The upcoming narrative-driven action game Stranger Than Heaven from RGG Studio delves into themes of alienation and finding one's place, inspired by the personal experiences of director Mikinobu Abe and lead actor Yu Shirota. Both creators have faced challenges related to their heritage and background, which deeply informed the game's core narrative and its unique mechanics.
Abe, who lived abroad and had to re-learn Japanese upon returning to Japan, connected with the protagonist Makoto Daito's struggle as a half-Japanese, half-American individual. Shirota, who is of mixed heritage himself, found the character's journey particularly resonant, noting how such experiences shaped his own career in acting and music.
Music plays a central role in Stranger Than Heaven, serving not only as a narrative element but also as one of the game's most intricate side activities. "We were writing the narrative for this game and thinking of how we should portray Makoto – his life starts at escaping from America and coming to Japan thinking it was heaven, and then it wasn't," Abe explained. "And for him, he doesn't have a way to communicate with people because they instantly hate him based on his looks, language, and culture. He realizes that music could be the only thing where he can get treated fairly."
This concept evolved into the Showbiz mechanics, where music becomes a survival strategy within the game's harsh environment. Shirota expressed enthusiasm for this aspect, given his extensive background in music. "Mr. Yokoyama also thought that it was the perfect role for me, being half-Spanish and Japanese, feeling like an outsider or a foreigner. But also having hope through music. This role is really, really interesting and also I thought this is the one for me," he said.
While RGG Studio's previous titles, like the Yakuza series, featured karaoke and other minigames to depict the era and city, Stranger Than Heaven takes a different approach. Abe clarified that the Showbiz mechanic was not conceived as an extension of past work but as a fresh concept fitting the game's specific narrative. "We were thinking of resetting it to the point where, okay, we're telling a story in 1915 Kokura then 1929 Kure – what could be something that Makoto can continuously do as a way of survival, but also in a game?" Abe stated. This led to the idea of Showbiz, drawing inspiration from the early Japanese music industry and its connections to broader show business.
The Showbiz minigame involves players taking on the role of a promoter, a concept born from extensive research into what such a profession entailed. "We found out that basically he does everything, from promotion to casting to booking the venue and everything," Abe noted. Shirota also participated in singing within the game, describing a challenging but enjoyable experience performing alongside a character voiced by Snoop Dogg.
Both Abe and Shirota emphasized the importance of telling a story about mixed heritage and the challenges of identity. "I used to live abroad as well, so I kind of knew the experience," Abe shared. "Once this concept [for the game] came to life, I was excited at the idea as well. We feel like this theme can really resonate with people, and it also resonates with the development team, including myself, for telling this narrative of Makoto's 50-year journey."
Shirota reflected on his own career, recalling difficulties finding roles in Japan due to his mixed heritage. "Thinking about that and now in this generation, I think people of half-heritage or someone who has few different cultures, there are so many people like you and me," he said. "Makoto Daito, I think he's going to give people courage or some energy to live in this world, and the message that you don't have to prove anything, and you can just be you."
The game also features a star-studded cast, including J-pop idol Ado. Abe detailed the collaborative process of creating Ado's character model, given that her face was not publicly known. "We worked really closely with her and her agency to nail the character model," he explained. "That was a process that was really fun and it really required our creativity on how we can represent someone who we don't know or her face, yet we've got to make it into a photorealistic character for her."
Shirota noted that while he did not record with other cast members directly, he later met some of them, including Dean Fujioka and Yu Shinjo. He expressed admiration for Ado's performance, remarking on her unique acting style. "She did an amazing job with acting as Keiko, the character," Abe added. "It really sounds like that style of acting, which really gives this sense of nostalgia to each scene."
The historical setting of the game, spanning from 1915 to 1929, was meticulously researched to create an immersive experience, though not strictly historically accurate. "At the end of the day, what was important for us was how we can depict this specific narrative for the game," Abe stated. "After doing all the research, we found out so many things that we didn't even know about Japan, and so we took a lot of inspiration from those elements and tried to make sure that we depicted them in the right way."
Inspired by vintage art styles, photography, and the creators of the past, the development team aimed to make each location feel believable while allowing for creative freedom. Shirota highlighted how the 50-year span of the game showcases the evolution of characters, relationships, and Japanese entertainment. "You could sort of see the start of Japanese entertainment and then see it evolve over that time," he said. "Also, you can see Makoto Daito growing as a person, and I feel that those puzzle pieces really fit together to create something beautiful."