Robot strategy RPG Relayer Advanced is now available for PC via Steam, and to celebrate its launch, Gematsu sat down with director and Dragami Games president Yoshimi Yasuda to discuss the PC version’s new features.
Get the full interview below.
Gematsu: Let’s talk about Relayer Advanced. You’ve updated the user interface with the ability to switch between the existing grid layout and the new “Luminous Lines.” What are the Luminous Lines and how do they differ from the grid?
Yoshimi Yasuda, Director and Dragami Games President: “The Luminous Line is a method of displaying a specific area on a battle map with a glowing border to increase visibility for the player and the difference from the grid is that the borders are illuminated replacing the squares. As a result, we believe that we have improved the visibility of maps and characters that were difficult to see because they blended into the background of outer space, etc. as well as improving the display method so that players can enjoy the atmosphere and realism unique to science-fiction games.”
What led to the decision to add an entirely new display option?
Yasuda: “Some of the players have pointed out that the maps and characters were difficult to see since the release of Relayer. We also wanted to introduce a more sci-fi game feel to the map design, other than the classical grid square display, so actually we have been working on the development and research of the newly introduced Luminous Line even after the release of the original Relayer.”
What other user interface and / or quality-of-life improvements can we expect? How critical was player feedback in determining these changes?
Yasuda: “This is not the end of the updates needed to improve the gameplay and to continue to meet the needs of our users, we will continue to actively work on any improvements that we believe is necessary.”
The new “Recollection” function allows players to replace adventure part scenes from the story. Is this essentially a “Gallery” mode? Will it offer other Gallery mode-esque features such as the ability to browse artwork and music tracks? If not, is this something that might be considered for a future update?
Yasuda: “As of now, we have no plans to add a gallery function to this game, but if many users request it, we will definitely consider to work on it.”
Arguably the biggest new addition of Relayer Advanced is the expansion of its endgame content. Can you tell us more about the new “Wormhole Mission”? Is it a “What if?” scenario like the previous endgame content “The Asterism Voyage,” or does it add more to the main story?
Yasuda: “The new large-scale end content, the ‘Wormhole Mission’ is a scenario positioned as the final episode like version of Asterism Voyage. The ‘Wormhole Mission’ tells the story after the Asterism Voyage ended with the uncertain identity of the enemy, the Relayer, and the secrets to the birth of the moon.”
What were the biggest hurdles you had to overcome when bringing Relayer over from PlayStation consoles to PC?
Yasuda: “There were no inherent challenges with the PC port. Rather, it took a bit of time because we went through the procedure of porting to the PC after solving various issues to brush up and make the game better.”
Dragami Games titles tend to launch on consoles first and PC later. Can we expect any simultaneous PC releases in the future? Is that a goal for the company?
Yasuda: “I believe the biggest challenge for Dragami Games regarding platforms is to be able to consistently release games for all of them. We recognize that the simultaneous release on all platforms is just as an important challenge as multiplatform support, so we will continue to work to make these realized.”
The new content of Relayer Advanced will be available day and date with the PC version’s launch on October 27, but around when can PlayStation users expect to receive the new content as a free update?
Yasuda: “A free update is scheduled for November 18.”
Is Relayer planned as a one-off title, or will we see it expand into a franchise with follow-up games?
Yasuda: “As the author of the original Relayer, I do have plans on making this a series. Therefore, I think the answer to your question comes down to how we prioritize the development of Dragami Games game titles. I have currently received numerous requests for sequels to God Wars, Root Letter, and there are unannounced titles that I would like to produce so the development line after Lollipop Chainsaw Remake (title tentative) is to be determined. I think I’ll need some time to think about it.”
Can you share a final message for the fans?
Yasuda: “We spent a considerable amount of time adjusting the difficulty level for the newly released large-scale end game content the ‘Wormhole Mission.’ We had received feedback from some game users that they wanted anyone to be able to clear the ‘Easy Mode,’ so we worked diligently to set the most suitable difficulty level to achieve that. At first glance, the Wormhole Mission continues with difficult battle stages, but even players who are novices in playing strategy RPGs can reach the ending in the Easy Mode, so please enjoy Relayer Advanced on your PC.”
View a set of exclusive new screenshots at the gallery.
