- Ni no Kuni
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"The Another World" redirects here. For the 1991 game, see Another World (video game).
Ni no Kuni
Japanese DS cover art of Ni no Kuni. The unusual scale is due to the case containing a booklet the size of the magic book featured in the game.Developer(s) Level-5, Studio Ghibli[1] Publisher(s) - JP Level-5
- NA Namco Bandai
- EU Namco Bandai Europe[2]
Composer(s) Joe Hisaishi Platform(s) Nintendo DS
PlayStation 3Release date(s) Nintendo DS
- JP December 9, 2010
Genre(s) Role-playing Mode(s) Single-player Rating(s) - CERO: A
Ni no Kuni (二ノ国 , lit. Second Country, also called The Another World) is a role-playing video game co-developed by Japanese developer Level-5 and the first videogame made by anime company Studio Ghibli[1] for the Nintendo DS and later PlayStation 3.[5] The Nintendo DS version, titled Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madōshi (二ノ国 漆黒の魔導士 , literally "Second Country: The Jet-Black Mage"), was released on December 9, 2010, while the PlayStation 3 version, titled Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (二ノ国 白き聖灰の女王 , literally "Second Country: The Queen of White Sacred Ash"), is scheduled for release in Japan in 2011, and it is also confirmed for a Western release in 2012.[6][7] Level-5's has confirmed that the western version of the PS3 game will be published by Namco Bandai Games.[8]
Contents
Plot
The player controls a 13 year-old boy named Oliver, a resident of Hotroit City, whose mother, Arie, dies suddenly.[9] A doll, given to Oliver by his mother, reveals itself to be a male fairy named Shizuku, who gives Oliver a magic book that allows him to go to the world of "Ninokuni," a reality parallel to his own, where the fairy says the boy may be able to revive his mother.[9] There, he encounters alternate versions of people he knows.
Gameplay
As Oliver, the player takes part in battles using the magic book given to him by Shizuku. The magic book contains various spells that are activated using drawings with the stylus. During battles, players will be able to arrange their characters anywhere on the bottom screen to implement various tactics. For example, a character that can block certain attacks can be placed in front of the others to shield them.[10] The game will also include a book that is supposed to represent the magic book from the game and is required to play the game.[1] In it players can find a bestiary, short stories that offer game hints and other info that the game will refer to.
Development
Ni no Kuni was first announced in the Japanese publication Famitsu in September 2008.[11] Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino and Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki revealed in an interview with the magazine that development on the animation aspects of the game had begun in July 2008.[9] In the July 2010 edition of Famitsu, Level-5 revealed that the game was in development for the PlayStation 3.[5][12] Formerly subtitled Ni no Kuni: the Another World, Level-5 announced on June 24, 2010 that this title has been replaced with two separate subtitles for the DS and PlayStation 3 versions, with the subtitle of the DS version being Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madōshi and the PlayStation 3 version titled as Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch.[7] Level-5 also revealed that both versions are being developed separately from scratch, and as such will feature different data, artwork, graphics, specifications and story developments, while only retaining the same "story axle".[7][13] The PlayStation 3 version will feature graphics and visuals replicating Ghibli's traditional animation style and its artwork for the game.[13][14]
Reception
The DS version of Ni no Kuni was scored a high 38 out of 40 by Weekly Famitsu magazine. The review stated, "The animation, music, and story all combine together at a high level to keep the player constantly excited. The way the game links up with the book is innovative, and there's a lot of backdrop that allows you to understand the story on a deep level." However, the publication felt that although the Japanese advertisements feature young children playing it, the game may be too complex for such audiences.[15]
Japanese retailers ordered an initial shipment of 600,000 copies of Ni no Kuni, more than any previous Level-5 game.[16] It was the second best-selling video game during its week of release in the region at 170,548 copies sold.[17] Hino stated in February 2011 that the game has sold over 500,000 units in Japan.[18]
References
- ^ a b c Nutt, Christian (March 25, 2009). "GDC: Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino's Keys To Success". Gamasutra.com. http://gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=22917. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ Ishaan (2011-10-14). "Namco Bandai Will Publish Ni no Kuni For PlayStation 3 In The U.S. And Europe". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2011/10/14/namco-bandai-will-publish-ni-no-kuni-for-playstation-3-in-the-u-s-and-europe/. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
- ^ Fletcher, JC (2011-08-24). "Ni No Kuni PS3 finally dated in Japan, still not announced anywhere else". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/ni-no-kuni-ps3-finally-dated-in-japan-still-not-announced-anywh/. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
- ^ Fletcher, JC (2011-09-16). "PS3's Ni no Kuni coming to North America early next year". Joystiq. http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/ni-no-kuni-coming-to-north-america-early-next-year/. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
- ^ a b Anoop Gantayat (June 23, 2010). "Studio Ghibli Tie-up Ni no Kuni Set for PlayStation 3". Andriasang. http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/23/ni_no_kuni_ps3/. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
- ^ Anoop Gantayat (June 23, 2010). "See Ni no Kuni PS3 In Motion". Andriasang. http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/24/ni_no_kuni_ps3_video/. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ a b c Anoop Gantayat (June 23, 2010). "Level-5 Puts Ni no Kuni on Demo". Andriasang. http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/24/ni_no_kuni_up_for_demo/. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ Ishaan (October 14, 2011). "Namco Bandai Will Publish Ni no Kuni For PlayStation 3 In The U.S. And Europe". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2011/10/14/namco-bandai-will-publish-ni-no-kuni-for-playstation-3-in-the-u-s-and-europe/. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
- ^ a b c Tanaka, John (May 20, 2009). "Ni no Kuni: The Another World Update". IGN.com. http://ds.ign.com/articles/984/984866p1.html. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ http://kotaku.com/5369816/a-couple-of-ghiblilevel-5-rpg-clips
- ^ Grant, Christoper (September 24, 2008). "Famitsu: Level-5 and Studio Ghibli teaming up on DS game". Joystiq.com. http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/24/rumor-level-5-and-studio-ghibli-teaming-up-on-ds-game/. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
- ^ "Ni No Kuni Is Also A PlayStation 3 Game". Siliconera. 2010-06-22. http://www.siliconera.com/2010/06/22/ni-no-kuni-is-also-a-playstation-3-game/. Retrieved 2010-06-22.
- ^ a b Anoop Gantayat (June 23, 2010). "Ni no Kuni PS3: Artwork Versus Realtime". Andriasang. http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06/24/ni_no_kuni_comparisons/. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
- ^ Ryan Winterhalter (2010-06-24). "A Japanese Kid's Dream Come True: Level-5 Shows off Ni no Kuni at Tokyo Press Conference". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3180076. Retrieved 2010-06-24.
- ^ Gifford, Kevin (November 30, 2010). "Japan Review Check: Ni no Kuni, DKC Returns". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/news/japan-review-check-kuni-dkc. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- ^ Parkin, Simon (December 9, 2010). "Ni No Kuni, Level 5's Collaboration With Studio Ghibli, Secures 600k Initial Shipment". Gamasutra. http://gamasutra.com/view/news/31950/Ni_No_Kuni_Level_5s_Collaboration_With_Studio_Ghibli_Secures_600k_Initial_Shipment.php. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
- ^ Orland, Kyle (December 15, 2010). "Monster Hunter Holds Off Ni No Kuni's Premiere In Japanese Charts". Gamasutra. http://gamasutra.com/view/news/32060/Monster_Hunter_Holds_Off_Ni_No_Kunis_Premiere_In_Japanese_Charts.php. Retrieved 2010-02-22.
- ^ Ishaan (March 21, 2011). "Ni no Kuni Over 500,000 In Sales, Says Level 5 CEO". Siliconera. http://www.siliconera.com/2011/03/21/ni-no-kuni-over-500000-in-sales-says-level-5-ceo/. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ^ "Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch for PS3 in Europe next year". http://www.strategyinformer.com/news/15039/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch-for-ps3-in-europe-next-year. Retrieved 2011-17-10.
External links
- Official DS website (Japanese)
- Official PS3 Website (Japanese)
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- Level-5 games
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- PlayStation 3 games
- Parallel universes (video games)
- Role-playing video games
- Studio Ghibli
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