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There's no date like September 29 for The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
XSEED announced the release date for the localized version of RIZ-ZOAWD, now more sensibly (but less intriguingly) titled The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road. Players will be rolling Dorothy and co. around the land of Oz with a virtual trackball starting September 29. Perhaps the most noteworthy thing about that date is that it isn't Spring 2010.Beyond the Yellow Brick Road combines the Oz setting and characters with a JRPG design, resulting in something that is, well, really weird.%Gallery-68346%
XSEED clicks heels together, brings Wizard of Oz RPG to North America
A licensed Wizard of Oz game doesn't seem like the biggest news, but the fact that XSEED is publishing it is a clue that there's a little more going on than the usual licensed kids' game. In fact, The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is a localized version of Media Vision's RIZ-ZOAWD, which is nothing less than a Wizard of Oz-themed JRPG. XSEED has partnered with original Japanese publisher D3 to bring this weird game to North America.Beyond the Yellow Brick Road combines the Oz setting with turn-based Dragon Quest-esque combat, with certain enemies more susceptible to attacks from certain party members, and a trackball-like movement interface. You'll be able to send your flying monkeys out for it this fall.D3 is now a subsidiary of Namco Bandai, which means that The Wizard of Oz is the fourth Namco Bandai game to be picked up by XSEED. %Gallery-68346%
DS releases for the week of December 22nd
Oh by golly, have a holly jolly something this week, because what you're not getting are DS games. Uh, unless they're gifts. But even if we had a bevy of releases, none would shine so brightly in this blogger's extraordinarily nerdy eyes as the lone title slated for Europe: 100 Classic Book Collection. Dear Reggie-Santa: I have been very, very good. Please bring me books on the DS for the new year. And in the meantime, hit the break to see what's out in Japan, where they're not taking the week off. Quite the opposite, in fact!
'Toto, I've a feeling we're still in scans'
We were so close to using "Skansas" for that title. So close. Anyway, RIZ-ZOAWD, Media Vision's gorgeous game interpretation of The Wizard of Oz, has made an appearance in the pages of Japanese mag V-Jump, where it continues to look all red-heeled and lovely.There's a serving of character art featuring the cowardly tin woodman, the brainless lion, and the heartless scarecrow (no, wait ...), new screens, and a brief guide to using the green, touch-sensitive trackball that steers Dorothy and Toto. This appears to be quite the versatile tool, with different strokes of the stylus allowing Dorothy to walk, run, and jump, but we can't stop thinking of Microsoft's awful trackball mice whenever we see it. Maybe that's just us, though.Gamekyo has the full scans, so click your heels and get over there for a peek!
The wonderful world map of RIZ-ZOAWD
Every piece of RIZ-ZOAWD news is as important as, if not more than, the announcement of a new Nintendo console. In fact, every single update on any RIZ-ZOAWD information is more important than any news about anything relating to video games in the history of mankind.So, a couple of new screens, then. Famitsu has revealed some new artwork along with the full world map, which is looking pretty stylish. Each area in the game is based upon a different season -- so the changes in environments aren't simply due to Oz being such a trippy place. You can check out a few more screens after the break, and the full collection over at Famitsu.Disclaimer: The above text contains at least one (miniscule) exaggeration.
More from the wonderful wizard of RIZ-ZOAWD
Is RIZ-ZOAWD the most beautiful game in the cosmos? Why, yes. Yes it is. Following on from these screens, we've found a big batch of new media just ready for the drooling. One might get a little bit tired of examining the same game for extended periods of time, but this Wizard of Oz remake is just really, really good-looking.The images show off a range of new enemies, some larger pieces of artwork and a bunch of in-game shots showing Dorothy wandering around doing her red-heeled thing. Check past the break for a few select screens from the pile, and wander over to the Kanji-laden source for a feast of RIZ-ZOAWD righteousness.
Follow RIZ-ZOAWD's yellow brick screenshots
Rather than make us wait for publisher D3P to update RIZ-ZOAWD's official site with images from the game, Famitsu clicked its heels and posted a preview of the Wizard of Oz-inspired RPG with a half dozen screenshots from the magazine pages posted earlier this week. Due this winter and developed by Media.Vision (Wild Arms series), RIZ-ZOAWD features a virtual trackball on the touchscreen which players can rotate to move Dorothy. During battles, enemies appear on the top screen, Dragon Quest-style, with attacks and other commands on the bottom display.So far, the game's seems to follow the 1939 film closely, but instead of living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Harry, the orphaned Dorothy lives alone with only Toto to keep her company. Also, during their adventure in the land of Oz, Dorothy and her party will play through "four fields of play themed in spring, summer, fall and winter." Hopefully, the game will turn out much better than the Sci-Fi channel's reimagining of the original story with its Tin Man miniseries.
RIZ-ZOAWD website is stunning
Anagram-lovers unite for the latest revelation in the RIZ-ZOAWD saga. The Japanese website is now live, and it's achingly beautiful. Note to all artists and designers -- you deserve a raise.After several gorgeous images inviting viewers to the main menu, the four classic Wizard of Oz characters are displayed together. Each one is a fabulous re-imagining of the original designs, with the Tin Man getting some extra shine. The only currently active link directs you to a synopsis of the story -- in Japanese. Well, most people should have the general idea, but there's sure to be countless new ideas in this RPG re-telling. Even with English details still in limbo, you can start appreciating the artwork right here -- right now![Via GoNintendo]
RIZ-ZOAWD confuses all, until they figure it out
Media Vision (best known for the RPG series Wild Arms) are hard at work creating a new RPG for the DS, at this stage titled RIZ-ZOAWD. Yeah, what? It's a perfectly cromulent title.The awesome name is expected to be changed in localization (assuming North America doesn't miss out), but for now you can check out the Famitsu scan showing off a few gameplay screens. A friendly-looking scarecrow can be seen, along wth a girl wearing a blue dress and red slippers ... hmmm, this sounds strangely familiar. If you have strange recollections from The Wizard of Oz, you're not alone. The more Hawking-like readers will also notice that RIZ-ZOAWD is an anagram for WIZARD-OZ.RIZ-ZOAWD will be controlled entirely with the stylus using a track ball (that is, moving a ball to move a character). The game will be released come winter in Japan, but all that cold weather can't be good for Dorothy's complexion.
