The Falcom Thread

[nocturnal YL]

Last time when Ys VIII for Switch was new, we already learned that they couldn't handle multiplatform releases, so this isn't exactly news.

I'd say it's fair. Their assessment that their users are on PlayStation seems accurate to me. This is the case for a lot of Japanese game series historically associated with PlayStation, even without the PS Vita around. Demand for Switch versions of these games are rising, but it's still a small portion in comparison.

[Nester the Lark]

New trailer for Ys IX from TGS.



Looks like they've improved the facial animations over Ys VIII. Also, there seems to be more of an emphasis on vertical movement. Influence from Breath of the Wild, perhaps?

[Nester the Lark]

According to Gamespot, NISA has announced that Trails of Cold Steel III is coming to the Switch in Spring 2020.

I'm not into the Trails series, so I don't plan to get this, but it's nice to see another Falcom game on the Switch.

EDIT: Announcement trailer:



I suppose it is noteworthy that Cold Steel III was originally developed specifically for the PS4, so the fact that it's getting a Switch port could be a positive sign for Ys IX in the future.

EDIT 2: So, the Switch port is not being handled by Nippon Ichi, but by Engine Software, who also ported Ni no Kuni to Switch.

[Nester the Lark]

Falcom's annual shareholder meeting is scheduled for December 18. They'll probably announce next year's game there.

Ys IX just came out, so it'll likely be either the first game in the next Trails/Kiseki story arc, or something original.

[Nester the Lark]

Falcom just had their shareholder meeting. Here is the long and short of it:

- They announced that the games in the "Crossbell Arc" (the name for the story arc covered by the games Ao no Kiseki and Zero no Kiseki, originally released for the PSP) are being ported to PS4 next Spring. Here is the official site. Overseas fans have been wanting these games in English for several years, so this renews hope for that.

- Hajimari no Kiseki is the next game in the Trails series, and will release next year. It will follow multiple protagonists and switch between them. It will also begin to wrap up the overall narrative of the series. Here is the official site.

- Asked about releasing games multi-platform, Toshihiro Kondo reiterates that Japanese sales are still strongest on PS4, but adds that PS4 and Switch were about equal overseas. (It seems that the PC ports have not been as successful.) He also acknowledges that there has been growing demand for Switch versions of their games. While their focus is still on the PlayStation brand, their current strategy is to release their games on PS4 first, and Switch later.

Here is Endless History's Twitter thread covering the whole meeting.

[Nester the Lark]

This is about as shocking as Nintendo making another Mario or Zelda game, but Toshihiro Kondo has stated that Falcom is, in fact, planning the next Ys game, apparently for the series' 35th anniversary in 2022. He can't yet confirm yet if it will be Ys X or a remake of an older title.

Fans will likely continue to anticipate a remake of Ys V, the game that is generally considered to be most in need of a remake, until Falcom finally caves and actually does it.

[nocturnal YL]

Ys IX is still very fresh in mind, wouldn't it be too soon for another sequel?

Is modern Ys the kind of game that would come out every year? I'm curious, since this seems to be how a lot of RPGs seem to work (which does make sense, since the base gameplay and programming is very reusable for RPGs).

[Nester the Lark]

If the next Ys does come out in 2022, then it would be three years since Ys IX, and three-to-four years seems to be the average between Ys games since The Oath in Felghana and Origin were released only a year apart in '05 and '06, respectively.

Compare that to the Trails series, which is far more likely to release games in consecutive years. Even the three years between Ys VIII and IX, Falcom's two major releases were Trails of Cold Steel III and IV, and the next Trails game is already due out this year. The general rhythm seems to be to release two Trails game in consecutive years, and then take some time off.

Since 2003, when Ys VI came out (after an eight year hiatus since Ys V), there have been seven main Ys games, including two remakes. Since Trails in the Sky first came out in 2004, there have been nine main Trails games, not counting remasters, the mobile game, or Nayuta no Kiseki (the latter not actually having anything to do with Trails beyond having the Kiseki name slapped on it for brand recognition).

In terms of game engines, Ys VI, The Oath in Felghana, and Origin run on the same engine. Ever since then, Falcom seems to be continually tweaking and enhancing the Ys Seven engine for each new release. The Trails in the Sky trilogy and the Crossbell duology all use the same engine, while the Cold Steel games all run on Sony's PhyreEngine.

Of course, neither series holds a candle to Atelier.

[nocturnal YL]

Oh right, I missed the 2022 part. That'd be 2 years from now and Ys IX wouldn't be so "new".

Of course, coming from a series that saw 3 new games, 3 remakes and a major mobile game update in a single year, I wouldn't outright say it's unusual to see Ys X even if it's coming this year.

[Nester the Lark]

Hopefully this isn't an April Fool's joke, but Game Informer has announced that NISA is localizing Trails of Cold Steel IV for release in the West on PS4 in 2020, and on Switch and PC in 2021.

That's one step closer to an Ys IX port.

I've been slowly working my way through the demo of Cold Steel III, and I still don't think this series is for me. There's nearly an hour's worth of continuous cutscenes in the demo. (There is a fast forward function, so you can skip them easily, but if you follow the story and listen to all the voice acting, it really does go for that long.) It's like this series wants so badly to be a visual novel, but shoehorns in some RPG stuff.

(I'll admit, though, it was kinda cool to see some characters from Trails in the Sky drop in, but this time a few years older.)

From a technical standpoint, however, I think it's a really good port. It runs smoothly, and doesn't suffer from any of Ys VIII's odd issues, like the resolution constantly changing for no reason. Engine Software has done a very good job, so here's hoping they handle an Ys IX port in the future.

[Nester the Lark]

Here's a Gematsu interview with Toshihiro Kondo that touches on a few interesting things.

Here are some highlights:

—Falcom games are notorious for their delayed releases in the west. Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki, for example, never made it out in English. With the PlayStation 4 versions on the way, are there any plans to release those titles in the west? How about Ys IX: Monstrum Nox?

Kondo: “I very much regret that we were unable to release Zero and Ao [in the west]. I think that releasing on PlayStation 4 will lead to an opportunity to release these games in North America and Europe. As for Ys IX, preparations are currently underway for release [in the west].”

—With the release of Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki for PlayStation 4, the Trails in the Sky series will be the only games in the mainline Trails series not playable on PlayStation 4. Given that they were re-released for PlayStation 3, do you plan on making these titles available for PlayStation 4 as well? Is there any hope of playing the PSP-only Nayuta no Kiseki on a modern console?

Kondo: “Both users who own modern consoles and platform holders often request Trails in the Sky, so I have some homework to do. Personally, I’d like to recreate everything in 3D. Nayuta‘s gameplay is also extremely well received, so I think it would be a waste to bury it as a PSP-only title.”

—During the shareholder meeting in December, you brought up working on an in-house game engine. What was behind the decision to make a new engine entirely instead of using something like Unreal Engine 4?

Kondo: “We considered Unreal Engine as an option at first. For the Trails of Cold Steel series, we used an external engine, and it was good enough when we just started working on the series, but as development and the series advanced, there were some incompatibilities with our game plan. For example, in the Trails of Cold Steel series, a large number of unique models are displayed during events, but the engine isn’t suitable for that sort of thing. The staff proposed that, if we move forward on that condition in the future, we would be better off with our own engine. Each [engine route] comes with its own benefits and inconveniences, I don’t think it’s a discussion of which one is superior.”

. . .

—Fans of Falcom games have been growing immensely in the west in the past few years. What kind of effort has there been to get the feedback of English-speaking fans, and how much has this growing audience impacted business decisions within the company?

Kondo: “I have actually had more opportunities to exchange information with distributors, media, and users in North America and Europe over the past few years. I’m happily surprised because we haven’t had these opportunities in the past. These days, sales in North America and Europe are extremely important to Falcom, and are often brought up on the agenda when discussing possible title selection and content. I think it’s a very good thing.”

—Before we go, is there anything else you would like to say to our audience or to fans of Falcom games in the west?

Kondo: “Thank you for your interest in Nihon Falcom games. Falcom will celebrate its 40th anniversary next year. Falcom has been carefully crafting game content for 40 years, and we believe that’s what has led us to today. You all may have only learned about our content recently, but we want to keep delivering carefully crafted game content as we always have been in the future, so we hope you’re in it with us for the long run.”

[Nester the Lark]

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox has been announced for Western release in 2021, and it's being ported to Switch!



Not entirely unexpected, of course, but it's great to have confirmation!

[Nester the Lark]

DotEmu has announced Ys Origin for Nintendo Switch!



I don't know why this didn't happen sooner, but better late than never! This is my favorite Ys game, so I'll definitely want to try to get this for my Switch!

[Nester the Lark]

The PS4 version of Ys IX is confirmed for February 2, 2021. Switch and PC versions won't be out until next summer.

[Nester the Lark]

Ys Origin is hitting Switch on October 1.