Square Enix has decided to pre-empt its countdown site by sending out a press release that confirms the development of Chrono Triggerfor the DS. Learn more about this remastered version of Chrono Trigger 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.

 

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.

There once a movie called "Labyrinth." It starred the beautiful Jennifer Conelly and the cool-eyed wonder David Bowie. The others were pretty much just muppets and puppets (how DO you know which is which). It had a young girl (Conelly) go through a large labyrinth just to reach the Goblin King's (Bowie) tower and save her little brother (muppet?). Now there's a game called "Deep Labyrinth" that's was just recently released, is it going to be populated by muppets as well? Let's see.

Most RPGs are viewed from a third person's point of view. Naturally because they'd like to see the character they're playing. If the character doesn't look good, expect the sales to go down pretty sharp. Sorry, but most RPG players like seeing their characters portrayed as cool and handsome. First Person Shooters (FPS) on the other hand, just shows the arm. That's it. FPS players don't mind because they all look the same anyway. They're pretty much happy just wearing their ski masks and Army uniforms. What's important to them is the gameplay and the way bodies explode on grenade launcher impact.

Labyrinth has mixed the two game features together. Presenting: the FPRPG. First Person Role Playing Game. You basically just see your arms most of the time in this game, but instead of wielding M-16s or spades, you'll be fighting with swords, blocking with shields, casting spells, and using items. You'll be fighting dragons and monsters, naturally.

You'll be playing as Ace, a sixth grader. You and your dog will be in search of your parents who disappeared suddenly when they entered a mansion on the road. Dog goes in, boy follows (they never learn do they?--Dogs, I mean) and you're teleported into the "Deep Labyrinth."

The story,gameplay, and music from the people who brought you Chrono Trigger, FF VII, and Xenogears: Masato Kato and Yasunori Mitsuda.

Game released stateside: August 15, 2006.

Conelly not included.

1up.com has published a review on the DS game Deep Labyrinth. And it ain't exactly raving.

According to the review, Deep Labyrinth is a game "conflicted at the genetic level, a DS port of a 3D cell-phone adventure". Shaping this conclusion is the claim that the control scheme is amazingly horrible, and the graphics are mediocre at best. And this is supposed to be a game that includes Masato Kato of Chrono Cross/Xenogears and Yasunori Mitsuda (for soundtrack) in the production's creatives list!

Okay, so the musical score is gorgeous. That much, the review had to concede. But as for the story, well, it leaves little to the imagination, at least as far as the second scenario is concerned.

Targeted as one of the problems of the first scenario of Deep Labyrinth is that it was supposedly newly-added to appeal to the DS demographic, which, as indicated by developer Interactive Brains' focus test, consisted of 8-year olds. Meanwhile, the original scenario was "unbelievably boring for the first hour or so".

But the review wasn't all jeers for Deep Labyrinth. It later goes on to say that the game eventually picks up its pace, and redeems itself with the monster-filled underground mazes, hidden pathways, and of course, heaps of cool treasures. If only it didn't take so long to get to that cool part of the game...

So, in all, Deep Labyrinth was not rated as an all-star in this review. But everything is still a matter of choice...and that means you're still free to try the game out for yourself, especially if you tend to go for treasure-huntings on the go.

Click "Read" for more of the review.

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!