![]() ![]() ![]() Takahashi's original concept went through multiple iterations, with debates – as revealed in an Iwata Asks interview –about potential party member betrayals and whether the main character, Shulk, would be a silent protagonist. And it's here where Xenoblade - or Xenoblade Chronicles - was born.įor the game's scenario, Takahashi received help from Yuichiro Takeda (who previously worked with Takahashi on Xenosaga: The Animation) and Yurie Hattori (a scenario planner at Nintendo). ![]() As a way of honouring Takahashi, " who poured his soul into making this and who has been working on the Xeno series," Iwata wanted the game to bear the Xeno moniker. Even the late Satoru Iwata left a mark on the game in a small but significant way. Takahashi proposed multiple suggestions to Yamagami to get the game out on time, but Yamagami refused, instead going to Nintendo to ensure the team had enough time to complete their full vision. With the proposed launch date looming, the team ran into difficulties. Monolith Soft had taken on feedback from Baten Kaitos and Xenosaga about being "old-fashioned" and wanted to focus on creating something new. Nintendo, Yamagami, and Yokota proved to be a big help - and big motivators - in creating this epic "open-world" RPG. Thus, Monado: The Beginning of the World was in production. So, with this vision, Nintendo brought in Genki Yokota to help direct the game alongside Koh Kojima, who wrote Baten Kaitos Origins' story. ![]() The team presented the model to Nintendo, and producer Hitoshi Yamagami remembers being shocked that Takahashi didn't have the "finer details" nailed down, but it was enough to pique his interest. With other senior staff and artist Honne, the team created a 3D model of these two titans, frozen in eternal battle. Following Xenosaga III, staff morale was low, so when coming up with a new project, Takahashi recalled an idea he came up with years ago - people living on the bodies of dead giants or 'gods'. Takahashi was still determined to carry on the Xeno series name, despite Xenosaga having to be condensed down from six to three games. The Chronicles of the Beginning of the World Image: Nintendo/ Monolith Soft However, it was still text-heavy, meaning this one is a real challenge for non-Japanese speakers.īut all of these smaller titles were leading to something much bigger, and in the background, Takahashi had some big ideas for Nintendo. Written by Soraya Saga, Takahashi's wife (co-writer on Xenogears and Xenosaga), with music from Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Cross, Xenogears), it was much more straightforward in scope than Monolith's other games. And while Soma Bringers' combat went through a few iterations, it was – unusually – settled and completed before the story was established. Takahashi was the person behind this one and wanted to create a game you could play in short bursts. Plundering into dungeons with friends online was the name of the game here, with six unique classes and a loot system to dive into. The studio's first title under Nintendo was the Japan-only DS action RPG Diablo-like Soma Bringer. While the studio already had ideas for its first Wii game before joining Nintendo in Disaster: Day of Crisis, the company was drafted in to help with Super Smash Bros. Under the Big N, Monolith Soft made the jump to a new generation, as well as portable systems. Images: nindb / Monolith Soft, Monolith Soft The company was quickly acquired by majority stake by Namco, who published the Monolith's early titles. Xenogears didn't fit into Square's future, so Takahashi - along with Hirohide Sugiura (producer of Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring) and Yasuyuki Honne (art director of Xenogears and Chrono Cross) - founded Monolith Soft on 1st October 1999. Xenogears underperformed in the eyes of the company, but Takahashi had big plans for his proposed franchise, of which Xenogears was meant to be 'Episode 5'. But in the years following Xenogears' 1998 release, Square decided to focus all of its energy on the Final Fantasy series. Takahashi is perhaps most famous for co-writing and directing the seminal PS1 RPG Xenogears, which he created during his time at Squaresoft. Monolith Soft's history, however, is as monolithic as its now-flagship series. Combining MMORPG-style, memorable worlds, stunning music, and philosophical writing, the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise has taken the world by storm. Led by legendary RPG writer and director Tetsuya Takahashi, the studio is renowned for the monolithic (pun intended) Xenoblade series. Monolith Soft has become one of the most recognisable of Nintendo's first-party developers in recent times. ![]()
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