Fantasy Earth details emerge

Square Enix has released some new information on its upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion. In a statement issued yesterday, the game developer said that part of Fantasy Earth would be set in a northwestern continent called Pictorion--aka the "Land of the Witches"--in the kingdom of Netsawal.

Fantasy Earth features six different continents, each one containing 15 potential battlefields. Overworld maps are color-coded to show which nations are in control. Players can initiate battles by challenging an opposing nation, building a keep, and then declaring war. Players can also come and go from battle as they like.

There are several kinds of keeps, including obelisk, watch tower, dragon altar, Hades' gate, and vokluftshoppe. Some keeps function as watchtowers or beast-summoning tools, while others let players amass land. Square Enix has also revealed two types of characters. Sorcerers specialize in attack magic, while shadow-walkers are warriors that specialize in stealth and backstabbing.

Fantasy Earth's backstory is marked by tensions between the barbarian tribes that live in Netsawal. A new king, Hyunkel, attempted to unite the land, but he and his family were forced into exile after a revolution. When he tried to regain his throne, one of the region's witches turned him into an unsightly beast. His daughter's love finally restored him, and he was able to bring peace to the land after taking the crown a third time.

News about Fantasy Earth first emerged last September, when Square Enix supplied Chains of Promathia buyers with a leaflet promoting the game. No US or European release dates have been established for Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion.