Afterwords – Pokémon X & Y

[Necrozma]

Interview with Junichi Masuda. Masuda answered some questions regarding Pokémon X and Y.

Some of them were:

There are hints of a romance between the player character and Shauna, especially during the fireworks scene, did this romance angle come from the fact that Paris is the city of love? Or would you like future Pokémon games to include more of a love story?

Yes, with France being the basis for the region, I wanted to implement some elements of romance with Shauna when playing as a boy and express a deep friendship when playing as a girl. For example, when running through the forest early in the game, Shauna will stay behind the player. We did this to express that Shauna is interested in the player. The fireworks scene also expressed Shauna and the player becoming closer to each other – going from just having met, to becoming friends, to becoming very close friends.


In the future, I think I may add more romantic elements if I can do it in a fun way. However, I don't think I want to take it in a direction that shows people fighting or a relationship falling apart. Doing that would take too much of the focus off of catching Pokémon! (laughs)

What was the inspiration for Team Flare’s evil objective and the character of Lysandre?

The idea for Lysandre came up when I was working on AZ’s character settings. He’s a person who thought AZ’s ultimate weapon was brilliant and became obsessed with it. However, he’s more obsessed with what he could do with the weapon than what the reason for its creation was originally. I wanted to express how terrifying obsession can be with this character.

In Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version, Team Plasma’s philosophy had a bit more of a serious tone to it. With Team Flare, I wanted to separate them from some kind of philosophy and make them a bit more goofy and funny.

The legacy of this gigantic war that raged 3,000 years ago is important to the story of the game. Was this inspired by the impact of World War II on France today?

It was not inspired by those events. It came from my desire for war and terrorism to vanish from the world. By showing the war that transpired in ages long past, I wanted the player to think about war. The fact that the same events may occur all over again – I wanted to leave that decision in the player’s hands. What I wanted to tell them was, “Don’t leave it up to others to change things – you have to be the one to enact change.”

The exact details of the war and its impact on the world of Pokémon are ambiguous. Will we ever learn more about what transpired during that war?

The war was a clash between two different countries. People treated Pokémon with special powers as mere tools in their conflict. They gathered lots of Pokémon and Pokémon with unique powers. This long conflict was drawn out and many lives were lost. In order to emerge victorious, the soldiers believed that they needed even more powerful Pokémon. AZ loved his Pokémon, which he had received from his late mother, but it was forcefully taken from him by the soldiers. His Pokémon ended up becoming just another sacrifice in the war. Distraught with grief, AZ began work on his machine. Little did he know that his creation would bring great sorrow to the world.

... you can find the full interview in the link above.

 

[DasManiac]

Since X/Y began development before Black/White were released does this mean B2/W2 were just filler and that they never intended to make more than one game for Gen V?

 

[Silktree]

Since X/Y began development before Black/White were released does this mean B2/W2 were just filler and that they never intended to make more than one game for Gen V?

It just means that they were working on two projects at the same time, which they had done before. Obviously, they continued working on XY after B2W2 had been released.

The idea for Lysandre came up when I was working on AZ’s character settings. He’s a person who thought AZ’s ultimate weapon was brilliant and became obsessed with it. However, he’s more obsessed with what he could do with the weapon than what the reason for its creation was originally. I wanted to express how terrifying obsession can be with this character.

If Lysandre was merely an afterthought inspired by AZ's ultimate weapon, why did he have a far bigger presence than AZ did?

 

[Warrior of Fire]

It just means that they were working on two projects at the same time, which they had done before. Obviously, they continued working on XY after B2W2 had been released.

The idea for Lysandre came up when I was working on AZ’s character settings. He’s a person who thought AZ’s ultimate weapon was brilliant and became obsessed with it. However, he’s more obsessed with what he could do with the weapon than what the reason for its creation was originally. I wanted to express how terrifying obsession can be with this character.

If Lysandre was merely an afterthought inspired by AZ's ultimate weapon, why did he have a far bigger presence than AZ did?

Sometimes, characters like that can take on a life of their own, like Lysandre did.

 

[The Outrage]

I saw this floating around a long time ago. I'm not sure why it didn't pick up here until now (I guess floating around as camera pics of a printed article didn't help?).

I really didn't find anything interesting and I feel like Masuda is coming off too much as a wannabe philosopher. I preferred the Nintendo Dream interview in BW that gave us back stories on the Elite 4. This doesn't really do much.

AZ used a machine to bring his beloved Pokémon back to life. By doing so, he gave his Pokémon eternal life, and he was also affected by this. Part of that was him turning into a giant and still living even after 3,000 years have passed. However, unlike his Pokémon, he still grew old. Was living so long a good thing for AZ? Was using the machine to give his Pokémon eternal life a good thing? I wanted to express these things as well as as the differences between the encounters and losses that we experience in our lives compared to what AZ feels about the encounters and losses he has experienced over 3,000 years. However, what I most wanted to express with this character was the bonds between people and Pokémon.​

Here's the thing, Masuda never really presents another side to whether eternal life is a good thing or not. All AZ did was mope about it. And the last sentence? That'swhat you most wanted to express? Not like N and the BW Protagonist didn't express that a million times better (even though everything was, once again, was one-sided in presentation)

And for Lysandre, wanting to express how terrifying obsession could be? That was done so much better with Cyrus.

Why can't you choose to wear no hat?

It's a way to symbolize the player's character. You can tell at a glance who it is because of the hat.
​

Even though there's like a billion NPC's with hats, and the player characters don't have a single standard hat in this game anymore. But sure. It symbolizes being a player character. I guess this is foreshadowing for Pokemon: Top 99% featuring Youngster Joey.

 

[Necrozma]

I personally feel like, judging by that interview, he wanted to say a lot of things through the characters like Lysandre but didn't quite succeed in doing so.

 

[Beth Pavell]

I get the impression that he really wanted to answer "Because" to at least one of these questions

 

[HeroOfDarkness]

Am I the only who likes the fact that Pokemon may have a little romance in it? I mean, I don't want it to go overboard and have like 5 boy/girlfriends you can pick but it seems like something that can go over amazingly, or bomb horribly.
It should obviously stay about catching Pokemon of course. (And becoming champion)

 

[Fairy Type Arceus]

Am I the only who likes the fact that Pokemon may have a little romance in it? I mean, I don't want it to go overboard and have like 5 boy/girlfriends you can pick but it seems like something that can go over amazingly, or bomb horribly.
It should obviously stay about catching Pokemon of course. (And becoming champion)

yeah, maybe they could expand on shunas crush for the player character more in Z. maybe a kiss scene where she kissesuyour cheek during the fire works ( which i doubt)

 

[Isaac Gravity]

Am I the only who likes the fact that Pokemon may have a little romance in it? I mean, I don't want it to go overboard and have like 5 boy/girlfriends you can pick but it seems like something that can go over amazingly, or bomb horribly.
It should obviously stay about catching Pokemon of course. (And becoming champion)

I don't mind it. I actually liked Yancy's crush on the PC in BW2 but in XY, everything about Shauna was forced, awkward and far too sudden. You knew me for like what, the course of a few towns? And even then its not as if you ever tried to shoot the breeze and flesh yourself out, like at all? Y'know, doing something that would've made that Fireworks scene so less painful to watch?

I can say the same damn thing about all your main Kalos "friends". Really, there was never a moment in the game where we ever really got to know them outside their annoying one-note gimmicks as everything was up and go and I sure as hell didn't feel the immediate (or ultimately, any) attachment I felt for them compared to friends in past games.

 

[Karamazov]

However, I don't think I want to take it in a direction that shows people fighting or a relationship falling apart. Doing that would take too much of the focus off of catching Pokémon! (laughs)

It's a shame. I always wanted to see relationships in the series go through more turmoil. It's like everyone's too complacent with each other.

It was interesting to learn more about AZ. It's a shame he got so little focus in the games, because this makes him seem a lot more interesting than Lysandre.

We wanted players to try raising lots of Pokémon, which is why we changed how the Exp. Share item worked.

Personally, I raised large teams on Gen V because the way their experience worked allowed for larger teams, and I rarely had a problem with overleveling.

The art museum stuff was really interesting, especially since I didn't pay too much attention to the museum pieces myself. The interviewer's theory was much sweeter and more interesting than the answer, but the little trivia about the graphic designer was hilarious.

 

[Fairy Ice Ricky]

Is there any advantage to giving a tip to the camera man, or the story teller? I always offered a good tip, because I didn’t want them to think I was a jerk.

Thanks for the tips! (laughs)

I think we'll be announcing what we wanted to do in regards to tips on the Pokémon Global Link or elsewhere soon.

So I guess tipping does have a purpose? But even his answer is vague, to be honest.

Also, I'd prefer that they keep the romance out of Pokémon to be honest, but I guess I wouldn't stop playing it if they included more of it?

 

[PiPie314]

So I guess tipping does have a purpose? But even his answer is vague, to be honest.

Maybe tips = Pokemiles = pretty much useless items?

And Masuda thinks Team Flare was "goofy and funny", yet they tried to kill everyone in Kalos.

 

[godzilla]

Anyone else notice that he avoids answering why AZ is so big?

 

[Isaac Gravity]

So I guess tipping does have a purpose? But even his answer is vague, to be honest.

Maybe tips = Pokemiles = pretty much useless items?

And Masuda thinks Team Flare was "goofy and funny", yet they tried to kill everyone in Kalos.

Granted, the Flare Grunts (and Admins) were goofy and hilariously incompetent. But when you stop and realize that Flare is mostly comprised of foolish rich people who paid a cool 5 Mil for their "salvation" it balances out AND further throws in how much of a ego-driven hypocrite Lysandre really was.
EDIT: Doesn't help we're only told by few NPCs and never actually shown the man ever actively trying to really better the land and his frustration that follows the ignorance and selfishness of others. We saw plenty of his mad nonsensical rantings though.

Also granted, it's not the first time the Pokemon franchise had total goofball foes who were scarily competent when it was time for the ball to get rolling. Team Dim Sun from Ranger 2 comes in mind and their Grunts were card-carrying villains. Dim Sun has Flare beat in the goofy and funny but serious threat aspect as well.

 

[Fairy Ice Ricky]

Anyone else notice that he avoids answering why AZ is so big?

Nah, he said why, but just oh-so-briefly:

The giant man named AZ was a surprising addition to the story of the game. Was everybody from 3,000 years ago on the Pokémon planet as big as him? What story was the team trying to express by including this character?

AZ used a machine to bring his beloved Pokémon back to life. By doing so, he gave his Pokémon eternal life, and he was also affected by this. Part of that was him turning into a giant and still living even after 3,000 years have passed. [emphasis added] However, unlike his Pokémon, he still grew old. Was living so long a good thing for AZ? Was using the machine to give his Pokémon eternal life a good thing? I wanted to express these things as well as as the differences between the encounters and losses that we experience in our lives compared to what AZ feels about the encounters and losses he has experienced over 3,000 years. However, what I most wanted to express with this character was the bonds between people and Pokémon.

It's a small & quick answer, sure, but Masuda pretty much confirms it was a consequence from using that machine.

 

[The Outrage]

I wonder if its a quirk in translation, but did the machine turn AZ into a giant during initial exposure, or did he just continue to grow old and taller at the same time? Word order suggests he turned into a giant due to the machine's power.

 

[Hidden Mew]

I didn't think that there were too many interesting details in this interview. AZ's Pokemon being from hist late mother was at least something new and it did make me wish that he had a bigger role/presence in the game. Despite what Masuda wanted to tell through AZ and Lysandre, I don't think that it came out that well considering that AZ appears like three times during the course of the storyline and we only see Lysandre's side for the bulk of the game. As for showing how terrifying obsession could be, I think that was handled better with Cyrus as well, but it also helps that Team Galactic was more threatening at the start. I can understand why they wanted to make Team Flare more comical, but they made them so ridiculous that it was hard to take them as serious threats, especially with how incompetent the grunts and even admins were.

As for wanting to show the bonds between Pokemon and humans through AZ, barely appearing in the game also really weakened that intent as well. Not to mention it was handled better by N who had a major role in the fifth generation games, rather than rarely appearing in them at all. The group of friends being so bland and boring also weakened the friendship element that they were trying to go for. B/W did the whole group of friends in a much better manner due to Bianca and Cheren having more fleshed out personalities and development.

 

[The Outrage]

I didn't think that there were too many interesting details in this interview. AZ's Pokemon being from hist late mother was at least something new and it did make me wish that he had a bigger role/presence in the game. Despite what Masuda wanted to tell through AZ and Lysandre, I don't think that it came out that well considering that AZ appears like three times during the course of the storyline and we only see Lysandre's side for the bulk of the game. As for showing how terrifying obsession could be, I think that was handled better with Cyrus as well, but it also helps that Team Galactic was more threatening at the start. I can understand why they wanted to make Team Flare more comical, but they made them so ridiculous that it was hard to take them as serious threats, especially with how incompetent the grunts and even admins were.

As for wanting to show the bonds between Pokemon and humans through AZ, barely appearing in the game also really weakened that intent as well. Not to mention it was handled better by N who had a major role in the fifth generation games, rather than rarely appearing in them at all. The group of friends being so bland and boring also weakened the friendship element that they were trying to go for. B/W did the whole group of friends in a much better manner due to Bianca and Cheren having more fleshed out personalities and development.

It really seems like Masuda was trying to take what was best about the previous games (and side-games if Team Flare's antics are any indication) and missed every single point he was trying to make.

At the very least, this game is the best game mechanic-wise thanks to the better wireless features and Destiny Knot.