lufia
Latest
Rune Factory, Lufia developer Neverland Co. to file for bankruptcy
Rune Factory and Lufia series developer Neverland Co. has ceased operations and will file for bankruptcy soon, the studio revealed on its website. Siliconera reports that Neverland's statement cites recent "changes in the business environment" as one of the studio's difficulties. Attempts to secure funding for Neverland's future development have been unsuccessful. The news follows a statement in August from Yoshifumi Hashimoto, a producer with Rune Factory 4's publisher, Marvelous AQL. Weeks after its release, Hashimoto stated that RF4 had performed well enough to "greenlight a sequel." Hashimoto also posted on Marvelous AQL's blog for RF4 after Neverland announced its closure, teasing that while the publisher's next title will "remain a secret," the staff members are doing well.
Natsume publishing Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals in North America
Square Enix's DS remake of Lufia II is headed Stateside from an unexpected publisher -- by which we mean it's not Square Enix. Natsume, who surprised us by picking up Sony's Afrika, announced plans to release the game now called Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals in North America this fall. That's good news for gamers in more than one way -- had Square published the game itself, it would have had the customary $39.99 price tag put on Square DS games, while Natsume is only charging $30. Curse of the Sinistrals takes the original turn-based SNES game, about monster hunter Maxim and his quest to defeat four "Sinistrals" before they destroy the world, and recasts it as an action RPG, with a combo system and the ability to switch characters mid-combo. %Gallery-93733%
Lufia II remake is more action, less RPG
The Lufia series always had the stereotypical spiky-haired protagonists, but now that the Lufia II characters appear in 3D in Square Enix's DS remake, they look even more Square Enixy. Not that it's a bad thing: the cinematics in this debut trailer look really nice, with a somewhat cel-shaded effect, and the in-game action is also nice-looking, as far as DS 3D goes.The game itself looks really different. Square Enix classifies this as an action RPG, but between the combos and the grappling, this looks like an action game. We suppose it's an RPG because when you hit something, numbers come out. Lufia II (or Estpolis) is out in Japan February 25.
Square Enix's new Lufia game is a Lufia II remake
Last week, Square Enix announced a new entry in Taito's long-dormant Lufia(or Estpolis) series for an unknown platform. As it turns out, it's not entirely new, though enough is being changed that it might as well be. The new Lufia is, in fact, a remake of 1995's Lufia II, redone in 3D for the DS. According to IGN's summary of a Famitsu article, that's not the only change. The game is now an action RPG instead of a turn-based game -- with combo-based attacks, and the ability to launch enemies into the air, as well as switch party members mid-combo. In addition, it will be fully voice acted. Estpolis will be released in Japan on February 25.
Square Enix announces new Lufia game, platforms unknown
We understand Square Enix's desire to branch out, but its latest move is just ... it's incomprehensible. To go from being the world's premier developer of RPGs to creators of shower paraphernalia? It makes no sense, but it's what's happening -- according to a recent Famitsu article, Squeenix is now working on a new Luffa. This is uncharted territory for the company, but we can safely assume that it will be a very high quality Luffa, designed specifically for people with soft skin and outrageously spiky hair. Update: It's been brought to our attention that the Famitsu article actually reveals that Taito (which Squeenix owns) is working on a new installment in the Lufia franchise (known as Estopolis in Japan), which looks a lot like "Luffa," so you really can't blame us for getting confused. No platforms have been announced, but the team from the original Lufia & the Fortress of Doom will be behind the wheel, so it should be fairly reminiscent of the classic SNES RPGs of yesteryear. Also, it probably won't help you clean yourself in the shower. Sorry about that. [Via Andriasang]
