Topic: New Lufia Title Bound for DS

[Crimm]

The newest entry in Square Enix's Action RPG series was first announced last week.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20364

 First announced for an unnamed platform in last week's issue of Famitsu, Square Enix has released details on the newest entry of Taito's Lufia series. (Square Enix acquired Taito in 2005.) Confirmed as a DS title, Estpolis: The Land Cursed by the Gods (Estpolis is the Japanese title of the franchise known as Lufia in North America), is scheduled for a February 25 Japanese release at a price of 5,980Â¥.      

The Land Cursed by the Gods stars the monster hunter Maxim. The story covers the quest he embarks on with his friends to unravel the mystery of the Wave Device. The device is capable of granting its user god-like power.      

Maxim was also the star of Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals. The story of the SNES classic focuses on Maxim's quest to confront a race of magical demigods, the Sinistrals.  Square Enix calls the DS title a "rebirth" of the 1996 title. It is unclear how the two titles' stories are related beyond the shared cast.      

Appropriately for a "rebirth," Neverland Company, the original creators of the series, are developing the new title. Among those listed as involved with the new project are many of the developers of the SNES classic Lufia & The Fortress of Doom and the prequel Lufia II.      

There are significant gameplay differences between this game and previous entries in the series.  The game will feature the same style of puzzle-heavy dungeons as Lufia II. Unlike Lufia II, the new title has a more action-oriented battle system. The player will control Maxim directly, and switch between characters by tapping their portraits.      

No release information is currently available for North America or Europe.

[Stratos]

Figures it is on DS. Sounds like it has potential though with the original studio at the reigns.

[BlackNMild2k1]

A $67 DS game? Did square tax get an increase?

5,980.00 JPY = 66.8892 USD

[broodwars]

So they're remaking Lufia 2 in essence?  Well, if you're going to remake a Lufia game, you might as well remake the best one.

As for it being a DS game: 

I only have bad memories of the last time this franchise was on a handheld (GBA) and, while it would be nearly impossible for this game to be any worse, I can't say I'm looking forward to this one with any optimism.

[N-World]

Hmm... It might be good, but what do I know?  I'm a newbie.

At least they can hopefully give us the two SNES games on VC somewhere down the road.

[broodwars]

Hmm... It might be good, but what do I know?  I'm a newbie.

At least they can hopefully give us the two SNES games on VC somewhere down the road.

Sadly, I think the fact that this DS game could be a remake of Lufia 2 just shot down any hope we had of getting Lufia 2 on the VC.  I highly doubt Square-Enix will take any chances that people might buy the $8 Lufia 2 SNES game over the $35+ Lufia DS game.  We could still see Lufia 1 on the service, though.

[NWR_insanolord]

Well, the old Final Fantasy games came/are coming to the VC in Japan even though they were remade on the GBA and DS, so there's still a chance it could come to the VC somewhere down the line.

[broodwars]

Well, the old Final Fantasy games came/are coming to the VC in Japan even though they were remade on the GBA and DS, so there's still a chance it could come to the VC somewhere down the line.

Indeed, but look how long that took.  Square-Enix waited till the GBA and DS games had sold all they were going to sell before they started putting them on the VC.  Hell, even then we're still not going to get any of the Final Fantasies that never made it to America on the NES or SNES.  By the time Square-Enix gets around to thinking this Lufia game has sold all it's going to sell, we'll likely be on a new Nintendo console and who knows what Virtual Console will be by then.

[Crimm]

So they're remaking Lufia 2 in essence?  Well, if you're going to remake a Lufia game, you might as well remake the best one.

It has been a long time since I played Lufia II, but the story they have described does not match the story of Lufia II.  At worst it's different continuity, at best it's a prequel (since we know what happens to Maxim already, thanks Lufia & The Fortress of Doom).

Even if it is a revised continuity, it's not that much different than what Zelda does every game.

As for it being on the DS, I'm happy with that.  The DS has proven capable of providing great RPGs.  A Wii game would have been nice too, but a DS game is fine by me.

[Louieturkey]

I would have preferred a Wii version, but a DS game is fine I guess.  As long as I don't have to pick up a DSi, I'll be happy.

[KDR_11k]

The only Lufia I played was the GBC one and it was horrible. Is the main series better?

[Stratos]

Much, much better.

[Crimm]

Lufia I is not particularly unique.  Lufia II is a major upgrade in every respect.  The GBC port is not quality.

[Stratos]

Thought didn't the GBC one let you play with 9 active members in a single battle or something? Pretty crazy.

I actually preferred the first game to the second, though that may have been because I got farther in the first one.

[Mop it up]

Aw, too bad.
I hope the first two games appear on the VC because those are some where the originals can be fairly expensive.

[KDR_11k]

Thought didn't the GBC one let you play with 9 active members in a single battle or something? Pretty crazy.

Yeah, 9 active out of 12 total but if the front row gets defeated it's game over and IIRC you could only use one character per column each turn.

[Caliban]

Japanese trailer with lots of gameplay footage: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/japanese-debut-lufia-the/60467


When I read the anouncement for this game I wasn't that interested in this game because I thought it was just going to be another typical old school Japanese RPG game for the DS.


Well that trailer just changed my mind. I'm definitely interested now.