During Sony’s keynote presentation at PSX 2016, developer Level-5 lifted the curtain on a really rather beautiful new trailer for Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom.
Pegged for a 2017 release – still no word on a specific date just yet – the Ni No Kuni sequel will chronicle the fantastical journey of Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, a young prince who has lost his throne. The narrative similarities to Final Fantasy XV end there, though, as Level-5’s follow-up “brings together the shockingly beautiful anime-inspired graphics from the first game along with a fresh new battle system and all-new storyline developed by the extremely talented team.”
One party that won’t be involved this time around is Studio Ghibli, the decorated animation house behind such classics as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away. News that Ghibli won’t be involved is disappointing, particularly when you factor in their penchant for poignant storytelling, but we remain confident in Level-5’s ability to deliver a rich, compelling RPG.
That’s something that really shines through in the snippet above, as we see Evan set off on his magical quest. Aided by friends old and new, you’ll also be able to get a glimpse of the Ni No Kuni II battle system, which looks set to retain that intriguing mix of an active battle system peppered with turn-based elements. Toss in the Pokémon-like summoning mechanic and it’s little wonder why the original became such a cult favorite.
It’s official: Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom will grace PS4 at some point in 2017. Stay tuned for more coverage of Level-5’s RPG sequel in the coming weeks and months.
