Ni No Kuni - Wrath of the White Witch

[Luke]

This a Level 5 ps3 game coming out in 2012 (both USA and Europe. 2011 in Japan).
It is easily the ps3 game I'm waiting for most.
For those who never heard about it, here there are the official videos released (the last came out just yesterday and is the best one):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBBV7ZVT ... r_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw2DFV5O ... r_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awhdtWbc ... r_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYsGjza- ... r_embedded

So, what do you think about it?

[Vextor]

Looks pretty fricking good!

[Antimatzist]

Since I don't have a PS3 I would much rather have the DS game in the West. I mean, it has a spellbook included, how cool is that?

[Luke]

Since I don't have a PS3 I would much rather have the DS game in the West. I mean, it has a spellbook included, how cool is that?

Sadly it seems that there aren't still any plans to bring here the ds version.
In the ps3 one it seems to me that the book will be in digital version

[patapi]

Not a surprising decision though, given how many other DS titles are no longer being brought over just because the 3DS exists.

[Antimatzist]

But most Level 5 games got here lately and new ones are still being published in the west. I find it quite surprising and the only reason they don't bring it here is imo that they don't want to translate the book.

[LanceHeart]

But the spell book was one of the biggest parts of the game. It contains all of the pictograms you need to draw into the bottom screen for casting spells.

I think it's mostly the game's performance in Japan that veered them away from supporting the DS game any more than they did and focus entirely on the PS3 version.

[daoster]

Isn't the spell book mainly just pictures? Translating it would probably be a lot less difficult than one would think.

It's probably because most third party DS games just don't do too well in the US, and the fact that selling a game with a thick book might make the retail price more expensive than it needs to be.

But Level 5 has given indications that they MIGHT bring the DS version over. You just got to wait and see.

[caspiancomic]

Yessssssss, I am so amped for this game, one of my most anticipated games for the PS3. I think the sorts of games I get excited for are pretty revealing of when I grew up, gaming-wise. Uncharted 3 and a sequel to Arkham Asylum? Pfsht. Woah, a new Sonic game and a traditional JRPG!? Count me in!

But yeah, I really, really can't wait to play this thing, it looks so good. The book was a cool conceit, but I'll live without it (also I'm pretty sure the gameplay mechanic it supplemented isn't featured in the PS3 version). What I want more than anything is a good, solid, classical style JRPG. They've sort of fallen out of fashion recently, but I'm glad there's still a company out there willing to throw a bone to nostalgia-minded gamers like myself every now and again.

[dragonmasterx]

Getting good reviews, but I personally got bored of the game. Too many filler quests. Story is too childish/plain(I'm not a fan of Ghibli to begin with), don't like the super generic character design, not enough voices, as in text only, for a modern game(very lacking compared to other recent PS3 rpgs like FFXIII, Tales, Neptunia, Atelier Meruru, etc.) main character's movement speed in town is a bit too slow for me, etc.

Graphics and music are indeed fantastic.

In a way, it feels like an upgraded version of Dragon Quest 8 system-wise.

Relative to Level-5's expectations, sales in Japan are really bad so far.

[patapi]

PS3's RPG library is hilariously limited compared to its predecessors. Too bad this seems to not be of much help.

Most likely I'd still give it a try though. Level 5 should at least be better than Idea Factory, right?

[LanceHeart]

patapi, if you're looking for an answer based off of Level 5's past PS3 games... you might want to rethink that. While I absolutely love White Knight Chronicles 1 & 2, I know of almost nobody else who does.

Short of their DS games, Level 5 have been off their good development streak (PS2 era, basically) for a while. Even Jeanne D'Arc wasn't the critical hit their other "original" IPs were from back then.

[Luke]

20,185 this week.
Total is 87,217 now
http://www.siliconera.com/2011/11/30/th ... olid-2020/

At this point we'll have to wait the price drop (launch price for this game is higher than the average on ps3, it is 8800 yen if I remeber correctly) to see how really can go far with sales.

Anyway sadness I hope here in Europe and USA this game will sell better (considering also that here there isn't the fraternal rivality with ds version)

[Luke]

Bad news It has been delayed in Europe
In Europe will come in early 2013, not 2012any more
Well at least is multi5.
http://gematsu.com/2012/02/ni-no-kuni-c ... early-2013

[Luke]

There will be a limited edition for the western release:
http://www.otakustudy.com/wp-content/up ... NoKuni.jpg

btw the game will come out in January