Titles like 428 -- a clear member of the outstretched-handclub, even if it's not box art -- make us wish we had a Japanese Wii. Also, that we could understand Japanese. That's probably pretty important when it comes to Sound Novels, and from these shots from the suspenseful 428: The World Doesn't Change Even So, the story looks like it might be worth following.
Y'know, if we could. Instead, we'll just have to sift through the images and try to reconstruct the surreal story they paint. And we'll have to be happy with that, since the chances that we'll see an English version are somewhere between negative 15% and a cold day in hell. Too bad -- we really wanted to know what was going on here.
By themselves, these Imabikisou: Kaimei Hen screens barely register on the "scary scale" -- a highly advanced, experimental fear-measuring instrument that we purchased through eBay. When sorted into a collection, however, such as our massive gallery below, the images begin to grow a feeling of unease in your stomach as you peruse each shot.
Maybe it's the fact that none of the characters' faces are ever completely shown? Or perhaps it's the ambiguous, likely supernatural conflict that presumably connects all the images? We just hope that Sega decides to eventually bring this Chunsoft-developed visual novel, a port of a PlayStation 3 title (with two new chapters), to the States! Lock your doors, pull your curtains shut, and peek past the break for a creepy Imabikisou trailer.
Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3's setting, the Clockwork Palace, has given developer Chunsoft license to pit Shiren against some supremely freaky-looking mechanical monsters. Just the very existence of monsters in a Mystery Dungeon game is cause enough for fear, as any single one of them can kill you and erase all your progress. It almost seems like overkill, then, to design enemies that actually look creepy at all.
Famitsu has revealed some of the boss creatures found in the dungeon, including the five Ikusa Oni, a sort of Power Rangers-type organization, but made of monstrous samurai, and the Clockwork Kasha, a flaming cart with a Noh mask.
The Clockwork Giants aren't particularly frightening, but they're certainly weird. Both are mechanical heads with one pair of appendages each; one has hands and the other feet, and both have totally metal eyebrows.
Usually with these niche and traditionally Japan-only titles, we spend the post complaining about missing out on another potentially great game, as we did with our last Shiren the Wanderer post. But with Sega's recent localization for the Shiren the Wanderer DS remake and with the Wii game's U.S.-friendly title -- Shiren the Wanderer 3: Karakuri Yashiki no Nemuri Hime (Shiren the Wanderer: The Sleeping Princess in the Clockwork Palace) -- this game has a relatively good chance of making it to the states!
The clip above is from the Wii game's opening movie, one of two videos posted at Sega's official Shiren the Wanderer site. It's got airships, the titular Clockwork Palace, and everyone's favorite white weasel, Koppa. The other video, a four-minute promotional trailer, has all that and shots exploring the roguelike's dungeons, including their new enemies. Take a diagonal step past the post break to watch it!
In Japan, developer Chunsoft isn't just known for inventing the Mystery Dungeon subgenre of roguelike RPGs. They're also responsible for the development of the "visual novel" genre: graphical text adventures that focus on telling a story with very little player involvement. Chunsoft calls these Sound Novels, a name they have trademarked.
The company has announced thier latest Sound Novel as a Wii release. Like most other ChunsoftSoundNovels, the "suspense drama" 428: The World Doesn't Change Even So uses real photographs as backgrounds for its text; while early releases featured silhouettes, the later Sound Novels now use real actors as well. Also like other Sound Novels, it has approximately 0% chance of being released outside of Japan.
Ever the pessimists, we're having a hard time convincing ourselves that Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 will ever make it stateside. Yes, we thought the same about the Shiren game that just hit the DS when localization rumors materialized, but we doubt that sales for the niche title impressed Sega, compelling the publisher into adding the Wii sequel to its North America release schedule.
So, until monkeys fly out our butt someone announces a localization deal for Shiren 3, the only way you'll play this revamp of the revered roguelike is an expensive import -- provided that it's compatible with Freeloader. If you're shelling out the big bucks, why not grab the Koppa Wii remote stand, too? NCSX has the stands available to gamers who put down their $65 (plus shipping and handling) for an early preorder. Though Shiren 3 isn't due until June 5th, the import shop has a limited amount of stands, so reserve soon!
Those of you who've played the DS remake of the SNES game -- all four of you -- and aren't sure if Shiren 3'sadditions are enough to warrant a purchase, make sure you check out the new boss characters in the Famitsu link below!
Read - Preorder Furai no Shiren 3 at NCSX Read - New Furai no Shiren 3 screenshots
Back in January, Sega announced a delay for the Japanese version of Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3, bumping the title back from February into June. Today, Sega announced the official release date, confirming that it (probably) won't be bumped further: June 5th.
We're inclined to think that Sega delayed Shiren until production of the limited preorder bonus was finished, but Chunsoft was probably working on the game or something. The two events do happen to coincide, however: along with the release date announcement, Sega sent out a real picture of the Koppa Wii remote stand, which we want almost enough to import the game.
Chunsoft is adding a suite of online features to the newest entry of its revered roguelike series, further distinguishing Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 as more than just "a 3D remake of the original SNES game." Topping the list of online additions is a new versus mode in which you can take a break from having monsters, traps, and other common dungeon hazards kill you -- instead, you can die at the hands of other wandering Shirens.
Like the rescue feature introduced in Shiren the Wanderer DS, you can resurrect your friends who've died during their dungeon travels (they can resurrect you, too!) in Shiren 3. Also, online leaderboards and a pot-trading system will be implemented in the Wii version, putting that Nintendo WiFi connection to good use. All that's left to ask for is a US release from Sega!
This could be a simple mixup with the DS version, or it could be something awesome. In IGN's writeup of the regrettable Shiren the Wanderer 3delay, writer Anoop Gantayat made the following statement:
"... Shiren is set for US release under the name Shiren the Wanderer 3. As the U.S. version is currently with a TBA release date, expect the TBA to come post Summer."
This is actually the first we've heard of any North American release plans for the brand-new roguelike. With the DS Shiren 2 remake coming out in March, localization of further Shiren games seems like a definite possibility, but we haven't heard any announcements from Sega. We would be more than enthused about having a shot at the gorgeous new dungeon game. If we were to get Koppa here as well, even better.
Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 was originally planned for a February 28 release in Japan. While we'd like for it to be released as soon as possible so Sega can go ahead and announce a U.S. date (please?), we're all going to have to wait a while. The game has been pushed back to June, for good reason: to add more content, as well as improving the general quality of the game.
We aren't sure if this was Chunsoft's decision or Sega's, but since the delay was announced concurrently with the delay of Red's Dramatic Dungeon: Sakura Taisen, we suspect that Sega is cracking down on their developers. If you were Sega, wouldn't you be concerned about the quality of your releases? Maybe as a result of the extra time, we'll get an improved game along with an improved Koppa Wiimote holder.
One of the new systems in Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 allows you to imbue items with elemental (or other) attributes at certain locations around the dungeon. When you happen upon a spot marked with (for instance) a lightning icon, you can set an item down and allow it to "grow" a lightning attribute.
This is done by first setting the item down in the right spot, then using scrolls to create a barrier around the item. After a few turns, the barrier will break down and the item will be ready! And you'll probably be dead anyway, but the item will be there just in case you aren't.
Famitsu has screens showing off this process, as Shiren turns his sword into a Dark sword. It looks just like it did, but, it's got like a different icon on it in the menu.
We didn't realize until about five minutes ago how badly we needed a Wiimote stand, but now we're pretty sure we're going to die of hypo-standia without one. Specifically, the promotional Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 Wiimote stand seen here (in concept art), in the shape of Shiren's weasel companion Koppa.
Thanks to Sega, the novelty Wiimote stand will be the Wii's version of the noveltystylus, and we could not be more okay with that. What we could be more okay with, however, is the method of obtaining one of these. It's a limited-edition preorder gift for the game (due Febuary 28th), and we're not about to spend the $60+ on an unusable Japanese disc just to get one of these Wiimote stands to serve a function that we didn't know existed.
Chunsoft's ridiculously difficult Roguelike series, Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren, is getting a new installment on the console that we kind of thought would be the least likely destination for crazy-hard games. The new edition, Fuurai no Shiren 3, will be in (very nice-looking) full 3D, and will contain a new item-growth feature in which items left in certain spots will improve after a certain number of turns.
Perhaps our favorite thing about this game is that it renders a common criticism of the Wii invalid. As of right now, the Wii officially has the most "hardcore" game of any next-gen console. We do feel a little bit bad about Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon, which is pretty much redundant now.
Posted May 10th 2007 10:35AM by James Konik Filed under: News
Why don't scientists show a little more imagination? Genetically engineered Chocobos would solve most of the world's problems in a stroke. Traffic jams would be a thing of the past and all those cute yellow beasties running around would keep everyone way too happy for war or, y'know, other bad stuff.
It may be some time before this vision becomes a reality, leaving us with Chocobo's Dungeon: Labyrinth of Forgetting, which is heading to Wii in the not-too-distant future. The Chocobo's Dungeon games feature randomly generated levels, making them a little different every time you play. Details on the new title are pretty thin on the ground at the moment; expect more news at the end of the month.
Chunsoft is adding a suite of online features to the newest entry of its revered roguelike series, further distinguishing Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 as more than just "a 3D remake of the original SNES game." Topping the list of online additions is a new versus mode in which you can take a break from having monsters, traps, and other common dungeon hazards kill you -- instead, you can die at the hands of other wandering Shirens.
Why don't scientists show a little more imagination? Genetically engineered Chocobos would solve most of the world's problems in a stroke. Traffic jams would be a thing of the past and all those cute yellow beasties running around would keep everyone way too happy for war or, y'know, other bad stuff.
