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Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals hits DS October 19

  • By Staff, GameSpot
  • Posted Sep 9, 2010 1:50 pm PT

Natsume's remake has gone gold, nails down release date for action-oriented twist on 1995 Super Nintendo turn-based RPG.

Natsume has completed its latest incantation, as the publisher today announced that its DS reimagining of the 2005 Super Nintendo role-playing game Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals has gone gold and will arrive on store shelves October 19.

Maxim's hair is the first clue that Lufia's world is a magical place divorced from reality.

Maxim's hair is the first clue that Lufia's world is a magical place divorced from reality.

Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals abandons the SNES game's turn-based mechanics in favor of an action role-playing game slant. Players will assume the role of Maxim the monster hunter, fighting to defeat the four nefarious "Sinistrals," whose acts are plaguing the countryside. Throughout the course of the game's narrative, Maxim will band together with five others, traversing the world of Lufia, solving puzzles, defeating enemies, and collecting items.

The franchise originated in 1993 with Lufia & The Fortress of Doom on the SNES and was followed by the aforesaid Rise of the Sinistrals two years later. Although the series began on consoles, the most recent entries have been released exclusively on portable devices. Lufia: The Legend Returns came to the Game Boy Color in North America in 2001, followed by Lufia: The Ruins of Lore on the Game Boy Advance in 2003. Each entry was an RPG experience like its predecessors, although Ruins of Lore was a side story in the overall Lufia narrative.

29 Comments

  • gbrading Site moderator

    Posted Sep 13, 2010 11:49 am GMT

    It's always good to see new energy for these older series.

  • atopp399

    Posted Sep 13, 2010 8:31 am GMT

    I typically do not play Action RPG games and stick to turn based games. That is probably the reason I will not be playing this. I guess it depends on what people end up saying about the game.

  • lizzie1238

    Posted Sep 12, 2010 2:46 pm GMT

    Does any one else think that Maxim looks a little like Axel from Kingdom Hearts (even if it's only the hair)?

  • XanderZane

    Posted Sep 11, 2010 11:40 am GMT

    Lufia was a great game. The SNES are hard to find now and cost a small fortune on EBay. http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m570.l1313&_nkw=Lufia+SNES&_sacat=See-All-Categories

    I'm glad to see the series continue.

  • Tylendal

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:39 pm GMT

    The only game I played in the series was 'The Legend Returns', and it was GOOD!

  • Sento_brean

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 11:45 am GMT

    Lufia, one of my favorite TBRPGs of all time, the only thing that tops it is FFV, Maxim you were missed, welcome to the modern days.

  • jacobuj

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 10:32 am GMT

    @JavierP3 You mean the only RPG's that were better on that console were FFIII, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana, Earthbound and Super Mario RPG ^_^

    Lufia was awesome, but there were a ton of great RPG's on that system.

  • Blitz486

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 9:04 am GMT

    2005, huh? lol

  • Yajarobi

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 8:49 am GMT

    OMG OMG NICE

  • snugglebear

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 8:21 am GMT

    I remember Lufia! Good times.Makes me wish someone hadn't ganked my SNES. Some of my favorite games of all time where on that system.

  • firehawk998

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 7:47 am GMT

    Now there is a name I havent heard for a long time. I hope its good like the first game.

  • JavierP3

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 7:12 am GMT

    Lufia 2 is one of the most underrated SNES games. The only RPGs that were better on that console was FFIII and Super Mario RPG. Would really like to see these games on consoles/PC. I've never been a portable gamer, so I've never played the most recent ones.

  • BetardxFoosier

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 6:53 am GMT

    The only thing turning me off of this game is the "action RPG" part. Guess I'll have to wait and see just how they're going to pull that off.

  • Yui-Nyan

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 4:16 am GMT

    ooh this looks interesting, might be tempted to get it after i attempt to complete dragon quest!

  • SolanOcard

    Posted Sep 10, 2010 3:42 am GMT

    I remember playing Lufia and The Fortress of Doom the first time. WOW. It was the first series for me to ever come close to the awesomeness of Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior/Quest. Maybe competing with Lufia was the Breath of Fire series... but i never beat BoF 1, and only beat BoF 2 with the help of a game genie!!!!

    I even compared the prologue dialogue from Lufia 1 (which took place in the past) with the end of Lufia 2 (Which was a prequel to Lufia 1) and I found some differences between the dialogue. I was very dissapointed. But the games were still the best.

    I don't think I will take to this "action role-playing game slant" They ruined Shining Force with that crap. I don't mind games such as Secret of Mana or Zelda which are more action oriented... but if a series starts of as a traditional turn based RPG, or Turn based Strategy RPG, PLEASE DON'T CHANGE IT!

  • Crazyholic

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 10:44 pm GMT

    FINALLY!!! This game eluded my grasp once too many! and now here's my 4th chance to get it (don't ask, its a loooooong and painful story)

  • Alex_Thomson

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 9:31 pm GMT

    I never played Lufia: Rise of the Sinistrals the first time around, but I always like to try new games/series and I've heard good things about the Lufia series so I'm probably going to pick this one up. Plus, I'm a pretty big RPG gamer, so this one looks like it'll be right up my alley.

  • Spurner

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 7:46 pm GMT

    @ Cheddarchet
    To my knowledge, there was no remake of the first one. Maybe we'll get it if this sells well. Technically, that would put them in chronological order according to the game's time-line.

  • Lucca202

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 7:34 pm GMT

    Oh, Lufia. The first RPG I played in my life.

    The HELL I'm missing on this remake.

  • Evenios

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 7:24 pm GMT

    im not sure if im going to like this. ill check it out . i wish it was more of a 3d graphics remake of the original game. like the dragon quest and final fantasy IV remakes not sure how the new action adventure will fair.

    all i can say is it better have a remake of the opening of the game (credits) that was the best ever! "sniffles"

  • soulless4now

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 6:20 pm GMT

    lol 2005? That has to be an error on GS's part. Silly site.

  • green_dominator

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 6:07 pm GMT

    SNES was still having games released for it in 2005? wtf

  • Printul_Noptii

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 5:52 pm GMT

    Lufia 2 was an epic masterpiece for the SNES it had one of the most dramatic and sad endings ever and on top of that a dungeon with 100 levels where you could collect random treassures. Great RPG and fantastic concept.

  • pbz5

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 5:16 pm GMT

    wow!!!! cant wait!

  • Cheddarchet

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 5:02 pm GMT

    All the previous comments are making me wish I had been an active gamer at the time of Lufia's original release. Too young at the time, but I'm looking forward to trying this remake (of sorts). Does anyone know if the first game was ever re-released as well?

  • Spurner

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 4:39 pm GMT

    Even if it retains only half of the magic of the original Lufia II then it's still a must have for me. I played the bejeezus outta this game back in the day and loved every minute.

  • TheTrueMagusX1

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 3:00 pm GMT

    This is an interesting remake to say the least, as that the game did not only receive a graphical make over, but its getting a change in Gameplay. This is a pretty risky move, but to be honest, I am going to risk it and give it a go. Lufia was an interesting franchise and one that should of kept going.

  • BlazemanZ

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 2:53 pm GMT

    As a kid, i spent years playing nothing else than Lufia II. Needless to say, i can't wait for this remake, even though it's not going to be a traditional RPG like the original was.

  • jarvans

    Posted Sep 9, 2010 2:19 pm GMT

    Awesome games, can't to relive this one in a whole new light....

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