I'm saddened to hear that they left... I'm not surprised, though. Matsuno and his team were likely put under enormous pressure by Square to get this thing out. They may have been fired or walked-neither would really surprise me.

It seems likely the 'health issues' were typical Japanese 'saving face' bull.

I just really wish Vagrant Story would've been more playable... it was a truly amazing game that I just found so hard to get into. Maybe if I had another crossbow...