Gaming News - March 2007

San Francisco, CA (March 21, 2007) - Sony announced today the August 2007 North American release of Jeanne d'Arc, available exclusively for the PSP.

From Sony:

Developed by Level-5, creators of the renowned Dark Cloud series and the critically acclaimed RPG Rogue Galaxy, Jeanne d'Arc delivers a new tactical role-playing adventure set across vast lands with detailed environments, unique characters, and a diverse combat and gameplay system. In Jeanne d'Arc, players will step into a colorful world that brings together history and fantasy, taking part in a magical tale inspired by the life and times of the legendary Joan of Arc. Combining an intricate tactical combat system, a heroic story with more than 40 hours of gameplay, and a stunning visual style that truly dazzles on the PSP system, Jeanne d'Arc is ready to deliver hours of strategic RPG action to players anytime, anywhere.

"With the introduction of Jeanne d'Arc for PSP, Level-5 now brings their high standard of game development excellence to the portable world," said Jeff Reese, Director, Software Marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America.

"The team has managed to create an action filled, mythical adventure that RPG fans and gamers alike will take anywhere they feel like playing, further adding depth to the ever expanding lineup of PSP software."

The Jeanne d'Arc story begins far in the past, when a great war was waged by mankind against demonic armies attempting to invade the human world. During that time, five brave heroes created armlets to restrain the demon gods. In a quest to turn back the rueful army, a young crusader named Jeanne is commanded by mysterious voices to use the power of the magical armlet to seal away the demon king and recover her homeland once and for all.

Set among sprawling fields, battle-torn villages, and intricate dungeons, Jeanne d'Arc unfolds through more than 40 expansive and highly detailed environments, where players will engage in the pursuit of France's resurgence. Players will control up to 14 characters throughout the journey, including humans and beasts, as they battle a variety of enemies in the quest to turn back the English domination. Jeanne d'Arc delivers a strategic, turn-based battle system where players engage in unique team attacks and defensive schemes, using multiple characters' skills in combination to create devastating strikes. Further adding to the depth of play, each character has access to one of eight weapon types that are also upgradeable as players' progress through the game. Additionally, players can customize their characters with more than 150 different skills and abilities throughout the game.