It seems we’ve been waiting an eternity for the release of Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom. The sequel to one of my favorite RPGs of all time, the game has already been delayed multiple times having finally settled on the current simultaneous release date of March 23. No worry — the extra time for polish will certainly only make it a much more worthy follow-up. With the first title, in addition to the action-RPG, monster-collection-focused gameplay, the audio and visual experience that the game offered was enough to practically move me to tears. The artistic direction for the title came from the creative minds at Studio Ghibli, who have said that they approached this game just like they would have approached one of their films.
One of my absolute favorite aspects of the first title was the musical score by Joe Hisaishi, famed composer known for his personal and artistic bond with legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki. And while Studio Ghibli in its previous form is not associated with this sequel, many of the creative minds from the original have returned.
Similar to the previous behind-the-scenes video featuring character designer Yoshiyuki Momose, composer Joe Hisaishi gives us a rather personal inside look at the creation process for the game’s score. Check it out below.
Joe Hisaishi creates music that goes beyond what is expected in gaming. The music used in the battle scenes is unlike anything you’ve seen in other RPGs. – Akihiro Hino, General Director
The Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra has done an incredible job of bringing this world to life it seems, and I am super happy that Joe Hisaishi has been able to transcend any and all medium to deliver a superb and emotionally charged score every time.
Images: Level-5 Games, Bandai Namco Entertainment