Tabata and Kitase talk Final Fantasy Type-0

The second round in Famitsu’s exclusive Final Fantasy-related interview sessions comes from Final Fantasy Type-0. The first interview, which focused on Final Fantasy XIII-2 and the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythos, was published late last week. Today’s Type-0 interview invites commentary from producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Hajime Tabata.

Game Title

Final Fantasy Type-0 was known as Final Fantasy Agito XIII up until Square Enix‘s press conference on January 18, where the new title was announced. The reason for the name change, as detailed in the past, is because Type-0 has little to do with Final Fantasy XIII.

Famitsu was more interested in the new name’s use of kanji. Rather than type out Type-0, the name instead uses the kanji form, 零式 . According to Kitase, this was done in order to contrast the title from numbered Final Fantasys, as well as create the feel of the game being more of of a war chronicle.

Art director, Yusuke Naora, created the kanji in the logo. He’s the man who drew out Final Fantasy VII‘s ‘Shinra’ type.

Story and Setting

Final Fantasy Type-0 is set in a world of four countries, each of whom protect a crystal in a magic academy called “Peristerium”. The four countries, pulled from the game’s Wikipedia page, are known as Rubrum, Milites, Anaze, and Kogai.

Type-0 kicks off when the Milites Empire decides to invade Rubrum in an attempt to make Rubrum’s crystal powerless using their new weapon, the “Crystal Jammer”. The Milites Empire is known as the mechanized civilization, who’s troops are equipped with guns, warships, and mecha. As students at the Rubrum Peristerium, from a country who’s main form of defense is magic and summons, players must fight off Milites’ imperial army.

Tabata said that the Rubrum Peristerium is considered both a city and a base of operations. You’ll get your orders from the academy, select a place to go on the world map, and start the mission when you arrive.

Type-0 is essentially a “war chronicle” drama that places the focus on mankind, born from the blood of the goddess Etro. It shows how the gods are a part of the people’s lives, and how it’s displayed throughout history.

Characters

Players step into the roles of 12 main characters, all of whom are academy students. The group is shown in the artwork featured above, holding the Rubrum flag. A few of their names include Cinque, Seven, Trey, Eight, Nine, Jack, and Queen.

Two, more important characters are Rem and Machina (shown to the right). They’re not considered “main characters” as far as the game goes, but are viewed as the story’s main characters from a historical standpoint. These two will fight alongside the main characters as party members in the game (making for a total of 14 characters).

Battle System

In Type-0, characters will gain experience from battle and level-up. New abilities and accessories also help strengthen your character.

One of the game’s finer points, however, is its “magic customization.” As magic are the guns of Rubrum, Type-0 makes it much more accessible. For example, Fire magic can become a more powerful Fira or Firaga if you hold the button down. Customizing the skill can reduce the amount of time Fira takes to cast, and change the speed or power of the fireball.

The recent screenshots have magic names like “Fire ST” and “Thunder MW.” These are customized magics.

Type-0 is big on summons, as well. It’s one of the core elements of the battle system. When heading out to battle, players select which summons they want to carry, and may summon them when in need. Once summoned, players take full control of the beast. Tabata said that summons are powerful and feel good to control. They only appear for a limited time, however, so make good use of them!

Multiplayer

Type-0‘s multiplayer component, supported by ad-hoc, allows three minute bursts with other players joining to aid in your battle.

After a player receives an assignment from the academy, they’ll head out into the battlefield with all 12 characters in the party; only 3 are allowed to fight in battle at once. As soon as one of the 3 dies, one of the remaining 9 may come in. The battle is lost if all 12 characters die.

Multiplayer, according to Tabata, is the same concept, except the other characters that come in for support are characters from other players. Support players will receive a bonus in their game depending on how much they assist the player in their battles.

Size and Status

Final Fantasy Type-0 is a big game. According to Tabata, they’re trying to achieve the quality of a high-definition game. To allow for this, the game will be spread across two UMDs.

As of current, Final Fantasy Type-0 is 60 percent complete. It’ll release in Japan this summer.

Thanks, Andriasang.