Atlus proves once again that they do indeed love their fans. Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time (Growlanser IV in Japan) for the PSP has finally been confirmed for a North American release in both UMD and downloadable formats.
The strategy RPG is getting the remastered treatment and a whole lot of enhancements and additions including characters, scenarios, events and dramatically improved loading times and a message skip feature. Atlus also confirmed that the cut-scenes will full voiced, but the rest of the game will not include either Japanese or English voices due to licensing issues and work required for such a large script.
Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time for the PSP is scheduled for a Summer 2012 release. Check out the first batch of screens.
About Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time for the PSP:
ATLUS today announced plans to bring Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, the enhanced and expanded remaster of the strategy RPG classic, to North America this summer in both retail and downloadable (via PlayStation Network) formats.
Never before released outside of Japan (where it is known as Growlanser IV: Over Reloaded) and widely considered the best entry in the long-running franchise, this PSP system iteration of the fourth chapter in the Growlanser saga tells of a land — once rich with culture and technology — long ago nearly obliterated by evanescent divine entities. Two millennia later, the mysterious entities appear again, threatening to bring about an end to all things unless a fabled warrior of destiny can rise against them.
Patient North American fans can look forward to a long list of improvements and additions over the original game: new characters, scenarios, and events are complemented by dramatically improved loading times and a message skip option that allows players to advance the story at a faster pace. Blending a sprawling 40+ hour narrative with over 40 different possible endings; deep tactical RPG mechanics; the character designs of the legendary Satoshi Urushihara; and a host of enhancements over the original release, Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time continues the proud ATLUS tradition of epic adventures set in breathtaking worlds and gives PSP system owners something to look forward to in 2012.
ATLUS also revealed that while the PSP system version’s many anime cutscenes would be fully voiced, the remainder of the game would not include Japanese or English voice work. The Japanese track could not be included due to licensing restrictions, while the sheer scope of the game’s script — expanded and fleshed out over and above the original PlayStation 2 system release and already one of the largest localization projects in the publisher’s two decade history — was prohibitive to the prospects of a new English voice track.
Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time for PSP system is currently scheduled for release this summer. For more info, please visit http://www.atlus.com/growlanserpsp.