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Atlus, Nippon Ichi Cue Up Japanese RPG Goodness

Posted by simoniker on from the magically-delicious dept.

Thanks to RPGFan for its post covering forthcoming U.S. PlayStation 2 RPG releases from Japan-based publisher Atlus, linking to a preview of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, "big news for fans of the series, given that it typically doesn't see many releases outside of Japan." In addition, the site previews Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner, "a brand new creation from the MegaTen creators" also coming to the States, and also looks at Phantom Brave, explaining that Atlus "had a hand in getting NIS America's (The North American division of Disgaea and La Pucelle: Tactics developer Nippon Ichi) [title] ready for prime time." Elsewhere, in more signs that the 'hardcore' Japanese RPG is making a U.S. comeback, NIS America have announced in-progress plans to bring Gust's Atelier Iris - Eternal Mana, "the sixth installment in a popular line of alchemy-based [RPGs]" to the States.

3 of 15 comments (clear)

  1. This is some fantastic news... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Atelier Iris has some absolutely gorgeous graphics, a nice, refreshing change of pace to the 3D, bump mapping, normal mapping, bloom lighting etc etc so prevalent in today's gaming society. I don't know how Atlus manages to stay in business, since their games are made for such a niche market, but I'm really glad they do... There's definitely a market for these games... I'm definitely interested in Atelier and the 2 Megaten games, hopefully this time they won't be butchered to death, as was the case with Persona!

  2. /love by Jayjr · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I've played Disgea and LPT, they are both tactical rpg's with nice twists on the usual (FF:TActics) systems, the stories are very humours and serious in the same breath. I for one cant wait for these games to come state-side.

    I bought disgea on a whim after looking for a new game at EB, was on the of the best game puchases i made in 2004. I'm sure others are now big fans of Atlus/Nippon Ichi as I am.

  3. Re:Lack of awareness... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    On the contrary, some of the best games I've played in the last year have been impulse purchases of games I hadn't previously heard of, because I liked the box art and concept. Disgaea is the most obvious example (it seems to be easier to find here in the UK than it is in the US) and Naval Ops: Warship Gunner is another.

    This is one of the peculiarities of the PS2. Because it has so many releases, you can't keep track of all of them. When a good game hits the X-box or Cube it's a major story, but games that would have been big news on either of those systems can pass almost unnoticed on the PS2.