Topic: Namco Announces Sigma Star Saga for GBA

[Jonnyboy117]

The RPG-shooter hybrid is in development at WayForward and will debut this summer.

NAMCO HOMETEK INC. ANNOUNCES ORIGINAL RPG – SIGMA STAR SAGA 

RPG Puts Fight for the Universe in Player’s Hands

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (January 20, 2005) – Leading video games publisher Namco Hometek Inc. announced today that the epic space battle RPG Sigma Star Saga  is coming exclusively to Game Boy® Advance in June 2005.   Sigma Star Saga combines the rich storyline and exploration of an RPG with an action-packed shooter battle system, delivering gamers with the biggest adventure this side of the galaxy.   Humanity is struggling to survive against the Krill onslaught.  Under constant attack, Allied Earth Federation intercepts a Krill communication that singles out six planets in the galaxy that they have taken particular interest in.  Sent in as a double agent, players must discover the mystery of the six planets and help defeat the Krill from within before humanity’s time runs out!

“ Sigma Star Saga is an action-packed adventure that continues Namco’s tradition of delivering the highest quality RPG experience, but now in the palm of your hand,” said Jeff Lujan, the Handheld Business Unit Director at Namco Hometek Inc.  “This game’s great storyline, intense action, amazing sound and vibrant graphics all come together to create an original experience that’s not to be missed.”

By exploring the galaxy of Sigma Star Saga on foot, players can discover new parasitic Krill weaponry and gadgets in order to equip themselves and their spaceship.  Additionally, players can collect up to 50 kinds of “Gun Data” and then combine them in simple combinations to customize and create their own unique weapon; such as “Spread Shot + Heat Seek + Explode”.

In Sigma Star Saga , players will find:

   

An action-packed space shooter battle system – the first of its kind for an RPG!    

AAA graphics and sound    

Customizable weapons with more than 50 different “Gun Data” items    

A branching storyline with multiple endings

 For more information about Sigma Star Saga , please visit the game’s official Web site at www.SigmaStarSaga.com .  

Developed by WayForward ( www.wayforward.com ) and published by Namco Hometek Inc., Sigma Star Saga will be available exclusively for Game Boy Advance in June 2005.

[joshnickerson]

Groovy. This sounds like an RPG that I could actually get into!

Now, about Shantae Advance...

[Ian Sane]

What an odd combination.  Shmup fans will probably complain that it's too slow and RPG fans will complain that it's too hard.

But it's caught my interest.  Original games for the GBA that aren't crappy licenced junk are starting to get pretty rare so it's nice to see something new.

But man does WayForward have the crappiest timing for releases or what?  Shantae gets released at the very end of the GBC's life and now this gets released at the very end of the GBA's life.  I think these guys need to realize that games only sell if you release them for a current system.

[couchmonkey]

I'll buy that!  Well, if it turns out.  WayForward's timing does kind of stink, it seems like it takes them a while to find publishers.  My impression is that developers are having a hard time finding publishers even for games that are finished and looking good on the GBA nowdays.  Rare supposedly had to fight to get THQ to release It's Mr. Pants.

[Ian Sane]

"My impression is that developers are having a hard time finding publishers even for games that are finished and looking good on the GBA nowdays."

Yet Lizzy Maguire or That's So Raven gets approved before any work is even done. *Sigh*

[Kulock]

Hm, shots are up... wow... the character sprites for the RPG portions are huge compared to the shooter sequences...

It does sound like an awkward mix, but I'm still interested. WayForward's an excellent developer that can really do things to push a system. Of course, now that the DS is out, we don't _need_ the GBA pushed, but you get my point. :/

[KDR_11k]

"Krill"? That's some sort of crustacean swimming around in the oceans, right? I think most whales love that stuff but it's not suited for humans because it causes cancer.  

[ruby_onix]

There's a full page ad for Sigma Star Saga in the latest Nintendo Power (issue 193). It looks great.

Also, Nintendo Power is baffled as to why nobody has picked up Shantae Advance yet. You'd think that Ninty might know someone who might be able to do something about that, but apparently they can't because they SUCK!

It's as good of an excuse as any to bump this thread and get people all hyped up.

The game is supposedly set to launch sometime in late July.  

[nitsu niflheim]

I already preordered my copy about two months ago.