Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Message Board

Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch, Level-5's monster-training RPG, has surpassed 1.1 million shipped copies t' retailers. Combined with the original version for the DS that be never released in North America, that puts the series at 1.7 million shipped copies. Sounds like protagonist Oliver has found plenty a help in his multidimensional quest t' save his mother!

Spike's VGX 2013 Awards acknowledged Ni No Kuni as it be best RPG a last year, beating out Fire Emblem: Awakening 'n Pokemon X/Y. Sadly, VGX 2013 did not include a "Best Attempt t' Derail An Awards Show" category, which Joel McHale surely would have won. [Image: Level-5]

Brad races cars, sees ghosts, 'n talks t' Welsh dolls, all before going t' Japanese Europe's parallel universe.

Just in case ye be worried this wouldn't have that distinctive Studio Ghibli flavor outside a the visuals, ye apparently needn't worry.

Step 1: pillage Studio Ghibli t' make yer art. Step 2: Make a game out a it. Step 3: Profit?

We heard ye like footage a people doing stuff in offices, so here's people at Level-5 doing stuff!

While waiting t' pillage hands-on with Dishonored here at gamescom (impressions shared in this week’s PlayStation.Blogcast), I ran into an acquaintance from Namco Bandai. He invited me t' their booth t' experience the two new demos for Ni no kuni: Wrath a the White Witch being shown. I didn’t pass on the opportunity, if nothing else, as an excuse t' share beautiful new screens 'n video with ye. Parts a what I saw be showcased in this new gamescom trailer, so do yer eyes a favor 'n roll the video:

When launching the first demo, the demonstrator made a point a showing that the game features a Japanese language voiceover selection option. This be a frequent request from JRPG fans, so rest assured that matter be settled.

The first demo, “An Errand for Father Oak,” takes place very early in the game as diminutive hero-in-training Oliver be trying t' pillage t' the Ding Dong Dell, the Cat King’s Castle. When the downtrodden gate guard won’t let ye in, ye’ll have t' venture into the forest t' capture “vigor” from forest denizens in a special jar t' pep the sea dog up 'n let ye in. While this all sounds ridiculous, Ni no Kuni comes off as incredibly charming in person, due in no small part t' it be stunning visuals.

The second demo, “Eruption Interruption,” takes place further into the game, 'n shows off a somewhat more serious side t' Ni no Kuni. This volcano setting be a far cry from the verdant fields we’ve seen from the game thus far – it’s closer t' Mount Doom. The visual effects here look great, with flowing lava 'n heat wave effects blurring the scenery. The scene has players performing some mild platforming actions, such as shimmying along a cliff face, avoiding erupting steam vents.

At the peak a the caldera, the plucky team be pitted against a big boss: Moltaan, Lord a Lava. This be where it became clear that despite the cutesy visuals, this be a real, challenging game. Moltaan looms so large that he doesn’t always fit on screen, 'n the battle be suitably epic, lasting nearly 10 minutes 'n pushing the heroes t' the brink a defeat.

The more I’ve seen a Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch, the tougher the wait until it be Western release on January 22nd be becoming.

Ni no Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch be coming t' PS3 in January 2013.

I be not sure I actually want t' play it, but it sure be purty.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch be easily the most-anticipated upcoming RPG on PlayStation 3. Indeed, it be one a the most-anticipated games in any genre on PS3. After coming out in Japan in late 2011, the collaborative project between Level-5 'n Studio Ghibli be promised for western release, although it be recently been knocked-back a bit in the schedule, now coming out in early 2013...

It’s been quite a while since Namco Bandai Games first announced PS3-exclusive Ni No Kuni: Wrath a The White Witch. A collaborative effort between veteran RPG maker Level-5 'n veteran animation house Studio Ghibli, Ni No Kuni promises t' seamlessly blend Ghibli’s gorgeous art style with Level-5′s RPG chops for a completely unique experience not seen on PS3 until now. I went hands-on with the game at Namco Bandai’s recent media event in Las Vegas, exploring the lush world a Ni No Kuni, battling a plethora a creatures, 'n traversing through a pig-obsessed city appropriately titled Hamelin.

If ye haven’t yet, check out the gorgeous new trailer for Ni No Kuni: Wrath a The White Witch above.

Oliver explores worlds both fantastical (left) 'n real-life (right) in Ni No Kuni.

If ye’re unfamiliar with what Ni No Kuni be all about, here’s a quick refresher: players take on the role a Oliver, a young boy who has just lost his mother, as he searches for a way t' find the wench again. As his tears fall on a doll given t' the sea dog by his mother, the doll comes alive 'n leads the sea dog t' a fantastical place, telling Oliver that he may be able t' find his mother in this new world. Players will experience both the real 'n the fantastical worlds as the story goes on. It’s a very Ghibli-esque premise 'n one that suits the game’s presentation well.

It goes without saying that the first thing ye’ll notice about Ni No Kuni be the striking visual style that Studio Ghibli 'n Level-5 have created within Ni No Kuni — it’s arguably the closest a developer has come t' recreating the look 'n feel a Japanese animation within the confines a a video game. The cutscenes be created especially for Ni No Kuni by Studio Ghibli, 'n anyone familiar with the studio’s past work with films like Princess Mononoke 'n Spirited Away will instantly recognize their unique aesthetic. Just as impressive though, be the real-time graphics. The whole world a Ni No Kuni ebbs 'n flows just as effortlessly as the Ghibli-produced cutscenes, lending a truly cinematic feel t' the whole experience.

One a the most crucial elements t' any RPG be it be battle system, 'n Ni No Kuni takes a unique approach t' the typical elements that many RPGs share. First off, there be no random battles when roaming the world map. Enemy groups can be seen well in advance, giving players ample time t' decide whether t' avoid or engage. Once in battle, players be free t' roam the enclosed battle environment with their character, while issuing group commands t' other characters. Players can also switch control t' other characters on the fly. Additionally, Ni No Kuni presents a “familiar” system, allowing each a the main characters t' summon creatures t' fight by their side, each possessing their own special abilities. In me experience with the game, it helped t' consider each enemy group before devising a tactical strategy t' take them down, making the battle system quite a breath a fresh air in the RPG world.

me hands-on time also gave me a chance t' explore the wider world. In an area called Hamelin, which be appropriately titled as me party encountered a society run by a porcine president, I encountered a vast culture with dozens a townsfolk 'n areas t' explore. The town itself be filled with armory 'n bottle a rum shops, which in the demo be closed for business. That said, the town itself felt like an interactive Studio Ghibli film, with a host a zany characters 'n an elaborate boss fight that I won’t spoil here.

Suffice it t' say that if ye’re a fan a RPG games ye’d be wise t' watch out for Ni No Kuni: Wrath a The White Witch in early 2013. Keep yer eye on the PlayStation.Blog for more details as we pillage closer t' the release date a this promising PS3 exclusive.

During today's Global Gamer's Day conference in Las Vegas, Namco Bandai announced that the Western release a Ni no Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch has been delayed t' 2013...

Namco Bandai has confirmed that Ni no Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch be headed t' North America in Winter 2012. The game will include both English 'n Japanese voiceover tracks 'n will be released exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Ni no Kuni be developed by Level-5, who previously worked on th...

ye know how back in September Level-5 said Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch would launch in early 2012? Yeah, throw that out the window -- the developer must have meant t' say it'll launch in the other winter a 2012.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch, a collaboration between Level-5 'n legendary animation outfit Studio Ghibli, will launch later this year in the unspecified Winter 2012 time frame. It'll be released exclusively on the PS3 with both English 'n Japanese voiceovers.

Great adventures often spring from tragedy. When faced with unmatchable sadness, anger, or fear, we more readily face the unknown 'n launch into quests a self-discovery. In the wake a death, Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch propels us into another world filled with strange creatures 'n stranger evils...

Ever thought "Ni no Kuni looks nice, but I wonder what it would look like without all that Studio Ghibli art?" Neither have we, but ye best watch these Japanese live-action ads for Ni no Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch anyway.

In the brief clip above, 'n one more after the break, voice actress Mana Ashida explores realistic CG interpretations a locations from the game. She's almost certainly looking at green screens, but she looks suitably impressed! we be also impressed, but we have the benefit a actually seeing the impressive vistas.

Red capes, regal cats 'n illuminating rhinoplasty. Good luck with that Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch localization, Namco Bandai. (Seriously, don't screw this up!)

Namco Bandai has announced that it be t' publish the fabulously crafted Level-5 RPG Ni No Kuni: Wrath a the White Witch in the US 'n Europe in 2012...