Review: Dragon Ball Z – Ultimate Tenkaichi (PS3)

While the manufacturing runs tend to be so small as to inspire… let’s call them impressive price points on eBay a year later… we can count pretty reliably on publisher Atlus to bring the unusual Japanese games into our somewhat hairier western grasp. It’s a business model that clearly succeeds for the company, and it’s a great thing for gamers everywhere. Case in point is Climax Entertainment’s (Shining in the Darkness, Shining Force, Landstalker) puzzle-platformer Steal Princess. Due in the US in March, the game features a thief heroine named Anise (giggle, giggle) who works her way through 150 3D platforming puzzles as an alternative to prison. The game also, impressively, boasts a level creator and the capability to share them online using Nintendo WiFi Connection. Not a bad set of features for such a game, if you ask me.

Further, if you think that whip makes Anise look like a Belmont, I’m inclined to agree. Head on below for the press release.

Don’t be surprised when a game thusly named burgles all your free time

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 15, 2009 - Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced that it has secured the North American publishing rights for Steal Princess™ for Nintendo DS™, a puzzle/platformer hybrid on a mission to break the mold and redefine a couple of genres in the process. Over 150 levels of increasing complexity eagerly look forward to pushing your central processing unit (i.e., your brain) to its limits. When you’ve completed the stages provided, wipe your well-earned tears of joy away and jump into the powerful level creator to design your own devilishly tough maps, placing enemies, constructing moving platforms, and even setting custom victory conditions! Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support allows your custom creations to be shared online with anyone across North America!

Steal Princess is scheduled for release on March 24, 2009, with an MSRP of $34.99.

For more information about Steal Princess, visit the official website:
http://www.atlus.com/stealprincess

About Steal Princess
While exploring the thought-to-be-long-abandoned palace of the Ancient Demon King, the young thief Anise stumbles upon a startling discovery: the palace isn’t abandoned at all, and it’s crawling with demons, no less! Equally startling is the deadly booby trap she triggers in the process of opening a locked door. She barely outruns the giant boulder bearing down on her, escaping the palace only to fall into a surging river, unconscious.

The fairy Kukri, imprisoned for centuries in the chamber Anise inadvertently unlocked, rescues her and takes her to the Castle of Albyon. Anise awakens in the presence of the King, whose son is being held by demons in the very palace Anise narrowly escaped from. Recent events have unshakably convinced the King that this thief is descended from the Legendary Hero of Albyon, he who slew the Ancient Demon King centuries ago, and so he commands her thusly: free the Prince from the vile demons… or be tried and convicted as a thief and locked away for life. Not much of a choice, one way or the other…

Key Features

• 3-D puzzle platformer – Dive into a playing field of simple design, but deceptively complex challenge, that combines action elements with puzzle-solving skills on a 3-D, isometric plane. Jump, swing, climb, and attack as you search for the key to complete each level.
• Over 150 levels to beat – Levels spanning different geographies and requiring different strategies deliver on the promise of true breadth. Play them again to beat your best times, earn higher rankings, earn better endings, and collect more gems to unlock items.
• Create and trade custom levels – A robust custom map maker lets you construct levels with any enemies, items, and victory conditions you want. Trade maps with other players over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and local wireless for a never ending challenge!

Steal Princess has been rated “E10+” for Everyone 10 and older with Language, Mild Fantasy Violence, and Suggestive Themes by the ESRB.

About Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Located in Irvine, California and founded in 1991, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. is renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Odin Sphere, Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. For more information, visit http://www.atlus.com.

For breaking news, special promotions, insider info, and more, visit http://www.atlus.com/faithful to join the ranks of the Atlus Faithful!©2009 Marvelous Entertainment Inc. Licensed to and published by Atlus U.S.A., Inc.