[spoiler=Current info]Over in Level-5's home country, the DS RPG is now set for release on December 9. This means the game will be arriving more than two years after it was first announced. The date represents a multi season delay from the previously Spring 2010 release time frame.
Level-5 made the announcement of the release date at a press conference in Tokyo earlier today. Unlike the Professor Layton studio's annual "Level-5 Vision" series of pressers, this one was devoted exclusively to Ni no Kuni.
In addition to the release date, Level-5 announced a new subtitle for the game. Previously, the game was known as "Ni no Kuni: The Another World," with the subtitle referring to the fantasy world that main character Oliver enters at the game's outset. It will now be "Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi," or "Ni no Kuni: Black Mage." We're not sure who the name refers to exactly, but the new logo Level-5 shared today does have a character who would qualify as a black mage in the background.
Level-5 also took the opportunity to formally announced the PlayStation 3 version of Ni no Kuni, word of which leaked out from weekly gaming magazine Famitsu earlier in the week. The PS3 version is titled "Ni no Kuni: Shiroki Seihai no Joou," or (roughly) "Ni no Kuni: Queen of the White Holy Ashes." Again, the name appears to be in reference to a mysterious character who appears in the logo.
So why do the PS3 and DS versions of Ni no Kuni have different names? It turns out that they may end up being different games, outside of just the obvious visual differences. Level-5 says the while the two games will have stores set on the "same axle," they're being made separately from scratch and will have different data, specifications and story developments.
At the very least, it's clear they will share the same main characters, as Oliver and his companions appear in screens of both games. Level-5 also announced another common point between the two. They'll both include a hardcover book that's used to clear puzzles and work through the adventure.
The DS version of the book was put on display at the press conference. From what we could see, it's quite the production in its self, consisting of a thick 352 pages and high quality paper that make it hard to believe it's a freebie included with the game. We're not sure how integral the book will be with the game, as you can't exactly have players lugging it around when they want to play the game on the go, but as video game collectors, we can't wait to add it to our collection!
With a release date now set, Level-5's tie-up with Studio Ghibli at last looks set to make its debut for the general public. This is just for Japan, of course. International plans for the game have not been announced. However, Level-5 is scheduled to open a North American office later this year and a European office next year. Perhaps we can expect Ni no Kuni to be one of the studio's debut efforts as an international publisher.[/spoiler]
Ninokuni: The Black Mage (DS)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDo0Y9WlWVM[/youtube]
Ninokuni: Queen of the White Sacred Ash (PS3)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQOLPCpXDOo[/youtube]
No confirmation for a North American/European release as of yet.