Gently weep over your DS with Bandai Namco's 99 Tears

by Griffin McElroy { Feb 9th 2008 at 9:00PM }

We can all think back to particular moments in certain video games that have penetrated the thick, black crust which envelops our hearts and caused us to tear up. Perhaps it was that heartbreaking moment in Final Fantasy VII, or the ending to Shadow of the Colossus. Maybe it was the time your mom made you go to bed while you were in the middle of a particularly gripping Karazhan raid, or when you finally finished Steel Magnolias Adventures, a game so awesome that it hasn't actually been created yet.

Bandai Namco is making a pretty heady claim -- not only is their newest game going to make you cry, it's going to do it about 100 times. Calling the aptly titled 99 no Namida (or 99 Tears) a game isn't actually accurate. It's more of a handheld therapeutic crying assistant, providing you with a sad graphic novel to read for 15 minutes at the end of each day, with a brief questionnaire following shortly after, the results of which will help move you closer to the story which will more effectively tug at your heartstrings, and further from the respect of your bros on the wrestling squad.

Tags: 99nonamida, 99tears, bandainamco, cry, crying, ds, nintendods

Related From Joystiq

Gentlemen, please note that Time Gentlemen, Please is now half-off
5 days ago
Namco announces 2.5 million shipped copies of Tekken 6
11 days ago
Splatterhouse opens its doors in Q3 2010
29 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Pharmacy @ Feb 9th 2008 9:08PM

first?

Thomas @ Feb 9th 2008 9:11PM

Yes. First.

Jhongerkong @ Feb 9th 2008 11:56PM

Your post makes me cry more than this game.

Slaziman @ Feb 10th 2008 3:57AM

moar like first to get voted down into oblivion amirite?

I am the law @ Feb 10th 2008 6:59AM

Good contribution.

I would also like to say Nintendo are anti-family.

Ghen @ Feb 10th 2008 8:12AM

first to get your inbox flooded. I'm going to go out on a limb and say you're not bright enough to uncheck a box.

ThornedVenom @ Feb 9th 2008 9:16PM

Sorry Joystiq, but I couldn't read your article through the flow of laughter tears, after seeing that familiar face from Dawson's Creek.

Vegnagun bwf @ Feb 9th 2008 9:28PM

I love the Karazhan bedtime ytmnd. It's a tearful of wins.

Mat Schwartz @ Feb 9th 2008 9:40PM

Who knows how the hell this will turn out but I'm for more interaction between gamer and narrative. Mass effect was a good step but take it farther.

I appreciate ridiculously sharp resolutions and textures and am a sucker for crisp surround sound but engage me with your characters and immerse me in your story and I will surrender my monies.

WiNG @ Feb 9th 2008 9:42PM

This game is great but I'm too impatient for it to come out.

You could say that...

I DON'T WANNA WAIT FOR DEVELOPMENT TO BE OVER
I WANNA PLAY RIGHT NOW, ON MY DUAL SCREENS
I don't wanna wait for this game to ship over
Will it be ported here or Japan on-ly?
Doo-doo doooo doo doo doo, etc etc "walking the dog"

Sara @ Feb 10th 2008 7:26AM

I would be incredibly surprised if this ends up being anything other than a Japan only game. I've seen weirder stuff happen, but not by much...

muppetmeth @ Feb 9th 2008 10:16PM

Dawsome.

MikeG @ Feb 9th 2008 10:30PM

Ummm, OK. Shadow of the Colossus, woo hoo!

psychoticdream @ Feb 9th 2008 10:59PM

i havent played that is it really a sad one?

FidliousWong @ Feb 9th 2008 11:34PM

I'm afraid to admit this... but I sobbed like a bitch at the end of FFX. I spent 50+ hours emotionally investing in those characters just to have a sad, yet foreshadowed, ending slap me in the face. It was harsh...

Sara @ Feb 10th 2008 6:40PM

I completely understand where you're coming from with FFX, FidliousWong. However, the one that really got me sobbing was FFX-2. In fact, in only took the first cutscene. o.O

mr mobius @ Feb 9th 2008 11:04PM

Sounds horrible. In a good way.

JRM @ Feb 9th 2008 11:14PM

I love how in Japan they make games that cater to all kinds of people and every cultural situation. That's how you know that video games mean something else to the Japanese.

In America? it's all about having the biggest gun and shooting as many people in the face, stealing things, breaking the law, and capitalizing on movies. oh, and Madden...

then people in the industry complain when they're never taken seriously.

FidliousWong @ Feb 9th 2008 11:31PM

You know... even I'm not the biggest fan of western developers (their RPGs are storyless pieces of ass far too often), but even I can give respect where it's due. Besides, you forget, this is nothing new. To quote Hideo Kojima...

"I want players to feel the loss of war. I want them to lose it all at their moment of triumph. People will cry for Leo."

You also forget Free radical is currently attempting a shooter which will blur the lines of who's right and who's wrong.

And many Western developers have done just that without churning out a Chicken Soup for the Stylus.

Ebichu @ Feb 9th 2008 11:31PM

aaah man, I was hoping you where announcing an excellent DS game. Alas, seems I have to wait for Apollo Justice and Professor Layton. :(

Jhongerkong @ Feb 9th 2008 11:57PM

WWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!

refinedsugar @ Feb 10th 2008 12:01AM

OMG jesus, lol, that is the first thing I see coming here. When I die, I will see this picture. When I sleep, I will see this picture ... lol!

Shimrra @ Feb 10th 2008 12:24AM

I think the only way they can do this is if it is programed so that by the time you get to the end of the game you are about to deal the final blow to the boss and the game not only freezes up but it permanently locks itself into your DS so that you are stuck with a game that will freeze at that point every time LOL.

JRM @ Feb 10th 2008 1:00AM

How about making a game that causes a RROD.

...now that's something to cry about.

Curmeo @ Feb 10th 2008 3:16AM

thats funny i already weeped after i realised my $150 were waisted on a handheld that has only produced one worthwhile game(Mario Kart DS).

Banners @ Feb 10th 2008 4:07AM

Presumably the storyline is to do with the closing down of arcades?

disappointment @ Feb 10th 2008 5:03AM

Games lack emotion and depth. It's really pathetic the length this blog-propaganda will go to advertise mediocrity.

Batzarro @ Feb 10th 2008 9:56AM

Disapointment, you have embraced your feelings and learned to cry over a harmless blogpost. A winner is you. There is nothing weak about calling propaganda to a site you visit constantly. After all, you are here because..?

I thought the description was a joke. I've never cried in a game(though I didn't cry on the last couple funerals I have been to, wich scares me) so that'd be a a pretty lofty claim. Course, I own not a DS so, no tears for me.