[Interview] More to Come from NIS America

Prinny Power!

Just because we’re in the middle of August, 2023 is still far from over. With Gamescom just around the corner, NIS America, a publisher that has supported the Nintendo Switch in a spectacular fashion since the console was first released, is showing no signs of slowing any time soon. We recently had the opportunity to reach out to the publisher and speak to them regarding four games that are all confirmed to release on the Nintendo Switch this year, and we even had the chance to ask about Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten, a new entry in the Utwarerumono series.

Having finally compiled everything that was discussed, please join us as this Miketendo64 interview does a deep dive on five upcoming titles from NIS America, covering games such as:

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless, CRYMACHINA, Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles, The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails and Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten, all in that order:

In the Nick of Time:

Miketendo64: Before we dive right into the probing questions, we always like to start our interviews by getting to know the person/persons we are speaking to. Would you be so kind as to introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a bit about yourself/yourselves and your backgrounds?

Nick Odmark: Hello, my name is Nick Odmark, and I’m the Media Relations Coordinator for NIS America. I’m a member of the PR and Marketing Team, so I often get to connect with fans, creators, and press to talk about our games, which is very rewarding!

Disgaea Heaven: (Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless)

Miketendo64: Where did the idea for the new Jumbification system come from and on a scale of 1 to 10, how fun is it to use?

Nick Odmark: For those who aren’t yet aware, Jumbification is the ability to supersize a unit to Kaiju-level heights. The idea for this feature came about while trying to accomplish a couple of things in Disgaea 7. One was an effort to further flesh out movement in combat. Since a Jumbified unit is so large, they can attack units anywhere on the stage, regardless of how far away they are. Additionally, this feature fits right in with the over-the-top nature of Disgaea as a series, so it just made sense as an exciting addition to this title. I know I’m a little biased, but I would rate it a 10 in terms of how fun it is to use. It’s very satisfying.

Miketendo64: With item reincarnation now a thing, what are some of the most fun ways of using it?

Nick Odmark: Item reincarnation is a fun way to make unique items that strengthen the theme of a character or entire party. However, you’re of course also improving the item’s effectiveness, so it’s equally fun for players who want to focus on optimizing their party. And of course, it’s inherently fun to turn a sword into a pair of slippers. This mechanic is a great way to have your sardine and eat it too!

Miketendo64: Hell Mode sounds positively delightful, are there any Hell Mode abilities players in particular will need to watch out for?

Nick Odmark: We don’t want to give away too much about Hell Mode, but I think Fuji has some very fun abilities! Divine Kanzan in particular deals a ton of damage, and has a really cool animation.

Miketendo64: Can you tell us a bit more about the Netherworld Sightseeing feature?

Nick Odmark: Netherworld Sightseeing allows you to revisit and explore areas you’ve cleared in the main story. Things may have changed when you go back, such as characters’ dialogue or what you can do in a given area, which reflects how you’ve progressed in the story. You don’t always get to see the repercussions of your actions in video games, and our group of characters in Disgaea 7 tend to make rash actions, so it’s a fun way of seeing how they, and you as the player, are affecting the Netherworlds of Hinomoto.

Miketendo64: Given how close both Disgaea 6 and 7 are in terms of release windows, how similar are the games in terms of gameplay? Were there many elements borrowed/improved from 6?

Nick Odmark: There are definitely some returning features and elements from Disgaea 6 that have been adjusted for Disgaea 7. Auto-battle returns, but with a twist. You can now only use this feature on a stage that’s already been cleared. There’s also a cost associated with using auto-battle called Poltergas. Additionally, the roster of characters has been expanded to a size more in-line with past Disgaea titles. There are 45 different classes in total, including 4 new ones; Bandit, Maiko, Zombie Maiden, and Big Eye.

Weapon skills were also brought back as part of the larger push to provide more challenging, rewarding gameplay, with more features to improve and customize. This relates to things like item reincarnation and the sheer number of character classes featured, too. All of these things encourage players to level and customize their characters and equipment in Disgaea 7!

Don’t Cry for me Argentina: (CRYMACHINA)

Miketendo64: With mankind eradicated in CRYMACHINA, what was the cause for our unfortunate demise?

Nick Odmark: CRYMACHINA takes place 2,000 years after humanity has gone extinct. There are a few different things that contributed to this. One was a mysterious disease known as “Centrifugal Syndrome,” which had a 100% mortality rate. Another was a world war caused by resource scarcity. Near the end, a spaceship named Eden was launched in the hopes of preserving the human race. This is where the game takes place.

Miketendo64: Defined as being floating weapons that aid the player, CRYMACHINA has over 60 different types of Auxiliaries available. Can you tell us a bit about these weapons and weapon types players can expect to encounter?

Nick Odmark: Player characters (and some enemy boss characters as well!) can have two Auxiliaries floating behind them over either shoulder. These can be activated via the corresponding shoulder buttons, and can be fired simultaneously or one at a time. Types of Auxiliaries range from swords and sawblades to shields and chakrams, meaning there are a variety of offensive, defensive, and support-oriented Auxiliaries.

Miketendo64: What are some of the Sentiments players can obtain in CRYMACHINA?

Nick Odmark: Sentiments are pieces of equipment that can be installed into Auxiliary slots. Typically, Sentiments will grant buffs to the player or debuff surrounding enemies rather than performing an attack. These will take effect when the corresponding Auxiliary slot is activated. For example, “BUF-A04 Blind Assassin” increases damage dealt from behind when activated, whereas “DEB-D08 Pocket Your Pride” weakens surrounding enemies, causing them to take 10% more damage.

Miketendo64: It has been said players can access new areas that exist outside of the main story, by entering specific coordinates. How does this feature of the game work and how can one obtain new coordinates?

Nick Odmark: After completing stages, players can sometimes discover “Subnetworks,” which allow access to optional stages. When selecting a stage from the Data Transport Terminal, players can then input coordinates into these subnetworks in order to access extra stages. These coordinates can be earned by defeating both story bosses and optional side bosses that can be found while exploring.

Miketendo64: With mankind gone, Dei ex Machina are what remain in CRYMACHINA, can you tell us a bit more about these self-evolving life forms, driven by the goal of human restoration?

Nick Odmark: In CRYMACHINA, There are eight divine machines known as Dei ex Machina. While they each have a unique role/title, their singular goal is the same: to restore humanity. However, they don’t necessarily agree on what exactly constitutes a human, which is a driving force for a lot of the conflict in the story. Additionally, the First Deus ex Machina, the Overseer, has gone missing, throwing the hierarchy into chaos.

Bohemian Rhapsody: (Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles)

Miketendo64: As a collection consisting of Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess and Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom, Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles marks the first time either of these games have been localised in the west. It’s no doubt a momentous occasion. How do you guys, the team that worked on it, feel at this moment in time, so close to release? (NA: August 29. 2023 / EU: September 1, 2023)

Nick Odmark: Honestly, we couldn’t be more excited! Rhapsody is such an important series to the history of NIS, and to be able to allow our Western fans the chance to complete the story for the first time is incredibly rewarding. We sincerely hope that people enjoy Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles, as I personally think that both games are a lot of fun.

Miketendo64: Said to consist of an overhauled battle system for both Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess and Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom, can you detail what some of these changes are?

Nick Odmark: Both of these titles have a different combat system when compared to each other and Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. In Rhapsody II, battles play out through traditional, turn-based combat. Some characters have the use of Puppets, each of which have their own attacks and abilities.

Additionally, using Puppet Commands charges the Rewards gauge, allowing you to use powerful Reward attacks that have some very fun and silly animations. Rhapsody III takes this foundation and adds a ton of strategy to it! Party Formation is a big part of combat in this title, with the player being able to assemble 4 groups of units, each consisting of a party leader and 3 partners. This means that a total of 16 characters can be used in combat at once! Units are also assigned a category: Human, Puppeteer, Puppet, and Monster, which affects their status as party leaders or partners. And you can also move your characters closer or further away from enemy units in combat, affecting how much damage your attacks and their attacks will deal. Puppet Commands and Rewards also make a return.

Miketendo64: For those unfamiliar with Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles and its cultural significance, what are five reasons you would provide to encourage players to visit the Marl Kingdom?

Nick Odmark: The Rhapsody titles are known for a combination of things that all contribute to their unique identity. I’d say the top 5 reasons that players should give these titles a try are the storybook visuals, charming characters, emphasis on singing, lighthearted stories, and the fact that Rhapsody set the foundation for the Disgaea series in a number of ways that become apparent the more you play the games.

The Legend of a Different Direction: (The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails)

Miketendo64: At just 15 years of age, Nayuta Herschel is the protagonist of The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails, what can you tell us about this would be hero?

Nick Odmark: Nayuta Herschel is someone who has a natural curiosity for the unknown. He doesn’t just accept the world for what it is or how it’s been described to him, and wants to discover things for himself. He’s intelligent and logical, passionate about astronomy, and embraces challenges head on. Which is good, because the adventure he gets swept up in is right up his alley.

Miketendo64: Can you tell us a bit about the natural landscapes, flora and fauna that make up the world of The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails?

Nick Odmark: The world that Nayuta and his friends set off to explore consists of 4 different continents. Additionally, there are different seasons featured in the game, each featuring their own enemies, obstacles, terrain, strategy, and puzzles per continent. There are also special events that occur only during certain seasons and hidden scenarios that are closely related to the main storyline. Noi even uses magic that is associated with the four seasons.

Miketendo64: Other than its setting, story and characters, in what other ways does The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails differ from the other Trails and The Legend of Heroes games?

Nick: The Legend of Nayuta is also different from your typical Trails game in the way it plays. This title is an Action RPG at heart, with its minute-to-minute gameplay mechanics and emphasis on combat being more similar to Ys. I’d say that it bears some similarities to both the Ys and Trails/Legend of Heroes series.

Rights & Wrongs Remembered: (Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten)

Miketendo64: As the main protagonist in Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten, can you tell us more about Oshtor? What drives him and what makes him stand out compared to other protagonists?

Nick Odmark: Oshtor has actually appeared before in the previous Utwarerumono series. In Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten, the story centers around his younger days, detailing his origin and showing what caused him to be referred to as the legendary hero, one who is later known to be “Sung of in Legends”. He is earnest, sincere, and has a strong sense of justice. Adding to that personality, I believe his desire to meet his father once again is also another important element that adds to his motivation.

While Oshtor is fundamentally a strong fighter and often plays the straight man, he also has his goofy moments as well. This contrast makes him a charming character that you can’t help but root for, and one whose journey you want to see through to the end.

Miketendo64: Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten, features Recollection Shrines, can you tell us a bit more about these locations and their purpose?

Nick Odmark: Recollection Shrines are mysterious sites scattered all over the world (in towns, fields, and dungeons). They are small wayside shrines, where a divine beast, called Nuko, resides. By touching these, your party can get fully recovered, and your journey progress can be saved as well.

Final Words:

Miketendo64: Last question of the day, is there anything you would like to say, or any additional comments you would like to add, for our readers and fans of NIS America?

Nick Odmark: NIS America is very excited to be bringing each of these titles to our fans. The feedback and opinions of the NIS community matters to us, and was definitely taken into consideration during the development of Disgaea 7, as well as our decision to bring Rhapsody II and III to the West. We appreciate the support, appreciation, and passion that you have for our games, and we sincerely hope you enjoy our remaining titles releasing this year!

Nick, we are immensely grateful for your time and are eternally grateful for everything NIS America has brought and continues to bring, to the Nintendo Switch As for our readers, we hope you appreciate this interview and would like to ask you what has been your favourite game NIS America game has published so far and which of their upcoming titles do you look forwards to the most.