Thursday, October 27, 2011

Konami's Beyond the Labyrinth (3DS) has some classy box art

I've had my eye on Beyond the Labyrinth since it was announced earlier this year. Not because it's being made by the folks at tri-Ace, mind you, but because it's supposed to be some sort of dungeon-exploring RPG.

I say "supposed" because a lot of the game is still a mystery--despite the fact that it's due to be released in Japan on Jan. 19.


Anyway, I'll continue to be interested in the game even if it ends up being nothing more than a slightly interactive 3D movie--thanks in equal parts to its cheery protagonist and its classy cover art (above).

Here's hoping that classy cover art appears on the North American version of Beyond the Labyrinth, should, you know, Konami decide to bring the game to our shores at some point.

(Via andriasang.com)

10 comments:

Adam said...

Looks interesting, the 3DS needs more software support. I hear it's more real time so hopefully konami has something awesome planned

Bryan Ochalla said...

I wouldn't worry too much about the 3DS' software support, Adam -- it seems the system is going to be flooded with quality games starting next month and ending ... who knows when.

That said, I'd certainly like it if a game like this was brought to the States -- whether it's turn-based, real-time or something else entirely!

Viewtiful_Justin said...

Nah, they're gonna give her angry eyes and put a big weapon in her hand or something...

I'd like to see this in action.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Ha! I'd love to see that, Justin! Or they'd turn her around, make her skinnier, older and give her big boobs, right? :)

Anyway, I'd like to see this in action, too. Hopefully the battles aren't too boring...

Gerard said...

I've read of previews describing it as 'Ico with boobs'. Take that as you will.

Bryan Ochalla said...

Hey there, Jyr! Hmmm, that description is ... not what I expected. I'm not sure I believe it, though. I mean, this game clearly has what look to be Wizardry-esque battles, something that can't be said of Ico. I get the sense that BTL may ape Ico's "feel" in some way, though. Anyway, I'm still intrigued by it. You?

Gerard said...

It looks fantastical, I'll give it that. Are you a fan of Ico? If so, what d'you make of what you've seen of the Last Guardian so far?

Bryan Ochalla said...

Yes, it certainly looks fantastical. As for Ico: Yes, I'm a fan, although not as rabid a fan as many. And as for Last Guardian: I really like how it looks, but I'm still unsure as to how it's going to play. That is what's going to make me either want it or avoid it upon release. What do you think of those two games, BTW?

Gerard said...

Yeah, I like'em, and I do think they serve as good ammunition for Sony's attempts at having video games redefined as pieces of art, but then go and undermine that with things like God of War 2 & 3, that took an interesting bit of Greek tragedy and turned it into just your average 'angry man stabs world' kind of thing.

Without me sounding like an arse by asking, d'you have a stance on the whole 'game as art' thing?

Bryan Ochalla said...

Oh, yes, I definitely have a stance on this whole 'games as art' thing -- and you aren't an ass for asking, by the way :)

Basically, I think of games like I do films and novels -- all of them are forms of art, but not all of them live up to the lofty definition of "art."

So, just like George Orwell's works are considered worthy of that moniker but Michael Crichton's are not, or like Citizen Kane is worthy of it but Porky's is not, some video games live up to their standing as art and some do not.

I think one mistake people make is in thinking that all games have to be "artistic" for the medium as a whole to be considered art. Film and novels and other forms are art don't have such rigid "rules," why should games?

Anyway, those are my rather rambling thoughts on the matter. What are yours, Jyr?