Sometimes I privately consider Atlus the heroes determined to rescue the memories of my gaming youth. Let me explain: one of the reasons the Nintendo Entertainment System is my favorite console of all time was the inherent quirkiness of the titles I tended to find on it. Fast forward to 2008; Atlus announces a first-person perspective dungeon crawler called The Dark Spire, and I can’t believe I’m still allowed to enjoy anything so deliciously old school after all this time.

On the other hand, one look at the distinctive art style and you can definitely tell this is a modern title. The Dark Spire allows you to form a party by creating your characters from scratch, have complete control over how you develop your stats, and even allows you to align yourself with a particular faith, which is turn leads to unlocking specific skills and spells.

If you’re frothing at the mouth thinking about the days spent in dungeons of yore, get ready for my personal favorite feature: Classic Vs. Modern, which allows you to play the game either in crisp modern DS format …. or to see your monsters and hear your music in what Atlus describes as an “8-bit aesthetic”. If that’s not a gift to those with a hard on for all things retro, I don’t know what is.

The Dark Spire hits shelves of March 10th and will retail for $29.99.

IRVINE, Calif. – December 18, 2008

A Press Release Appears.

It Tells of an Upcoming Game, an Homage to Classic Western-Style Role-Playing Games.

The Game is The Dark Spire™ for Nintendo DS™.

There is some fine print below the header.

It is the release date.

It is March 10, 2009.

Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today summons all fans of classic, western-style first-person role playing games to experience The Dark Spire for Nintendo DS, an RPG of exploration and character development in the purest sense. Parties will be assembled, stats will be rolled, items, weapons and armor shall be equipped, and monsters will be slain. Some adventurers will choose to play using the “modern” interface, its bold, stylized textures and palettes delivering a fresh, up-to-date adventure. Others may opt for the “classic” mode, guaranteed to evoke overwhelming sensations of nostalgia as it perfectly recreates the style and simplicity of the fathers of the genre. Two different presentation modes, two different ways to experience The Dark Spire!

The powerful Archmage Tyrhung resides in a tower of mist and shadow. He holds in his possession a jewel of great worth and power. A group of adventurers assemble. Will they be able to conquer Tyrhung and his nefarious tower? The party sets out, its fate yet to be determined…

The Dark Spire is scheduled for release on March 10, 2009 with an MSRP of $29.99, it is written.

For more information about The Dark Spire, visit the official website.

Download the official box art and logo.

Download the new screenshots.

About The Dark Spire
The Forest of Mist… Wrapped in a perpetual, impenetrable fog… No one knows what lies within… Just beyond the edge of the woods lies an old castle. Numerous battle flags fly proudly above its gate as symbols of its Lord’s power. It is here that King Kronus resides and rules his vast domain. During a celebration of the kingdom’s most recent conquest, Archmage Tyrhung, a powerful magician and key to the kingdom’s recent military success, stole a necklace of immeasurable value from round the Queen’s neck and disappeared into the night. Guards rushed after him, only to see him transform into a ferocious creature: a dragon. Tyrhung flew off toward the Forest of Mist, scattering the fog with his powerful wings. And when the beacon atop the Dark Spire lit up, it was clear to all: the beast had chosen his new lair… The Dark Spire, once the domain of an ancient goblin civilization, had found a new master. This is where your story begins…

Key Features
• Homage to classic RPGs — Take back the age of the great classic RPGs where you build your perfect party from the ground up. Shrewd strategy is required to navigate tough dungeon floors with limited resources, earning experience by taking on 80 different enemies out to end you.
• Dual dungeon modes — The traditional RPG experience is fully realized in Classic Mode, which offers a black-and-white wireframe dungeon environment reminiscent of the nostalgic PC RPGs. Switch back to Modern Mode to update to the full 3-D atmosphere of The Dark Spire.
• A captivating story of mist and shadow — A second person narrative reaches out from the game to speak to you of codpieces and killer rabbits, enveloping the gamer in an unforgettable adventure that offers three possible endings.

The Dark Spire has been rated “E10+” (Eveyone 10 and older) with Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, and Suggestive Themes by the ESRB.

About Atlus U.S.A., Inc.

Located in Irvine, California and founded in 1991, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. is renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Odin Sphere, Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. For more information, visit http://www.atlus.com.

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