Level-5 shows Ni no Kuni hardback

By Fred Dutton Published 26 November, 2010

DS RPG gets biggest game manual ever?

Level-5's forthcoming DS RPG Ni no Kuni will come bundled with a fully-illustrated hardback that will serve as a reference guide to the game's puzzles.

Two new Japanese advertisements for the game, posted below, show how you'll need to refer back to the chunky tome in order to crack a number of the game's brainteasers.

The RPG, a slobber-inducing collaboration behind Dragon Quest IX developer Level-5 and legendary animation house Studio Ghibli, is out in Japan on 9th December, with a PlayStation 3 version due in early 2011.

A worldwide release hasn't been confirmed yet, but Level-5 wouldn't dare neglect us lot, right? Right?

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (18) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • firef7y #1 2 years ago

    Can't wait for this, shame it's not on the 360, I'll have to stick to my DS.

    The manual looks cool, hopefully the gameplay will be as good as the art.

  • mr_pink #2 2 years ago

    Will we have to suffer terrible American voice-acting when (if) this game comes out over here? Probably not enough space on a DS cart for the Japanese audio also... oh well, I can dream I suppose.

  • Man_s #3 2 years ago

    Hopefully at least the western PS3 version will be dual audio. We know there is enough space there. Really looking forward to this.

  • TravisTouchdown #4 2 years ago

    Quite, quite clearly the greatest thing that there has ever been. Please let it come in this side of next Christmas over here. Please?

  • Kostabi #5 2 years ago

    That's some old school anti-piracy measures.

    /misses entering random words from the manual

  • orangpelupa #6 2 years ago

    hmm, buy original game,
    download the japanese and english rom
    patch the english voice with japanese files.

    result:
    have book, have ni no kuni in english with japanese voice :D :D :D

    Edit:
    thanks moderator/admin deleting the spams :D
    Edited by orangpelupa at 27/11/10 @ 00:55

  • metamorphic #7 2 years ago

    Old news. This was reported by Andriasang, Joystiq, Kotaku and other news sources long ago during Level-5's news conference back in what was it, August or September or July? Thanks for the timely update EG, as usual!

    EDIT: Since some people like to neg-rep without a counterpoint, I shall utilize the magic powers of Google to reveal the following: http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/ni-no-... ... yes, quite amazing, isn't it...
    Edited by metamorphic at 27/11/10 @ 06:54

  • Lemming81 #8 2 years ago

    "Old news."

    The Japanese trailers in the article are new, as is actually seeing the book..

  • metamorphic #9 2 years ago

    @Lemming81
    No, we actually saw the book months ago, when Level-5 gave it to every single one of the journalists and bloggers who'd gathered for its launch and playtest. Seriously, do a bit of research before you start saying things... surely Google isn't too difficult to reach?

    EDIT: Apparently, it is. Yawn, http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/06... & http://www.joystiq.com/2010/09/16/ni-no-... - loving the negative reps without a counterpoint by the way. I guess the truth hurts.
    Edited by metamorphic at 27/11/10 @ 07:08

  • penhalion #10 2 years ago

    So we get the no book version then!

  • menage #11 2 years ago

    You need the book to play the game as far as I know.

  • deez #12 2 years ago

    That girls attempt at drawing the symbol was fucking dreadful.

  • lucky_jim #13 2 years ago

    @metamorphic: perhaps you're getting the negs for your sanctimonious, self-righteous and chastising tone. Maybe.

  • hiddenranbir #14 2 years ago

    "Will we have to suffer terrible American voice-acting when (if) this game comes out over here?"

    Better terrible American voice-acting I can understand over terrible voice-acting which has the added touch of being gibberish to me.

  • redcrayon #15 2 years ago

    @Metamorphic

    Do you seriously expect people to research news stories from months ago when posting a quick comment of a few words on a story? What's the need for your nerd- rage aggression?

  • Mkwone #16 2 years ago

    Finally a DS manual thats thicker than the health and safety booklet they insist with shiiping in every game. :p

    It's also great to see people put some effort into the manual for once, i've seen a few lately that consist of a couple of pages and tell you jack. The forza 3 one springs to mind, but there's been a few others aswell.

  • dadrester #17 2 years ago

    "to continue you must turn to page 43 and enter the 3rd word on the 2nd paragraph"

    reminds me of old c64 or amiga counter piracy measures.

  • Golgo #18 2 years ago

    This looks fab. If it comes out in UK, though, Nintendo will market it with Jedward or some other execrable fecks, which unfortunately will make it untouchable by anyone of sane body or mind.
    Edited by Golgo at 29/11/10 @ 10:27