Ko, this is an interview with Takaji Tokita!
After 28 years, the remake version Live Alive has reached its long-awaited release date on July 22. In this magazine, in addition to the previous pre-preview article, we sent an email interview with the director Takashi Togita. Mr. Tokita, who has a strong service spirit, answered Morimori, so we will deliver it as it is!
- Ko, this is an interview with Takaji Tokita!
- About the scenario
- About the remake version about casting
- About the main story of the game
- About localization
- About music
- Wings that don’t reach
- GO! GO! Tin King! ! ]
- Live for Live
About the scenario
で す か Did you think Let’s make an omnibus format? Please tell us about the background.
Mr. Koji Tokita (hereinafter referred to as Mr. Tokita): The release timing of the original version of Live Alive is in the latter half of SFC, etc. It was a harvest season when many RPG series appeared. In addition, the memory size of the ROM cassette has increased, the volume of the game has increased, and the play time on the player has become longer in proportion.
The RPG worldview that appeared at that time was not only fantasy, but also science fiction, historical drama, and dramatic essences.
Meanwhile, in order to launch a new RPG as the first director, the omnibus format makes it possible to have a deeper view of each world, and a high degree of freedom that can be played at once, such as one part a day. The idea is that I can create a unique all-star RPG by having multiple writers design character design.
─ Let’s go in Chapter 7 (Plus Alpha) from the beginning! Was it decided?
Tokita: The number 8 is a basic number on the computer, so I think the idea of chapter 8 was from the beginning. The royal road’s medieval edition was first decided to make a surprise that can be played and connect the whole story by clearing Chapter 7.
* Editorial department annotation: Computer memory, etc. consists of multiple of 8.
How did you adopt a variety of scenarios such as Western edition and SF edition?
Mr. Tokita: Based on the fantasy era of each region. If the Middle Ages is a European fantasy, there are historical drama in Japan, the United States in the western drama, and China in China. There is a feeling of adding a classic primitive era and science fiction worldview in movies. In the classic genre, the elements of fighting games were added to the modern edition, and in the Near Future, we added a boy manga and anime development. The unique worldview of the eight editions combined with elements such as Jobs in battle, RPG scenarios, text, maps, and battles, and featured them.
で す か Can you tell me if you have a good edition?
(I would like to ask you if you are in the planning stage of the horror edition where zombies come out!).
Mr. Tokita: Since I decided each edition as above from the beginning, there is no special edition.
The scenario of each edition was created from the plot and finished it while implementing it, so the details were decided while making it undecided.
About the remake version about casting
─ I got a voice for the first time this time.
It is said that all casting is in charge of Mr. Tokita, but was it imagined that this character is this person at the time of the production of the SFC version?
Also, was there any character that was realized this time?
Mr. Tokita: I didn’t imagine all the characters, but the Mad Dog in the Western edition was imagined by Toshio Furukawa’s light and nihil from the beginning of the original version. This time, a 30-year dream has been realized! Furukawa-san also likes Mad Dog, so I’m impressed.
The other characters thought about casting again and consulted the best people, but I didn’t expect everyone to accept them.
It was a recording since Corona’s evil, but that’s why everyone played positively with Entertainment!
In addition, people who have worked together at FF4 and those who have been working together with Live Alive played and loved me, so it was really hot and wonderful.
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Mr. Tokita: The medieval edition To me in the world…
The play of everyone without the lines of the primitive part
The disciples of the Kao edition Kenzhan Ken !!
Western edition…
Oote-in King in the end of the Tokugawa period.
Before the decisive battle of the modern edition
Pogelal Goo ~ !! of the near future edition
The last line of the Corporal of the SF edition
The end of the medieval hash, Uranus
Middle Ages Last Orsted
I would like you to listen to……. I was so impressed that the goosebumps were standing when I was recording myself.
About the main story of the game
─ How did you decide where to renew and where to leave in this remake?
Mr. Tokita: Because the people who loved Live Alive have been supporting me for a long time, the remake is realized, so the general policy was basically not changing. Although it has been released globally, compliance and large-age expressions have been adjusted, but it has not changed significantly as a game experience.
The new part is to make it easier to play as a modern game. Development Historia actively proposed and implemented so that new young game fans, such as tempo and ease of understanding, can play and enjoy them properly.
で す ね Please tell us what the most emphasis is on the part that improved from the old work with this remake.
Tokita: The above-mentioned parts that make it easier to play have been diverse. UI, radar, sketch, tutorial, tips. And the balance of the battle was adjusted many times so that there was no stress, especially with the emphasis on the tempo. And because the voice and 3D production are included, the tempo is felt. This is finely adjusted with the staff at the site so that the original is sharp.
About localization
。 In addition to the first foreign language localization, English voices were also attached for the first time. Did Tokita also check the casting and lines? I would like to ask if there is an episode.
(Personally, I thought that Keno was as if watching the Kasu’s Intonation, including the intonation of the cast, and it was very nice!)
Mr. Tokita: Casting was left to John, who translated the main translation according to the voice quality of the Japanese voice actor. The recording was remote, so I participated as much as possible. It was a global and rational recording method unique to modern times, listening to the recording of American voice actors in a British studio direction. It was hard from 10:00 pm to 7:00 in the morning, but the acting of native voice actors who made use of the world view was very exciting.
で す か Did you have any changes in the localization and the remake of the times?
Mr. Tokita: In the modern compliance, the check staff was localized together to make use of the original goodness until the last minute, rather than the stance of being able to keep it round.
I think that it is a work that contains a lot of essence and romance unique to Japan.
I would like to ask you, especially if you want to see and feel it for overseas fans who touch the work for the first time.
Mr. Tokita: Primitive edition is a universal experience, Bakumatsu, and Near future are unique to Japan. On the other hand, Western edition and SF have an atmosphere that suppresses the realism of a European and American movie while drawing a dot picture. Modern, Kao, Middle Ages-Final is a game that changes the development afterwards with player’s options, and universal elements that can be convinced by overseas people. I believe you can enjoy it in an impactful form!
About music
─ The songs that have been arranged and reborn. I think that it is recommended to throw it away, but I would like you to pick up three songs in particular. I would also like to ask you why.
Mr. Tokita: 3 songs!?
Even 10 songs are not enough, but if you dare to say, the following three songs.
Wings that don’t reach
This is the first song completed in the original. While listening to this, it is a song that represents Live Alive personally, which I wanted to produce by enhancing the image of Middle Ages. It is a lyrical and reminiscent of the drama that will happen, but it was a very impressive song when the orchestra version was recorded again.
GO! GO! Tin King! ! ]
After all this will not be removed!
It is a song that you love as the original gift project, the benefits of soundtrack resale, and the climax of anniversary LIVE. Beyond the times, I had Kageyama Hironobu sang and sang, and my smile and excitement did not stop. The English version is also the best, so please ask!
Live for Live
There are other songs I want to list, but this song decorates the last song. While the phrase of the main theme that starts quietly is played in the full orchestra, I realized that this is a music experience that symbolizes Live Alive. By all means, please listen to the thoughts of each edition at the ending!
で す か Did you have any standards for songs that were arranged live orchestra?
(I felt that it was arranged in the song that is used in the whole story and Bird’s Sky Flying Use Swimming!).
Mr. Tokita: This is a music team with Yoko Shimomura and the sound production team, and I think that it was an orchestra formation, a band formation, or a feature of other instruments.
─ In addition to Hironob Kageyama, who was in charge of VOCAL, Hide × HIDE, who was in charge of the music guests, Norisuke Ushio and Destiny8 indirectly! Did Tokita also requested a participating musician? I would like to ask you about your thoughts and listening.
I would like to ask Aetas, who has planned and produces the 20th anniversary Live A Live A Live, and want to make this song with the musicians who have lived the anniversary LIVE. Arranged with members of Laid Back Gorilla, Hide x Hide, which is indispensable for the end of the Tokugawa edition, YOKO, whistled in the western edition, and Noriyuki Ukura on the keyboard who also participated in Destiny8. I also participated in the guitar Sorao Mori, and the drum Toshiharu Okajima (in charge of drums in LAID BACK GORILLA).
Kentuke Ushio said, Maiden blurred! ], The theme song of the work, but this time, please arrange SF! When I asked, I played when I was in elementary school, so please come!
Hironob Kageyama of Tin Great King asked Kageyama, who has many fans overseas, with English ver.
I was glad that the members of the orchestra were pleased with Live Alive! Do you want to remake!?
で す か Maybe Tokita is secretly in the primitive chorus or the voice of the townspeople?
Mr. Tokita: I did not plan to put a chorus at the beginning of the primitive feast song, but on my proposal, all the men who were there were Uho! It was fun to record. If you are a voice such as townspeople, please check it out in the game!
で す か Do you have any plans to live again? Do you have any other orchestra concerts, etc.?
Tokita: We have received many requests from everyone!
There was a time of Corona’s evil, and the anniversary LIVE has not been held for a while, but we will do our best to make it possible to realize this remake, so please continue to support us!
This is the answer to the director of the director from Takaji Tokita.
At last, the remake version Live Alive, and from 17:00 to 19:00 on July 22 (Thursday), there is also a day manager event for Takaji Tokita at the BicCamera Shinjuku East Exit. If you are participating, please enjoy the self-infectious disease diffusion prevention measures and social distances perfectly.
credit
© 1994, 2022 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.
Character design
© 1994, 2022 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.
© 1994, Shogakukan Inc.
Gosho aoyama, yoshihide fujiwara, assamu ishiwata, yoshinori kobayashi, ryouji minagawa, kazuhiko shimamoto, yumi Tamura