Yoko Shimomura Wanted a 'Kingdom Hearts' Rhythm Game, So She Gave CDs of the OST to the 'FF: Theatrhythm' Director

[TradedHats]

In an interview with Famitsu, translated by https://twitter.com/_KH_ENGLISH and posted on Kingdom Hearts Insider, Melody of Memory producer Ichiro Hazama, director Tetsuya Nomura and co-director Masanobu Suzui (director of the Final Fantasy Theatrhythm games) talked about the upcoming rhythm game. When speaking about the KH game's composer, Yoko Shimomura, they had this to say:

What did Shimomura say about this game?

Hazama: Apparently she really enjoys playing the Theatrhythm series, and she has asked us many times over the years if we would make a Kingdom Hearts one. I am sure she is looking forward to this game, and I think we have made something that will satisfy her.

Suzui: Once I met Shimomura at a cherry blossom viewing picnic, and she gave me the full set of Kingdom hearts series CDs. She gave me this "you know what to do now, right?" smile (laughs), so I am sure she's been hoping for us to make a Kingdom Hearts series rhythm game for a long time.

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[stryke]

Good on her
Looking forward to this

 

[mrmickfran]

Theatrhythm was fun as hell

 

[Deleted member 76797]

Theatrhythm is so, so good

 

[Trigonometrize]

Imagining Yoko having fun playing this game is the wholesome gaming content I needed

 

[Ushojax]

I hope this reaches the same standard as those games, but it doesn't look great so far.

 

[ZeoVGM]

I hope this reaches the same standard as those games, but it doesn't look great so far.

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It looks just like a Theatrhythm game though.

 

[PlanetSmasher]

That's hilarious.

 

[DarkSora]

I hope this reaches the same standard as those games, but it doesn't look great so far.

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It's a music game......what else do you expect from it?

I'm looking forward to picking it up just see what story twists are in this one.

 

[Trago]

That's awesome!

 

[Richietto]

If any series deserves a rhythm game its KH.

 

[KtotheRoc]

Shimomura making power moves like this. You love to see it.

 

[Pedro]

I love Theatrhythm Curtain Call so much, and I'm so glad this KH game will exist too.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Later this year:

Famitsu: "Itsuno-san, how did your new action game project begin?"

Hideaki Itsuno: "So one day Toriyama-san gave us a full set of Lightning figures and dolls..."

 

[shoptroll]

Did Curtain Call ever get any Legend of Mana tunes? That's one of her best works in my mind, and I'd certainly play a Mana Theatrhythm game.

 

[RochHoch]

Good. Better give Yoko what she wants.

 

[Twenty5Thousand]

Yoko is the reason I take half of this series seriously. Kingdom Hearts would not be where it is today without her music.

 

[RROCKMAN]

Damn I can't make fun of this game anymore

I genuinely hope she likes it.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Yoko :)

 

[Tetsujin]

Shimomura dropping KH music on the Theatrhythm guy like

 

[Richietto]

Could you imagine getting those CD's from her and NOT making a KH rhythm game???

 

[MaxAugust]

She is a true Goddess. I am all for Soken but I can't say I won't miss her in FFXVI. She is a strong contender with Uematsu for greatest Square composer and doesn't get nearly enough respect.

 

[Deleted member 5621]

Did Curtain Call ever get any Legend of Mana tunes? That's one of her best works in my mind, and I'd certainly play a Mana Theatrhythm game.

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Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call downloadable content

Below is a list of downloadable content (DLC) available for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call, which consists of bonus Field and Battle Music Sequences and additional playable characters. The DLC is split into two schedules, "The First Performance", which ran from April to August 2014 in...

finalfantasy.fandom.com

 

[Ghostsonplanets]

Wait, so they did a rhythm game because the composer asked? Not because they had data that an music game would be appealing to the market, had interest within the fanbase, looked at past sales of music games they did, seen that a rhythm game reusing assets could be developed quickly and generate a good bunch of revenue while maintaining interest in the series, but because a composer asked? Sure, i'll believe it........................

 

[hydrophilic attack]

I haven't played a theatrhythm game, but I will probably buy this because I'm a kingdom hearts sucker, and I love shimomura's music. I hope the game is ok

 

[LAA]

Good on Yoko ha!
Nice to have something to celebrate the KH music.

 

[mugurumakensei]

Wait, so they did a rhythm game because the composer asked? Not because they had data that an music game would be appealing to the market, had interest within the fanbase, looked at past sales of music games they did, seen that a rhythm game reusing assets could be developed quickly and generate a good bunch of revenue while maintaining interest in the series, but because a composer asked? Sure, i'll believe it........................

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Pretty clear that's not what the devs are saying. Sounds more like they're happy they finally have the opportunity to make a game the composer has wanted for a while since Nomura needed another small title for moving the series forward to the next chapter.

 

[Ghostsonplanets]

Pretty clear that's not what the devs are saying. Sounds more like they're happy they finally have the opportunity to make a game the composer has wanted for a while since Nomura needed another small title for moving the series forward to the next chapter.

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I know that :P(Should have worded better). If they did just because of a composer desire, that would be a surefire sign of a mismanaged company(Tough sometimes great games are born from one person or other being assertive to game directors/producers).

 

[Lockheartilly9799]

I love Yoko Shimomura a lot. She's such a sweet, passionate person. Meeting her a couple years ago was a real joy. I'm more excited about this game than any of the day one next gen titles.

 

[ZeoVGM]

I haven't played a theatrhythm game, but I will probably buy this because I'm a kingdom hearts sucker, and I love shimomura's music. I hope the game is ok

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The game will be more than okay if the two FF games are any indication.

They are two of the best games on 3DS.

 

[King Kingo]

Yoko Shimomura deserved better than a game that reused PlayStation 2 assets. That's not a statement on the quality of the game itself, but rather, what was to be expected after Kingdom Hearts III.

 

[clockstrikes]

I know that :P(Should have worded better). If they did just because of a composer desire, that would be a surefire sign of a mismanaged company(Tough sometimes great games are born from one person or other being assertive to game directors/producers).

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What actually happened is still pretty silly. Disney just randomly remembered SE pitched a rhythm game and gave their approval to move forward with the project lol

 

[Zimmiwood]

how wholesome is this haha

 

[Hieroph]

Cool to know that Shimomura likes Theatrhythm. Not only does she make great game music, she also has great taste in video games.

Did Curtain Call ever get any Legend of Mana tunes? That's one of her best works in my mind, and I'd certainly play a Mana Theatrhythm game.

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Mana Theatrhythm would be sooooooo good. That series has amazing music.

 

[Cjdamon042]

Both Theatrhythms were amazing, and I've always wanted one for Kingdom Hearts so I was really happy when this was announced. I definitely wasn't expecting it go fully 3D, though I guess with the hardware you may as well. I also think it's kind of cool it ties in with the story as well. You couldn't really do that with FF due to the nature of each entry being its own thing, so it makes sense here.

Yoko Shimomura is a treasure.

 

[Lumination]

I will buy anything more Theatrhythm. But I did prefer stylus mode, so idk how that will feel on Switch.

 

[ZeroX]

Yoko approved, what more do you need to know

Curtain Call is a phenomenal game

 

[Kouriozan]

They should have made a Theathrym Kingdom Hearts then, instead of the non-replayability of what we're getting.
Without leveling or maps/treasures to get, it'll be a once and done game sadly. Especially since it'll have mich much less tracks.

 

[Papertoonz]

They should have made a Theathrym Kingdom Hearts then, instead of the non-replayability of what we're getting.
Without leveling or maps/treasures to get, it'll be a once and done game sadly. Especially since it'll have mich much less tracks.

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What are you talking about? it has levels, haven't you seen any footage of it

There is also an entire synthesis system so there is stuff to get for re-playability. Also it has a 140 tracks, Curtain Call is the only other Theatrhythm game with more tracks then this but that's because it's an updated release. It beat out the Original Theatrhythm and DQ Theatrhythm by double

 

[King Kingo]

A Theathrym Square Enix mashup game is easy money and I'm shocked that it isn't a thing yet.

 

[Hieroph]

A Theathrym Square Enix mashup game is easy money and I'm shocked that it isn't a thing yet.

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Hope this does well so maybe Square Enix gets back in the Theatrhythm groove.

 

[9-Volt]

Yoko should do the same thing with Street Fighter. Playing Ken's Theme in a rhythm game is a dream.

 

[TradedHats]

Posted in the MoM thread but figured I should post it here as well:

 

[fiendcode]

Masanobu Suzui? So indieszero is working on MOM after all? Great news if so.

 

[night814]

Didn't know that MoM was by the Theatrythm director, very interested now. All the Theatrythm games were awesome, even imported DQ.

 

[Yasuke]

Go off, Queen

 

[King Kingo]

Hope this does well so maybe Square Enix gets back in the Theatrhythm groove.

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It's a Kingdom Hearts game, it'll do well especially since it's multiplatform.

 

[Aureon]

I know that :P(Should have worded better). If they did just because of a composer desire, that would be a surefire sign of a mismanaged company(Tough sometimes great games are born from one person or other being assertive to game directors/producers).

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Reminder that KH was born because Nomura met a disney exec in an elevator.

The idea comes first, THEN you market research it, and if it's a go, it's a go

But it has to start somewhere

 

[fiendcode]

I'd still like to see All-Stars Carnival ported to current consoles & PC also.

 

[Narroo]

Didn't know that MoM was by the Theatrythm director, very interested now. All the Theatrythm games were awesome, even imported DQ.

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That explains why it's basically a variation of theatrythm. That's dissapointing to me since I actually kinda hated Theatrythm; it wasn't a good rhythm game to me. (And I hate that art style!)

Although, it makes me happy that this wasn't just Nomura being weird again, but rather something someone else actually wanted to make. Shimomura is talented!