Air Twister Interview: Yu Suzuki Talks Inspirations, Working with Valensia, and the Future of Shenmue
Before the release of Shenmue, Yu Suzuki was best known for his impressive back catalog of groundbreaking arcade games. With this in mind, Apple's decision to approach the influential Japanese developer about creating a new game for its Apple Arcade service seems like something of a no-brainer. The resulting title, Air Twister, is a futuristic rail shooter that's unlike anything else on the platform.
Shortly after the game's release, Game Rant spoke to Suzuki about the development of Air Twister and the future of the Shenmue franchise. Interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
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Q: How would you describe Air Twister to somebody who’s never played it before?
A: It’s a 3D fantasy shooter game.
Q: More than 30,000 people have played it in the five days since it first went live. You must feel pretty good about that?
A: 30,000 people have played it?
Q: According to one of the leaderboards, yes.
A: I see. I'm learning something! Yes, I’m happy.
Q: What were some of your main inspirations for Air Twister?
A: I visited Apple's headquarters to explore the possibilities of Apple Arcade. When I asked them what kind of game they wanted, they asked me to make a simple, fun game like the good old arcade games of the past. I also researched my old games to see what kind of games would be good. I thought it would be a good idea to make a space shooter concept like Space Harrier. I had no intention of making a sequel to Space Harrier, but rather to create a space shooter with a fantasy world that I like, and I like The NeverEnding Story, and rocks and buildings floating in the air without gravity. I also love the idea of people floating in the air, so I decided to go with the same concept and approach it
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