Can you share a bit about the new content included in the PlayStation 4 version for the overseas release?
Habu: “Of course, since we brought it to PlayStation 4, the graphics have been improved. And we adjusted the balance of the gameplay itself so that it’s harder to clear.”
Right. That was a complaint with the Japanese release, no?
Habu: “The main consumers in Japan, the real core fans, played the previous games, so they really knew how to play this one. We thought we made it difficult enough for the Japanese core fans, but apparently it wasn’t. So we made it more difficult for the overseas release. We have “Easy,” “Normal,” and “Hard.” The Japanese version is Easy mode, then you have the higher difficulty versions for the overseas release. We also added more Digimon and more events—I can’t say the number specifically right now, but we added quite a lot of both.”
Was this content cut from the PS Vita version? Or was it created entirely new for the overseas release?
Habu: “We made it specifically for the PlayStation 4 version.”
You have an English dub this time, which is something you didn’t have with Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth. What compelled you to do a dub this time?
Habu: “The previous game, Cyber Sleuth, which launched in March, was very popular in the States, so that kind of gave us the push to do the English voices this time.”
You mentioned that Cyber Sleuth sold well, at least well enough to warrant an English dub for Next Order. How did you take to the positive reaction overseas?
Habu: “I wasn’t part of the PS Vita version of Digimon World: Next Order, someone else was in charge. (Editor’s Note: That would be Yasunori Fujiwara.) I was brought on for the overseas release. I wasn’t really sure how popular Cyber Sleuth was going to be in the states. We got to localize Cyber Sleuth because overseas fans signed a petition. We really felt the power of the fans. We’re already working on thinking about the next series, so we’d like to know what fans overseas think and try to put it into the new game.”
You have a new series coming out in Japan called Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters. What are your thoughts on it?
Habu: “I’m not on that project, but the Appli Monsters team wants to make something that targets a younger audience. It’s really different from Digimon overseas, which is more for adults. We want to deliver a good game to guys in their 20s and make a really high quality game for adults, so that’s the biggest difference from Appli Monsters. Maybe if Appli Monsters goes on for a couple of years and becomes really popular, we can make something that both Appli Monsters kid fans and adult fans can enjoy.”
Our recent Digimon games have been PlayStation 4 ports of PS Vita games. Would you consider doing a PlayStation 4 game from the get-go?
Habu: “Of course.”
Do it.
Habu: “(Laughs.)”
Mi auguro che la cambino presto, perché il gioco è TOTALMENTE diverso)
