IGN.com has posted an interview with Hiroshi Ogawa, Director at tri-Ace, talking about the battle system featured in the upcoming RPG Infinite Undiscovery from Japanese RPG giants Square-Enix.
Some points of interest:
IGN: Why did you choose to use real-time combat for Infinite Undiscovery instead of a more traditional system?
Hiroshi Ogawa: We wanted to take a different approach to creating a battle system within a real-time world. Creating a game that offers the adrenaline rush you get from encounters in a real-time world, whether from making discoveries in an environment where time is constantly flowing, or interacting with various enemies, was the basic concept behind development.
IGN: How many different characters are there who can join your team?
Ogawa: There are 13 different characters who can join the main party, and another 5 “Secondary” characters who can join secondary teams, for a grand total of 18 unique party members.
IGN: Can you explain how the party system works?
Ogawa: The basic party is comprised of four members, including Capell, who leads the pack. The party members will act freely based on their action guidelines and personalities, but you are also able to select different methods of combat by regulating with the Connect System.
Also, in particular situations, it is possible to create multiple parties (three parties with up to 12 members). However, the main party remains the only party that can be directly controlled. The other two parties act automatically according to the objectives that have been set within a situation. If these parties come across each other during battle, there is also a possibility that they will aid each other.
IGN: Can you enhance weapons in any way?
Ogawa: It is possible to produce strong equipment through Item Creation. This doesn’t necessarily apply to weapons per se, but using a feature called Enchant Creation grants special effects to characters for a limited time. The time allotted for a particular effect will diminish in real time, so utilizing this feature may take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it will work to your advantage in combat.
You can read the entire interview here.
Infinite Undiscovery will be available world-wide this September for Xbox 360.
