Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is almost out and - according to a whole bunch of media outlets - is a pretty good game. We're often guilty of not sufficiently appreciating the work that goes into creating such a massive title, so it's always fun to get insight from game developers on how they approach aspects like game design and art direction.
In Nintendo's latest 'Ask the Developer' post, Monolith Soft developers - including Senior Director Tetsuya Takahashi, Producer/Director Koh Kojima, and Director and Planner Genki Yokota - got together to talk through the visual and sound direction for the upcoming JRPG.
Perhaps most surprisingly, when asked about whether deciding on the final visual design for the main characters was a smooth process, Koh Kojima replied with a resounding "no", elaborating that it was a "hellish process of trial and error":
Do you feel that you were able to decide on the visual design of the main characters quite smoothly?
Kojima: No, it was a hellish process of trial and error... (Laughs) We especially struggled to decide on the design concept for Noah. During development, Saito-san [Freelance Character Artist on Xenoblade 2 and 3] came to the MONOLITHSOFT office and worked with us. His seat was in front of Takahashi-san's workspace. We used Takahashi-san’s words to conjure up an image of the characters and convey the intended feeling to Saito-san, who drew various illustrations based on that. However, Takahashi-san looked at the illustrations at the end of the day and said, "No. This isn't it." (Laughs) We had to repeat this process again and again.
Takahashi: We particularly struggled with Noah's design. Saito-san came up with all kinds of illustrations, but somehow none of them quite looked like Noah... I think I mentioned earlier that I wanted Noah, the main protagonist, to be positioned as a philosopher or poet, but I didn't want him to be seen as a weak-willed character. However, I also didn't want him to look too pompous.
Kojima: The drafts he drew seemed to be at the two extremes. Some made him look fierce, while others looked somewhat gentle.
Takahashi: I was also worried that his speech might sound pompous if the character design was too noble. We struggled to come up with a design concept that made us think, "Yes, this is Noah!"
On the flip side, Kojima confirmed that the same process for other characters in the game was comparatively easier, because their core appearance was already defined in their character profiles. You can read the whole interview, including a rather interesting segment on custom-made flutes, right here.
- Read More: Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Review (Switch)
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Will you be picking up Xenoblade Chronicles 3 on Friday? Who's your favourite character so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
[source nintendo.com]
Comments 39
I love Noah's design. He looks much cooler than both Shulk and Rex.
I have nothing but praise for the designs ive seen so far (not been delving into too many of the non-main character reveals for the freshest experience possible).
This is my most anticipated game since BOTW. Friday can't come sooner!
I also really like Noahs design, imo the coolest looking XC protagonist so far
Noah's design is great. It is very pleasing to look at him. Seems intelligent, soothing and trustworthy. The other characters looked cool too. Great work and I hope the team still had fun, even though it was a hard process.
The art direction overall looks more coherent in this one. I kinda get why they did what they did in 2 (minus P/M/P) but it was jarring for me. Looking forward to having Taion and Sena in the party. Noah reminds me too much of Alto Saotome though.
Edit: That being said he looks like a Japanese soldier to me so that works.
@mariomaster96 No I was the coolest looking XC protagonist in X
I was ready to read, "It was a hellish process. We had to hold ourselves back from designing female characters to have oversized breasts. It was a tough time for us all..."
I like Rex' and Shulk's design both more. And think the the designs in general are more incoherent than that of Xenoblade 2 because in 2 I never had a problem with it.
These are games that you truly need to own the art books. There is so much beautiful art. 1,X,2 & 3 are truly a designers delight.
I never realized there was so much hate for Rex and pyra’s designs. Huh
For the best. XC2 character design was... too much nonsense
I still think they look generic and they are wearing too many clothes.
Ah man. I get my hands on my physical copy in 3 hours. Spent months on the hype train and it really looks like the destination is not going to be disappointment. Inshallah.
It must have been difficult not to make a single interesting looking character.
Honestly I think Noah came out looking really generic.
Really in general while I'm hyped for 3 I'm not really crazy about what I've seen of its character designs.
Characters look better than XB2 - for me anyways
And yet they still look like generic anime people I've seen a million times before..
@SteamEngenius And yet you are complaining like you always do
Wasn't "Project Noah" the code name for the original Xenogears game when it was in development? That's pretty cool. I would like to think that Takahashi named the main protagonist Noah because the the Xenoblade series is the epic series he always wanted to created but never was given the freedom to do so.
These are the best character designs in a Xeno game to date,,so I'd say it was worth it.
While my favorite is and likely always will be XC:DE, I'm wicked hyped for this and can't wait for my cart from the special edition to get here. I'm really glad the characters aren't designed to be half naked over-sexualized embarrassments. It'll be nice to be able to play on the big TV without wondering if I'll get an awkward comment from the neighbors.
@Debo626 Don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m sure there’ll be a bikini outfit or something for all the female characters…
Character design does look strong. I wasn’t going to preorder XC3, as I only beat XC1 just a few weeks ago and I’m a bit burnt out, but the hype has gotten me. I’m really feeling it.
I'm glad that they kept SOME of the more soft anime looking vibes from XC2 but went with a more realistic anime designs from XC DE.
Also Noah is a cool looking protagonist, which is new to the series considering Shulk is a pretty boi/weakling type and Rex looks like a weird ass baby.
Game Art are skills built over time and from work experiences it doesn't come up overnight. Ideas do but the Art takes time to become what they are.
I want to play this game so much, do I need to play previous Xeno games to understand or can I jump in the franchise with this one?
@Krull At least they're optional...having to see Pyra's massive rack constantly was not. I'm fine with fanservice in the Xenoblade games, I had fun with it in X...but 2 kinda overdid it with Pyra. She's one of the reasons I stopped playing that game shortly after starting.
Anyone who doesn't like Rex is just an insecure hater. Also, Pyra/Mythra/Green Pythra is essentially perfect.
Well honestly yeah, best looking crew we've had. Even the Nopon Riku and Mañana seam more vibrant to me then past Nopon leads. The leads from 1 felt a bit generic and 2 looked exaggerated. But this looks like a compromise, It especially helps that we can change their look with the class switching where we can kind of customize the group by swapping out their outfits with each other.
@moodycat pyra and other xenoblade 2 characters design was fine seriously i know some people like you dont like xenoblade 2 thats fine but seriously enough with the hate.
I'm surprised with how boring they look.
@Joeynator3000 You missed out on the best Xenoblade game over something trivial
@JeanPaul You definitely don’t need to have played the previous games. They’re all standalone stories. XC2’s ending referred back to XC1, but you wouldn’t realise if you hadn’t played it - at least, I didn’t, and it really made no difference. Also, that was after about 200 hours of gameplay!
I can't believe Kojima worked on this game
@Krull awesome, that is great to hear. I wouldn't mind if I had to have previous knowledge of the other games, but if this is a stand-alone story, even better. Definitely will get it this weekend, thanks!
The character designs are one of my biggest turn-offs for this game. Its just painfully generic anime tropes.
So... how many devs died during development?
@invictus4000 I've watched a lot of Anime, and I don't think there's actually a way to design it that doesn't look generic. People complain there's too much boob and butt in XC2, and that made it generic and pandering like a gatcha game. They get rid of 80% of that for XC3 and now people say it's generic. It still looks stylistically similar to XC1/2 though, which it should as it's a continuation of the same world.
@moodycat did you read my comment i said some people like you that wasnt single you out thats a big difference but also we dont need to hear xenoblade 2 bashing on every single xenoblade article thats pops up on this site we get it not everyone likes it but that being said i do agree on some of the blade designs didnt look good but the rest are fine especially malos since they kept the same design of him on torna.
love the game, Im waiting for this game. character also awesome
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