Ninokuni

[Evil Avnovice]

TDo0Y9WlWVM

-Official Japanese Website (http://www.level5.co.jp/products/ninokuni/index.html)
-Japan: December 9, 2010

[Evil Avnovice]

Some new images (http://www.gamekyo.com/newsen29259_ninokuni-more-photos-of-the-magic-master-book.html) from TGS 2008 of Ninokuni's Master Magic book. (Gamekyo)

http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73721020081010_165157_3_small.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images3_4_29259.html) http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73721020081010_165158_5_small.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images5_4_29259.html) http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73721020081010_165158_6_small.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images6_4_29259.html) http://www.gamekyo.com/Webmasters/Images/73721020081010_165159_7_small.jpg (http://www.gamekyo.com/images7_4_29259.html)

[Evil Avnovice]

Some scans. (GoNintendo (http://gonintendo.com/?p=83149))

http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/89732_436640_122_216lo.jpg

http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/90075_435200_122_505lo.jpg

http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/90081_436150_122_215lo.jpg

[Vyzov]

So this is being made by Level-5 and is... what exactly?

[mister slim]

It seems like a RPG/adventure cross and it's being made together with Studio Ghibli. Apparently it's going to ship with a copy of that book up above.

[Evil Avnovice]

A interview (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3174304) on 1up.

[Evil Avnovice]

A couple of additional scans. (Livegen (http://www.liveds.fr/news/122190/Des-nouvelles-de-Ninokuni.html?c=2))

[Evil Avnovice]

Some new images. (GoNintendo (http://gonintendo.com/?p=83522); Famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/1224270_1407.html))

http://gonintendo.com/wp-content/photos/artn.jpg

[Evil Avnovice]

Images (Aug 25, 2009). (IGN (http://media.ds.ign.com/media/142/14235712/imgs_1.html))

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/Avnovice/Ninokuni/ni-no-kuni-the-another-world-200-1.jpg

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/Avnovice/Ninokuni/ni-no-kuni-the-another-world-200-2.jpg http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/Avnovice/Ninokuni/ni-no-kuni-the-another-world-200908.jpg

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/Avnovice/Ninokuni/ni-no-kuni-the-another-world-200-3.jpg

[menage]

This looks megahot!

I'm actually looking forward to this more than anything else on the DS, shame I'll never play it on the train with the book though.

[Xerxes]

Wow! This looks nice... for a DS game.

[H.Bogard]

That little guy's character design looks very Miyazaki-esque.

Oh wait... Studio Ghibli... damn I'm slow.

[Evil Avnovice]

Impressions from Andriasang (http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2009/08/26/ni_no_kuni_playtest/).

[Tayaya]

I've been trying to get a pre-order in on this with NCS for the better part of 2009 now, but they STILL haven't opened them up yet for some goofy reason. I've been wanting this game since last year's TGS. I have a feeling it'll be in very short supply, and demand for it will be crazy thanks to Ghibli's involvement.

[Purple Santa]

I tried to see if Gamefly had this in it's system but nothing. Is there a release date yet? The game looks real good. Yes, even for a DS <insert rolleyes>

[hunterx280]

Wow, I'm actually kind of excited for this. I really like the accompanying spell book thing. The design of the whole game/book seems like something I would have loved as a kid. I think I'll pick this up when (or if) it ever comes out in the US just to indulge my inner child.

[Evil Avnovice]

I tried to see if Gamefly had this in it's system but nothing. Is there a release date yet? The game looks real good. Yes, even for a DS <insert rolleyes>

Unless Gamefly specializes in imports, this hasn't had a release date since its announcement last year.

[Evil Avnovice]

TGS 2009 trailer: (GoNintendo (http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=98197))

q-u5rXbeUyE

[Evil Avnovice]

Impressions from Gamekult (http://www.gamekult.com/articles/A0000079875/). You probably want the images there instead.

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/Avnovice/Ninokuni/ME0001164379_2.jpg

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx230/Avnovice/Ninokuni/ME0001164381_2.jpg

[Wraith]

From the Gamekult link (translated):At the outset, the player is struck by the cinematic digitized on DS, which are obviously the mark of Ghibli, design Oliver, crossing Tom Sawyer and Pazu (Laputa), the original music of the legendary Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi. The game itself is no exception to the tradition of games Level-5 on the DS, with small beautiful 3D characters, and control the stylus materializing an arrow on the screen for easy navigation of the player.
In the trailer, I see all this great Ghibli animation, in widescreen. Obviously this is a trailer, and not directly from the game, but I wonder how much of this animation will actually be in-game (how much can they fit on a card).

[EWolfmanD]

In the trailer, I see all this great Ghibli animation, in widescreen. Obviously this is a trailer, and not directly from the game, but I wonder how much of this animation will actually be in-game (how much can they fit on a card).

I was curious about that too.

The trailer was definitely awesome. I wish that they could expand it some and release it as an OVA or something. :p

[Evil Avnovice]

Gameplay video. (GoNintendo (http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=98605))

[menage]

Gameplay video. (GoNintendo (http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=98605))

Shit, that has to be my nr 01 wannahave game on the DS from now one. I loved the audio, sound effects and music were spot on. Ghibli's design is as strong as ever. Great way to show the battle on 2 screens and I loved the repostioning stuff. add a spellbook and I'm sold. Probably in 2011 after 3 more layton's though.

[Evil Avnovice]

Here's one more for you. (GoNintendo (http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=98670))

[Superman's Dead]

Oh my God, that game is gorgeous.

[menage]

Here's one more for you. (GoNintendo (http://www.gonintendo.com/viewstory.php?id=98670))

Thanks!:), looks awesome.

[Spigot]

Ah, I've heard of this but didn't know the name. Sweet! Sign me up when it gets released over here (*hugs his Totoro plushie*)

[Purple Santa]

Ah, I've heard of this but didn't know the name. Sweet! Sign me up when it gets released over here (*hugs his Totoro plushie*)

Plushie? Where? :)

[Wraith]

Question answered:

The DS game that's twice the size of a UMD (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=224910) (CVG)Studio Ghibli - the guys behind animated films Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle - is doing an RPG with developer Level 5 that will come on a DS cart that's over twice the capacity of a UMD.

Sony's portable media disc tops out at 1.8GBs. But the new RPG, titled Ninokuni: The Another World, will come on a specially-made high-capacity DS cart that stores up to 4GBs of data - the biggest DS cartridge yet.

According to the Nintendo Power report (http://www.originalsoundversion.com/?p=5091), Studio Ghibli's Joe Hisaishi is working on a fully orchestrated score for the game, which is why the extra space is needed. Considering how good the music is in the studio's films, this should be incredible.

[Evil Avnovice]

Famitsu updates. (Andriasang (http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/03/31/rookie_games_report/))

Ni no Kuni (most wanted #2)

For Level-5's tie-up with Studio Ghibli, overall director Akihiro Hino promises the top class RPG on the DS. They're working on a large number of game parts and events, he says. He promises a followup report shortly. For points of note, he mentions that the game has a variety of experiments, including the bundling of a book that must be used to advance in the game.

[Evil Avnovice]

Scans. (Nintendo Everything (http://www.nintendoeverything.com/38047/))

[Evil Avnovice]

Images. (Dengeki Online (http://news.dengeki.com/elem/000/000/258/258674/))

[Evil Avnovice]

Impressions. (Andriasang (http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/24/ni_no_kuni_impressions/))

The game was playable for one short stage, divided into chapters. The thick Magic Master book, which will be bundled with all copies of the game, was set next to the system for easy reference. Level-5 also had Bose noise canceling headphones attached to the DS systems, allowing players to appreciate the orchestral soundtrack.

The goal of the demo was to venture into an underground waterway and defeat a boss lurking at its end. Although the play time was short, the demo let players explore the lively world, participate in battles, and utilize the Magic Master reference book.

True of Japanese print media in general, the Magic Master is a high quality book in terms of its construction. The paper quality used is certainly above the quality of the average Western novel, and the art design suits the universe nicely. The cover is hard, with a clear plastic jewel in the center.

Even at 352 pages, the book is actually not too heavy and will fit into any bag. Having to refer to it for drawing runes, which are symbols that allow the player to advance through locked doors and such....

The game wisely gives you the option for controlling the action either via the stylus or the d-pad. I didn't like the d-pad for moving the main character as much as I did using the touchscreen, which was a smoother experience overall and closer to that of an analog stick. Being able to touch characters with the stylus in order to converse makes interaction smoother than having to run up to them.

Battles felt smooth, with a well-designed and easy-to-navigate menu system. You can choose between physical and magic attacks, as is typical for an RPG, and can also swap party members as you please. Incidentally, the battle encounters are random, so you may be turned off if you prefer being able to see your enemies in advance.

[Evil Avnovice]

DS/PS3 images from the recent Level-5 press conference. (4 (http://www.4gamer.net/games/074/G007480/20100624040/)Gamer (http://www.4gamer.net/games/074/G007480/20100624099/))

Edit: Tossed in Andriasang's (http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/24/ni_no_kuni_live_blog/) liveblog of the press conference.

[Evil Avnovice]

Japanese black mage trailer:

TDo0Y9WlWVM

[Spigot]

You guys heard that they're planning on bringing this to the PS3 in HD, right? That would be deeeelightful.

[Evil Avnovice]

Scans. (RPGLand (http://rpgland.com/kingdom-hearts-coded/rpg-scan-mixed-bag/))

[Evil Avnovice]

Confirmed for localization. (NintendoLife (http://ds.nintendolife.com/news/2010/07/level_5_draws_ni_no_kuni_to_north_america))

Edit: Adding the Joystiq (http://i.joystiq.com/2010/07/07/level-5-ceo-hints-at-north-american-releases-for-ni-no-kuni-ina/) article that NintendoLife linked to.

[Spigot]

Awesome! And they're finally localizing Inazuma Eleven! SAH-WEET!

Any word on the PS3 version getting localized?

[Evil Avnovice]

I assume that they're both coming over. I see no point in Level-5 leaving one or the other in Japan.

[Tayaya]

Hah! I beat Evil to posting a news bit.... just... um... in the console Ni no Kuni thread.

[Evil Avnovice]

Hah! I beat Evil to posting a news bit.... just... um... in the console Ni no Kuni thread.

Shaddap! :p

On-topic: Added Joystiq's article to my prior post.

[Evil Avnovice]

30 second DS trailer from Game Jouhou (http://remoon.blog15.fc2.com/blog-entry-13497.html).

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Tapatalk-ed with Samsung Vibrant.

[Spigot]

I want that book.

[Xerxes]

I want that book.

What book? :confused:

[Spigot]

There's a special book that is a preorder bonus with the Japanese version of the game. It's the same book that is a major plot device in the game. I doubt we'll see it over here...

[Evil Avnovice]

PS3 scans. (Scrawl FX (http://scrawlfx.com/2010/09/new-ni-no-kuni-scans-hit-the-net))

[Wraith]

Kotaku (http://kotaku.com/5639351/ni-no-kuni-ps3-hands+on-impressions) hands on with PS3 version. Environments are really giving me an Eternal Sonata feel (not a bad thing).

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/09/03_ninokuni_ps3.jpg

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/09/02_ninokuni_ps3.jpg

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/09/04_ninokuni_ps3.jpg

http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/9/2010/09/05_ninokuni_ps3.jpg

[Spigot]

*drool*

Oh, Level 5, how I love thee (even enough to forgive you for WKC) :)

[Evil Avnovice]

PlayStation 3 TGS 2010 trailer: (Scrawl FX (http://scrawlfx.com/2010/09/ni-no-kuni-tgs-trailer-released))

Pzj-QIY1bEk

[Spigot]

As much as I would like to have a portable version of this with the DS, I think that having the visual fidelity of the PS3 would be the only way to truly do the game justice.

Or I could get both :)