Ready for another dose of handheld strategy RPG action? We've got another batch of screenshots from the upcoming DS video game from Image Epoch and Atlus (Rising Star for Europe), Luminous Arc.

This tactical game features a number of characters, and of course, main character Alph. Anyway, this batch of Luminous Arc stills showcases the game's turn-based strategy aspects. The upper screen of the DS will be utilized for player character and enemy statistics, while the touchscreen shows the fray so you'll be able to directly control your party.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for news of Luminous Arc's Europe and North America release date, in the meantime, check out the screenshots.

More screenshots right after the jump!

 

By the looks of it, Luminous Arc will be the next big SRPG for the DS. Atlus USA recently earned publishing rights for the title developed by Image Epoch, yet the absence of a release date is difficult to bear. If you can't wait for the game which boasts of  an amazing art style,  Wi-Fi connectivity, weapon creation via Vitae Imbuing system, and all the elements to expect from a top class turn-based strategy game, you might want to drop by their spankin' fresh English official website.

Clicking on the Read link below takes you to Luminous Arc's extensive site, full of info that are sure to make you drool. Taking the shoes of Alph, a soldier in the Luminous Church's elite "Garden Children" unit, players will set out on a quest to rid the world of the Witches and return peace to the world.

With music coming from Yasunori Mitsuda, and character design by Shibano Kaito, we won't be surprised if the game rivals Final Fantasy Tactics or the Nippon Ichi SRPGs. In other words, it's definitely a title to watch out for. Don't worry, we'll keep you posted.

Atlus U.S.A. recently announced the acquisition of the North American publishing rights to the strategy-RPG for the Nintendo DS, Luminous Arc. No concrete release date for now, but Atlus mentioned that they are planning on releasing this title to North American shores later this year.

The game is developed by Image Epoch and is produced by Marvelous Interactive (the same people who produced the Harvest Moon series). We pretty much reported about what the game is all about, so we'll just dish out its key features:

• An isometric strategy RPG on the Nintendo DS
• Create new weapons and equipment with the Vitae Imbuing system
• Strengthen your friendship with comrades and improve your attacks on the battlefield
• Compare your friends' strategic prowess against your own with Wi-Fi multiplayer
• A variety of unique characters drive an epic story featuring voiced dialogue

Marvelous Interactive Inc. has now announced the official 2007 games lineup for the DS and the Wii direct from TGS 2006.

For the DS, Rising Star Games will release RPG games based on the Harvest Moon series: the Rune Factory - shin Bokujou Monogatari, Luminous Arc, and Bokujou Monogatari - Kimi to sodatsu shima. Under the Wii platform, Heroes and Bokujou Monogatari will be released.

The Rune Factory promises new monsters to fight and dungeons to explore. In Luminous Arc, you'll be immersed in a deep story and get to train your team, learn special attacks and combine objects to progress through the game. Bokujou Monogatari - Kimi to sodatsu shima allows you to build your own island while discovering new 3D characters.

Bokujou Monogatari on Wii lets you use the Wiimote in another Harvest Moon game to work the farm. You can plough the land, plant seeds, and cultivate crops. Heroes for the Wii (developed by Grasshopper Manufacture) is based on Killer7 for the GameCube, but is not a sequel to the game. It's a different game that lets you deal with social issues instead of political ones, as those found in Killer7.

The website for Luminous Arc has been updated. You can now navigate the website to see more character art and screenshots on the game. The game is being developed by an awesome team of people who've had extensive experience with SRPGs. The art style, as shown by the website, as well as the screenshots, are superb. You're also given a taste of the music - a sample of which plays in the background of the site.

As you can see, the Nintendo WiFi Connection logo is on the site. This implies that there will be some kind of online component to the game. Hopefully we'll be able to play online against other players around the world! Strategy games are always best played against humans after all.

 

Luminous Ark is an upcoming Strategy RPG. It seems to be very much along the lines of games like Final Fantasy: Tactics, Tactics Ogre, or just about any game by Nippon Ichi! From the scans, we can see that the graphics use very vibrant sprites like those found in the GBA title Riviera: The Promised Land. SRPGs aren't exactly known for focusing on graphics after all.

The touch screen can be used which should ease the pain of going through all the menus the average SRPG requires! The music and character design are being done by Yasunori Mitsuda and Shibano Kaito respectively so there are high expectations for this game.

Well, we've got the story poem down. Now, let's work on the game play. Famitsu gives us some info on how the gameplay will look like. Like other games that revolves around the fantastical, Luminous Ark ventures in the DS as an SRPG. Will this turn out to be like FFIII? Actually, it looks a little more like Final Fantasy Tactics and other tactical RPGs. 

In the game, you will travel the world map as a team. As you encounter enemies, you assign the positions of your team and then you begin your attack. Attacks can be made by either using a touch pen or the game pad. They said that using the touch pen makes no difference if you use the game pad. It only makes things easier for a left handed person or a right handed person.

The game looks quite conventional and still similar to that of a GBA. Hopefully, they make more improvements before their estimated Winter release in Japan. We're also hoping that they add a multiplayer (Wi-Fi) mode. It's a lot more fun when you get to play games like this with your friends. 

Telling the tale of Luminous Ark
Will certainly not be a walk in the park
But let us see if QJ can try
And tell you the story of a boat in the sky.

Raised in a convent known as Ever Garden
Were Tio and Alf, who now are beholden
To the Organization Luminous. They must fight and face
Monsters of evil, in battles turn-based.

The death of a leader makes all hell break loose,
Brings more beasties trying to kick your caboose.
Add to that, a witch, who's surely insane
And you've got Luminous Ark, an RPG game.

We'll give you more info as it comes to us.
We'll tell it for certain, no hassles, no fuss.
For now, just remember, that a K-ended "Ark"
Refers to the boat, and not to the spark.

If there's one thing the Gameboy Advance had aplenty, it's great tactical RPGs. Luckily, Tactics Ogre, Fire Emblem and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance can still be played on the DS. Now Luminous Arc seeks to continue the tradition on the DS natively, likely to add comfortable touch-screen controls and more detailed visuals.

There's no further information regarding the game on the web yet, so we have no idea about the developer nor a tentative release date. Maybe someone able to read Japanese could enlighten us? Anyway, given the apparent quality of Luminous Arc, we ought to hear more about it soon.

(Thanks to Jonnyram over at GAF for the scans)

  

Check out the picture below. Isn't it great art or what? Apparently it's from the new DS game, Luminous Ark. Known as Lunamisu Aaku in Japan, it is currently being developed by Image Epoch (who made subcontract work for various companies such as Game Arts, Game Republic, Monolithsoft, From, Nippon Ichi and BEC), and being published by Marvelous. The said game is reported to be 70% done, and hopefully it will be released in no time.

Not much info has been divulged about this cool-looking SRPG (Strategy Role-Playing Game) for the Nintendo DS except for the following details:

• Yasunori Mitsuda is in charge of its music and sound production
• Characters seem to have voices, but details about voice actors are still fuzzy
• Character design is made by Shibano Kaito
• Touchpen control can be either right or left- handed
• SLG parts use the standard top view

So while waiting for this brand-spanking game, you might want to immerse yourself in this eye candy we have for you. Enjoy!