Chihiro Fujioka has a lengthy history in game production, including roles as director of Super Mario RPG and co-founder of AlphaDream, the firm that created the Mario & Luigi titles. Although AlphaDream is no longer active, Fujioka is still active.
In fact, during a recent interview with YouTube channel MinnMax, Fujioka indicated his intention to direct Super Mario RPG 2 as his last game.
Chihiro Fujioka would like to make Mario RPG 2
“Yeah, I would certainly love to produce one,” Fujioka remarked of a possible Super Mario RPG 2, according to a MinnMax translation.
I’ve worked on a number of games throughout my career, and if at all feasible, I’d want my last one to be another Mario RPG title. I like Mario & Luigi, but I’d want to return and build a Mario RPG in which you just control Mario.” Fujioka kept his narrative ideas a “hidden” when asked whether he had any. Of course, because Super Mario RPG was a cooperative effort between Nintendo and Square, Fujioka will have to approach Square Enix to get this project started.
The whole interview is worth listening to, as Fujioka discusses the development of Super Mario RPG, his time at AlphaDream, and playing with composer Nobuo Uematsu in their band the Earthbound Papas.
