One of my favourite RPG's of all time is getting a sequel. I'm a happy man today. :)
TGS 2005: Baten Kaitos II announced for GameCube
Second installment of Namco's GameCube RPG to be shown at the Tokyo Game Show.
According to the latest issue of Famitsu magazine, Namco is developing a sequel to its GameCube RPG, Baten Kaitos. Titled Baten Kaitos II, the game is slated for release in Japan this December.
Baten Kaitos II will take place in the same fantasy world as the original installment, albeit 20 years prior to the original. The main character is a youth named Sagi, a cheerful assassin who works for the powerful Alfard Empire, which also appeared in the original Baten Kaitos. The sequel will see Sagi go on a journey to find the source of a series of unnatural phenomena. Journeying together with Sagi on his adventures is heroine Milly and a mysterious mechanical doll named Giro. Milly works in the same assassin group as Sagi, while Giro meets up with Sagi during his quest to discover his origins. Namco hints there will be additional party members, including characters from the original Baten Kaitos.
Baten Kaitos II will feature new continents to explore, although players will also get to revisit towns and dungeons that were present in the original. The game will once again feature the unique "Magnus" card-battle system. A trailer of Baten Kaitos II will be on display at Tokyo Game Show 2005.
So.. This is great news for Baten Kaitos fans. I'm happy I beat DS to this, but I am not sure if he knew yet..
Does anyone remember who Sagi was? The name is familiar, but I don't have a mental image. A trailer coming soon apparently. I can't wait.
There is speculation that Nintendo of America will pick this game up instead of Namco because Nintendo is the one advertising the game in Japan right now.
(I copied this news from GameSpot word for word, but if you want to read it there anyway, click here.)
I posted two magazine scans here: http://gamingw.net/forums/showthread.php?p=467071
The graphics definitely look a little better, and by the looks of things the battle system might be a LITTLE different. It is certainly shaping up well, I think. :o