RPGamer had the distinct pleasure of chatting with
Konami's own Yoshinori Sasaki today, who not only directed
Ys: The Ark of Napishtim, but also acted as a programmer
for the game.
Most prominently, Mr. Sasaki stated the PSP version of Ys
VI would differ greatly from the PS2 version. It will be
much closer to the original PC version released in Japan,
being directed more towards the "hardcore" player. Thus,
it will entail a good deal more difficulty than its PS2
counterpart, which was intended to appeal to a broader
audience.
Certain features in the PS2 version will not be present in
the PSP version, namely the Trials of Alma, which were
meant to help casual gamers get accustomed to the system.
However, the PSP game will have its own set of bonus
dungeons to please the long-time Ys fan. It will also
have mini-games, which neither the PS2 version nor the
original PC game had.
No firm progress report was given, but the PSP version seems
like it is in the final stages of production, with the
master submission just being sent in for approval. The
North American version is currently being worked on but
is obviously not as far along as the Japanese version.
As for the possibility of other games in the Ys series
seeing light in North America, Mr. Sasaki stated that he
will be attending a meeting to discuss the possibility of
a PSP version of Oath in Falghana, the companion title to
Ys III. Consequently, it is not unreasonable to expect
North America to receive it in some form in the future.
Previous Ys titles do not share the same chances, as
Taito, not Konami, is handling them.
While the PS2 version of Ys: The Ark of Napishtim already
occupies American shelves, the PSP version will not hit
North American shores until later this year.
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