When you think of JRPG publishers in North America, a few names typically come to mind. Square Enix and Atlus are probably the fan favorites, while companies like XSEED and NIS America regularly keep themselves busy with RPGs from time to time. Hell, even companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Sega, and Namco Bandai, who publish a variety of different titles occassionally come through and give us an RPG or two.
One name that you may not be as familiar with is Ignition Entertainment. Having established themselves with titles from other genres, Ignition stepped into the JRPG scene earlier this year with Mistwalker and AQ Interactive's Blue Dragon Plus for the DS. Though the game carries Mistwalker's Blue Dragon franchise, the game was generally dismissed by fans in both North America and Japan, and I personally thought Ignition would have washed its hands of JRPGs.
Not so, however, as Ignition has stepped up to bring at least two more JRPGs to North American shores.
First up is Vanillaware and Marvelous' 2D side-scrolling action-RPG, Muramasa: The Demon Blade. Initially slated to be published by XSEED, Ignition stepped up to take the project immediately after XSEED announced that it would no longer have anything to do with it. Some of you pointed this out to me a while back, and I know it's probably old news by now.
Their second confirmed project is RED, Matrix, and Tecmo's DS RPG, Wind of Nostalgeo, which has been renamed simply to Nostalgia for North America. For the forgetful, Nostalgia (Wind of Nostalgeo) is set in an alternate 19th century Europe, and is heavily focused on airships, drawing comparisons to Sega's Skies of Arcadia.
Finally, according to an ESRB leak, Ingition will also be handling the localization of Spectral Force Genesis, Idea Factory's DS entry into their Spectral Force series. Ignition has yet to confirm or deny any connection to this title.
With more and more JRPGs being handled by international arms of the original publisher, there hasn't been as much room for new publishers on the scene. It's nice to see Ignition pick up some slack, and we wish them the best of luck in their RPG publishing endeavors.
Both Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Nostalgia are set for North America release on Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS (respectively) sometime this September. Spectral Force Genesis is still unconfirmed.
Sometimes there is media released for an RPG and I just don't have that much to say about it. Rare, yes, but it does happen.
However, I don't think that is a fair reason to prevent such media from reaching your ever-thirsty-for-moar eyes. And since I'm all about the mass propagation of my favorite game genre, I feel like I would be doing you no disservice by posting game trailers that came to my attention this week, though I neglected to mention.
So, enough of my preamble. Watch the trailers and leave exciting and insightful comments!
Shining Force Feather Nintendo DS Flight Plan, Sega Feburary 19, 2009 (Japan)
My comments: I never actually got into the original Shining Force games, so though I've heard that people are cautiously happy that the series is returning to its SRPG roots, my own experience with the Shining Force games limits my excitement somewhat. This condition is compounded by the fact that its on DS.
Suikoden Tierkreis Nintendo DS Konami December 18, 2008 (Japan), March 17, 2009 (North America)
My comments: I find it a crying shame that this game has what I feel are the coolest character designs in the series thus far, and yet are relegated to being rendered in extremely crappy DS 3D. My request to developers: if you absolutely must develop for the DS, please please for the love of God stick with 2D. Crap like this should be punishable by law.
Blue Dragon Plus Nintendo DS Mistwalker, feelplus, Ignition February 2009 (North America)
My comments: The 3rd English trailer from Ignition. Though I appreciate what they are trying to do, I honestly laughed when I saw more EPIC TEXT FLY-INS. To be fair, though, by the end of the trailer, I was sort of excited about Blue Dragon again. So, one thumb up for Ignition. I hope this game works out for you.
Mana Khemia: Student Alliance PSP Gust, NIS America January 20, 2009 (North America)
My comments: Uh... what part of this trailer makes me think this will be any different from the PS2 version? Other than the multiplayer (which I don't need), I honestly couldn't figure out what any of the "new features" the game was offering. That said, the theme song and anime clips are straight out of the PS2 version and kinda made me nostalgic for it. Kinda makes me want to go play a Gust game...
Well, I think that's just about all of them. Nothing really Earth-shattering going on here, but I thought you might enjoy checking out a few trailers that you might have missed. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Ignition has released a second trailer for the upcoming DS RTS-RPG Blue Dragon Plus, and it retains that "edge of your seat" feel that they were going for last time, but actually tosses in some gameplay just for good measure. Make sure you're sitting down for this.
I'm impressed that Ignition is putting so much oomph into promoting Blue Dragon Plus. They are certainly outdoing the nearly non-existant advertising campaign that AQ Interactive backed in Japan.
My biggest problem is that though I like Blue Dragon, I still don't like RTS. Hmm, troubling.
Blue Dragon Plus will be available on Nintendo DS in North America next February. It is already available in Japan.
I liked the original Blue Dragon. It was no second coming of RPGs, but it was rather charming and had it's definite high points.
Mistwalker and AQ Interactive struck out to create Blue Dragon Plus, an RTS-RPG hybrid for the Nintendo DS that attempted to capitalize on the series by expanding on the plot of the origin, in a small, handheld-sized serving.
The 2nd of 3 Mistwalker DS games, Blue Dragon Plus has already been confirmed for North American and European release courtesy of Ignition Entertainment, and they have just released a new trailer for it (below):
As a heads-up, this trailer inevitably spoils the end of the original Blue Dragon, so those who have yet to finish it may want to skip this trailer. I must say, the trailer is quite cool, and even on the epic side of things. However, as with most DS trailers, it shows no gameplay, and is perhaps a bit misleading in that the gameplay looks nothing like the vid. Tsk tsk.
Blue Dragon Plus will be available on Nintendo DS in North America sometime next March, with a European date likely close.
Chock one up for Sword Machine rumors! As unearthed from the cryptic AQ Interactive press release, Blue Dragon Plus will indeed be seeing a North American release.
Ignition Entertainment has recently announced that they will be publishing Mistwalker's most recent Nintendo DS title on North American shores in March 2009. Though no specific date has been revealed beyond that, March 2009 falls into AQ Interactive's "fiscal year 2009" (which ends March 31, 2009).
Fans of RTS-RPG hybrids or Blue Dragon should have something to look forward to early next year.
When you think of JRPG publishers in North America, a few names typically come to mind. Square Enix and Atlus are probably the fan favorites, while companies like XSEED and NIS America regularly keep themselves busy with RPGs from time to time. Hell, even companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Sega, and Namco Bandai, who publish a variety of different titles occassionally come through and give us an RPG or two.
