It’s always interesting to find out what inspires those who inspire us. In this case, Naoki Hamaguchi, director of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, shared in the latest episode of Square Enix’s “The Games that Made Us” YouTube series that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is the game he could not live without.
Hamaguchi says, “As a creator of these kinds of games, the title I respect the most is The Witcher series. Especially The Witcher 3. It's already a title from 10 years ago or so but I truly believe this is an extremely well-made title that stands the test of time.”
Developed by CD Projekt Red and released in 2015, The Witcher 3 is an open-world, action role-playing game that’s set in a fantasy world. Hamaguchi isn’t alone in his deep appreciation for the game as it’s almost universally celebrated by critics and fans of the genre. The proof is in its trophy case, having won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, the D.I.C.E. Awards, SXSW Gaming Awards, and the Golden Joystick Awards.
“The detailed construction of the world and the gameplay immersion is truly wonderful,” Hamaguchi continues about The Witcher 3's standout characteristics. “So, in that way, yes, for me there may be no other gameplay experience like it.”
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and while Rebirth is in no way a carbon cutout of The Witcher 3, the sequel’s vast open world was an unexpected change for fans of Final Fantasy VII Remake. The Final Fantasy series, in general, isn’t known for open-world experiences, but when you consider how the game’s director recognizes The Witcher 3 as a gaming benchmark of sorts, Rebirth’s gameplay shift starts to make a lot more sense and almost feels inevitable.
Hamaguchi has an affinity for meticulously crafted worlds that provide hours and hours of exploration opportunities. For anyone who’s started their adventures in Rebirth, you know that his latest masterpiece offers exactly that. And while Hamaguchi claims that The Witcher 3 offers a gameplay experience that may never be matched, he’s got to admit that he’s gotten pretty darn close. Critics and Final Fantasy fans alike are enamored with Rebirth’s open world, and the fact that Rebirth’s Metascore matches The Witcher 3’s score at 92 makes the revelation of Hamaguchi’s favorite game even sweeter.
You can watch the full interview on Square Enix’s YouTube channel to find out what other games Naoki Hamaguchi holds dear.