What was the reason behind your decision to port �€œFinal Fantasy IV�€� to the Nintendo DS?

Asano

This time I wanted to succeed what we managed to achieve with the DS version of �€œFinal Fantasy III�€�. Towards the end of FFIII�€™s development, I could really feel how great the players�€™ reaction was towards the game so by all means; I wanted to continue the work and discussed it with Tokita.

Tokita

Playing the DS version of FFIII, I felt that the hardware managed to achieve both quality and a good atmosphere. It�€™s because of those factors that I think Final Fantasy III was really well re-made. I thought we could manage another game just as good and interesting if we ported �€œFinal Fantasy IV�€� in the same style.

The logo design has been updated, hasn�€™t it?

Asano

We really disputed whether to change the logo or not. In the end, we asked Mr. Amano to draw it for us and he came up with something really good.

Tokita

I think he managed to create a logo that makes you feel the dramatic side of the game. Mr Amano too is very attached to his FFIV characters. In comparison to the Famicom at the time, the Super Famicom console was what really allowed Mr. Amano to realize his world so he really put in a lot of effort to create them.

Is the team who was involved with the development of FFIII behind this too?

Asano

Yes. Matrix, the company who developed the DS version of FFIII will be working on it. They have been with us since Dragon Quest V�€™s remake. As for staff from our own company we have Mr. Tokita as the director and Hiroyuki Itou, who�€™s helped with the Final Fantasy series�€™ battle system designs, supervising the battle system side of things.

Tokita

The actual in-game characters have been designed to follow Mr. Amano�€™s designs.

Will the original development team be participating too?

Asano

Of course. When we made the DS version of FFIII we had the original team members such as Hiromichi Tanaka and Kazuhiko Aoki joining us so that we could bring over the same qualities of the original version.

How long did it take to develop the original version?

Tokita

We didn�€™t have a large team working on it. With around 14 people working on everything including the graphics and sound I think it took around a year.

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