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Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Interview – Producer Shoichi Ichikawa Talks Summons, Story, and Fan-Favorite Characters

Casey ScheldOctober 9, 2024

With over nine million downloads (and counting!) since its launch last year, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis has given Final Fantasy VII fans the chance to relive the most memorable moments from the title.

We recently got the chance to ask Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Producer Shoichi Ichikawa some questions around summons, story, and fan-favorite characters – see what he had to say with our interview.

Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Interview – Producer Shoichi Ichikawa Talks Summons, Story, and Fan-Favorite Characters

Gamers Heroes: In a Famitsu interview from 2023, you mentioned you’re looking to “draw small stories that haven’t been depicted anywhere in the main storyline, featuring the main characters such as Cloud and Aerith.” What other stories do you wish to touch upon?

Shoichi Ichikawa: I am so torn on which ones to pick as there are so many stories to choose from. That said, if I say something specific, people might wonder, “Is that what’s happening next?!” and I might get people’s hopes up, so I’ll refrain from going into any details for now. I work closely with Director Motomu Toriyama to discuss Story Quests, and that’s a fun process.

Gamers Heroes: On that same note, are there any characters in the world of FINAL FANTASY VII that are personal fan-favorites?

Shoichi Ichikawa: My personal favorite is Glenn. The fact he’s an EVER CRISIS original character is one reason, but I also love the emotional interactions with Sephiroth as a sort of father or brother figure. My favorite antagonist would probably be Dyne. I am a father myself, so the emotional conflict between Barret and Dyne hits me hard. 

Gamers Heroes: This past year has seen story points that include a younger Sephiroth. Other releases like FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH and light novel material also feature new story points; how are you collaborating with these different teams to make sure new stories are properly represented in FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS?

Shoichi Ichikawa: In terms of the story, Director Motomu Toriyama and the scenario team would take the base storyline and add some flavor that is unique to FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS. On top of that, they sprinkle in little Easter eggs that fans would enjoy. I think they have a lot of fun with the process.

Gamers Heroes: The recent Bahamut-themed story event, “The Cetra’s Story: Birth of the Destroyer,” recently featured gear and equipment around the summon. We love this focus on the summons; what other summons from the FINAL FANTASY VII series (or even beyond) have you admired throughout the years?

Shoichi Ichikawa: Thank you. 

There are many famous FINAL FANTASY summons, like Odin and Phoenix, that have yet to make an appearance, but in FINAL FANTASY VII, I feel that Bahamut was in a different tier than the rest. It made frequent appearances throughout the Compilation of FINAL FANTASY VII series, albeit in different forms – sometimes as a fearsome foe that stood before Cloud and company, and sometimes as a powerful partner in battle – and it has a special place in my heart.

Outside of the FINAL FANTASY VII series, I love Diablos from FINAL FANTASY VIII. When I was in middle school, I thought it was the coolest thing (laughs), making it my most memorable summon.

Want to check out Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis for yourself? The title is available via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, along with the PC via Steam.

Meanwhile, fans can also stay connected around all things Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis with the official website, along with the official Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube social media channels.

Thank you to PR for giving us the chance to interview Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis Producer Shoichi Ichikawa!

Ashes of Mankind: Citadels Interview: Adrien David Talks Competitive Marketplace, Character Customization, and Community Support

Gamers Heroes recently asked Ashes of Mankind: Citadels Lead Developer Adrien David about this upcoming title’s competitive marketplace, character customization, and devout community support – read more with our interview.

Continue Reading Ashes of Mankind: Citadels Interview: Adrien David Talks Competitive Marketplace, Character Customization, and Community Support

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Casey ScheldOctober 9, 2024
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Casey Scheld

Casey Scheld has more than 15 years of experience in the gaming industry as a community manager, social media director, event specialist, and (of course) gaming editor. He has previously worked with gaming start-ups like Raptr, publishers like Konami, and roller derby girls at PAX West (check out Jam City Rollergirls)! Gamers Heroes is a passion project for him, giving him a chance to tap into the underground side of gaming. He is all too eager to give these lesser-known heroes of the indie space the attention they so rightly deserve, seeking out the next gem and sharing it with the world. Previously making appearances at events like CES, GDC, and (the late) E3, he is all too happy to seek out the next big thing. For those that want to talk shop, send over a tip, or get an easy win in a fighting game of their choosing, be sure to check out his social media channels below.

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