Read from noisy pixel:
Sohei Niikawa, president of SuperNiche and producer and scenario writer of the game said his ideas come from daily life, film, manga, and a constant habit of asking whether something is interesting or unique. While he occasionally references past works out of affection, his stories are not explicitly built to expand earlier titles. Etrange Overlord was conceived after he left NIS, reflecting themes he connected with personally during a significant life transition; redoing one’s path and remaining true to oneself.
He confirmed that Etrange Overlord’s multiplayer is entirely separate from the main story. The campaign remains a single-player experience focused on musicals and the revolving Lane mechanic, while multiplayer features up to four players.
Niikawa said Etrange draws on the collective experience of himself and Gemdrops director Yuichiro Kitao, a longtime colleague with whom he worked on Marl Kingdom. Because of that connection, they chose to return to musical storytelling. Kitao’s background with Star Ocean and Valkyrie Profile also shaped the action-focused structure. Niikawa described Etrange as the culmination of both creators’ strengths.
Comparing Etrange to Disgaea’s origins, Niikawa said both were created with a “do everything that seems fun” mindset. With Disgaea 1, he felt it might be NIS’s last chance and poured every idea into it. Creating Etrange as his first independent project carried the same persistence, something he believes fans can sense.
When writing RPGs, Niikawa said ideas may begin with characters, plot, mechanics, or any other element; he works on the overall concept, story, world, and character designs simultaneously. Gameplay is also considered early, and ideas are refined through prototype evaluation with a trusted director.
Asked whether he tailors his writing for Western audiences, Niikawa said he does not. While he values overseas fans, he believes creators should embrace the strengths of their own culture rather than attempt to chase foreign trends. The only global consideration he makes is platform selection.
