#thelaststory
With The Last Story getting its European release next week, let's take a few minutes to talk about its action-packed battle system. More »
Now that North America has a confirmed release for Xenoblade Chronicles, it's time to start pining non-stop for another Wii RPG. It's either that or be happy, and we can't have that.
Nintendo has officially dated the European release of Hironobu Sakaguchi's The Last Story. It'll be released on February 24, giving Euro players the chance to finish two of the "Operation Rainfall" games before Xenoblade even comes out in North America.
The action-RPG sets features both a single-player story mode, about a mercenary named Zael aspiring to become a knight, and online modes including co-op and deathmatch for six players.
We're happy to have some good news about a new regional release of The Last Story, even if it's not the region we would have picked. The Classification Board has rated Mistwalker's Wii action RPG for release in Australia, where its "fantasy violence and mature themes" have earned it an M rating.
The Last Story, of course, is one of the games for which "Operation Rainfall" is campaigning. Depending on your outlook (and your location), evidence of an Australian release can either be an encouraging sign of worldwide plans, or a version of the game in yet another region that isn't North America.
The Wii does have a lifespan beyond 2011 -- in Europe. Nintendo of Europe sent out a list (PDF) of upcoming titles today, including the two other games for which Operation Rainfall is campaigning: Mistwalker's The Last Story and Ganbarion's Pandora's Tower. Both are slated for 2012 in Europe now, and have yet to be announced in North America. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will be released in Europe November 18 while Kirby's Adventure Wii is coming in December.
The release list also provides November and December windows for Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 on 3DS, respectively. Super Pokemon Rumble will also be released in Europe this December. On DS, DQ Monsters Joker 2 is coming October 7, Kirby Mass Attack is due October 28, and Professor Layton will answer The Spectre's Call in November. Cave Story will finally come to DSiWare in Europe in Q4.
A few standout downloads listed: in Q4, the 3DS Virtual Console will see releases of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, Metroid II, and the Game Boy Bionic Commando game. Nintendo previously blocked the NES version from Virtual Console.
In a nicely timed coincidence, the US trademark Nintendo filed for The Last Story has popped back up, reminding us all that Nintendo made at least a casual overture toward a North American release back in January of 2010 when it filed the document. The Last Story is currently one of the subjects of the "Operation Rainfall" fan campaign.
This week, the trademark was granted "Notice of Allowance," which means it went through its 30-day "opposition period" without any parties opposing the registration of the mark. It has therefore been allowed for registration, but not yet finally registered.
And, of course, even the existence of this trademark doesn't mean Nintendo intends to publish the game here. Companies (including Nintendo) routinely file trademarks worldwide for all of their properties, in case they decide to release them at some point -- or just to prevent others from using the name. Late last month, Nintendo announced it had 'no plans' to localize The Last Story, Xenoblade, or Pandora's Tower.
Nintendo of America has been officially issued a trademark for The Last Story,one of the missing Wii games that the company said it had no plans to bring to the US...
So many stories often start with scenes just like this. Unfortunately many of them wind up in seedy magazines. Anyway, iNintendo has imported and written up their experience on this game tragically caught between shores. Here’s a snippet:
Boss battles in most JRPGs have never been riveting, mostly because only so much can be done with [...]
Coming from the gang at Trademarkia…
“Status Update! On Tuesday, May 17, 2011, status on the NINTENDO THE LAST STORY trademark changed to PUBLISHED FOR OPPOSITION.
On Wednesday, January 13, 2010, a U.S. federal trademark registration was filed for NINTENDO THE LAST STORY. This trademark is owned by Nintendo Co., Ltd., Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 601-8501. The USPTO has [...]
As E3 approaches, the IGN Nintendo crew has its sights on what Nintendo might announce at its conference and display at its booths. One game that stands out the most to us has actually already been released in Japan, but word of arrival overseas has been nonexistent thus far. We're talking about The Last Story, an epic action-RPG directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of the Final Fantasy franchise...
#notfantasy
Nintendo-published role-playing game The Last Story was developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy. Sakaguchi stopped doing FF games years ago, but you wouldn't know that by the cover of his latest game. More »
<b>What is The Last Story?</b>
The headlining epic RPG for Wii going into 2011, exclusive to Nintendo's system and developed by Hironobu Sakaguchi – the father of the Fina ...
