SINoALICE, the mobile RPG with twisted takes on popular fairytale characters, now has a global release date. The game is helmed by the ever-eccentric Yoko Taro, of Nier and Drakengard fame, who knows a thing or two of writing tragedy.
Not only that, it also has been confirmed that Nier Automata’s 2B and 9S will be appearing in SINoALICE as part of a collab.
https://youtu.be/DGFr3xa8ORg
Alongside that, Nexon also released a new interview with Yoko Taro and Matsuo Ryoki, Lead Creative Planner at developers Pokelabo.
As you would expect from Taro’s past interviews, this one is pretty upfront. The duo made no secret that game wants to sell gacha, and made some lighthearted jabs on their co-workers. Which is par for the course.
For those need to skim the interview, here are some of the more interesting quotes to come out of the interview.
On how Yoko Taro is handling his first mobile game project:
Yoko Taro: “While mobile games are given service endlessly, we can’t know when they’re going to end. Thus, SINoALICE is structured in such a way that it comes to an end after certain conditions are met.
“The situation is, there is no ending in sight because the game is doing better than expected, so the conditions will not be met.
“Therefore, I came to realize making games is really hard.”
How SINoALICE started development:
Taro: “It all started because Square Enix producer, Fujimoto, first suggested making a game about the fairy tale of Alice. Actually, I was working as a freelancer, so if Square Enix requested something, I had no other option but obeying like a slave.”
On how the character designs are made:
Matsuo Ryoki: “The Operations Department requested to Yoko Taro the characters they wanted. And he, in turn, ignored them.
“He made a fun setting, and then sent it to the illustrator, Jino, who also just took Yoko Taro’s request as mere reference, did as he pleased. So our game is always going in an unexpected direction.”
Taro: “Square Enix or Pokelabo say they want girls in a bathing suit or something that sells well, that’s why I have to work hard on the story.”
On their favourite SINoALICE characters:
Ryoki: “I like Snow White the most. As you can see from Yoko Taro’s attitude to Pokelabo, it is a
company that wants to make a lot of money. And if Snow White is added to a gacha, she is
such a strong character that the sales definitely increase. So I like her the most.”
Taro: ” The characters I like the most are the two dolls called Parrah and Noya. I like them the most.
“When you create a story and include unique characters like them, they add a sort of spice, and they have the main advantage of making it easy to carry on with the story and make working comfortable.
“And Parrah and Noya have the advantage of having saved us money because they do not need voice recordings.”
On working with Nier Automata music director Keiichi Okabe for SINoALICE:
Taro: “I just gave him some YouTube links and said ‘Make music like this’. What I want you to know is that Okabe has become very conceited now that his music is being praised.
“Those of you who are here today, don’t write about his music, but please talk about his vanity instead. I beg you.”
SINoALICE will be launching worldwide excluding Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau on Thursday, July 18 for iOS and Android.