royale game to do.
@rjejr Yeahhh, they’ve already ‘subverted expectations’ a little too much for my liking. Could be The Last Jedi and GoT Season 8’s ungodly love child.
I don't expect Part 2 until 2024 at the earliest to be honest. I think FF16 is going to be the next big title for promotion in 2022
There is something in FFXII thats just keeps me engaged, there is charisma in that game about how i see the world and how i want stay immersed.
so im very positive for this.
@OrigamiCrane Honestly, I really like the look of that mobile adaptation of the whole Crisis saga. Looks like a lot more of a faithful adaptation.
Don't see the problem with this. The hard part was already done with part 1.
The big question is will it get to the end of Disc 1?
I can't wait until I hit retirement, hopefully the game is done by then. I think this is probably a good decision, it can be tough when there are "too many head chefs" in the kitchen.
NINJA APPROVED
It makes me a little nervous for the future if they're scaling back Nomura's involvement. Still very excited, but a tad more nervous than I previously was.
However, if this gives him more time to put all of his effort into the next Kingdom Hearts, that's fine. I'd rather he stick with his baby.
Thankfully their giving Nomura a break, I feel like that man never ever stops. Hopefully he can take a break and work on the next Kingdom of Hearts. I think this new Director(in a solo role) will do alright. Hopefully.
@QBGaming12 It's not like he isn't working on the project anymore, he is Creative Director on the FFVIIR project now, which is actually a lot of work. Plus, he said that he has more projects to work on, so essentially, he isn't going to be working on this project just as much, but he will be doing pretty much what he did for the first part.
With gameplay nailed down, you would think that production wouldn't take as long as the last game.
@nessisonett I like the look as well but that part about it being chapter based turned me from 100 to 0 in one sentence.
Hamaguchi had a big hand in FF13, which was considered linear as hell and possibly the most controversial mainline title since... well FF7R lol.
Cautiously optimistic about all this.
@nessisonett I thought everybody liked The Last Jedi after Skywalker came out. I was such a big fan of Star Wars growing up, now I can't even remember the full name of the last movie. Shadow of the Skywalker? Planet of the Skywalker? I wish games and movies would add numbers to their titles. Not JUST numbers, I don't want to watch Star Wars 9 or play Tomb Raider 3, but that's what subtitles are for. Though admittedly those TR titles would need some reworking, but at least I'd know which order to play them in. 😝
Destroy All Monsters also should have been Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters. It's always hard to find on the library shelves.
Season 8 of GoT wasn't THAT bad. It was super rushed, should have been 2 seasons, white walkers and Kings landing - who knew TV shows had actual "fast travel" points - but I was ok w/ most of it.
I really think FF7R will wind up like the 6 episodes of Xenosaga - whittled down to 3 or 4. And it will show.
@rjejr
I liked Part 1, but I agree. Trying to please old fans and new players while also releasing in episodes (and there still doesn't seem to be a set number) doesn't seem like a recipe for long term success.
@Gamer83 Considering the way FF7R ended - and I still haven't played it yet so I don'' know exactly how it does, but I got the gist - I'm thinking they maybe should have called it FF7 Reimagined instead of Remastered, and said they didn't know if they would make a part 2 or not, depended on how well it sold.
When a company is working on part 2 but they still don't know how many parts there are going to be, I don't see how anybody can be confident in it ending well.
@Trajan See you in 2030 for all the parts to be released, and final fantasy games never go below 50% so it will never be 20$ on steam
Less Nomura is the best news ever about FFVIIR
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