Zero Escape Director Recounts Stressful and Happy Memories From Working on The Series

Azario Lopez May 19, 2017 12:54 PM EST

The Zero Escape series’ development timeline has been an inspiring journey to follow for video game fans. In 2009, Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors was released on the Nintendo DS in Japan and the following year in the west, making its mark on the visual novel community. The game would be followed up with Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward in 2012, receiving rave reviews, but would sadly enter hiatus soon after.

Thankfully, due to intense fan support, the trilogy was concluded with Zero Time Dilemma in 2016.

Recently, Zero Escape: The Nonary Games was released on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC, which bundled up the first two entries of the trilogy. DualShockers had the opportunity to speak with series director Kotaro Uchikoshi about old memories he had while developing the series.

“I have so many!” says Uchi-san, he adds, “I remember during production for 999 how two team members broke down crying in the middle of a meeting. (Not my fault!)”

The director continues, “During crunch time on VLR we were camping in the office; I fell asleep at my desk and I must have had a nightmare because I suddenly leapt to my feet screaming.”

He concludes with a sad memory that has a happy ending by saying, “Once the game was released someone above me at the company told me that my career was washed up and I would never, ever get to make a sequel, so I should quit while I was ahead. But look who turned out right in the end! Of course, we were able to make ZTD because of support from the fans. Thank you for sticking with us!”

In addition to his memories, DualShockers asked if he missed any of the characters from the series, “I would have to say… the player.” Uchi-san says and adds, “Have you ever considered the role the user plays in the Zero Escape series? The player is the key person at the heart of the series. Without the player, the story wouldn’t work.”

Currently, the director is working on his newly revealed and mysterious game Project: Psync.

Stay tuned for the full interview with Kotaro Uchikoshi where we discuss his future projects as well as his time creating the Zero Escape trilogy.

DualShockers reviewed Zero Escape: The Nonary Games and gave it an amazing 9.5/10, praising the game for it’s updated visuals and impressive sound work.