Dream team of Xenogears vets reunite for a new RPG.
By Brian Gray, 04/23/2008

Today's Weekly Famitsu revealed a new RPG in the works at Sega: World Destruction. While that name may not exude originality -- RPGs have certainly had no shortage of worlds and/or destruction -- the talent behind this one should be enough to get even the most jaded RPG enthusiast on board for whatever apocalypse it has in store.

World Destruction reunites three veterans behind the PS1’s popular Xenogears: scenarist Masato Kato (also of the original NES Ninja Gaiden and Chrono Trigger fame), character designer Kunihiko Tanaka, and composer Yasunori Mitsuda (known for his work on Chrono Trigger, Shadow Hearts, and a number of other titles). Backing them up is a dev team of nearly 50 creators; more on them in a moment.

While most RPGs revolve around saving the world from certain destruction, World Destruction tries the opposite. In a world (you knew that was coming) where humans serve as livestock for the ruling beastmen, and where sand fills the roles of water and fire, you play as Kyrie, a young lad who is recruited by the "World Destruction Committee" to assist in putting an end to their world. As it turns out, Kyrie alone holds the power needed to do it.

Kyrie will be joined by heroine Morte, as well as four more characters introduced in Famitsu: Naja, a half-human, half-beastman fighting on behalf of the world; Agan, a comical member of a pro-human guerrilla organization; Li’a, a 300-year-old dragonkin trapped in a 16-year-old body; and Toppy, a badass, bounty-hunting bear who sports an eye patch.

Their journey is presented in lush 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds, and the team promises to push the 2D sprite animation to the limit, even going so far as to bring Grandia design director Masatoshi Azumi onto the project. Also joining the staff as monster designer is Etrian Odyssey’s Shin Nagasawa. Some of the game’s monsters are so huge they span both screens.

Battles are waged with a three-character, turn-based system: characters store up BP (battle points) to use abilities and team attacks, and players can then time button presses to inflict further damage, or cancel the commands altogether like in a fighting game.

Developed by Image Epoch, World Destruction for the DS is 70% complete and expected to hit Japanese store shelves this summer. A television anime and manga are also due around the same time. While a North American release has not been confirmed, we're hopeful, so stay tuned for more coverage!

Making the most of its multiple media production, Sega debuted two new commercials for its forthcoming World Destruction DS game during the Japanese premiere of its accompanying World Destruction anime series. The videos are blurry, and there's less than fifteen seconds of actual in-game footage between the two clips, but you can still see a preview of the JRPG's combat! Plus, one of the girls totally kicks a prison door off its hinges.

Sega has also announced that it will throw in a "premium soundtrack" for anyone who puts in a preorder for World Destruction's September 18th release in Japan. The CD will contain five tracks picked out by composer Yasunori Mitsuda, whose name you should recognize from his work on Chrono Trigger and the Xenosaga series. Jump past the break for the album cover and second commercial!

All across the internet, upcoming Nintendo DS game World Destruction is building up hype. This is in small part due to its looks and in small part due to it having a character that is a fricking bear pirate. But when really looking, it soon becomes obvious that the biggest factor in the huge buzz is that there are several key players from Xenogears involved. Certainly some of the excitement is warranted, but let’s get one thing clear for all those awaiting this title: do not expect another Xenogears.

These new World Destruction scans discuss the question, “What are Battle Points, anyways?” The answer: points that characters collect over passing turns. Amassing six means it’s time for a fancy combo attack. One of the four sacred beasts ruling the world is also revealed, as well as the twelve governing animals (led by the wise old owl, naturally), under whose governance humans reside. You’re not crazy: there are only eleven pictured, because one was mysteriously murdered.