Sakura Wars Will be Better on PS2, Wii Shafted

If there is one publisher that just can't let the PS2 go, it's NIS America. Oh sure, they have published a few titles on Wii, DS, PSP, and even PS3, but that good old PS2 just seems to maintain a sweet spot in their hearts.

For better or for worse, this has driven NIS to publish a series here in North America that has been often overlooked by others: Sakura Taisen (Sakura Wars).

Sakura Wars: So Long My Love is actually an ancient 2005 Japanese release known as Sakura Taisen 5: Saraba Itoshiki Hito yo (which translates as basically the same thing). Quite why NIS thought that the game is worth releasing 5 years later on a system that has (in my opinion) long outlived its usefulness is beyond me, but here we are.

In an effort to keep the game relevant, NIS has commissioned a Wii port of the title to be released here in North America at the same time as the PS2 version, and we were originally told that the two would be comparable in features.

However, this has proven not to be the case, as NIS has announced that the game will be heavily gimped on Nintendo's console.

The PS2 version will ship in a premium box complete with an artbook and poster, and will contain two dual-layer DVDs, complete with both English and Japanese voice tracks. The Wii version, by contrast, will receive only a standard case and one single-layer DVD containing only the English voice-overs, though will be priced $10 lower than the superior PS2 version. It should be noted that there is currently only one printing scheduled for this game, and NIS has mentioned that should subsequent printings occur, the PS2 version will be reprinted without the extras mentioned above.

Predictably, NIS has not offered any official statement on why the Wii version is "getting the shaft," as it were, but putting on my educated guessing hat, I would conclude that the Wii port has gone way over budget, and NIS is trying to just get it out the door to minimize further losses. Again, just my speculation.

Sakura Wars: So Long My Love will be available for PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii on March 23, 2010.

So now I have approximately 3 months to decide if I care enough about a 5 year old PS2 game to warrant pre-ordering it. PS2 games are getting harder and harder purchases for me to justify. :/

[RPGamer]

NIS America Announces Atelier Annie, Confirms More

NIS America, the North American arm of Nippon Ichi, has announced this week that they will be bringing Gust's 2nd DS Atelier title, Atelier Annie to North America this October as Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island.

From my personal time with the Japanese version of Atelier Annie, I can definitely say that it's an improvement over Atelier Lise, the studio's first DS title. However, it felt (to me) rather heavy on dialogue and short on meaningful gameplay. For Gust fans, however, this should be nothing but a good announcement.

Additionally, NIS also announced that they will be shortly adding Trophy support to their PS3 SRPG, Disgaea 3. So I guess if you like Trophies, you can, uh, play it again?

They have also confirmed Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love for release this Fall on PlayStation 2, and have announced a limited edition boxset that will include discs for both English and Japanese language tracks.

I guess I just noticed this, but NIS really likes to announce several games at once, don't they?

[RPGamer]

NIS America Announces a Tonne of RPGs

Since the release of Ar Tonelico II, NIS has been relatively quiet. Yeah, I guess you could count Cross Edge as a game if you want. To each his own, I suppose.

However, NIS came forward with a rather enormous press release last week where they confirmed 6 RPGs for North American release this year! Perhaps appropriately, the title of the press event was "Holy Drunken Shenanigans, Badman!"

For the PSP, NIS revealed that they would be bringing the recent PSP port of Disgaea 2 to our shores, renamed to Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days. The PSP port features new playable characters, additional story scenarios, and other additions to the original PS2 title. It is scheduled for release sometime this Fall.

The company's Nintendo Wii port of Phantom Brave was also re-confirmed for our shores as Phantom Brave: We Meet Again. As previously mentioned, it too will feature new content. It is planned for release this June.

Hit Maker's DS RPG, A Witch's Tale, has also been re-confirmed for North American release, and should be available sometime this Fall.

The PlayStation 2 had the largest showing, with Mana Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy and Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love confirmed for release on the console this Fall. Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love is the first Sakura Taisen game ever to make it over to North America, though is officially the fifth game of Sega's long-running dating-sim/giant robot RPG mash-up. Mana Khemia 2 is of course the last of Gust's Atelier series to grace the PS2, and the direct sequel to the original Mana Khemia.

Finally, NIS announced a brand new title for the PlayStation 3. Titled Last Rebellion, this turn-based RPG is in development by Hit Maker, and is expected to hit shelves sometime this Fall.

(Phew), that's a lot of stuff. Most of it we had heard about through the grape vine previously, but it's impressive to see it all lined up in one place. Except for the 360, it seems that NIS has something for just about everyone this Fall.

Anything looking promising out of this lot to you?

[NIS America]