Honestly, since we were the ones who created 'Trails in the Sky' originally, there is absolutely no pressure compared to developing a new 'Ys' title. 'Ys' is a legendary series built by our predecessors, which carries immense weight. In contrast, working on this felt much more liberating because it is our own child.

During the development of 'The 1st', we focused heavily on quality-of-life adjustments because the original was quite dated. With 'The 2nd', we asked ourselves, 'How can we make this even better?' For instance, the combat tempo was highly praised, so we refined the transition between Command and Quick Battle systems even further. I really hope players notice those improvements.

The original 'Trails in the Sky SC' was quite ambitious for its time, especially in its narrative delivery. Features like branching story paths based on partner choices in the early stages are elements modern developers might typically shy away from. We have faithfully preserved those aspects in 'The 2nd', and I’d love for players to keep an eye on them.

That is correct; the development cycles overlapped. We began 'The 2nd' toward the end of 'The 1st'. Naturally, the feedback loop was shorter, but the most significant piece of feedback concerned the difficulty. 'The 1st' was designed to be a breezy, welcoming experience for newcomers and RPG beginners alike.

However, it seems our veteran players found it a bit too soft. While the Normal difficulty remains faithful to the first game, we poured a lot of effort into making the higher modes significantly more challenging to satisfy those who wanted a deeper, more punishing experience. That is one of our biggest shifts.

We also improved mobility and general convenience, as the original game had many clunky elements. However, we were careful—sometimes being too convenient can be detrimental. We kept certain inconveniences intact because we believed they were essential for total immersion in the story. We spent a long time debating exactly what to streamline and what to keep.

It is an old story, but we had created such a massive game that we were ordered to split it in half because we wouldn't meet the deadline. We were told clearly by our seniors that if FC didn't sell, there would be no sequel. The immediate concern was simply whether we could release it at all. I don’t even remember getting the results back, but we just started making it anyway. By the time we finished FC, we had already completed two-thirds of the game, so releasing SC as it was would have left it feeling like a mere third of the volume. We felt bad about that, especially since people were happy with the split.

So, we added more exploration segments in the latter half that weren't originally planned. Falcom isn't a company that waits for top-down permission; we just start moving. Unless we are stopped by management, we charge forward with total focus. That culture was even stronger back then—the goal was simply to make the best game possible.

Because we kept expanding the volume, it took a long time, and I remember receiving plenty of affectionate 'scolding' from users asking, 'When is it coming out?' or complaining that Joshua had disappeared at the end of FC. As a side note, the preview at the end of FC was added without official permission. I just wanted to leave people wanting more. As President now, I might get angry if my staff did that, but those were freer times at Falcom, and we could do whatever we wanted.

Actually, nothing was deleted; things only expanded. There were changes, though. For example, during the original FC release, the Bracer 'Agate', who plays a major role in SC, was originally intended to be a minor NPC. But the players talked about that character so much that the scenario writer decided to promote that character to a main role, becoming Estelle's partner early on. Even as a retail game, we often adjusted scenarios based on user feedback, almost like an online game.

That approach persists in the modern series. For example, Rean in 'Trails of Cold Steel' was planned, but the other academy members were added later. Adding characters to please the fans became a regular thing starting from the second entry.

As development progresses, you always find better ways to do things. While the grand framework of the series remains intact, as we continue for so long, our perspectives and market trends shift. We incorporate those influences to keep making the Trails series better.

I assume you are referring to the map jump feature added in 'The 1st'. However, when traveling from a border gate to a town, I believe there is an emotional weight and appreciation that only comes from walking and seeing the landscape. In scenes where skipping travel would ruin that, we force the player to walk. Otherwise, you can move instantly.

We debated this extensively. Since the essence of 'Trails in the Sky' is the journey on foot, stripping that away would lose the game's soul. We carefully categorized scenes, prioritising convenience in some areas and emotional resonance in others.

It is a difficult balance. You don't want to change the iconic moments of the original, but you also don't want to leave players feeling stressed or frustrated by outdated design. There is no clear written rule; it is a process of touching the game and feeling it out—like sensing whether something is 'hot' or 'cold'. Every issue requires a bespoke approach to ensure both long-time fans and newcomers find it comfortable.

In 'The 1st', we implemented seamless transitions between Quick and Command battles to focus on speed. My concern was that if the tempo was too fast, combat might become monotonous. In 'The 2nd', we added complexity to prevent that. Enemies are more intelligent in Quick Battle, and we’ve increased the number of threats the player must handle, such as enemies that use large-scale skills on the field.

For Command battles, as players get used to the game, it can get stale. Depending on the difficulty, players will find a much more robust experience than 'The 1st'. Buffs and debuffs are the keys to strategy now. We’ve added the 'Orbital Boost' feature, which allows players to clear debuffs when applied. We worked hard to add these layers without sacrificing the snappy tempo. I encourage those who consider themselves veterans to challenge higher difficulties.

In Hard mode or higher, if you fail to set up your Orbments properly when fighting the 'Enforcers' (like Bleublanc or Loewe), you’ll experience the terror of them unleashing a Legion Boost and wiping out the party before you even get a turn. Normal mode is balanced to provide a satisfying experience for beginners, and we are tuning it right up to the release of the demo.

Even among the development staff, opinions were divided. Initially, it was brutally difficult even on Normal. Because the perceived difficulty shifts based on Orbment settings, we are still tweaking it. When an enemy's Legion Boost triggers, they can interrupt even if you use a Break. The ensuing onslaught is intense, and the key is whether you can survive it. It is definitely harder than regular monsters, but since players know the Enforcers are powerful, we set it to reflect that strength.

It comes down to difficulty selection. Beyond the traditional Normal, Hard, Very Hard, and Nightmare, we are considering an 'Advanced' mode between Hard and Normal. We are listening to those who want to enjoy the story without being stonewalled by combat, and we will keep working on this until the demo launches.

All Enforcers have a variety of unique techniques. Ren, for instance, has large-scale summon animations with the giant robot Pater-Mater. We also put a lot of work into the combat animations for minor characters like Gilbert, leaning into his goofy nature with somewhat exaggerated flair.

If a successor to the 'Trails in the Sky' line is released, I think we can maintain this current route for villain direction. However, for a title like 'Trails through Daybreak', it would be hard to force in the same comedic tone; it will be adapted to fit that world. The tech itself is the same, but the presentation changes based on the atmosphere. This project will serve as a major guideline for our future production policy.

There are too many to pick. The scene in Ravennue Village where Agate and Tita are alone was beautifully expressed. I also believe the combat craft animations are the best in Falcom's history.

Also, while the first game didn't have many large creatures or machines, 'The 2nd' introduces giant dragons like Regnat, Ren's Pater-Mater, and tanks used in the Grancel coup. The sequences involving these massive machines are a visual treat. And finally, there are more flight scenes fitting the 'Trails in the Sky' title.

Usually, cooking feels like an afterthought. But since we are pushing high-difficulty modes, the level design team wanted players to utilise every secondary element. I wanted to eliminate the habit of hoarding full-party revival items until the final boss. The ideal state is where you must use every tool at your disposal—items, cooking, fishing—to clear the challenge.

Nothing is decided at a corporate level yet. However, I personally want to share the story that follows 'Trails in the Sky' with the many new fans who joined us through this remake. Some of the staff are already so impatient they’ve modded characters not in 'The 2nd' into the party just to walk around with them! Everyone is full of motivation. We have to balance this with our newest releases, but I definitely want to deliver more in some form, someday.

The timing just happened to align. I can't say if we will have two new titles next year. 'Tokyo Xanadu' was developed by a separate team that doesn't share staff with the Trails or Ys series. We have held the goal of releasing two titles a year for over a decade. It gives young talent a chance to explode with ideas. We are expanding our staff and striving to maintain a system where we release one core title and one experimental title annually.

Unlike the original SC, we were able to release 'The 2nd' just one year later, sparing fans from a long wait. I also hope you look forward to the new 'Xanadu', which looks like a classic side-scroller but offers a surprisingly fresh experience once you play it.