After nearly a whole year since the DS release of Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi (Second Country: The Jet-Black Mage), the PS3 counterpart’s release date has finally been announced. Ni no Kuni: Shiroki Seihai no Joou (Second Country: The Queen of White Sacred Ash) will come out on November 17, along with a special white-and-gold Magical Edition PS3 bundle as well. The game is not a port of the DS version, developed separately with different story developments, graphics, and artwork, which will now better showcase the world-renowned Ghibli animation style.
Unfortunately, Josh’s article from back in January no longer has the video interview with Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino, where he discussed his aims and beliefs with the game and gaming in general. Luckily, I myself translated the video, so at least you can read what he had to say after the jump.
Hino highlighted the key difference between the two versions: “Though you can gain an understanding of the big world in the DS version, for the purposes of creating a movie-like experience, the advantages of the PS3 version are clear to see, by making the cutscene camera angle changeable in real time for your pleasure. It’s a small effect, but it’s very satisfying — changing a normal 2D anime to a 3D anime movie with you controlling the camera.”
Regarding potential messages in games, Hino stated, “Messages through games as a media, usually invoke some sense of emotion. In movies the time given to them to invoke some emotion is around two hours. But this game has around 40 hours worth of content. At the end of the game, when looking at it, the feelings that are left behind in my heart are that, as I thought, games have the potential to leave stronger feelings with a person than a movie. Games allow you to act through your own thinking, the results of that will be reciprocated in the game — that’s a big thing. Therefore, the emotions you feel when playing a game compared to other media are not odd or stupid, and that it can have a permanent effect on people is interesting, and being able to achieve that I think would be nice.”
In absence of the interview, I’ve provided trailers from each version (PS3 in the header, DS below) for you to compare for yourself. Before you get excited and scramble to your favorite import site, beware! In typical Ghibli pricing fashion, it’s not at all cheap, costing a whopping ¥8,800 (or $115) for the game alone and ¥33,780 (or $441) for the bundle! At least there’s no indication so far that you’ll need a book as you did with the DS game to play.
Judging from Jon’s reactions, it seems Hino and Level-5 have done it again, this time with the help of the wondrous Studio Ghibli. What do you think? Has Hino been able to leave a permanent effect on you through his games thus far?
Ni no Kuni PS3 Gets a Magical Hardware Bundle [Andriasang]
