[PS3] Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

[msduncan]

This game comes out in 1 week.    I only recently became aware of it.    I'm hoping for some reviews this week? 

[faide]

Not sure when the reviews go up for it, but there is a demo on the PSN store if you are curious about checking the game out before it's released.

[EddieA]

There are a bunch of reviews linked here and IGN just posted their 9.4/10 review.

[Gratch]

There are a bunch of reviews linked here and IGN just posted their 9.4/10 review.

Wow, fantastic review by IGN.  I was on the fence with this one (mainly because the combat didn't really look interesting to me), but definitely going to take the plunge.

[msduncan]

That settles it.   I'm dropping by Gamestop today and putting money down on it.    I was hoping this one would be good, enough so that I updated my monitor to one that has an HDMI input so I can hook my PS3 to it to play it.   

Woot!

[Gratch]

Reading through a few more of these reviews.  Looks like Ni No Kuni could really be something special.  I liked this one:  http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2013/01/04/ni-no-kuni-review-ps3-import/

It's SO awesome to have an honest-to-God JRPG to look forward to!

[Azhag]

Yup, day 1 from amazon. As a 360er who just got a PS3, I'm happy to finally have access to some more JRPGs since the 360 has essentially stopped having any outside of FFXIII.

[The Grue]

I'm IN!! but I will be out of town next week when it comes out, so I will have to pick it up next weekend.

[Gratch]

I'm IN!! but I will be out of town next week when it comes out, so I will have to pick it up next weekend.

Same here.   

[wonderpug]

I've heard plenty of buzz about this for a while, but I never stopped to actually look at some of the videos of it in motion.  Holy shit did they make a gorgeous game.  I've been burnt out on epic-length JRPGs, but I don't know how I can pass this one up.

Yo Teggy!  My PS3 is about to get used for a game!

[msduncan]

Question:    I just got a new monitor and have hooked my PS3 to it via HDMI.   I then downloaded the demo.   The PS3 menus look crisp and clear, but the demo of this game looks a tiny bit soft.   I am just wanting to verify that the graphics style is supposed to look like that.

This is more of a sanity check on my monitor than it is the game....

[davidrobots]

I preordered my Collector's edition ages ago. One of the few CEs I've actually been really excited about. Hell, I even pre-ordered the strategy guide just so I could have a makeshift art book of the thing.

Needless to say, I'm pumped.

[The Grue]

I preordered my Collector's edition ages ago. One of the few CEs I've actually been really excited about. Hell, I even pre-ordered the strategy guide just so I could have a makeshift art book of the thing.

Needless to say, I'm pumped.

I kept putting off ordering the CE in hopes that maybe it would be sold at Amazon or something like that.  My mistake.  I definitely would have liked the CE.

[davidrobots]

GOOD NEWS.

Just got this on my Facebook feed:

SUPER SPECIAL NEWS!!!

Wizards Edition Re-stock available 1/17/2013 on ClubNamco !

We have last-minute stock of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch that will be available to fans on http://bit.ly/UIm52U. So if you missed it the first time around, this is your last chance!

Anyone who wants to grab one, this is your chance!

[The Grue]

Thanks for the heads up.  I now have to set an alarm to remind myself to go there tomorrow at 11 AM Mountain.

[The Grue]

Got my CE ordered!

[Dante Rising]

Yeah, I just grabbed the CE too. I missed out on it the first time around. But I really want the GameStop steel case, so I'm in for both.

......I think I'm an idiot who is going to have buyer's remorse....... 

[davidrobots]

Yeah, I just grabbed the CE too. I missed out on it the first time around. But I really want the GameStop steel case, so I'm in for both.

......I think I'm an idiot who is going to have buyer's remorse....... 

The steelcase is nice, but that book... man, that book...

[Autistic Angel]

I'm IN!! but I will be out of town next week when it comes out, so I will have to pick it up next weekend.

Same here.  

-Autistic Angel

[Gratch]

I have no idea what that is referencing, but it made my afternoon. 

[davidrobots]

What makes me most sad about the Wizard's Edition is that it says it won't be shipping until the 22nd, which means I'm going to be waiting until a few days after to even play the thing. Why couldn't they offer it through Amazon like normal people?

Of course I opted for the fastest shipping possible.

[The Grue]

What makes me most sad about the Wizard's Edition is that it says it won't be shipping until the 22nd, which means I'm going to be waiting until a few days after to even play the thing. Why couldn't they offer it through Amazon like normal people?

Of course I opted for the fastest shipping possible.

Since I'm out all next week, I was actually okay with that.  I did go with 2-day, though, since it was only a couple dollars more.  Mine said it would ship after the 22nd, so not sure when I will actually get it.  I have so many games to play, though, that I am okay waiting.

[Autistic Angel]

I have no idea what that is referencing, but it made my afternoon.  

Oh my god.  Someday you'll have to share how you've managed to miss every commercial break in every medium for the last two years.

It's a reference to this commercial for an Alicia Keys song in which Some Guy learns that true happiness is not found in our carefully cultivated relationships with others, but in momentary brushes with C-list celebrities financed through crippling credit card debt.

It also reflects my desire for your friends and family to abandon you over your refusal to play Ni No Kuni more promptly.  Unfortunately I have no way to encourage that directly, so please tell everyone to do that.  Thanks!

-Autistic Angel

[Gratch]

I have no idea what that is referencing, but it made my afternoon.  

Oh my god.  Someday you'll have to share how you've managed to miss every commercial break in every medium for the last two years.

If it wasn't shown during a college football game, NFL game, hockey game, or on Disney Jr., I wouldn't have seen it.  I honestly haven't watched a single thing other than those four on TV in the past 4-5 years.

[davidrobots]

Grrraaaghhh waiting for my game to show up is going to be interminable. Well, I waited years to play this game, a few more days won't hurt... right?

[EddieA]

Better clear out some hard drive space - The disc version requires 4 GB, while the download version requires 20 GB    Also, here's an unboxing of the Wizard's Edition.

[Autistic Angel]

Oh, all right: let's talk about the game.

I intended to buy the Wizard's Edition back when it was available for regular preorder.  I distinctly remember this article here on GamingTrend and thinking, "Oh, I keep forgetting.  I really have to get on that!"  And then I didn't.

Fortunately, pouting for four months turned out to be a sound strategy, and thanks to davidrobots' tip about the restock, I was able to get in an order for the Wizard's Edition.  When will it arrive?  I chose Standard Shipping and, as others have already pointed out, the estimated shipping date is vaguely "After January 22^nd," so I've got my fingers crossed for sometime before March.

That's fine with me.  As great as this game looks, I'm actually not kidding when I talk about feeling more invested in Gratch's playthrough than my own.  It's no different than watching Harkonis dive into a new military shooter or Tim Turi start up a survival horror game for the first time.  Some people are simply masters of their respective genres, and it's a rare pleasure to see them enthralled by something fresh.

Also, here's an unboxing of the Wizard's Edition.

Neat package, but how did someone convince that guy the camera lens was three feet higher than it actually was?

-Autistic Angel

[MonkeyFinger]

So I ended up snagging a copy of the CE in spite of the fact that I had pre-ordered the game from Amazon months ago. Now I'm struggling with doing a last moment cancel of the Amazon order and waiting for whatever amount of time "standard shipping" actually turns out to be after the vague release date or playing the game on release day and then sending the copy in the CE back to Amazon as a return. Or perhaps selling the second copy of it here at a discount... decisons, decisons...

[Gratch]

Following this game has been interesting.  I actually haven't been all that excited for Ni no Kuni until recently, and I'm still kinda iffy on it.  There's a lot of personal red flags, although I'm sure others will feel differently.  Level 5 is very hit and miss for me as a developer.  I thought Dark Cloud 2 and Dragon Quest 8 were awfully good (even if both dragged on way too long), while Rogue Galaxy (which I'd list as one of my top 10 most disappointing games ever) and White Knight Chronicles were both dull, lifeless bores.  Not crazy about all the "Tales" series comparisons in the combat system.  Anything that requires significant twitch reflexes is typically lost on me, and I fizzled out on the last few Tales games very quickly because I never could figure out the twitchy combat.  Collectable monsters are also not my favorite mechanic, but it will depend on how they're implemented (FF XIII-2 did it pretty well...shame about the rest of the game).  

All that said, I adore all things Ghibli and having a great story, incredible eye candy, and unique characters will go a long way towards smoothing over some of the other potential issues.  Everything I'm hearing is that this game tells a wonderful tale, something that has been sorely missing in JRPG's for a long, long time.

So I'm approaching Ni no Kuni with cautious optimism and am really hoping it clicks.  I got really excited for Xenoblade Chronicles last year after it was touted as the second coming of the JRPG, and it ended up feeling like a significant let-down.   Hoping the same doesn't happen here.

The worst part is that I'm on the road for most of the next 6 weeks, so I really won't be able to dig into this game in earnest until the end of February.    At least by then y'all will be way ahead of me and can answer my stupid questions about things I can't figure out.  And it'll give me some time to get through this year's "retro" game (Final Fantasy IX).  

[Bullwinkle]

I'm in the same "Cautiously Optimistic" boat as Gratch.

Both Xenoblade and Last Story were lead balloons for me, and I'm worried that NNK will be yet another JRPG that I never finish, but the atmosphere and potential for story in this have me excited.

[davidrobots]

I think the "Tales" comparisons are mostly due to it's real-timeish nature. It's definitely not as twitch-based as the Tales games if the demo is any indication.

[Gratch]

I should probably just break down and try the demo.  I've been avoiding it because JRPG demos typically do more harm than good for me, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give it a look.

[Dante Rising]

I should probably just break down and try the demo.  I've been avoiding it because JRPG demos typically do more harm than good for me, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give it a look.

The demo was quite mediocre. If it is a good representation of the game, I'm concerned.

My biggest problem is that the overworld random battles were absolutely brain-dead easy, and apparently there are tons of them. I prefer my random battles to be like Persona or Nocturne, where there is a slight chance to die at any time. In Ni No Kuni I didn't even need to look at the screen.

[Autistic Angel]

My biggest problem is that the overworld random battles were absolutely brain-dead easy, and apparently there are tons of them. I prefer my random battles to be like Persona or Nocturne, where there is a slight chance to die at any time. In Ni No Kuni I didn't even need to look at the screen.

I know excessive easiness was a major complaint against White Knight Chronicles, but I generally consider Eurogamer to be pretty discerning:

Ni no Kuni is not afraid to test you, either. Boss fights are abundant and the regular battles between them are far from thoughtless chaff. After establishing the basics, the game stretches its legs and offers consistent challenge, regularly stepping up the toughness of the monsters you face and offering some thorny tactical combinations. Mana is a precious resource that's expensive to refill and this is one JRPG where you'll actually need to use and restock your items, where the sight of an inn brings relief.

The difficulty and levelling curves have been tuned with such care that as soon as the fights in one area become easy, you're on to the next. You'll rarely, if ever, need to grind; the game is comfortably padded with fun side-quests and challenging monster bounty hunts instead. Seldom has a console role-player been so perfectly paced, or side-stepped the onset of ennui with such sure footing.

The review also specifies that Ni No Kuni takes a bit to unveil all its battle systems, so I'd assume the demo is only presenting the most basic elements of game play.

-Autistic Angel

[Dante Rising]

My biggest problem is that the overworld random battles were absolutely brain-dead easy, and apparently there are tons of them. I prefer my random battles to be like Persona or Nocturne, where there is a slight chance to die at any time. In Ni No Kuni I didn't even need to look at the screen.

I know excessive easiness was a major complaint against White Knight Chronicles, but I generally consider Eurogamer to be pretty discerning:

Ni no Kuni is not afraid to test you, either. Boss fights are abundant and the regular battles between them are far from thoughtless chaff. After establishing the basics, the game stretches its legs and offers consistent challenge, regularly stepping up the toughness of the monsters you face and offering some thorny tactical combinations. Mana is a precious resource that's expensive to refill and this is one JRPG where you'll actually need to use and restock your items, where the sight of an inn brings relief.

The difficulty and levelling curves have been tuned with such care that as soon as the fights in one area become easy, you're on to the next. You'll rarely, if ever, need to grind; the game is comfortably padded with fun side-quests and challenging monster bounty hunts instead. Seldom has a console role-player been so perfectly paced, or side-stepped the onset of ennui with such sure footing.

The review also specifies that Ni No Kuni takes a bit to unveil all its battle systems, so I'd assume the demo is only presenting the most basic elements of game play.

-Autistic Angel

Good to hear. Its a shame they didn't bother to show that in the demo. But as others have mentioned, RPG demos are usually fairly dubious.

[MonkeyFinger]

FYI - this is out. Don't know if Best Buy broke street or not be just saw it sitting on their shelves.

[Bullwinkle]

FYI - this is out. Don't know if Best Buy broke street or not be just saw it sitting on their shelves.

You're sure it wasn't a pre-order box?

[MonkeyFinger]

FYI - this is out. Don't know if Best Buy broke street or not be just saw it sitting on their shelves.

You're sure it wasn't a pre-order box?

Absolutely positive.

[davidrobots]

FYI - this is out. Don't know if Best Buy broke street or not be just saw it sitting on their shelves.

You're sure it wasn't a pre-order box?

Absolutely positive.

I went to my best buy today and they didn't have any on the shelf. I think this one's YMMV.

[Azhag]

Those who pre-ordered from Amazon, have yours shipped yet? Mine doesn't say it has, yet says delivery on Tuesday. Hope it's not using USPS :-P