Cave Story...in 3D! (In more ways than one...)

Developer Nicalis and publisher NIS America are teaming up to bring a 3D remake of Cave Story to 3DS, simply titled Cave Story 3D.

Cave Story 3D takes the original title and remakes it entirely, shifting from the game's classic 2D sprite design toward a more modern 3D-modeled game. The game will still retain its 2D gameplay, thereby making Cave Story 3D a 2.5D game, of sorts. This allows the game's backgrounds to be affected by the Nintendo 3DS's display, adding to the world's large, organic design.

A comparison of the WiiWare and 3DS protagonists

The game is being worked on with the supervision of Cave Story-creator Daisuke Amaya, or Pixel. The original Cave Story was released in Japan for free in 2004, but in the past year, the game has seen a revamped graphical release on WiiWare in March 2010 and a DSiWare port this past November. Like in those projects, any art asset or musical change goes through Pixel for clearance before being implemented into the final product.

Concept art of the starting cave

Beyond the graphical and musical recreation, Cave Story 3D will include sections and gameplay elements unique to the game. When originally creating the game, Pixel had cut a number of locations and a couple elements from the final product, but in Cave Story 3D, the extra game content will be brought back to create a fuller, richer experience. Furthermore, Pixel says that the reception of this game could dictate whether Cave Story will see a full-fledged sequel in the future, despite his statements prior removing the possibility of more Cave Story.

Cave Story 3D is still early, but Nicalis and NIS Ameica expect to see the release in early summer of this year, close to the end of the "launch window" for the new Nintendo handheld.

SOURCE (and interview): GameSpot GamesRadar

NIS turns consoles into women!

Earlier this week, NIS America announced Hyperdimension Neptunia, a unique RPG involving women based on popular video game consoles.

Hyperdimension Neptunia puts players in control of powerful goddesses called CPUs, or Console Patron Units. These goddesses are based on consoles released in recent time, including the Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3. Neptune is original, but in a way she is based on the Sega Saturn. Get it? Saturn? Neptune?

Moving on. The game focuses on customizations which change the CPUs' appearances and stats. Players will need to customize well in order to help Neptune save Histoire and fight the evil Arfoire as it attacks the world of Gamindustri. User-made images can also be imported for use as special summon spells or even as an emblem on Neptune's body.

Hyperdimension Neptunia will be releasing for PS3 in Spring 2011.

NIS America is the American branch for Nippon-Ichi Software, the development house responsible for the Disgaea series and spin-offs, as well as other titles including Phantom Brave and Makai Kingdom. The game is developed by Idea Factory's Compile Heart which opened in 2006; the company is perhaps best known for Cross Edge, a cross-over strategy RPG for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.

SOURCE: NIS America's Website