Wild Arms 2 Complete Guide Interview Summaries - Parts 10-12: About Irving, Altaecia and the Valeria Chateau Staff
Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed by the people in the interviewer are not my own. I'm just posting this here to share my findings and the creative process the team behind the involved game(s) had.
Part 10: About Irving
To start this section off, Akifumi Kaneko states that Irving got injured from the shock when the Argetlahm rejected him. He states that Irving must have been incredibly powerful despite his appearance, though he suffered a complex fracture. He goes on to say that's why he's on a crutch, or rather, a commander would naturally use a crutch.
Irving's diary is unreadable. When questioned on it being locked, Kaneko responds that, technically, it can only be opened with the magic key Randolph, and that it hasn't been written in since Irving gave Randolph to Caina. He goes on, saying what Irving would write down what he did that day being something like, "Today I met with Odessa. I told him a huge secret. Everyone from ARMS died. One person survived, so I'll be taking care of him from now on." Kaneko and Yoshiyuki Itoh (one of the game's artists) speak about how they want to read the diary.
The interviewer says it's amazing how such a grand plan, heavily influenced by luck, connects to the very end, to which Itoh states that he wonders if Irving foresaw all of that. Kaneko likens Irving's skill as a strategist to that of Zhuge Liang. "In the end," Itoh says, "it feels like everything was moving in Irving's hand."
Kaneko confirms that Vinsfeld didn't know about his plan, and that Irving was probably saying something like, "All the actors are in place now." Altaecia didn't know either. (Personal Note: I distinctly remember that, in the game, near the end of Disc 1, Vinsfeld stated that there was a cause for the increase of monsters in Filgaia, to the point where they couldn't control as many of the monsters that surfaced. With the way Kaneko's statement here is worded, it may be possible that Vinsfeld was not filled in on all the details of the Kuiper Belt's existence.)
When asked on why Irving is strangely popular with everyone at the Valeria Chateau despite the terrible things he does, Kaneko suggests that maybe it's because he's so caring. "He takes in a lot of people who seem to have no family. Including Ashley, Kanon, and Brad. And Lilka too. In that sense, ARMS is just as generous as Odessa." Itoh expresses that it's problematic how he's trying to get Lilka into ARMS, because she's still a child. Tetsuya Okubo (the game's chief battle graphics staff and monster designer) remarks that Irving "has a pretty face, but he's heartless."
Irving used to be very good with swords and magic. When the interviewer questions that he could still use magic, Itoh mentions that he said he wanted to fight, but didn't do anything, to which Kaneko states that, if Irving could actually fight, he'd be the strongest. "Maybe he'd use some kind of suspicious sword technique. Saying things like he could wield both swords and magic if he pleased," he continues.
Okubo mentions that Irving looks old for someone who's 22 years old, and Kaneko replies that he usually has a grumpy face, like in the opening cinematic of Disc 2 when lightning flashes and he's glaring outside. Itoh says he thinks that was probably because he found Amy and the other staff members slacking off outside and then laughs. Kaneko replies with, "Slacking off on a rainy day, with an umbrella," and then laughs before concludes this section with, "So he saw that. What a disapproving guy."
Part 11: About Altaecia
The interviewer starts off by stating that what they're most curious about Altaecia is her relationship with Irving. Kaneko simply responds that they're siblings, to which the interviewer states they don't mean that kind of relationship. Laughing, Kaneko asks if there's anything in the game like that, and then this part in the exchange occurs, recollecting a scene at the beginning of Disc 2.
Interviewer: Well, there was, wasn't there?
Kaneko: Hmm?
Interviewer: Irving had a nightmare about pulling out the Argetlahm, and after being tormented by it, he suddenly grabbed Altaecia when she came to check on him out of concern…
Kaneko remembers the scene and suggests that Irving was shaken up, and that when he tried to stand up, he leaned on Altaecia because his leg was bad, and that he unintentionally said, "Ouch!". Kaneko goes on to say that there's nothing more in that relationship, but when the interviewer comments that the scene really bothers some people, he realizes that they're talking about a hint at an incestuous relationship. He states that he didn't write a single word like that, and with a bit of laughter, says that he never imagined it would be interpreted that way. Okubo states that Kaneko's voice has changed and laughs. Kaneko confirms his surprise that there are people who take Irving and Altaecia's relationship that way, but says, "I guess once it's in the hands of the users (in other words, those playing the game), you just have to leave it up to their imagination" and laughs. He also tells the interviewer to stop persistently nitpicking. "The image of the character I created is being tarnished," he says, and then he chooses to move onto the next part of the section; Altaecia's design.
Regarding Altaecia's design, Itoh describes his image of her as something like a princess, and that Irving is like that too, though it would seem strange if they were in that world, as their clothes are completely different from the other characters. "They're both gorgeous, aren't they?" He notes that the designs are similar to Odessa's, and that he thought that people who think about things that are hard to understand would wear things that are hard to understand, as the siblings' outfits stand out in Filgaia. Kaneko suggests that the enemy's designs aren't far off either, and Itoh confirms that.
Altacia has always been in the chateau's kitchen and is in charge of the meals, which are mostly curry, as it's the only thing she can make. Okubo comments that Altaecia is a picky eater, and Kaneko suggests that Irving likes curry, to which the interviewer hints at the possibility that Irving's favorite dish is served for lunch.
There was initially a plan for Altaecia to play a more significant role and be quite noticeable. For example, Kaneko planned to have her show up at every event related to the chateau, but it got overloaded, because she couldn't leave any room, and thus all the events were inevitably cancelled. There were also supposed to be various events that hinted at the close relationship between Altaecia and Irving, though Irving concludes the section by denying going into detail.
Part 12: About the Valeria Chateau Staff
Amy and Kate are portrayed as a kaiju enthusiast and a shoujo manga otaku, respectively. Itoh had the idea of Amy would trip easily, though that idea never really come to be. As for Erwin, the chateau's pilot, he was planned to be a playboy, but didn't get much screentime either. He sometimes shows up instead of Amy and Kate when the "Call" command is used in the menu because Kaneko wanted to do more with the staff who live at the chateau. Kaneko goes on to say that he wanted them be more domestic and down-to-earth and even have snacks and juice cans lying where Amy stands. Itoh says he thinks that the crew members without rooms sleep in the engine room downstairs or near the boiler because it's warm there at night.
The former butcher Gabacho and his son Ebechocho (the latter NPC is localized as "Ebecho" in the English release) were supposed to appear in WA1 and were created by the person in charge of the map design, but despite him wanting them to appear, there wasn't an opportunity for them to be used. Kaneko came up with the idea of them being former butcher and son, but he didn't like it. Kaneko also wanted to have an episode involving the gathering of ARMS members, each experts in their own field, from various places before flying the Valeria Chateau.
The interviewer states that the communication system felt new and that it was quite convenient for when the player was wondering what to do next. Kaneko states that he wanted to convey a sense of organization, and that ARMS is a large group; He wanted to show that there were people providing solid backup to Ashley and his party.
The purpose of the prison cell at the Valeria Chateau was that Ashley was supposed to be in solitary confinement during events like the battle with Grauswein. Kaneko further expresses shame that a lot of events at the chateau were cut due to various circumstances.