We asked Tetsuya Nomura to share a few words about the 35th anniversary of Final Fantasy.
Throughout the series, what have you aimed for when creating new characters?
In a way, I try not to adhere too closely to the latest fads. I want my characters to look unique, and they need to have appealing backstories too. My goal is to make at least some part of their background or personality resonate with players.
What do you think makes FF so appealing?
I’ve been involved in FF for 30 of its 35 years. You could say the series has been with me for more than half of my life. After three decades together, I can’t imagine life without FF —it’s almost like air to me. One reason I’ve been able to stick with it for so long is because each game has its own world and story, its own characters and systems. Everything gets reset, so we can create something new. Since each numbered title has its own little quirks, I can approach them fresh and so can players. I think that’s what draws people back.
Every title from Final Fantasy I to XVI is represented in this T-shirt collection. What do you think? Do you have a favorite?
Since this was a collaboration—and a pretty bold one, considering it covered every numbered title—I ended up overseeing quite a few of the shirts. While I was reviewing the designs, I found myself reminiscing about working on the games. As you can see, the shirt designs haven’t been streamlined. Each design stands on its own, just like the games themselves. In true FF form, they are part of a whole but also rivals. I was personally touched by the T-shirt design for FFVI. It reminds me of when some of my coworkers gathered at my home. We talked through the night, writing up a proposal for how the game’s opening was going to look. I remember that night fondly.
