Level-5 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Fri, 26 Oct 2018 14:21:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Level-5 | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Level-5 is resurrecting cancelled horror game Ushiro for the Nintendo Switch https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/level-5-is-resurrecting-cancelled-horror-game-ushiro-for-the-nintendo-switch/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/level-5-is-resurrecting-cancelled-horror-game-ushiro-for-the-nintendo-switch/#respond Fri, 26 Oct 2018 13:32:17 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=392601 Upon reaching its 20th anniversary, Level-5 teased the revival of a past title prompting the rumour mill to start spinning. The developer has since revealed that its cancelled supernatural horror RPG, Ushiro, will be receiving the special treatment as the game makes its way to Nintendo Switch. Ushiro debuted during the firm’s 10th anniversary in …

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Upon reaching its 20th anniversary, Level-5 teased the revival of a past title prompting the rumour mill to start spinning. The developer has since revealed that its cancelled supernatural horror RPG, Ushiro, will be receiving the special treatment as the game makes its way to Nintendo Switch.

Ushiro debuted during the firm’s 10th anniversary in 2008, putting the player in the shoes of a shinigami spirit that could enact a ‘deal with the devil’ scenario, exchanging wishes for lives and possessing NPCs. Combat was turn-based in order to be friendlier to mobile devices and Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP).

The game was noticeably absent by the time its expected release rolled around in 2009. All official traces, such as its website, were removed the following year, leading many to suspect that Level-5 had shelved the project. Fans weren’t entirely let down, as the developer commissioned a series of light novels and manga based on the project, fleshing out the core cast of characters.

Level-5’s surprise revival is scheduled to be revealed within Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu’s November 8th issue. Destructoid managed to catch the news early, however, revealing an interaction between the publisher and president Akihiro Hino stating that Ushiro would be moved to the ‘Switch’ category to finally get it out from the PSP’s list of upcoming games.

It sounds like the team is still currently in pre-production with quite a way to go, as the project has yet to begin true development. While it will undoubtedly be different from the 10-year-old PSP prototype footage above, Hino has said that it will maintain a “more serious tone” that is akin to horror.

KitGuru Says: Once again, I’m saddened that the Dark Cloud series has yet to be revisited, however Ushiro does look to have a gripping concept. Did you miss out on Ushiro back in 2008?

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Level-5 celebrates its 20th anniversary by teasing a series revival https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/level-5-celebrates-its-20th-anniversary-by-teasing-a-series-revival/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/level-5-celebrates-its-20th-anniversary-by-teasing-a-series-revival/#respond Wed, 17 Oct 2018 10:16:20 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=391254 Hitting its 20th anniversary this month, Level-5 seems to have something special in store. The word “revival” has been teased alongside its upcoming retrospective, hinting that the developer could be bringing back an old series or a cancelled game. The studio will be featuring in Famitsu’s November 8th issue to “look back” on the company’s …

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Hitting its 20th anniversary this month, Level-5 seems to have something special in store. The word “revival” has been teased alongside its upcoming retrospective, hinting that the developer could be bringing back an old series or a cancelled game.

The studio will be featuring in Famitsu’s November 8th issue to “look back” on the company’s 20-year history with founder, president and CEO Akihiro Hino. “Could that title also be making a return!?” teases the caption, alongside the Japanese word for “revival.”

Level-5 has a handful of cancelled games under its belt. The first of which is True Fantasy Live Online that was meant to land on Xbox before being scrapped in 2004. This seems unlikely given the less-than-amicable parting between Hino and Microsoft, despite it being over 14 years since cancellation. Next up is Ushiro, a game planned for the PlayStation Portable. This has already seen a revival in the form of a novel in 2015. And lastly is the seventh core entry to Professor Layton, however that series is still going strong with a release just last year.

In fact, most series that Level-5 is known for are still going strong. Ni No Kuni enjoyed its second mainline entry earlier in 2018, Inazuma Eleven has another entry arriving in Japan at the end of the year, Yo-Kai Watch 4 is planned for 2019 and Dragon Quest is currently being handled by Square Enix directly. That leaves two series to potentially return to: Dark Cloud and White Knight Chronicles.

While White Knight Chronicles hasn’t been seen since 2010, Dark Cloud seems like the front-runner for a revival given that it is the first game ever developed by Level-5. Originally launching in 2000 with a sequel following two years later, Level-5 published PlayStation 4 ports of both in 2015 to gauge interest. Although there were no promises that the developer would return to the series, it seems increasingly appropriate given that Dark Cloud’s 20th anniversary is also approaching in 2020.

It’s worth taking such a vague comment with a pinch of salt until the November 5th issue finally hits shelves.

KitGuru Says: I’ve had my hopes for a new Dark Cloud dashed way too many times, and yet I’m still clinging onto the idea. This time it does make a lot of sense given the gravity of the studio and the title’s anniversary, but perhaps there’s another series that could be making a return? What would you like to see Level-5 delve back into?

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Level-5’s Ni No Kuni delayed until late March https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/level-5s-ni-no-kuni-delayed-until-late-march/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/level-5s-ni-no-kuni-delayed-until-late-march/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2017 14:12:22 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=357693 It seems that Level-5 has had another setback with its upcoming PC and PS4 title, Ni No Kuni 2. Originally pegged for release November 2017 and subsequently delayed until January, players will have to wait yet another two months as the new release date is set for March 23rd. Level-5 issues a press release on …

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It seems that Level-5 has had another setback with its upcoming PC and PS4 title, Ni No Kuni 2. Originally pegged for release November 2017 and subsequently delayed until January, players will have to wait yet another two months as the new release date is set for March 23rd.

Level-5 issues a press release on the matter, detailing that the game doesn’t currently meet the standards that the studio pushes out and just needs some more time in the oven. Luckily, both the PlayStation 4 and PC version are still set to launch at the same time, contrary to many releases the past few years.

Don't worry, publisher Bandai Namco has confirmed that the final release will include both Japanese and English voice over.

“With innovation and new ideas comes the need to ensure everything works together in a fun and cohesive way,” Level-5 President Akihiro Hino said. “This means we'll need a bit more time to make sure the entire Ni no Kuni II experience meets our highest quality standards. So today, I would like to ask for everyone’s patience as we move Ni no Kuni II’s worldwide release date to March 23, 2018.”

Aside from the delay, Hino states that the project “is coming along very nicely” and that there are new gameplay elements to look forward to. “In an effort to constantly innovate, we’ve also implemented new modes in Ni no Kuni II, including the new Skirmish and Kingdom Modes.”

KitGuru Says: I still have a soft spot for Level-5’s roots as I’m a big Dark Cloud fan, so I trust the developer’s instincts. And since I won’t be getting another one of those games for a long while, if ever, I think I might just pick up Ni No Kuni 2. Are you interested in the title?

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