As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that I’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of numerous gaming franchises, some thriving while others fade into obscurity. The return of Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, after two long decades, is undeniably exciting, especially considering its lighter tone compared to the usual Nippon Ichi Software fare.


As the release date of “Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero,” which is now set for January 30, 2025, draws nearer, we were granted an interview with its scenario writer, Kento Jobana. During our conversation, he shared that Nippon-Ichi Software harbors great expectations for the return of this series. Their aim is to potentially elevate it to a level where it can join the ranks of their other successful franchises, such as Disgaea, within their esteemed catalog of releases.

In the last ten years, Nippon Ichi Software seems to frequently introduce new intellectual properties, while established franchises seem to take a backseat, except for Disgaea. So, it’s quite intriguing that Phantom Brave is making a comeback, not only because of that, but also because it presents a more lighthearted tone compared to typical NIS productions. It’s somewhat ironic, given that it’s a series focusing on the deceased. I’m curious about your experience returning to this universe after two decades.

Kento Jobana has been deeply involved with Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero since its inception. He was responsible for every aspect of the game from the start, and his superiors communicated that this game is crucial for the company, serving as another pillar or identity, much like Disgaea. This meant I was under significant pressure to succeed, especially considering this is a sequel to a game released 20 years ago. At first, I hesitated to take on the project, but was instructed to handle its storyline and was asked if I could use a new set of main characters – an idea that was quickly shot down. The company owner even suggested that I was evading responsibilities and needed to create a compelling narrative using the returning characters. He believed in my ability to deliver on this premise. Reluctantly, I agreed to the task, but insisted that if we were bringing back these characters, it was essential to have the original voice actors reprise their roles to meet fan expectations.

It’s evident that Jobana-san found the task assigned to him quite burdensome, almost unwilling to tackle it himself. Remarkably, Koichi Kitazumi, the proprietor of NIS, ordered him to work on the project without altering the primary characters. Jobana-san’s reaction was surprisingly frank; fortunately, it appears that he eventually took pride in his contributions to the game. Excitedly, we await the release of the game, scheduled for January 30 next year, available on PlayStation 4, 5, and Nintendo Switch. A PC version will be launched at a later time.

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2024-10-01 04:55