While you may expect things to be slowing down on the 3DS, as we enter a new year - and one in which we're promised at least news of a new Nintendo console, the NX - things are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. In fact, a brand new Japanese role-playing game for the 3DS has been announced - and it's looking amazing!
Titled Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale, it's a game based on the Japanese comic book series PopoloCrois, which has been combined with one of Nintendo's and Marvelous' latest releases, Story of Seasons. It seems that Marvelous have decided that rather than keeping Story of Seasons separate as its own franchise, instead, they're more than happy to inject other games with a dose of their adorable farming fun. Who knows, perhaps we might see more games appear in the future using this idea - after all, what series couldn't do with a healthy does of animal husbandry, crop maintenance, and villager romancing! (We can see it now: Kingdom Hearts: A Story of Seasons.)
The party sets off on an adventure
As you can probably tell from the screenshots adorning this page, this is a real looker. With a colourful, vibrant, and distinctly anime inspired world to explore, it's a game that reminds us of the Level 5 games, Fantasy Life and Ni no Kuni - and that's no bad thing.
In terms of storyline, the plot here revolves around Prince Pietro, a skilled fighter who goes on an adventure to find his way home and "ultimately save the land from a mysterious darkness that's threatening the very future of his entire kingdom." As for how that'll play out in the game, it'll be up to you to build a team of people and creatures to help with the farm work, venture across the land, and fight any enemies you come across.
Gorgeous anime cutscenes: check! And what's that blue wolf thing! We need a pre-order plush!!
Promising turn-based battles, quests to complete, and a crafting system that'll let you make new objects and weapons out of the items you collect (and possibly the things you farm!) this definitely sounds like our sort of game. In fact, perhaps the only downside is that it won't be getting a physical release, with the game due to hit the Nintendo eShop in downloadable form early this year.
We'll bring you more as soon as we get it with this one - but in the mean time, here's the official launch trailer, in which you can admire its fantastically eyebrowed characters in all their glory:
