Japanese media outlet Denfaminicogamer recently sat down with Gen Urobuchi, writer of "Saya no Uta" and scenario writer for Nitroplus, and voice actress Kotori Koiwai for an interview. Coincidentally, Koiwai herself is a huge fan of "Saya no Uta."
During the chat, Urobuchi discussed how visual novel players' preferences have shifted significantly over the years. He believes that the kind of "poison" that works like "Saya no Uta" once delivered is no longer what modern players are looking for, and it probably wouldn't achieve the same success today. People are seeking antidotes to reality, a goal he feels he can no longer achieve.
Back in 2013, Urobuchi was interviewed alongside Shimokura Bio to celebrate the release of another Nitroplus masterpiece, "You and Me and Her: A Love Story" (Kimi to Kanojo to Kanojo no Koi). When discussing Nitroplus's creative style, Urobuchi famously said, "Nitroplus's works are for those who crave thrills more than comfort."
He even used a food analogy: "While spicy and sour flavors are actually 'toxic' warnings in nature, some people just love eating things that are both sour and spicy." This was his way of describing Nitroplus's consistent penchant for crafting uncomfortable, impactful, and emotionally torturous stories.
▼ While "You and Me and Her: A Love Story" wasn't written by Urobuchi, its unique narrative system has been praised by players for "exploring the extent to which players sitting behind the screen can interact with the game," offering a groundbreaking fourth-wall-breaking experience.
In the interview, Urobuchi delved into the dark and dramatic narrative style of "Saya no Uta," even stating that "every single ending can be considered a Bad End." However, he also believes that today's readers and players might no longer be seeking the oppressive and shocking stories like "Saya no Uta," especially given the current social climate.
In this new interview, the host asked if he still stood by his previous statement. Urobuchi replied, "That was certainly my thinking at the time." But he then added, "However, I now feel that today's audiences probably don't need 'poison' anymore." "Because the real world is already cruel enough, people are actually hoping to find some kind of 'antidote' in fictional works."
He believes that works offering solace and comfort might be exactly what this era needs most. And these kinds of stories, he suggests, should be crafted by a younger generation of creators. Urobuchi chuckled, stating, "So, I think it might be time for me to step back a bit."
Despite discussing shifts in creative direction, Urobuchi emphasized that his passion for game development remains strong. He noted that what has most encouraged him in recent years is the evolution of the game industry and digital platforms. Specifically, the widespread adoption of digital distribution platforms like Steam has freed games from being tied to specific console hardware.
Urobuchi stated, "One of the key reasons I truly started to feel 'now is the era worth investing effort into making games' is the prevalence of platforms like Steam." He recalled the past: "Before, once a game console became obsolete, those games often faded into oblivion." But things are different now.
What he finds most gratifying is that "we now have a system where, no matter the era, you can revisit and play those works whenever you want." For Urobuchi, this means games are no longer just consumables of a certain period, but rather a creative medium that can truly be preserved and passed down for a long time.
For many fans familiar with "Saya no Uta," "Fate/Zero," "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," or "PSYCHO-PASS," Gen Urobuchi has always been known for his masterful portrayal of cruel realities and the darker side of human nature. His latest statement, "audiences need antidotes, not poison now," is quite a shift.
It makes you wonder if even Urobuchi himself now feels reality is harsher than fiction... Perhaps the times truly have changed.
via： Denfaminicogamer