Atlus makes every launch copy of Legacy of Ys a boxed release; game slightly delayed

[AtlusAram]

EVERY LAUNCH COPY OF LEGACY OF Ys: BOOKS I & II FOR NINTENDO DS TO BE A PREMIUM BOXED RELEASE WITH SOUNDTRACK INCLUDED, ATLUS ANNOUNCES; ALSO, GAME DELAYED TWO WEEKS, BUT NO ONE CARES BECAUSE BOXED RELEASES ARE AWESOME
Atlus quickly slips new release date of February 24th, then deftly avoids questions

http://www.atlus.com/res/legacyofys_glamourshot_600.png

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA — JANUARY 28, 2009 — Atlus U.S.A., Inc., the only publisher that makes it look oh-so-Ys-ee, today announced that Legacy of Ys: Books I & II for Nintendo DS™ will ship two weeks later than originally scheduled, now slated to bump into retail stores on February 24, 2009. This was of course immediately accepted because this delay would allow for each and every launch copy of the game to magically transform into a premium boxed release, with the soundtrack CD—formerly intended as a pre-order bonus—to physically be included with each and every copy of the game’s first print run.

This unexpected upgrade signals the return of Atlus Spoils, a fan appreciation campaign intended to give a little extra something to the company’s faithful followers as a thank you for their continued support. The program is planned to remain active indefinitely during 2009, meaning fans can expect additional bonuses and extras in future Atlus releases throughout the year.

“While we’re never eager to announce delays for our products,” began Tim Pivnicny, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Atlus, “we are incredibly excited to be able to upgrade the final release of Legacy of Ys to a premium boxed package. The soundtrack CD, once a bonus for pre-orders, is now going to be offered to everyone who picks up a copy from the game’s limited first print run.”

One of the most heralded action RPG franchises of all time, Legacy of Ys: Books I & II delivers the first two epic adventures of the famed saga on one cartridge, presented with a series of never-before-seen enhancements. Now, the finished North American launch will be available in a special boxed release, with a soundtrack CD featuring the game’s famed score included with each and every copy of the game’s first print run.

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II is now scheduled for release on February 24, 2009, with an MSRP of $34.99.

For more information about Legacy of Ys: Books I & II, visit the official website:
http://www.atlus.com/ys

###

About Legacy of Ys: Books I & II
Stories tell of a land of yore, now shrouded by centuries of time forgotten, called Ys. Despite its great knowledge, endless wealth, and bountiful prosperity, a sudden and unexpected cataclysm devastated the realm. Soon, its memory had faded completely from the minds of man.

Centuries later, a young adventurer named Adol set sail to explore the world and leave his mark on history. During his travels, he learned of the tragic tale of Esteria, a once prosperous island now inexplicably engulfed by a crippling storm. Adol plotted a course for the besieged isle, curious to unravel the mystery...

Key Features
• Two Legendary RPGs on One Cartridge! — Experience two all time classics that helped shape the action RPG genre… Now on a portable system!
• Upgraded Ys Experience —Behold remastered 3D graphics, a remixed musical score, and new enemies and equipment to discover. Touch control and local wireless multiplayer for up to four people deepen the adventure, while difficulty levels and dual control schemes tailor the experience to the gamer.
• The Definitive Story — Available to North American audiences for the first time, this ultimate translation delivers the most substantial version of the famous Ys story ever made!

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II has been rated “T” for Teen with Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Animated Blood, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Partial Nudity by the ESRB.

###

About Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Located in Irvine, California and founded in 1991, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. is renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Odin Sphere, Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. For more information, visit http://www.atlus.com.

For breaking news, special promotions, insider info, and more, visit http://www.atlus.com/faithful to join the ranks of the Atlus Faithful!

©2008 Interchannel, Inc. ©2008 Nihon Falcom Corporation. All rights reserved. Licensed to and published by Atlus USA. Nintendo DS is a trademark of Nintendo. © 2006 Nintendo.

[Luna]

SEXY! I'll wait the extra days =3

[Constraint]

It's too bad I gave my Nintendo DS away. I would surely buy this though.

[Tivor]

Sweet. :) I can wait. (or should that be "I can't wait"? Ah, whatever. :D )

[Vincent Alexander]

Even though I won't be buying this, definitely a smart move delaying it.

[sdragon21]

Oh crap, i just figured out that this comes out on the same date as Star Ocean:The Last Hope.
Now i'm torn on which one to get.

[Olethros]

Even though I won't be buying this, definitely a smart move delaying it.

:agree:

[Sagadego]

so wait this isn't gonna get a 2nd print with out the sound track!?

[rainking187]

Interesting, the images of the characters playing instruments appear to be taken from the case of the CD that came with the limited box set in Japan. I wonder if they'll have the same tracklisting?

[King Frost]

The new packaging is a god send for us Candians, we will finally get our pre-order bonus all the time now! Thank you Atlus for this!

[Lorinosan]

Well, that explains the delay. Dangit. I guess I'll just cancel Star Ocean for now and grab it later.

[Mank]

Haha, I'm actually EXCITED about the DELAY. Now I don't have to worry about rushing out to preorder this (my finances are tight right now), so thank you!

[Terash Cas]

Great something to get on my birthday

[Luna]

Oh crap, i just figured out that this comes out on the same date as Star Ocean:The Last Hope.
Now i'm torn on which one to get.

:exclaim:
Buy them both and play your PSP and DS at the same time

[Crabman]

In the same boat as sdragon...

However, MUCH more tempted to pick it up now. I was thinking of picking up something along with SO4 (most likely Silent Hill 2), but this doesn't sound like a bad alternative.

[DamageCity]

No complaints from me.

[Foryth]

Since I wasn't planing on getting it day one, the delay doesn't bother me.

As for the soundtrack, well I usualy never listen to them anyway so it'll just make a nicer box on my shelf. :P

[Hellokevin11]

So I pre-ordered for nothing, and now I am paying shipping
for what I could have walked into a store to buy.

Way to go Atlus.

Last time I pre-order anything from them.

As far as I am concerned they owe me $8.00 for shipping.
I only pre-ordered because of the CD.

I feel gypped.

[jeffx]

^ this is exactly why I prefer using amazon (not to mention cheaper MSRP)

[brightsuzaku]

Great something to get on my birthday

Harharhar, indeed! I might attempt to get both Star Ocean and Legacy of Ys! Because birthdays are exellent excuses for overspending. :3
Erm.

And is it just me, or is Atlus "taking its games to 11"? Erhem, because it feels like it.
/end obscure joke + Spinal Tap

[Fuyukaze]

So I pre-ordered for nothing, and now I am paying shipping
for what I could have walked into a store to buy.

Way to go Atlus.

Last time I pre-order anything from them.

As far as I am concerned they owe me $8.00 for shipping.
I only pre-ordered because of the CD.

I feel gypped.

So, you pre-ordered the game just for the soundtrack? Not for the game? Honestly, Atlus doesnt owe you or anyone else anything except a great game that isnt broken. While I feel slighted knowing my pre-order bonus just became something anyone can get, I'm certainly not going to bitch about it. True, your money but I fail to see the reasoning in your anger.

[Tivor]

So I pre-ordered for nothing, and now I am paying shipping
for what I could have walked into a store to buy.

Way to go Atlus.

Last time I pre-order anything from them.

As far as I am concerned they owe me $8.00 for shipping.
I only pre-ordered because of the CD.

I feel gypped.

Honestly, I think it's your fault for ordering from a place that charges $8 for shipping. I mean, seriously. $8???

[dragonlife29]

You guys need to do this with every other DS games you'll offer stuff with--I love the boxes they come in.

[superbeast1370]

might as well buy this game since I'm a sucker for Portable RPGs. and its really close to payday (2/18 ). I've always wanted to try a Ys game.

[Paranoia Dragon]

Damn, I was hoping it was delayed maybe because of complaints about the translation of various names & places. I'd rather have a more accurate translation then a cd, but, either way, we're getting more Ys over here:)

[Mokkun]

Thanks alot Atlus for doing this I was going to pre-order this anyways for the cd and the game I'll gladly wait for it.

[Hitoshura]

As for the soundtrack, well I usualy never listen to them anyway so it'll just make a nicer box on my shelf. :P

NO. NO. BAD FORYTH.

The soundtrack is half the best part of the Ys games. Give Yuzo Koshiro some love.

[Foryth]

As for the soundtrack, well I usualy never listen to them anyway so it'll just make a nicer box on my shelf. :P

NO. NO. BAD FORYTH.

The soundtrack is half the best part of the Ys games. Give Yuzo Koshiro some love.

Sure, I like hearing it in the game and I love Yuzo Koshiro, but I don't usualy listen to video game soundtracks in my everyday life. :P I'll probably listen to it once since it's Yuzo Koshiro, but I don't see myself listening to this often.

[MP83]

Yuzo Koshiro (and others) composed music for the original PC-8801 versions of Ys I & II. I doubt he did composing for the DS versions. If you want the genuine Yuzo Koshiro experience, you should hunt down "Music from Ys" and "Music from Ys II" albums made in the late 80s. ;)

[Tivor]

Yuzo Koshiro (and others) composed music for the original PC-8801 versions of Ys I & II. I doubt he did composing for the DS versions. If you want the genuine Yuzo Koshiro experience, you should hunt down "Music from Ys" and "Music from Ys II" albums made in the late 80s. ;)

Why do you doubt it? It's not like he stopped composing or is against DS in any way. He's already done the music for Etrian Odyssey 1 & 2, and he's doing the music for the upcoming 7th Dragon for DS.

[MP83]

If he had composed music for the DS games, I think we'd knew about that by now, since that would've been big news as he hasn't composed music for a Ys game for like 20 years. The DS games have been released in Japan for a while now. Someone would've noticed if he was credited in them.

[Paranoia Dragon]

Yeah, the single (1 & 2 seperate)versions have been in Japan for awhile, I haven't heard anything about Yuzo being involved in those versions.

[Zephyr]

So I pre-ordered for nothing, and now I am paying shipping
for what I could have walked into a store to buy.

Way to go Atlus.

Last time I pre-order anything from them.

As far as I am concerned they owe me $8.00 for shipping.
I only pre-ordered because of the CD.

I feel gypped.

So cancel your preorder and get your money back, then buy the game later if you want.

[Hitoshura]

Yuzo Koshiro (and others) composed music for the original PC-8801 versions of Ys I & II. I doubt he did composing for the DS versions. If you want the genuine Yuzo Koshiro experience, you should hunt down "Music from Ys" and "Music from Ys II" albums made in the late 80s. ;)

Well, what I meant is that they're still his original compositions. They're not exactly his original arrangements, but it's still his work.

<3 To Make The End Of Battle.

[fish]

I have enough money to buy this, pretty excited because this month many great games are coming out.

[MP83]

Yuzo Koshiro (and others) composed music for the original PC-8801 versions of Ys I & II. I doubt he did composing for the DS versions. If you want the genuine Yuzo Koshiro experience, you should hunt down "Music from Ys" and "Music from Ys II" albums made in the late 80s. ;)

Well, what I meant is that they're still his original compositions. They're not exactly his original arrangements, but it's still his work.

<3 To Make The End Of Battle.
That's true. His work, as well as Mieko Ishikawa's (Ys I & II) and Hideya Nagata's (Ys II).

By the way, if the soundtrack included with Legacy of Ys: Books I & II is the same as the one that came with the Japanese Ys I-II DS Special Box, there's no "To Make the End of Battle" in the track list.

[Hitoshura]

^ WHAT!?

Blasphemy.

[Zeta_Nova]

Hito, first of all. It's due to copyright issues. I mean, sure they want to give us an OST. But have you heard of spoilers?

Because the JP version contains every song. Half (if not all) are spoiler-related.

[LordCha]

I like it

[LiquidPhire]

By the way, if the soundtrack included with Legacy of Ys: Books I & II is the same as the one that came with the Japanese Ys I-II DS Special Box, there's no "To Make the End of Battle" in the track list.

Actually, to my understanding, the Ys1 intro and Ys2 intro (To Make the End of Battle) were added to the tracklist for the NA release. Don't quote me on it, but I'm pretty certain.

[hibiki_takami]

One of our staff's going to review this game. Looking forward to it - I haven't played this game in a long time!

[Hitoshura]

Hito, first of all. It's due to copyright issues. I mean, sure they want to give us an OST. But have you heard of spoilers?

Because the JP version contains every song. Half (if not all) are spoiler-related.

Mmm, spoilerish OSTs have never been a concern of Atlus. The Yggdra Union OST is pretty spoilerific, I hear. Copyright issues... I don't really understand, since it's already on the game to begin with, and there are no vocalists to pay royalties to.

[LegacyTyphoon]

Aw...my only beef with this is that I don't get it tomorrow. I was preordering stuff at a local GameStop and I saw it and bought it in full last night hoping I could pick it up the next day.
Oh well.

[thesocialgamer]

I can't see why anyone would not love this idea. In Japan gamers have always recieved something special with their games. I am glad that the trend is crossing the ocean and landing here in the US. I for one will be buying this game and I am also buying a new NDS for this game.
I know this might seem extreme but I owned the TurboGrafX-16 version and IMO it was just amazing at the time. I have been trying to buy the TurboCD version for a while but the cost of the game just seems to get higher every year that passes by.
From the official website and other online sources, this is going to be the best of the best and total complete version ever released. I will buy two copies one for my use and one to pack away and never open it. I want to thank Atlus for bringing this game over to the US for Falcom. I love it and that all I can say.

The Social Gamer