Nippon Ichi Software announced the release date for Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, the sequel to the 2004 PSP TRPG classic, during the Tokyo Game Show. Scenario Writer Kento Jobana discussed the challenges of revisiting the series after 20 years and the themes of death and the supernatural in the company’s catalog. Jobana has been involved with the project from the beginning and was told that the game should become another pillar of the company, like Disgaea.
He asked to use new main characters but was denied, with the owner insisting that he write a new story with the returning characters. Jobana accepted the mandate but insisted on using the original voice actors to meet fans’ expectations. To balance introducing new characters while developing existing ones, Jobana considered what fans loved about the original Phantom Brave, particularly Marona’s journey from ostracism to gaining affection.
He created a new character, Apricot, to experience similar growth and delved deeper into unexplored aspects of Marona and Ash’s relationship. He also introduced new Phantoms with their own personalities to join Marona.
Phantom Brave returns with new life
One particular character that stood out was Henna, a Phantom possessing her sister. Jobana wanted to create a dramatic tale exploring the ties between Phantoms and the world of the living, looking at aspects of human life and death that could drive a spirit to stay. Death and the afterlife seem to be recurring themes in NIS’s stories.
Jobana believes that the company gathers people interested in the darker side of life and humanity, with creators like Izumi-san, Mizokami-san, and Niikawa-san having their own unique views on death and the afterlife. Jobana himself is deeply interested in human connections to nature and the spiritual world and is a big fan of Director Tim Burton’s depiction of these aspects of life. To address both returning and new players, Jobana wants to deliver a story that respects the original while introducing new elements that engage and attract new audiences.
He recognizes that returning players have changed over the decades and that new players will treat this game like a brand-new IP. Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero launches worldwide on January 30, 2025, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, with a PC release coming at a later date.
