Ready for something a little different for your DS? How does an adventure in the skies sound? Check out the description of Nostalgia, a new game from Ignition and Tecmo on the way this September:
Set in an alternate-reality version of 19th-century Earth, Nostalgia casts you as Eddie, a headstrong Londoner who amasses a group of memorable companions to traverse the world
in his steampunk-inspired zeppelin. As you navigate the open skies, you’ll explore mysterious foreign locales, slay all manner of fantastical enemies, complete a variety of thrilling quests, and ultimately, save the world from unfathomable evil.
Um, that sounds really good. Like something I would dream up while laying around fantasizing about the types of games I would kill for, but never actually get made. Except this one IS actually being made. Even better, this game is being produced by Keisuke Kikuchi, who also worked on Fatal Frame. Described as a “nontraditional RPG”, the game will allow you to visit locales such as New York, Africa, Russia and Cairo, features two different combat engines, and allows tons of user customization.
I want screens of this game bad! Hopefully I’ll have some for you in the very near future. What do you think of this concept so far?
Ignition and Tecmo Present NOSTALGIA for Nintendo DS™
Prepare to Lift-Off in September 2009
Glendale, CA – April 28, 2009 – Ignition Entertainment Ltd., a UTV
Enterprise, a worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, and Tecmo, in
conjunction with Matrix Software and Red Entertainment, invite gamers to
takeoff on a nostalgic journey through time and space with Nostalgia for
Nintendo DS™ – launching September 2009. Set in an alternate-reality
version of 19th-century Earth, Nostalgia casts you as Eddie, a headstrong
Londoner who amasses a group of memorable companions to traverse the world
in his steampunk-inspired zeppelin. As you navigate the open skies, you’ll
explore mysterious foreign locales, slay all manner of fantastical enemies,
complete a variety of thrilling quests, and ultimately, save the world from
unfathomable evil.Developed by Matrix Software (Dragon Quest V PS2, Final Fantasy III-IV DS),
in association with Red Entertainment (Gungrave, Bonk, Thousand Arms),
Nostalgia brings together a powerful think-tank of old-school Japanese RPG
development talent to present a stunning new vision in gaming. Produced by
Keisuke Kikuchi (Fatal Frame, Tokobot) and directed by Naoki Morita (Sakura
Taisen), with art direction by Yoshiteru Tsujino (Far East of Eden), airship
design by Takuhito Kusanagi (Grandia, Blue Submarine No.6, Samurai 7), and
enemy design by Keita Amemiya (Iria- Zeiram the Animation, Kamen Rider),
Tecmo has amassed an all-star dream team of industry veterans to forge a
brand new DS adventure that hearkens back to the classic glory days of
Japanese role-playing games.According to Nostalgia producer, Keisuke Kikuchi, “I knew this game had such
potential when I saw Mr. Morita’s project book. It is an adventure game set
in another Earth, offering an enjoyable story that involves various
different cultures in many diverse locations. The key element that brings
the game together is the airship, the conveyance which fits its game system
and world-view. I wanted to make this idea into a product for everyone to
play.”“We feel deeply honored for the opportunity to bring Tecmo’s esteemed
Japanese Nintendo DS role-playing game “Nostalgeo no Kaze” to an entirely
new audience as Nostalgia,” said Shane Bettenhausen, New Business
Development Director of Ignition Entertainment. “Amid a sea of remakes and
rehashes, this endearing adventure blazes its own unique path with deeply
engrossing gameplay systems, but it also hearkens back to the classic RPGs
of yesteryear with its unforgettable characters and universal narrative
themes.”Key Game Features:
• Ambitious, fully 3D polygonal graphical engine offers dramatic, sweeping
camera angles and impressive vistas rarely seen in a DS title.
• Cohesive, anime-inspired art direction that effectively captures the
game’s turn-of-the-century charm.
• Travel to incredibly unique, non-traditional RPG locales via airship
including London, New York, Cairo, Africa, and Russia.
• Features two distinct combat engines: One is a brisk, turn-based
close-quarters melee between your party members and monsters; while the
other offers thrilling, large-scale airship battles. In addition, your
battle skills are scored at the conclusion of each conflict, inspiring
strategic mastery.
• Handy in-game notebook feature keeps track of people, monsters, airships
and items you’ve run across.
• Plenty of user-defined customization, allowing the player to trick out his
or her airship with various weapons, armor types, and special skill attacks.
The player can also choose character-specific skills from a branching tree
for a more personalized experience.
• Explore a variety of diverse, engaging dungeons that include brain bending
puzzles and tricky Indiana Jones-style traps.
• Optional quest system inspires players to approach the adventure from a
less linear perspective, extending the life of the gameplay experience.For more information, visit www.nostalgiads.com
For assets including fact sheets, screens and artwork please contact Susan
Hale, Executive Director of Public Relations at Ignition Entertainment via
email [email protected] or by phone (818) 502-5387.ABOUT IGNITION ENTERTAINMENT LTD:
Ignition Entertainment Limited is a UTV Media Communication company.
Ignition was created by a core team of gaming industry veterans with the
purpose of building upon their successful track record to develop and
publish within the international games industry. You can find more
information about Ignition Entertainment Ltd. At www.ignitionusa.comABOUT UTV SOFTWARE COMMUNICATIONS LTD:
UTV Software Communications Ltd. is India’s foremost Media & Entertainment
Company with leadership position in four Verticals that includes Motion
Pictures, Broadcasting, TV Content and Interactive (i.e. Animation and
Gaming). Listed on the Mumbai Stock Exchange with the Motion Pictures
business listed on the AIM, London Stock Exchange. Walt Disney Inc. holds a
strategic stake in UTV. It has subsidiaries with offices across India, the
UK and USA. More information on the group is available at www.utvnet.comABOUT TECMO, LTD.:
Tecmo is a global developer and publisher of interactive entertainment
software. Tecmo has been entertaining gamers since 1967 and has created some
of the best arcade and videogames available.Tecmo portfolio includes the
world famous videogame franchises “Dead or Alive”, “Ninja Gaiden”, “Tecmo
Bowl”and others. Games have been made for all platforms including handheld
game system as well as PC.You can find more information about Tecmo at http://www.tecmo.co.jp/
and http://www.tecmogames.com/ABOUT RED ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION:
Red Entertainment is a leader of game planning, focusing on characters,
world view and gameplay. Based on our expertise on planning, producing and
coordination, we aim to develop our business and to provide customers all
over the world with surprises and excitement by creating games of different
media/ genres.”Sakura Taisen” and “Gungrave” are the most widely known
titles.You can find more information about RED at http://red-entertainment.co.
jp/ ABOUT MATRIX SOFTWARE:
Matrix is a developer of interactive entertainment software with a company
motto “Create and develop interesting contentsernestly and in unison.”Since
1994, starting with the Sony PlayStation, Matrix has developed many games
for platforms including the PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, and the
latest home entertainment systems. Software has also been developed for
mobile phones and various fields other than game platforms. For more
information about Matrix, access http://www.matrixsoft.co.jp/
