Fantasian | An Interview With Hironobu Sakaguchi

[@ResonantArc]

It was an absolute honor to sit down with Mr. Sakaguchi to conduct this interview! If you have any questions about Fantasian, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer in the comments below. You can also see the full interview here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmSzoHWfd8eSfrc

[@Norel_Nieves]

Congratulations, I’m sure it’s been a long life dream to meet, and interview the man himself.

[@highlights9633]

amazing. couldn't think of a better person to interview Sakaguchi

[@duckhive]

how did your voice become so low??

[@ffxiikd1426]

Nice interview with Mr. Hironobu Sakaguchi. Mike i want to know your thoughts and feelings 😁 I'm very happy for your achievement and I hope you can get more chances like this one. Congratulations man 🎉 Now i need to continue the podcast episode, very interesting stuff.

[@Shatterglass23]

If it's not on a console.... I'm NOT buying it. Sakaguchi has made it very clear in these interviews that he hates console gamers

[@TheBeird]

Uh . . . isn't this like, the biggest thing to happen to this channel? Well done lads, what a get.

[@trollingisasport]

Mystwalker desperate to reach the right audiences

[@lgd921]

@@trollingisasport lmao how's it desperate

[@trollingisasport]

@@lgd921 They have lost a lot of money with Terra Battle 2 and are trying to recoup working with Apple exclusively, but by doing that they are alienating a large portion of the market, so they have been giving out lots of interviews with popular youtubers to build fans interest enough to try it out.

[@kawaiipotatoes7888]

@@trollingisasport I guess that's just how it is for old time developers they have no choice but to take that apple deal, other old devs try kickstarter, some failed some succeed. That's why I have huge respect for someone like kojima, he remained relevant for so long.

[@BinaryDood]

@@trollingisasport yeah and your point. Sakaguchi and team are doing the best they can. Terra Battle was to help fund projects like this but the opposite happened

[@Norel_Nieves]

Not surprise he meets with Matsuno. Sakaguchi knows, that dude is a writing Beast.

[@carljacobmorelos4137]

Sakaguchi has this RPG magic that bo other game creator has. That touch he has when he creates the game is just pure art. Playing Fantasian felt familiar yet refreshing at the same time. Congrats on a wonderful interview! This might just be the best one I've watched so far.

[@zenrix8422]

Been with you and your channel for a while and can’t think of anyone more deserving to get an interview with the guch. Congrats man

[@ResonantArc]

Thank you so much, Zen Rix! I appreciate your support over the years!

[@derekstaroba]

@@ResonantArc thank you for giving interview i was very curious about you i like the gem stones

[@NuevaBestia]

sniff ma sakaguch

[@WaffleMenu]

Excellent interview... I greatly appreciate how, juxtaposed to almost every other creator, this interview IS NOT just about Final Fantasy, but rather Sakaguchi-san as a creator and this love project. Great job!

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks, Jon! So glad you enjoyed it!

[@Froge0]

That is so dope that you got to interview him. Meeting someone so influential for a few minutes at a conventional is one thing but you basically has a whole chat with him. Happy for you!

[@MoodySelection]

Wow no channel deserves this more than yours! Congrats !

[@xenogears4398]

An interview with Sakaguchi or/and Uematsu is the luckiest thing that can happen to a Final Fantasy fan, blessed video 🙏

[@ResonantArc]

It was a huge honor to sit down with him! Thanks, Xeno!

[@goncaloferreira6429]

Matsuno san next?

[@derekstaroba]

I searched for sakaguchi after seeing the credits on ff9 this was my first results

[@derekstaroba]

I do not like the other games but i am happy for you very impressive

[@derekstaroba]

I like where u are going with 16:33

[@sethspears1630]

Mike, you are the one who has honored Sakaguchi more than anyone else by accurately analysing his work rather than watering down your analysis. I'm so glad you got to meet with and interview him.

[@akiinmoonlight79]

Sakaguchi is one of the most precious human beeings that ever graced this earth ❤

[@Davidj501]

Mike interviews SAKAGUCHI?! The work you both have done has been a big part of my life. I seriously can't think of a better person to interview him. Congrats!!

[@GracelessTarnished]

I must say, mad props for getting this interview. This man is a genius, and created more childhood memories for me than I can count. Square died the day he left.

[@Y-two-K]

Surprised Casen didn't interview him in Japanese. Regardless, an update from Resonant Arc is always a lovely gift.

[@BeliasLP]

if this was on the nintendo switch, people would LOVE it! lots of people are missing out, although it kinda saddens me to here that Mr. Sakaguchi would be fine with this being his Final Game he designs. Not that the Game looks bad, it looks phenomenal! but somehow, hearing that this might be his final game, makes me sentimental and feel incredibly old. i would just love to live in a world where i can endlessly play game after game after game designed by Hironobu Sakaguchi accompanied by music by Nobuo Uematsu. Those Games are what kept me hooked with Gaming, those are what dreams are made of really. not a certain franchise, not a certain company, but just the imagination and the ideas of great Minds who dream the same fantasy.

[@neilg5579]

Growing up as a JRPG fan but now having grown to love western rpgs, I fills my heart with joy to hear about how Sakaguchi and the guys from Dragon Quest were moved by Wizardry and Ultima to make their own games. If only the franchises weren't dead. Thanks for the interview.

[@danielwestgames6746]

I can’t believe it Mike, you’re really moving up. As a fan of you guys since 2017 this is awesome to see.

[@JerseySlayer]

God, I love this guy. Great sense of humor, humility, and incredibly creative. Probably my favorite person in the gaming industry now that I think about it.

[@luisbadolato]

Indeed! And Sakaguchi is not half bad either! 😝

[@mitsuda4pres879]

Man I never comment on these but my brother showed me the ff8 analysis on your channel and I’ve been hooked since. Stoked you got to interview the legend himself, what a remarkable opportunity. I got right in on Fantasian and am glad to hear that it was Sakaguchi-san’s vision to get back to that je ne se quois that made 90s jrpgs so good.

[@doublestarships646]

Wizardry and Ultima paved the way for all the future RPGs that are beloved by so many people. They have both enlightened us with their stories and were there for us in more ways than we could have ever imagined. There is no better genre in my opinion. Thank you Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson for creating Dungeons & Dragons.

[@jus4000kicks]

Talk about a dream come true! Thanks so much for this!

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks, Mimic!

[@DK-yj5bl]

Fantastic video, Mike! Can only imagine what this must have meant to you

[@Spades20XX]

Sakaguchi just handing out interviews to a lot of creators recently! But I’m excited to watch this coming from more “FF purists” and see the questions you ask. Awesome!

[@OraNui]

Haven't had internet for more than a week. This is great to come back to.

[@macintalkshow]

I would honestly love to see a port of The Last Story to PC and modern consoles. It's not a perfect game, but I think it deserves more exposure.

[@ivandominguezprades7702]

This could be my first comment on youtube, but I need to say this. Can't say a single name that really DESERVES this interview more than you. Watching this interview made me feel very happy for you. Congrats mate, I really really like your videos!

[@ResonantArc]

I really appreciate you taking the time to say this, Iván! I'm a pretty reclusive person, so I know where you're coming from. It's for that reason that I appreciate this comment so much!

[@JDVBB8]

Sakaguchi interviews from backlog battle and now Resonant Arc?! I love to see it! Congrats!

[@Sebajadogaming]

That man is a legend. It made us dream. Your happy face is the envy of all of us

[@AtotheZness]

Very cool and fantastic interview! Sakaguchi the GOAT! Congrats!

[@VengeanceFalls]

Legend .!! When he said about balancing the combat and story telling really made me understand why I love his games. So many games it’s literally an hour of cutscenes . And although I like stories I wanna feel like I’m actually playing.

[@patsg1146]

Man, that was a massive milestone for you and a great interview! Great job, Mike!

[@redkirby2663]

I been listening to all the interviews of Sakaguchi from all the FF channels and I gotta say Mike, I really like your edit style, very polish and professional (not to diss the other ones I just prefer yours) congrats and thank you!!!!!

[@mattfigueira856]

Wow, just wow! Just want to say this is awesome. Knowing your channel and content, I’m sure this was a monumental experience. You did a great job, Well done :)

[@nuclearbeeberman]

awesome production quality!

[@Romess1]

Mandatory stuff for people with RPG Maker or scenario-writing aspirations. Inspirational man and great interview and questions. You put a lot of work into this and it's greatly appreciated.

[@TAYLORHWALL]

It's always nice to hear someone picking Mr. Sakaguchi's brain, and it doesn't happen enough! A very insightful discussion, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Excellent work!

[@YouTubdotCub]

Cannot comprehend how this video doesn't have 50K views yet, a month on, outside of (unwarranted) Fantasia hate. This is a phenomenal interview and if this isn't among your 500K+ viewed videos in a year's time that would be a travesy. Genuinely one of my favourite videos you've done, fantastic questions and super insightful answers!

[@BigManTate7364]

Awesome! This has always been my favorite gaming channel since you really capture the nostalgia and artistry of every game you review. Amazing to see you interviewing the man you've spoken about in so many of your videos. Congrats 🙏

[@L337Koala]

Great job editing this interview together in such an entertaining way. And congrats on the opportunity to interview such a legend!

[@PastoKage]

The Master himself! Awesome!!

[@jorort01]

It seems like Sakaguchi-san is really hitting the press tour hard and doing so many interviews on similar gaming-centered channels on KZbin. Honestly, I was happy to see him on this channel and the interview is the best I've viewed, hands down. Excellent job, y'all and kudos on such a monumental milestone! ❤️

[@CasenSperry]

This came together well!

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks, man!

[@BurnoutsAndBourbon]

Ok so I know he’s been making the press tour rounds for interviews and I’ve watched a handful but this is so far above and beyond the others it’s staggering. Your context around each segment by reflecting on his past work and how it relates to his process and the project as a whole is superb. Thank you so much for all the B roll, background music and intelligence you brought to this opportunity to chat with him. Cheers!

[@12ealDealOfficial]

The master himself, interviewed by the best possible person to do so. Wish there was some way I could play Fantasian, but I cannot justify supporting Apple. Perhaps I'll find a way to support Sakaguchi while finding my own way to run the game on my PC. Some excellent questions here, particularly that one about Sakaguchi's pacing formula.

[@daku5413]

Niiiice. I have seen so many of those I was getting afraid you didn't get one. Very professional to upload both the raw interview and a cut version with context, I like.

[@ThePallidor]

He replayed FF6 and realized FF7 and beyond, while popular, were not the right path. Excellent. I knew it long ago.

[@joshhamester]

Incredible interview glad I found this channel! Whenever I think of Sakaguchi I always think of the Mega64 video haha

[@jacktwelve1710]

My dad has been playing that game a lot on his Mac recently.

[@carquestcamaro]

Oh my gee!!! You guys did it, you interviewed one of if not the biggest, most influential names ever JRPG history! I've always been in the background, but I had to give kudos on this one! Keep up the good work gents. Cheers!

[@geoffreychauvin1474]

I have been playing the game for the last three weeks or so in about two hour chunks every night. It’s so nice to see a game that doesn’t chase trends and is such a throwback to when gaming felt magical. I’m nearing completion of part one with literally nothing left to do outside the final segment and I can’t wait for the next part to release

[@Laxanii]

Great interview, Mike. Super jealous you got to meet the man himself. :) -Alan

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks, Alan! Always great to see you in the comments!

[@mahzamune]

Mike it is so amazing that you got to get this interview with the creator himself, been following your channel for a long time and been a huge fan of you guys and of course Sakaguchi himself, congrats dude. This is special.

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks, Mahzamune! It was an absolute honor!

[@saberkite]

Bit the bullet and signed up for Apple Arcade to play this (my trial ended months before the game came out, lol). I'm still halfway through, which I think is great since I don't have to wait too long for part 2 (by the time of this comment, the release date has already been announced). I'm a big fan of the FF VI and IX, so playing Fantasian was a trip back down memory lane. I love everything about it so far, and I have my own guesses about the characters based on my experience with past FF stories.

[@danielscott70x7]

So hoping Fantasian gets ported to Switch and gets a physical edition. Played the opening hours before my Apple Arcade subscription expired and loved every bit of it, but I can’t stand playing on mobile. Awesome interview. Thank you for sharing this in such a great format.

[@riuphane]

Man, from "Imaginary warfare" as Warialasky back in the day to this, it's incredible to see how much your influence has grown and how much you've changed and developed. Super impressed, man!

[@ResonantArc]

Thank you for supporting us for all these years! We appreciate you, Riuphane!

[@riuphane]

@@ResonantArc you have definitely earned it and deserve it. It's been a really cool journey

[@CG-fy7zj]

I’ll bet his professionalism & respect as well as his passion for FF played a big role to get this interview! Nice!

[@Abishokaya]

Thank you so much for giving this game a chance. I'm grateful you spent the time to share on your channel what this game means to you. This game does have the charm and spirit that classic JRPG titles had, and it's so much fun! I cried several times playing the game, not simply because it had sad parts but because the immersive storytelling experience was genuinely heartfelt. I'm glad you got to talk to Mr. Sakaguchi about it as well. I'm definitely subbing!

[@chrischandler889]

Amazing interview. The amount of joy Sakaguchi and others within Square/Enix have given me in my life is immense. I wish I could thank him.

[@johnmeroney2007]

As much as I like long form interviews, I really appreciate the mixture of the interview within a larger documentary form.

[@Vulpas]

How did I miss this...? Congratulations on getting to interview such a prestigious individual. I just wish Fabtasian would see a PC, Switch, or Android release!

[@kinglyer7269]

I love this channel so much. My only complaint is that it doesnt release enough content. This channel feels like the Bob Ross of gaming content.

[@sorakuze]

Wow congrats Mike, it's like you are interviewing one of your childhood hero. This is awesome...

[@josefd1997]

Congrats

[@innocenceo0o]

i never regret subscribing to this channel, very worth it more subs sir, power!

[@zockroach]

I have played final fantasy my entire life and this is the most interesting piece of content I have ever seen involving Sakaguchi. Thank you.

[@whimsyplush]

Seeing you get the chance to interview Sakaguchi is amazing! I can't think of anyone else who deserves the chance more than you!

[@Handsomeartist]

Wow! this is Lengendary! congrats Resonant Arc! i'm so happy for you Mike and all the people involved in what it took for this interview to happen. and now i'm going to watch it!

[@kharyrobertson3579]

I haven't played Fantasian, (We don't have any Apple devices in my home, nor do we want any) but I have watched many playthroughs of part 1 and it is really quite a game. I commend Sakaguchi on making another stellar title, even if I will never get to play it.

[@kharyrobertson3579]

This was amazing, and I genuinely can only imagine a handful of people pulling this off well, and you sir nailed it. This was a very meaningful contribution to the community.

[@BLACKDISC]

I'm happy that you were finally able to interview Hironobu Sakaguchi! If any JRPG channel deserves it it's definitely this one!

[@thiagogirello]

Hey Mike, I don't post on the internet, but I can't let this one pass through. I'm from Brazil and a huge fan from resonance arch for years. We have a small video game studio that has existed since 2014, and resonance arch has a heavy influence over our games, specially on the one that we are developing at the moment. Pacing is something crucial in our vision, and your opinions about pacing in games really help us on developing our titles. I got emotional to see that you managed to interview Sakaguchi, I just want to let you know that I´m truly happy for you!Congrats for the interview, and for keeping the resonance arch so awesome as it´s for so long.

[@ResonantArc]

Thank you so much, Thiago! I'm pretty much a recluse myself, so I know what you mean when you say you don't post on the internet. It means a lot to me that you would reach out for this! I'm so glad our channel can play a role inspiring game developers! It's very humbling to hear that. We really appreciate your support. Thank you for watching!

[@ClockedIt]

Watched every second of this. What a legend he is. This must have been a dream come true for you and I'm so glad you got this interview, your channel is amazing. Unfortunately I don't own a single Apple product in order to play this, but I will find a way to play it one day.

[@12ealDealOfficial]

Same. I look forward to a port or something coming in the future.

[@bruhat_patra]

You're a very lucky dude to have an interview with this Legendary Creator and thank you for this video.

[@Joppuman]

This was really cool. I heard that final fantasy union got to interview him, and i thought "wouldn't it be great if the resonant arc guys got to as well" and then it happened! So dope!

[@nickahn7054]

3:54 "there was something about that orthodox formula that resonated with so many of us." So refreshing to hear a KZbinr with this sentiment. It feels like the overwhelming majority of voices out there nowadays embrace and cheer Square and Final Fantasy for wanting to follow the trend in modern western games to "appeal to the western/broader audience" without realizing that the old JRPGs were loved because they were "Japanese" and different from the western games. On a slightly different note, to all the people that say "Final Fantasy was going to eventually become an action game anyway," Fantasian is living proof that 1) no. 2) JRPGs and action games different genres and the evolution of JRPG does not mean that it has to/was going to become a subgenre of action.

[@miss_venus]

Congrats, guys! A well earned collaboration. 👏🏻

[@thegmanofEAP]

I genuinely couldn't believe it when I saw y'all snagged an interview with Dad. This is so cool.

[@inxine]

oh wow congrats on the interview!!

[@Thirteen13551355]

Wow, so amazing you got this legend on the show!

[@VideoGameProfessor]

This is such a wonderful interview! These are some of the best questions that have ever been asked of a game creator. You could see that Sakaguchi was pleasantly amused by the length and detail of the questions. It allowed for some very deep and sincere responses. Bravo! Thank you for this great content.

[@Opdi67]

Wow that's so cool! Awesome interview man. You have a real talent for asking insightful questions and extracting the important details. I often notice (especially when you go into development history in your reviews) these creative types tend to give answers that can seem quite vague and unclear, but I'm sure in their mind they can fill in the blanks and it makes perfect sense. You do a really great job of framing questions precisely in a way to avoid those kinds of answers and get into the real meat of things. Really enjoyed this!

[@ResonantArc]

Thank you so much, Opdi! I think it is precisely because of the frustration I've had in my research that I wanted to make sure to frame my questions for specificity!

[@ClassicContagious]

Mad props for being able to secure this interview. One of the most influential creators to the JRPG genre. Loved the interview.

[@TheSpectacledOwl]

Congratulations on such a high profile interview. There’s no one more deserving than yourself. Kudos, sir.

[@SaintJimmy36]

Congrats on getting to interview such a legend!

[@Ricotlan]

What an awesome opportunity! I can’t believe it. I’ve been intrigued by Fantasian, but now I definitely would want to play it.

[@ResonantArc]

Thanks, Riconius! Let me know what you think of it when you get a chance to play!

[@danielcunningham3333]

Congrats man! It's been great seeing you guys come so far over the years

[@lancelovecraft5913]

I cant believe you got Sakaguchi. Im so happy for you. hearing his feelings and interests in metaphysics was beautiful. Would love to play Fantasian but sadly I have no apple device. I will be on the look out for lets plays/walk throughs in the near future though bc the game looks really interesting especially the combat

[@reziture]

Fantastic interview with a legend! From what I played the game has that classic FF6/7 /9 feel, it’s reall cool and nostalgic

[@Inferno-xe1wt]

Been watching for years glad you finally got to meet the man himself

[@lilianmontmartin307]

Another insane video on the channel ! This was a great interview, and for someone like me, who want to create a j-rpg, it's basically the greatest questions you could have asked ! Thanks a lot for the quality of your interviews and analysis !

[@ResonantArc]

You're welcome, Lilian, and thank you for watching!

[@thebreakingabc]

Amazing as always! 😎👌❤️

[@CoquiReploid81]

Playing it now. I like the game a lot. Felt like a more Final Fantasy game than Lost Odyssey. I hope this isn't his last game, but if it is I am happy. The combat with curving moves introduces new battle tactics. Like when someone has their guard up you can't send a spell through him to the back row, so you have to send it around him. Character development is well done, not a bunch of filler I find in modern JRPG's. I also love how you can store up weaker enemies to take them out all at once. So you aren't caught in a lot of mundane battles while exploring. It is great that you can also turn this off during a large part of the game if you so choose.

[@Brianfilms]

I’m glad I found this channel such a gem

[@michaeloconnor5480]

Awesome. This must be like part of life coming full circle!

[@lorenzotosiart]

This is content of pure shiny golden value, THANK YOU!

[@TheCreepypro]

man what a great interview it was good to hear from both you and Mr. Sakaguchi himself and I'm psyched to hear he has a game out and would be more than happy to try it

[@NoTalkPanther]

This game was one of the biggest surprises of the year for me. Can't wait for the second half.

[@Wielki000]

Wow so cool! I can only imagine this feels like a lifetime achievement to have interviewed him. Keep up the great content!

[@patrickweller5254]

Congrats on this interview. Really great to see after following this channel over many years!

[@ThePallidor]

I'm so glad he decided to ignore the modern gaming style and resurrect the old Final Fantasy SNES game feel. Because that was the pinnacle of everything.