Ni No Kuni began as a DS game released only in Japan. A heavily upgraded version was created for the PS3 that came as close to playing a Studio Ghibli movie as possible — in fact, Ghibli themselves animated the cutscenes. That game is regarded as a cult classic, but it never sold well enough to make a sequel a guarantee.
Thankfully, Level 5 felt otherwise (that, and they’re so fat off the profits from Yo-Kai Watch they can bankroll whatever they want now). Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom was announced last year during E3 2015. Today during the Playstation Experience in Anaheim we got a new look at the game, which is close to completion now.
In the original Ni No Kuni you played as an outsider transported to the enchanted kingdom of Ding Dong Dell. This time you play as a resident — the very king, albeit deposed. Fortunately regaining the throne should be less messy and bloody than it was in Dishonored II. Evan will need the help of Roland, a new outsider who’s decided to stay. There will be plenty of other characters as well, many of which we get our first glimpses of in today’s trailer:
The only bad news is that Studio Ghibli won’t have involvement this time, but despite that, it looks just as great. Level 5 says Ni No Kuni II will be released within 2017.