Rising Star tops up DS' RPG stats with Luminous Arc

We love handheld role-playing games as much as the next gamer (assuming he or she isn't hardcore Japanese, of course, in which case we'd gracefully concede defeat), but how many variations on the turn-based, grid-stepping, squad-battling, spiky-haired alternative fantasy world is one person suppose to rescue in their lifetime before fatigue sets in?

We've already lost count of the number of Final Fantasy games that have been released this year (six?), and they've come out alongside Harvest Moon, Lunar Knights, Gurumin, Puzzle Quest, Magical Starsign, Valkyrie Profile, Izuna the Unemployed Ninja...

Still, Rising Star clearly feels there scope in the market to squeeze in another one, as it's preparing Luminous Arc for an autumn release.

In terms of distinguishing features, of most interest is the ability to create and customise your weapons and equipment using the Vitae Imbuing system. Combat is equally of a stat-heavy strategic bent, with each character having eight different attributes, as well as health and magic points.

All battles consist of turn-based movement taking place in a block-based environment. You also get access to each characters' Flash Drive Gauge, which when filled will enable special attacks.

Wireless multiplayer modes through the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will be available, too.

As for your motivation, well we're back in a world of good versus evil, which in this context takes the form of the Garden Children, a church-trained group of soldiers and mages who are out to protect the start of the millennial Golden Age by eradicting the witches and dragons.

Sounds a bit serious, but a quick gander at the screenshots seems to demonstrate that a wacky Japanese sense of humour will be in evidence. (Who would have thought that Japan's game developers knew what egg custard was?)

Luminous Arc is due for a September release date. Let's hope we've recovered our world-saving strength by then.