We just found out that Marvellous Entertainment's Wii-exclusive"Project O" has a real name, if you haven't heard: Little King's Story. It's due for a May 2008 release in North America, and today we learn that it will hit the PAL territories in the first quarter of 2009, being published by Rising Star Games (Xseed handles North America for Marvellous.)

The all-star team behind the game includes Yasuhiro Wada (Harvest Moon), Yoshiro Kimura (HM & Chulip), Youichi Kawaguchi (Dragon Quest VIII) AND Hideo Minaba, art director for FFXII. Pretty exciting, if you ask me!

It's the story of a shy little boy named Corobo who suddenly becomes a king, and gameplay sounds a little bit life sim, a little bit real-time strategy and adventure, as you might expect from Marvellous.

Luton- 12th June 2008- Rising Star Games is pleased to confirm the 2009 publication of the much anticipated fantasy adventure RPG title formerly known as "Project O" and now confirmed as Little King's Story exclusively for Nintendo Wii. Developed by Rising Star Games' Tokyo based parent company Marvellous Entertainment, Little King's Story is scheduled for a Q1 2009 release in the PAL territories.
"Little King's Story has an art style that is very 'story-book' in look and one that we feel will be universally loved," stated Yasuhiro Wada, Managing Director of Marvellous Entertainment Inc. "The game has a fairytale quality that will intrigue and delight gamers the world around."
"Little King's Story is a project we're incredibly excited about bringing to the PAL territories. There's been a massive groundswell of enthusiasm for this title since being showcased at last year's Tokyo Games Show," commented Richard Barclay, Rising Star Games' UK&international marketing manager. "The game perfectly reflects the quality of gaming experience and design creativity fans of this genre now demand."
Little King's Story begins with the story of young boy named Corobo. Shy, and without many friends, Corobo stumbles upon a mysterious, powerful crown while walking in the forest near his village. He soon discovers that the crown grants him the ability to charm any person, and make them follow his orders. Suddenly, Howzer, the bull-knight appears informing Corobo that he is now King of the village and that he must not take this responsibility lightly. Returning to his sleepy village as a King instead of a shy little boy, Corobo begins a quest to turn his small hamlet into a noble, fantastic kingdom.
The storyline, visual look and lyrical music of Little King's Story work in concert to transport players to an interactive, enchanting, fairytale world. By combining gameplay elements from life-simulation, real-time strategy and adventure genres, the many aspects of creating a vast kingdom come to life. As King, players will manage and involve their townspeople in the goals of creating this new territory; enlist them to dig for treasure, build new buildings and otherwise better their community. Of course, leadership is a two-way street, so as King, players will try to conquer rival nations to create a single unified kingdom as well as grant the requests of townspeople at whim. With the Wii Remote™ as a royal scepter, 2009's Little King's Story allows players the chance to be the best king in the world.

Tags: little kings story | marvellous | pal | wii