Rudra no Hihō Developer Reveals Kotodama System Behind-the-Scenes Stories
The developer's firsthand account provides rare insight into the design philosophy and patent history of one of Square's most innovative cult-classic RPGs.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
A person claiming to be the project leader of Square's 1996 RPG Rudra no Hihō has started a note account to share development stories. The first posts detail the Kotodama System, its patent, and the team's determination to do what Final Fantasy and SaGa had not done. More stories on scenario production are promised.
The developer, writing under the account Kid.e on note, claims to have served as project leader for Rudra no Hihō. In the first installment, they explain that the team set out to do what Square's flagship Final Fantasy and SaGa series had not done, focusing on four systems: the Kotodama magic creation system, a zapping story with three protagonists, animated pixel-art battles, and intense music that shifts during mid-boss fights.
The second installment reveals that the Kotodama System was implemented almost entirely by a single programmer handling both the magic and battle systems. The developer notes that the system was so straightforward in concept that anyone could imitate it once the trick was explained, so Square filed a patent (Patent 3158043) at the time. The note promises future posts covering scenario production.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.