Ni No Kuni, a collaboration between RPG powerhouse Level-5 and animation wizards Studio Ghibli, is not only one of the prettiest video games I’ve ever seen, but also one of the more enjoyable. It’s very sad news, then, that the game’s Western release has been delayed.
Much has been made, and rightly so, of the involvement of Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli with Level-5′s PS3 RPG Ni No Kuni (out this week in Japan). It’s helped the game look amazing. While it’s a welcome partnership, though, it’s not the first time the animation legend, or his studio, have turned up in a video game.
When Ni No Kuni was released on DS last year, it shipped in just about the coolest box ever, which housed an extravagant spell book. Well, the PS3 edition is getting the same book.
Considering how game developer Level-5 collaborated with anime studio Studio Ghibli, I guess the logical thing would be to ask for an animated Ni No Kuni. Screw that.
As far as PS3 role-playing games go, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one family friendly game. In Japan, it’s rated all ages and promoted with one of the country’s most popular child stars. In South Korea, it’s a different story.
I’m quite taken by Level-5′s upcoming RPG Ni No Kuni. A big reason for that is the helping hand the developers have had from animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli. So watching three of the game’s cutscenes is definitely something I can recommend.
Level-5 has followed their announcement that Namco will be publishing Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch‘s western release, with this trailer, which showcases gameplay, cutscenes, combat and, of course, one gorgeously animated game.