Final Fantasy Record Keeper's Ichiro Hazama

Final Fantasy Record Keeper launched last week on iOS and Android and we hope you’ve been enjoying it! It’s free to download so if you haven’t already tried it, you’ve got nothing to lose.

Ichiro Hazama is the producer for Final Fantasy Record Keeper (and also Theatrhythm and Dissidia Final Fantasy) and we were lucky enough to get a quick interview with him so be sure to check it out below:

How did this project come to be?

DeNA got in touch around the beginning of spring 2013 and told us about their idea which we thought sounded really cool! That’s basically how everything started.

What do you think makes Final Fantasy Record Keeper so appealing?

There are lots of reasons but if I had to choose just one, I would say the pixel recreations of the Final Fantasy characters is the most appealing thing. I think even players who haven’t played the original FF games will find the characters’ movements charming and I hope they will evoke a fond sense of nostalgia. It’s quite a fun novelty too!

Can you describe the overall gameplay experience of **FF Record Keeper**?

****Basically - it allows players to relive stories from throughout the 28-year history of Final Fantasy all the way from the very first game.

What challenges arose during development?

****The trickiest part was finding the right balance between telling the unique story of Final Fantasy Record Keeper and staying true to the original games and I hope fans enjoy our unique take on the FF franchise. Making sure we didn’t tarnish the original games was really important to us!

Do you think that Final Fantasy fans will enjoy FF Record Keeper? What aspects of the game do you think convey the essence of the Final Fantasy series?

I’m confident that long-time FF fans will really get a kick out of the game, yes. Even those who’re only familiar with the more recent games will find that the retro graphics breathe new life into their favorite characters, enemies and the locations. Combined with musical scores from throughout the series, I’m sure fans will feel that this game really captures the atmosphere of Final Fantasy.

How would you like people to experience Final Fantasy Record Keeper?

It’s mainly a single-player experience so it’s a bit different to other mobile games. I hope players really immerse themselves in the world, though.

Is there a particular scene in Final Fantasy Record Keeper that, for you, really brings back nostalgia of the original games?

Yes, one of the very first battles! When I was playing the tutorial, I reached the part that recreates the attack on the Mako Reactor from the beginning of FF VII – the bombing mission, and when Guard Scorpion raised its tail, I thought “Yep, this game is awesome!”

Is there anything you’d like to say to the players overseas in North America and Europe?

Final Fantasy Record Keeper is really a fusion of everything that is Final Fantasy, and takes the JRPG genre in a new direction. We really hope you enjoy our game!

As a bonus, the most popular and influential YouTuber in the world, the one and only PewDiePie paid a visit to the Square Enix office in Tokyo!

You can follow his adventures in Japan over on his vlog and the Final Fantasy Record Keeper producers feature in it too, so be sure to check it out!