More details have come to light concerning Taito's upcoming Game Boy Advance title, Lufia Gaiden. The game, which will be known as Estpolis Gaiden: Ruins of Silence in Japan, will follow on its predecessors' footsteps by using the automatic dungeon generation system, supporting up to four players at once. New in Lufia Gaiden will be the ability to gain a monster companion during the quest. There are a number of available companions, and each different monster gives the player different abilities and special techniques, unique to that monster.

The hero of Lufia Gaiden will be an energetic, insatiably curious 14 year-old boy striving to gain the status of hunter in order to search for his lost father. The hero's father was himself a treasure hunter who went off on an adventure and never returned when the hero was a young child.

Joining the hero will be two sidekicks: Rami, and Thomas. Rami is the hero's childhood friend, a bright and energetic girl who also seeks to become a hunter. Thomas is another childhood friend of the hero, who lost his parents at a very young age. Having been brought up by his grandfather, Thomas has developed something of an obstinate streak.

Taito will release Estpolis Gaiden: Ruins of Silence in Japan on March 1st, 2001. There has been no word on whether the game will make it to North America, but a number of recent entries in the series have been localized here, so it is not out of the question.