Ninokuni coming to North America early next year
PS3 collaboration between Professor Layton developer and Spirited Away animation studio to be localized in English next year; DLC also in the works.
While Japanese gamers have been expecting the PlayStation 3 release of the Level-5 and Studio Ghibli role-playing game collaboration known as Ninokuni for over a year, their Western counterparts have had no such certainty. English-speaking RPG fans and Studio Ghibli enthusiasts alike can now breathe a sigh of relief, as Ninokuni: Shiroki Seihai no Joou (subtitled "Queen of the White Ashes") for the PS3 has been confirmed for a North American debut in early 2012.
During a Sony Computer Entertainment Asia press conference near Tokyo Game Show 2011's venue, Level-5 president Akihiro Hino today mentioned during an interview panel that an English version of the game is in production and confirmed its release window. This PS3 version of the game starts off the same as the DS version of the same name, but the story is told differently after the game's midpoint. According to Hino, the PS3 will have additional story content that will pick up where the DS version ended.
The game will also be launched in Asian markets in Japanese. Level-5 hasn't made plans for a Chinese-text version, but Hino said that if there is a huge demand for it, his company will consider it. The game will also feature downloadable content postrelease, but Hino can't make an official announcement about it until a later date.
In the game, players control Oliver, a 13-year-old boy who is transported into the world called Ninokuni, which is a parallel reality of his own world. He is on a quest to revive his recently deceased mother and is accompanied by a male fairy called Shizuku.
79 comments
If I were anymore simultaneously sad and happy at the same time, I think it would kill me. On one hand, I'm excited to see Ni No Kuni being localize dfor America at all. On the other hand, I am so very sad it won't be coming over on it's native Nintendo DS. I've been following Ni No Kuni since it was announced in Japan years and years ago. And I was just plain ecstatic about the spell book that came with it and the like. It held such promise, and I had hoped all these years that it would come here to us, spellbook, touch screen, and all. The PS3 is a good machine for things like L.A. Noire, Skyrim, etc. But I really don't think the kind of whimsy that Ghibli & Level-5 are so fantastic for are done justice by the PS3. *sigh* Here's hoping that Level-5 manages to make the game port over in a decent way, but frankly I think that switching it to PS3 is going to destroy part of the game's magic.
@vickman178 its because as for "some" NA players, they rather play shltty FPS just shoot all you can and done dumb-dumb. FYI Ni No Kuni and JRPG's requires thinking and effective tactics combined with epic storytelling and innovative gameplay the very substance of the game which the FPS are all lacking.
This looks sick, and its coming to NA WHOOO!!! Usually the best looking Jrpgs never make it here anymore...
Well,a coop. between Ghibli studios and Level5 just CAN NOT turn up bad can it?That's why i love my PS3!!
This looks fantasitic! System seller in my opinion, I may need to buy a DS or 3DS for this one.
Just woke up and this already made my day :) Gonna watch me some Miyazaki movies now. By the way, what's so bad asking about the localization of the DS version (app. it generates thumbs pointing downwards)
I would love to play that Studio Ghibli animated RPG game. So my guess is the PS3 so I sure hope it is released by next year. To Hardware Manufactures, THIS is the reason why Region Lock is so EVIL!!!! It is a crime to deny us gamers from playing Japanese games that are not commercially sold in our countries.... :(
Wow, sounds like a match made in heaven. Level 5 and Ghibli both working on an HD JRPG for PS3 AND it's seeing a US release? I think my mind just got blown, who'dve thunk? Excited!
This one doesn't really interest me that much. I'm sure Level-5 will put together a solid title, it's just that I never got into those Professor Layton things. I guess time will tell.
Studio Ghibli is awesome, they're like the Pixar of 2D. Excited to hear this will be coming to NA as well as Japan. ^_^
How can anyone hate on this game? Its stunning, one of the best I've seen to date. Literally, a Miyazaki game u can play with a controller. This and Default are the best two looking RPGs I've seen in a long time. We are going to have an RPG explosion come early 2012. Seriously. Not just the two previously mentioned but others as well. Can't wait, Im rpg-STARVED.
not my cup of tea but I'll get the game anyways hopefully bandai will finally send over more tales games to north america I'm getting pretty tired of waiting...
Since I don't have a DS, I have never got to play the Professor Layton games. I'm gonna have to check this out when it gets here stateside.
nice!!! and for those who complain there is no european release - import seriously....its cheaper anyway to do that both the ds and the ps3 are completely region free so what are u waiting for?
Though its a bit childish, i can't resist these type of game! dang the world map thingy, the essence of jrpg woohhhh day 1! best announcment in tgs so far
Meanwhile in Europe......where is our Ninokuni announcement? Stupid Sony of Europe, why can't they be like Nintendo Europe when it comes to JRPGs? I mean Nintendo localised Xenoblade for us. Did you see, did you see what I did there? :P
@chronocross668 I know you were trying to positive in that comment but I can't help but think that's alittle negative in some ways. Is as if your saying that Valkyria Chronicles or now the newly released Disgaea 4 were never worth buying. If those games don't appeal to you then that's fine but that doesn't they aren't worth buying. If you haven't checked this games out yet you should at least get VC first since is cheap enough now. Some like to argue if Demon Souls is a JRPG or not, me personally I don't care I love RPGs so it doesn't matter to me where it came from.
Finally D: and there I thought the game is dead after the earthquake in japan earlier this year
Thank you level 5!! After playing games like Tales of Vesperia and Valkyria Chronicles I want more games that actually use HD's full color scope and give us some beautiful worlds. I'm tired of battlefields and post apocalyptic settings of brown, grey, and dark green. Now Level 5 call Nintendo and have a heart to heart with them. The Wii may not be HD but I'd love Last Story and Xenoblade. Tell em that JRPGS can still sell over here.
Now where are Tales of Graces F & Tales of Xillia? I wasn't too fond of the Dark Cloud games (or any DS games), so I'll have to wait & see on this one. I really don't like the animation style (and I'm sure that's where the Ghibli studio comes in). It may grow on me, though (especially if you can see your new weapons, or change the appearance of the main character). Great news for fans, though!
DAY ONE!!!!! This is awesome news. There is still a place in the market for amazing JRPGS. Ni No Kuni Confirmed, next up folks is Tales of Xillia!!
This means Sony loves us more than Nintendo. Let that sink in to understand the full gravity of what it means.
That's why i love my PS3 i will buy it day one, and i hope the very stupid Nintendo bring their JRPGs game to NA soon too.
As a US gamer, I've all but given up on JRPGs these last few years as there were none I found exciting. I'm almost certain this game is going to change that, as there is just to many awesome people involved with this one.
@Freezezzy I still can't recall Sony copying Nintendo......... If you are referring to PSmove, and motion gameplay, check PS2; if you are talking about the touch screen on PSvita, Sony has been making PDA and touchscreen devices for quite a while............When you are accusing Sony of "copying", make sure you can have some good evidence, and pretty obviously Nintendo doesn't give a crap about Sony stealing their "ideas", why would you?
Great news for "classic" JRPG fans in general(see wild arms, breath of fire, chrono cross/trigger,...etc). I'm one of them.
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Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
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- Publisher(s): Namco Bandai Games America
- Developer(s): Level 5
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Release:
- ESRB: E10+
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