Fairy Tail 2, the PlayStation 5／PlayStation 4／Nintendo Switch／Steam title which permits gamers to relive the climax of the extremely widespread magical battle fantasy sequence Fairy Tail, was launched on December 13, 2024 (December 12 in Japan and Asia). To commemorate the discharge, we performed a particular interview with Hiro Mashima, the creator of the unique Fairy Tail sequence, and Hiroshi Kataoka, the producer of the sport Fairy Tail 2!
IGN: Thank you each for taking outing of your busy schedules to hitch us at the moment! As Fairy Tail 2 was launched on the twelfth (in Japan and Asia), to start with, might you inform us about how this title started – the way it was proposed (by Koei Tecmo) to Mashima-sensei?
Kataoka: Four years in the past in 2020 we launched the primary Fairy Tail sport, however it solely lined up till the Tartaros Arc. The closing chapter, the Alvarez Empire Arc, remained as pivotal and unfinished ‘homework’ from the earlier sport, and we felt that essentially the most thrilling half completely needed to be tailored, however it took us a variety of time to consider the easiest way to adapt it right into a sport. Once we had kind of 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 unique storyline. How did you are feeling once you first noticed it, Mashima-sensei?
Mashima-sensei: When I noticed the proposal this time, whereas it was an RPG, there have been motion game-like parts which made me very completely satisfied.
Kataoka: This time there is usually a chain of combos in battles, so the best way it performs is near an motion sport.
Mashima-sensei: Yes, the fight system has modified from the earlier sport! I feel it’s actually cool.
Kataoka: I feel that one of many strengths of RPGs is with the ability to take the time to showcase grand, elaborate strikes. However, since this sport incorporates action-like parts and options fast-paced battles, we confronted many challenges in enhancing the visible influence of linking combos with out disrupting the gameplay move. We have been ready obtain permission to create shorter variations of consecutive casting sequences of the identical magic spells, which I feel resulted in it coming collectively properly.
Kataoka: As you change into lots stronger on the sector, you may immediately knock out enemies with a single hit, defeat 10 or extra enemies with particular strikes and extra, so I feel 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: Also, I assumed the map was nice.
Kataoka: It actually is huge. When 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 staff deal with any particular factors?
Kataoka: In this sport, the rationale we made the world map seamless was to faithfully recreate the scenario from the unique the place the Alvarez Empire is attacking from all sides, enhancing immersion and conveying a way of journey. In the early levels, gamers primarily discover the map following the story, however within the later levels, the explorable space expands considerably, providing a powerful sense of journey, so I hope gamers will attempt working by means of the sector.
Mashima-sensei: I discovered it actually enjoyable to really be capable to stroll round this setting of the Kingdom of Fiore. The placement of the cities are faithfully recreated as they’d be within the unique sequence. I hope followers of the sequence will look ahead to that side.
Kataoka: Additionally, on this sport as gamers journey by means of the open discipline, they may see a variety of interactions amongst characters so I hope gamers will get pleasure from that as properly.
IGN: Can you inform us what sort of interactions we will see?
Kataoka: Since the open discipline is kind of giant, simply strolling round is usually a bit boring so we added conversations. Since exploration is finished in a celebration, we included numerous dialogues that seize the essence of the Fairy Tail guild members. Additionally, for these taking part in a Fairy Tail sport for the primary time, we made certain that these conversations will help them perceive the relationships between the characters.
Kataoka: For instance, they even warn you with traces like “I odor 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 wonderful! It actually offers the sensation of touring with companions, making the journey a variety of enjoyable.
Kataoka: For the earlier sport, you usually talked about wanting a way of journey, so we have been meticulous in capturing that feeling this time.
Kataoka: Also, Plue is hidden all through the world.
Mashima-sensei: “Find 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 in regards to the graphics?
Kataoka: It’s been 4 years because the earlier sport, so I feel the standard of the fashions and motions have considerably improved! I’d must say we put essentially the most effort into the facial expressions. While we additionally labored laborious on this within the earlier sport, the dev staff labored laborious to make much more variations of facial expressions, so I feel we’ve been in a position to have every character show an expression that greatest matches the scenario for a lot of scenes.
Mashima-sensei: The high quality is extremely excessive, and I used to be actually happy! Aside from the fashions, I feel they’re referred to as stills? The single illustrations have been all so spectacular I’ve misplaced a little bit of confidence (laughs). There was an illustration of Natsu and Zeref dealing with one another and it had the identical influence because the drawings I did again then. Even now, I nonetheless suppose it would’ve been good to make use of because the field artwork.
Kataoka: When I shared that story with the particular person chargeable for it, they have been extraordinarily thrilled.
IGN: I’d wish to ask in regards to the sport’s story as properly. In this installment, gamers can relive the Alvarez Empire Arc, which is the climax of Fairy Tail. Were there any challenges in growing the story portion of the sport?
Kataoka: The unique sequence featured many one-on-one battles, however for this sport we wished to create Fairy Tail vs. Alvarez Empire staff battles, so we consulted on making small changes to the order of battles and growth of the story. And we acquired a variety of recommendation and options for changes to the story growth and dialogue to make it even higher, so I imagine we achieved a really easy and coherent gameplay expertise.
IGN: By the best way, 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 keep in mind being amazed at each week when it aired. There are so many iconic scenes and features, however for me, the second when Erza out of the blue stops Natsu and Gray actually struck me and that scene is etched in my reminiscence.
Mashima-sensei: Thank you.
Mashima-sensei: For me, I feel it might be August. I feel that issues that have been added to the setting later, together with the foreshadowing of the battle with August, labored properly and it’s a component that I actually like. Even if your complete story is not included, I would like the battle itself to be thrilling.
Kataoka: We’ve made certain to faithfully recreate the story, and I feel the ultimate scene turned out very well.
Mashima-sensei: I’m wanting ahead to that!
IGN: So you got here up with August’s setting later.
Mashima-sensei: I usually give you concepts in a while. Of course, even once I say “later,” it is normally just a few episodes earlier than it is mirrored into the story. In the case of August, it labored notably properly. I’ve heard many individuals say they have been utterly fooled by it. “It wasn’t Larcade, it was you!” (laughs)
Kataoka: I used to be utterly fooled as properly. (Laughs)
Mashima-sensei: August was a really sturdy character within the unique sequence, so I hope the battle with August is as difficult within the sport as properly.
Kataoka: Yes, he is an extremely sturdy character as a result of he can copy magic. Even when studying the unique manga, I questioned who can be stronger if he fought Zeref. And in fact, he is fairly highly effective within the sport.
Mashima-sensei: It can be an issue if he is too sturdy, although (laughs).
Kataoka: Otherwise, gamers won’t be capable to end the sport (laughs). We’ve made him fairly sturdy 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 determine on the content material of the ultimate chapter?
Mashima-sensei: I used to be fairly torn till the top about whether or not Zeref or Acnologia can be final. Because I expanded the story a lot, there have been many issues that have been added later. For instance, there is a character named Dimaria who can cease time, and she or he was so highly effective that I could not determine how she may very well be defeated, so the sudden look of “that character” was an concept I got here up with afterward.
Kataoka: Oh, actually!
Mashima-sensei: It felt like reside storytelling! There are a variety of cases the place it might have been higher with out sure settings… While I’ve repeated a few of these regrets, it’s enjoyable to create a narrative as you go alongside!
Kataoka: And was there any specific 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. However, Erza ended up defeating two of them. (laughs)
Kataoka: That’s true. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: In video games, it is normally one thing like ‘Four Heavenly Kings,’ however right here we now have 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 a variety of work.
Kataoka: But I used to be decided to make it possible for combating all members of the “Spriggan 12” would undoubtedly occur, so I advised the event staff from the beginning, “Fight all the Spriggan 12! This is a should!”
Mashima-sensei: That’s fantastic to listen to. I’m wanting ahead to it.
IGN: In addition to reliving the unique story, this sport additionally contains an unique storyline. How did the event of the unique story come about?
Kataoka: From the second we first proposed the sport, we stated that we wished to incorporate an unique storyline. And truly Mashima-sensei requested that the unique story be very well-developed, so we put a variety of effort into it. For the ultimate boss of the unique story, our concept of battling a selected character on the very finish was the one half proposed from the very starting.
Mashima-sensei: I assumed all the unique eventualities have been nice. I feel it’s clear that a variety of laborious work has been put into them!
Kataoka: Thank you. Since the principle story is kind of critical as it’s the closing chapter, we wished one thing to carry out the lighthearted and full of life really feel typical of Fairy Tail that might be extra informal to play. We even questioned if we’d get in hassle 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 completely satisfied you loved it.
IGN: Speaking of unique content material for the sport, within the Digital Deluxe version, there’s an in-game characteristic referred to as Atelier Lucy. Could you tell us extra about this?
Kataoka: After the earlier sport, Mashima-sensei talked about on X that “it might be good to have one thing like an Atelier Lucy,” and that’s the place the thought started. The IP producer of the Atelier sequence (Junzo) Hosoi additionally welcomed the thought, so we proposed it, acquired approval and made it occur. Since matching the synthesis system within the more moderen Atelier sequence 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’s actually nice. I additionally love the Atelier sequence, so although what you made this time is a parody, it would not really feel misplaced in any respect. If there is a sequel, I’d love for it to be absolutely developed.
IGN: Would or not it’s good to actually have a collaboration title like ‘Atelier Fairy Tail’?
Mashima-sensei: Yes, I’d like that to occur sometime (laughs).
Kataoka: Actually, we’ve included acquainted parts from the Atelier sequence, like Barrel!
Mashima-sensei: I used to be actually completely satisfied once I found that. There have been fairly just a few character variations too!
IGN: This sport contains additionally features a wealth of DLC corresponding to outfits and an extra state of affairs. Were there any specific features you targeted on in creating these?
Kataoka: For the DLC outfits of playable characters, we wished to create a way of togetherness, so we included outfits from the 8-Island restaurant the place they labored within the unique sequence, formal put on with a marriage motif, and faculty uniforms to evoke a picture of faculty life. As for the extra state of affairs, I personally actually favored the Battle of Fairy Tail episode, so I considered combining it with a sizzling springs theme.
Mashima-sensei: Every time new outfits have been despatched over, I might say, “that’s superior!” I assumed it was implausible that every character had their very own distinctive outfit fairly than everybody carrying the identical factor. It was extremely inventive and spectacular.
Kataoka: There are even characters carrying glasses with the college uniforms. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: The designs are actually wonderful! I would like everybody to see all of them!
Kataoka: We’re additionally contemplating some absurd battles within the Arena, like combating Zeref, August, and Larcade concurrently. Imagine dealing with six members of the Spriggan 12 without delay. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: Can you even beat that? (laughs)
Kataoka: That’s the place gamers might want to degree up their characters and hone their expertise. (laughs)
Mashima-sensei: That sounds thrilling.
IGN: To shut, might you share a message for these eagerly anticipating the discharge?
Kataoka: We’ve saved you ready a very long time because the earlier sport, however the launch is lastly right here. Our complete staff 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’ve created one thing actually gratifying in in fact not solely the story, however the gameplay too, so I hope you will give it a attempt.
Mashima-sensei: I really suppose this work is full of love for Fairy Tail, and I’m actually wanting ahead to taking part in it myself, so I hope everybody will look ahead to it too.
