Make it happen!
I'm so happy we're getting this game (supposedly) in the states!
You've made the right choice, gentlemen, and I will reward you with my cash-monies as soon as humanly possible.





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TGS: Ni no Kuni is absolutely lovely
Are they serious with how great this game looks? Level-5's Ni no Kuni is a head turner. Its beautiful, hand-drawn look and vibrant colors stood out among the sea of Sony's offerings at their TGS booth today. Its looks drew me in and kept me there. I actually came back for a second playthrough later in the day. I don't think there's a prettier game on the show floor. Of course, Studio Ghibli played a big part in making this game look so great. This game looks just as animated as any of Ghibli's films, and this applies to every bit of the game, from the overworld and battles to town exploration. I caught myself enjoying a visit to a town's shop. Imagine a game so good that you would want to stick around in an RPG's item shop! Forget icons on overhead maps. You'll hate everything else when you see how gorgeous Ni no Kuni's overworld exploration is, with its lush greenery and crayon-like shading. The battles are just as pretty, and even minor enemies look as if the creators spent extra time on them to get them to stand out. The real treat comes with the game's cutscenes. They're a blend of cell-shaded graphics and beautifully textured 3D, and they come together to create scenes like nothing I've ever seen before. Every little movement is liquid smooth and every camera pan looks like something out of the most high-budget animation you've ever seen.
Ni no Kuni holds up well on the play side, too. It has a standard RPG backbone, but the presentation is so charming that you won't be hung up on the lack of any major innovation. After encountering an enemy you're whisked away to a battle view where your character's head is surrounded by a ring of word bubbles. From there you can scroll through them to attack, guard, use items and more. During these turn-based battles you're free to move around the battle field to avoid enemies, or move closer to them. It's so pretty, even when you're dying. I was surprised to find that such an approachable game could dish out a fair bit of challenge. I may have wandered a bit too far in my second play, but I found myself nearing death quickly. One party member was actually taken out by smaller enemies a couple of times! Maybe I should have used the previously mentioned free movement in battles a bit more.
Even if you're not in the market for a JRPG, you're going to want Ni no Kuni when you see it. It's impossibly pretty, and it shows what can happen when talented creators take their time to make something shine. The bad news is that we still don't know if this game will see a release on our shores. But if it never does, there's at least one upside on the accessibility front: all the kanji has rubi text, meaning that those with iffy Japanese reading skills like mine can probably get by fairly easily. Ni no Kuni will be released in Japan on November 17. We'll see it next year!
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Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)Dale, you look like a pretty smooth guy. Sweet talk them into giving us a western release date. Go as far as you have to, even if it means sacrificing your body. DRAGON QUEST x is what it should of been. You just hate the online part. Everything else is the same for that series One would just automatically assume that if it came to the states, it'd be Disney that published it here. They have a contract to pretty much localize and publish everything else with Studio Ghibli's name on it, I'm not sure if this would be any different. They'd just have to work out the specifics with Level 5.
Make it happen! I've seen reports that the PS3 version is coming west, but does anyone know anything about the DS title? I want it just as bad. I've been patiently waiting for both versions of this game to get localised for a very long time now. Im a huuuge ghibli fan but im almost dont want this released in the west. Why? Have you ever heard a disney dub of a ghibli movie? Its like having someone rub candy on my eyeballs while shitting in my ear! Damn, I wish they'd localise this. It was one of the main reasons I bought a PS3. Luckily there's plenty to play, but Ihope this comes to EU and US. Do want. Dragon quest is tired and old but I could definitely play a ghibli game with those gameplay mechanics Sold so fucking hard. I love Level 5 and reading this also makes me think of Eternal Sonata. The game sounds perfect for me. YESSSS!!
I'm so happy we're getting this game (supposedly) in the states! You've made the right choice, gentlemen, and I will reward you with my cash-monies as soon as humanly possible. Hahahahahahaha, the battle system sounds like Quest 64. I am the only person who knows wtf I am talking about. Also I don't have the patience for turn-based games anymore. Sadface. Maybe I'll watch someone play it. The screenshots I see have me fucking SWEAR that it's hand-drawn, and I have to sit back and remind myself that this is a game. 3:30 PM on 06.19.2013 Japanese artists think Wii Fit Trainer is smokin'The fourth Smash Bros. was only announced last week, but fans the world over have already contributed a wealth of art based on the three new characters. However, Japanese art community pixiv has taken a particularly big shine...
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| timeline following: |
| 7:45 PM on 04.11.2013 There may be hope yet for a Ni No Kuni DS localization |

For months now, fans, or prospective fans who don't own a PS3, have been clamoring for a localization of the DS version of Ni No Kuni, which Namco Bandai shut down to due "translation issues and costs regarding the Wizard's C...more
| 11:15 AM on 04.09.2013 Ni no Kuni developer Level-5 working on PS4 game |

What's next for the team behind Ni no Kuni? A mysterious new PlayStation 4 project, apparently. Level-5 boss Akihiro Hino confirmed as much in a recent interview with Nikkei Trendy. Currently in the planning stages, Hino...more
| 4:00 PM on 02.06.2013 Ni No Kuni guide: 20+ essential tips to get you started |

The world of Ni No Kuni is whimsical, beautiful, and sometimes scary. The mere fact that the game features a number of old school JRPG tropes is enough to frighten even some of the hardiest of gamers, who are used to modern c...more
| 3:30 PM on 06.01.2012 Ni no Kuni now set for January 22 in the US |

According to the latest trailer, the PS3 version of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will hit Western shores on January 22, 2013 in the US, and January 25 in Europe. In case you're wondering what the big deal is, the game...more
| 9:00 PM on 10.05.2011 Ni no Kuni PS3 to digitally include that impressive book |

Perhaps the saddest part about the lack of news on Ni no Kuni getting a DS release outside of Japan is that we're missing out on the absurdly cool -- and equally lengthy -- included "Magic Master" book. It's not a comp...more
| 2:45 PM on 09.22.2011 Ni no Kuni footage provides your daily dose of whimsy |

Leave it to Studio Ghibli and Level-5 to sell us on the importance of art direction. It's a major reason why Ni no Kuni is the Tokyo Game Show title to impress me most, even as someone who plays maybe one JRPG every few years...more
| 12:15 PM on 09.01.2011 Ni no Kuni's bundled PS3 is golden, pretty |

Just last night we learned of Ni no Kuni's release date, and it was then that we heard that a PS3 bundle was also in the works. Level-5's PS3 release will hit Japan on November 17th, and this Magical Edition PS3 bundle will l...more
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