With its beginnings rooted in the early 2010s,Ni No Kunihas captured the hearts of many, and it will look to do so again asNi No Kuni: Cross Worldsis the latest in the Level-5 franchise. It differs greatly from what came before, though, and whileretuningNi No Kuniplayers will likely find something to love, it also has the potential to bring new fans into the fold. Announced in late 2019 and finally making its way to the west in 2022,Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds’global release gives it the opportunity to flourish outside of Japan, and all signs point to it being something great.
Ni No Kuni: Cross Worldswill release on mobile platforms and PC, offering cross-play between the two. The series has seen installments on multiple platforms, from the PS4 to the Nintendo DS. While the gameplay has differed greatly, the design of the upcoming title is perhaps the biggest deviation yet, as it is taking the franchise into the MMO genre. There are elements of the game that make it a quintessentialNi No Kunititle, but with a handful of significant changes, there’s a hefty amount of new information to know ahead of its release on May 25.
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Ni No Kuni Goes Massive Multiplayer Online
The biggest difference between the first two mainline titles andNi No Kuni: Cross Worldsis the shift to a new genre. By making the change, it enters the firing line of some of thebest online games available likeFinal Fantasy 14andWorld of Warcraft. Like other MMOs, players will choose between five playable classes who all fill unique roles. Witch, Swordsman, Engineer, Destroyer, and Rogue all use mechanics categorized as tank, support, healing, and attacking DPS play styles, making party-based combat a breeze if the right variety is present.
While characters will have unique combat moves, they will also carrythree Familiars with them, a staple of the first game. The Pokemon-esque characters were essential to the battles that took place inNi No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, with enemies being available for capture to be raised, nurtured, and deployed for future skirmishes.Ni No Kuni: Revenant Kingdomditched the mechanic in favor of something more action-oriented, so seeing them return toCross Worldsto accompany players in the shared world is a real treat to veteran fans, offering something new to the often simplistic gameplay that the MMO genre provokes.
A Story Fitting of the Level-5 Franchise
Ni No Kunihas always had a tough time keeping to a linear timeline. For example,Ni No Kuni: Revenant Kingdomis set hundreds of years afterthe events ofWrath of the White Witch, andCross Worldswill take place some time after the events of the second game, with a handful of subtle references to what came before being likely. Oliver’s impact on the world is long over, and Evan’s reign as the King of Evermore is firmly in the rearview, something players discover when they arrive in the city during the game’s early stages.
After selecting a class and editing the appearance of their character, gamers will begin the journey, but not in a way thatmost other MMOs present their openings. The player is welcomed by an AI and told they are a beta tester for an upcoming fantasy game called ‘Soul Divers’. The game then takes a Matrix-ish turn, as an unknown glitch occurs and the player awakens in the heat of battle in the world ofNi No Kuni, roughly translating to ‘second country’ or ‘another world’. This echoes the opening ofRevenant Kingdomsomewhat, as Roland’s journey to the setting after an unpredictable explosion transports him from a more modern world.
Ni No Kuni: Cross Worldswill look to take much of what made the franchise so beloved and implement it into the MMO genre, hopefully pleasing global audiences in the process.The franchise is a Ghibli fan’s delight, and capturing the essence of what makesNi No Kuniso great may be the key to its prolonged success. It’s hugely different from what many have become accustomed to, but change doesn’t have to be a negative.
Ni No Kuni: Cross Worldslaunches May 25 for Android, iOS, and PC.
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