| Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade devs talk Yuffie Kisaragi On the face of it, it may sound remarkable that Yuffie Kisaragi has become such a beloved character among Final Fantasy VII fans. After all, she was an entirely optional character in the original game – many players likely missed her on their first playthrough. I know I did. But as anyone who’s had Yuffie join their team knows, the opportunistic ninja from Wutai is an absolute delight. Upbeat, incredibly skilled and very different to any other character, she made for an unforgettable addition to the party. That’s why it’s so exciting to see her make a return in Final Fantasy VII Remake on PlayStation 5 – not just as a companion, but a full-fledged protagonist. Yuffie takes center stage in FF7R EPISODE INTERmission – a new episode that follows her, and a group of allies, on a dangerous mission into the heart of Midgar. We recently had a chance talk to Final Fantasy VII Remake Co-Directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Motomu Toriyama about the new episode, Yuffie, moogle suits and more. Here are the highlights:
What do you think makes Yuffie such a popular character? Toriyama: “In the original Final Fantasy VII, Yuffie was the type of person who would appear wherever and whenever she pleased… and you’d never know whether or not she was going to join you. “Even if she does join you, you could never let your guard down, because you didn’t know when she’d steal your materia! “That makes her quite different from your other allies in the fight against Shinra and Sephiroth. She’s always after materia, honest about her desires, and never afraid to show that. “It’s that combination of traits that leads to unpredictable and unexpected twists, and I think one of the reasons she’s become such a popular character.” How does the Yuffie we meet in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade “EPISODE INTERmission” differ from the original game? Toriyama: “It’s very much the same Yuffie we all know and love that appears in Midgar. “She’s still elusive, and still does things at her own pace, but she’s also fired up by her desire to exact revenge for her homeland of Wutai—and to execute her mission as a ninja.” Hamaguchi: “When I think about Yuffie, the first things that come to mind are: ‘a materialistic materia hunter, who’s not comfortable or proficient with vehicles.’ “Materia is Yuffie’s motivation, and I was mindful to bring that aspect of her personality to the forefront in every part of the new episode, from the story to even the mini games.” Oh no—does that mean she’s going to steal our stuff in the new episode too? Toriyama: “(Laughs.) Yes, in the original Final Fantasy VII, she caused quite the hassle because she stole her allies’ materia! “Don’t worry—in the new episode Yuffie’s the protagonist, so rest assured you don’t have to worry about your valuable materia getting taken away.” Hamaguchi: “Actually, we’ll be introducing some new materia that wasn’t included in Final Fantasy VII Remake. That’s pretty exciting!” Yuffie does sport a new look though with her moogle outfit. Why is she dressed like that in the new episode? Toriyama: “Actually, the moogle hood draws its reference from the time it was used in Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, and Yuffie wears it whenever she is on a covert mission. “She might think she’s perfectly disguised, but it actually makes her stand out even more in a metropolis like Midgar. “I feel that’s just very ‘her’, and probably why I like it so much!” So what can we expect from Yuffie in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade “EPISODE INTERmission”? Hamaguchi: “The new episode takes place at the same time that Cloud and company are continuing their fight in Midgar. The story follows Yuffie on her mission as a ninja operative—tasked with stealing valuable materia from Shinra. “Our goal was to present players with a story that leads up to Yuffie’s later encounter with Cloud and his group. In addition, the new episode was an opportunity to dig deeper into the lore of Final Fantasy VII. “I would definitely encourage people who’ve played Final Fantasy VII Remake to experience it when they’ve completed the game—I think they’ll really enjoy it.” FF7R EPISODE INTERmission will be available alongside Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, due for release on PS5 on June 10, 2021. square-enix-games.com |
