Namco talks Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Tomorrow, PlayStation 3 owners will have the chance to pick up Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. It's a new RPG from Namco Bandai. Developed by Level 5, the first came out as a Nintendo DS title just over two years ago in Japan. This new version was developed in tandem with the DS original and features the same story, but been made specifically for home console.

[Godchild1020]

I found the video uplifting and I hope the games does well, so we can see another game in the series. I have a few hours in now and I can safely say that this is one of my favorite Level 5 titles. Some good questions were asking, but the audio from the background made it hard to hear.

For anyone that wants to watch the video, there is a cutscene spoiler but no audio from it, but it's best to know about them now.

[GribbleGrunger]

How does it actually feel to play? Has it got that 'homely' touch that DQ8 had for instance. I'll be buying this for certain and squeezing every damned beautiful ounce out of it. I've got a feeling that this game could do for RPGs what FF7 once did.

[Godchild1020]

I believe the demo was a real representation of how the game feels and plays. But once you get the full game everything really opens up and you get a better understanding of the story and how things come into play. How the worlds come together and play a part. I love how it goes from cutscene to gameplay without a hitch.

Once you get a familiar, you don't just treat it like a partner in battle but a companion, a friend or pet (Family member). You can feed it and battle with it, but the better you treat the familiar the better the relationship you have with it.

I have played a little of FFXIII, you see how the battle system is kinda turn based but action at the same time. Thats how the battle system in Ni No Kuni is, but so much better and refined than the one in FFXIII. The area in battle is not huge, but not small either.

I remember dragon quest vaguely, so I can't give a real comparison to it. But from all the Level 5 games I have played, it is up there with Dark Cloud 2. The game is how I really wanted a 3D home console Pokemon game to be. I can recommend this game to anyone that just loves a good story and likes a great battle system.

I hope I gave you the answer that you were looking for.

EDIT: I got this from the DQ8 wiki and I think this is a great representation of how the gameplay in battle works.

"In Dragon Quest VIII, the player controls the Hero in a fully three-dimensional environment, utilizing the left analog stick or D-pad on the PlayStation controller to move him. Using the right analog stick, players can pan the camera a full 360 degrees around the character or in a first-person perspective"

Expect the D-pad is not used to move the character but switch action types and familiars. And it's an more action than turn based combat than DQ8 and FFXIII.

[GribbleGrunger]

Thanks for taking the time to write that Godchild.

[izumo_lee]

I really hope it does really well but i believe it will be more of a long haul type of game rather than have huge numbers the first week or so. Hopefully word of mouth will spread how beautiful & heartwarming this game can be.

Fans of Studio Ghibli should try this game cause of the pedigree of the studio. Only a few more hours until gamers will be able to witness the magic a JRPG is & can be in the right hands. Level 5 have supported the PS brand for years making some of the best games for the Playstation so i expect this will be no different.

[oakshin]

woooooo thats a massive statement

gamefly shiped this baby to me today ill be all up in it b4 the end of the week just need to polish off MGS peace walker b4 it gets here im predicting having a hard time geting into but i say after i push past 5 hours r so ill be hooked

[rezzah]

I'm jealous, I ordered the wizard edition but I'm not sure when I'll receive it.

I put down all my other games to play Ni no kuni, and I can't wait to play it.

[oakshin]

well gamefly owed me this 1 im still waiting on far cry 3, AC3, and sleeping dogs

[ApolloTheBoss]

Buy it, buy it, people. We need a sequel!! And listen to me, saying that before I even play the game!

[specialguest]

When I first found out Studio Ghibli was involved, it was an automatic buy for me. I've seen most Studio Ghibli movies and I enjoy them all. There's a certain charm and harmony with nature Studio Ghibli with its co-founder Hayao Miyazaki bring to their movies.

[XXXL]

Can't wait till tomorrow.

[Chrono]

I bought it yesterday, this game is epic

[mayberry]

Spirited Away is an awesome movie, so I can't wait to play this game to get some more studio ghibli love!