Kizuna

[Evil Avnovice]

Some new images (http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29264_kizuna-new-screenshots.html) from Gamekyo.

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73511520081014_150201_1_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images1_4_29264.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73511520081014_150201_4_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images4_4_29264.html)

[Evil Avnovice]

Looks like this may be considered for a US release. (NintendoEverything)

“No confirmation yet [Discipline in North America], but Marvelous Entertainment USA (MEU) will evaluate if it’s a fit for the US market and then decide to bring it over or not. I don’t know much about the game, but chances are good it will happen…This title [Kizuna] is a hot topic of discussion among publishers so I’m sure it will come over to the US. Whether it’s by MEU, XSEED or some other publisher is yet to be decided.”

This is also traced back to a thread at NeoGaf (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=336191).

[Evil Avnovice]

Some new scans (http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29330_kizuna-new-arts.html). (Gamekyo)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73511520081106_191458_3_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images3_4_29330.html)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73511520081106_191459_5_big.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images5_4_29330.html)

[Variable Gear]

I love this game's art style.

[Gorvi]

That looks very good. What kind of game is it supposed to be? It looks like an action/RPG from the screens shown.

[frederec]

That looks very good. What kind of game is it supposed to be? It looks like an action/RPG from the screens shown.

Just what I was wondering. My interest is also piqued by the art style. Makes me want to know more.

[Evil Avnovice]

It's billed as an Action-RPG, and the developer is Jaleco. Other than that, I have seen very little in the way of gameplay videos.

[EternalGamer]

It's billed as an Action-RPG, and the developer is Jaleco. Other than that, I have seen very little in the way of gameplay videos.


Uh... Jaleco? I didn't even know they were still around. Last game I remember with that label was "Rival Turf" for the SNES. Zombie companies are scary. Who knows whether or not actual talent lies within them.

[Poewan]

This seems to be taking a page from Shadow of the Collosus, from ( what I assume are ) boss fights pics. The whole "climb on the giant boss to hit a weak spot on its forehead" thing.

[EternalGamer]

This seems to be taking a page from Shadow of the Collosus, from ( what I assume are ) boss fights pics. The whole "climb on the giant boss to hit a weak spot on its forehead" thing.

So Final Fight is to Rival Turf as Shadow of the Colosus is to Kizuna.

I'm not sure if that is a good or a bad thing.

[Evil Avnovice]

This should help you both out: (Gamekyo (http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29072_kizuna-more-details.html))

- Battles are extremely simple, hit the A button on the wiimote to attack the enemy in front of you.
- There are huge boss monsters 10 times the size of a normal human.
- Find the weakspot of the bosses by moving the cursor around the screen, when the cursor is over a weakspot it turns from blue to red.

[EternalGamer]

This should help you both out: (Gamekyo (http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29072_kizuna-more-details.html))

So, it's Shadow of the Colossus the Point and Click Adventure.

Um... what?

[Evil Avnovice]

So, it's Shadow of the Colossus the Point and Click Adventure.

Um... what?

From what I could make from it, there are smaller fodder to whack around, mixed in with the occasional boss fight. But there wasn't much info on the game to begin with. If I had some gameplay videos, I could get a better idea of the game.

[Doctor Setebos]

I've been keeping tabs on this game, and I'm desperately hoping for a stateside release.

I'm interested to see if they translate the name when it's localized. "Kizuna" means "bonds" or "latching together", and is usually used when speaking of family. I'm curious how the name ties into the game, and if it gets a new name in the US.

[Evil Avnovice]

I've been keeping tabs on this game, and I'm desperately hoping for a stateside release.

I'm interested to see if they translate the name when it's localized. "Kizuna" means "bonds" or "latching together", and is usually used when speaking of family. I'm curious how the name ties into the game, and if it gets a new name in the US.

Jaleco's been pretty quiet on the subject, and unless I'm thinking of some other Wii title, I'm interested in this coming stateside myself.

[Evil Avnovice]

Kizuna has hit a bit of a snag (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=8836): (NintendoEverything)

Jaleco Holdings’ Kizuna, an action RPG that has drawn many comparisons to Shadows of the Colossus could be in trouble. The company announced last week that they are withdrawing from the video game business. Instead, Jaleco will shift its focus to financial services. The company’s games subsidiary is now owned by Game Yaro.

All of this spells trouble for Kizuna, a game that has been in development for the Wii. Right now, the status of Jaleco’s projects is unknown as Game Yaro has not officially commented on the game’s future.

[Doctor Setebos]

Kizuna has hit a bit of a snag (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=8836): (NintendoEverything)Nooooooo! :(

I'm scared. Someone hold me.

[Purple Santa]

Kizuna has hit a bit of a snag (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=8836): (NintendoEverything)

That sounds like the death knell for that game :(. It looked interesting too...

[Evil Avnovice]

Rumor.

A small update at the Kizuna website, but it may point to the title actually having a future after Jaleco’s disappearance from the game industry. In the image above, you can see the copyright date for Kizuna. A few days ago, that date sat at 2008…but now it’s been updated for 2009. It looks like there may be hope for the title yet. Thanks to Worrybomb for the heads up.

GoNintendo (http://gonintendo.com/?p=70833); Neogaf (http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14551700&postcount=300)

[Urizen]

It'll get released. Nintendo should use the Q Fund.

As for localization, I've got a better chance at a second date with Avnovice.

[Variable Gear]

Kizuna has hit a bit of a snag (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=8836): (NintendoEverything)
It's a better time to be making games than to enter into the financial industry. Color me confused.

[MalReynolds]

another wii title im interested in weird

[Evil Avnovice]

Detail on Kizuna. (NintendoEverything (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=10480))

A developer blog for Kizuna has opened, confirming that, once again, the game has not not cancelled. The creators say that they are sorry to those who have been anticipating the software and that they wish to live up to expectations. It is also stated that the slow development can be attributed to the fact that they wish to create a high-quality title.

In terms of actual game details, the notice says that the social aspect of Kizuna will be important. You meet people in the game and overcome difficulties together. Besides growing in strength, you will be able to see the character grow spiritually.

[Lutheran]

Great , glad its still going forward. Hope it comes to the states.

[Purple Santa]

It'll get released. Nintendo should use the Q Fund.

As for localization, I've got a better chance at a second date with Avnovice.

There was a first date? :eek:

[Evil Avnovice]

A 19-second trailer. (GoNintendo (http://gonintendo.com/?p=74051))

mqIlnVEo9Nw

[Evil Avnovice]

A few images (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=11472), and what could possibly be the official boxart for Japan. (NintendoEverything)

http://www.nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/kizuna_boxart.jpg

http://www.nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/kizuna_s-2.jpg

http://www.nintendoeverything.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/kizuna_s-4.jpg

[Doctor Setebos]

So psyched for this game. :)

[Evil Avnovice]

Two tv commercials from Japan. (Gamekyo (http://www.gamekyo.com/videoen14677_kizuna-promotional-video.html))

46260

[Evil Avnovice]

A new trailer (http://www.gamekyo.com/videoen14706_kizuna-new-trailer.html). (Gamekyo)

[Evil Avnovice]

Some new images (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=12566) from NintendoEverything.

[Evil Avnovice]

A few new details from Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22804).

Kizuna (Ougon No Kizuna) is being developed by TownFactory, and was written by Final Fantasy XII and Sword of Mana scenario designer Miwa Shoda. Taking the director's helm is Yoichi Kawaguchi, who was credited as the main programmer of Dragon Quest VIII.

Kizuna's storyline revolves around a lone soldier named Lian, who upon learning of his father's mysterious disappearance sets out on a journey to find him.

Lian must overcome his introvert personality to form bonds with other characters he meets on his journey through 100 different quests. Another central character within Kizuna is Aina, a royal princess of the Navigatria kingdom with magician ancestry.

The game boasts a battle system that allows over 100 monsters to appear on the screen at once. Kizuna makes use of the Wii nunchuck and remote for what Jaleco calls an "easy-operating battle system."

The soundtrack is composed by electronic musician Ken Inaoka, a native of Fukuoka, Japan, where TownFactory's development office is based. Inaoka is also known as the co-founder of Syzygy Records, one of the first independent Japanese techno music labels.

[Evil Avnovice]

My bad! This is from the article right above this one. :o

[Evil Avnovice]

A new promotional video. (Gamekyo (http://www.gamekyo.com/videoen14838_kizuna-continues-its-promotion-in-video.html))

[Evil Avnovice]

A new teaser video.

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And a challenge gameplay video.

48455

[Doctor Setebos]

Ouch! Harsh review of Kizuna from Famitsu: 5/4/4/4 (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174307)

Wii owners hoping for a decent action RPG will have to go hope somewhere else. "From the graphics to the gameplay, everything is one step behind the standard set by recent games," one reviewer began, and the complaints keep flowing from there -- an overly simple game system, a litany of repetitive, simple quests, a map "that makes it impossible to tell which shop is where" in town. "Perhaps it's reflected by the outdated graphics, but the game itself is old-fashioned, having you perform the same simple actions over and over again," another reviewer concluded. "The game setting and music are nice; it's a shame it's such an unpolished product."

[Evil Avnovice]

This seems to be the reason Kizuna was panned so badly: (1up (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3175107))

[Hawkzombie]

Ouch...this looked interesting too.