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Joystiq

XSEED clicks heels together, brings Wizard of Oz RPG to North America

by JC Fletcher on Jul 20th 2009 2:15PM

A licensed Wizard of Oz game doesn't seem like the biggest news, but the fact that XSEED is publishing it is a clue that there's a little more going on than the usual licensed kids' game. In fact, The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is a localized version of Media Vision's RIZ-ZOAWD, which is nothing less than a Wizard of Oz-themed JRPG. XSEED has partnered with original Japanese publisher D3 to bring this weird game to North America.

Beyond the Yellow Brick Road combines the Oz setting with turn-based Dragon Quest-esque combat, with certain enemies more susceptible to attacks from certain party members, and a trackball-like movement interface. You'll be able to send your flying monkeys out for it this fall.

D3 is now a subsidiary of Namco Bandai, which means that The Wizard of Oz is the fourth Namco Bandai game to be picked up by XSEED.

The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road (DS)

Tags: d3, DS, media-vision, Nintendo, riz-zoawd, rpg, the-wizard-of-oz, xseed

Reader Comments (33)

Hmm. Interesting.

I can see the following happen:

1. Namco Bandai would charge XSEED (or AQ Interactive, XSEED's parent company) OVER 9000 times to have this game licensed out to the latter.

2. Should I expect "Over the Rainbow" to be played with vocals?

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way Up High
There's a land that I've of
Once in a lullaby

Give Marine a gagging order and I'm good to go for another Sonic Rush.

Best DS title ever-played= Phantom Hourglass. Wonderful game.

While I loved PH and don't think it deserves nearly the amount of shit it gets, I have to say you obviously haven't played very many games on the system if you think PH is the best the system has to offer.

"Your opinion is invalid here."

Thats strange. The Wizard of Oz is one of those movies I never really thought about it being in a game. Oh well if people shall spend it shall come.

Oh yes! I have been waiting for this game! Sweet!!! Oh wait, my mistake, it isn't 1939 anymore. Nope, I have no interest in this after all. Now, a Citizen Kane RPG...

I know right! Its just like when that hack American McGee made a game off that movie from the 50's. What a flop that was. Oh wait....

It was a joke.

with the amount of sarcasm in your post, one would be lead to believe that you don't think American McGee is a hack

Rosebud...

Yes, Rosebud Frozen Peas. Full of country goodness and green pea-ness...

Wait, that's terrible. I quit.

... Just a handful for the road.

Mmm... Oh, what luck, there's a french fry stuck in my beard! Mmmm... Oh, yeah...

Good news. Been waiting for this to get localised. Too bad the American boxart looks shoddy as hell. They should have just sticked with the Japanese boxart, and name.

Is it me or does North America always get shitty boxart, especially when compared to the Japanese and EU box arts.

It's a scientifically proven FACT that North America gets shitty boxart, in particular when compared to Japan, 9 times out of ten.

I betcha the Japanese boxart will be the cover page for the instruction manual.

Umm....ok, so should I be interested or confused?

My head hurts...

Wait, so XSEED won't bring over the second Retro Game Challenge, telling the fans that 10,000 more copies need to be sold in order to justify its release. But, they are willing to bring over a Wizard of Oz RPG?

Bastards.

It's either low sales of the first one, Namco Bandai's being an asshole by charging over 9000 times the amount for the 2nd game license, or Namco Bandai's gonna bring the game themselves over to America.

By the way, Wizard of Oz is a classic... in America!

A trackball? Why? It's like... extra programming that serves no extra purpose except a new way to mess up controls!

It's the DS. Most DS games feel they have to do something funky with controls in the name of "innovation" in order to stand out.

Playing an RPG with a trackball does seem quite useless. Before I read the article, I thought the green ball was the Wicked Witch from the West's magic fortune telling ball thingy.

....or a magic radar. That makes sense.

I am so confused...

looks interesting, ill probably test it out.

Having briefly played the game, I felt the trackball control system was smooth and fit well with the game's overall design.

While I can't read Japanese characters and couldn't tell how strictly the game stuck to the story (either the original book or the film adaptation), the art and design gave me the impression that the game would feature a fresh spin on the Wizard of Oz story and characters rather than simply rehashing past works. I only played the first 15-30 minutes of the game, though, so I could be mistaken.

This is simply a localization of the Japanese game RIZ-ZOAWD. I'm surprised as I thought RIZ-ZOAWD would be something exclusive only to Japan. Actually, I'm really surprised that they're going to localize it for North America but it does sound interesting being a Wizard of Oz RPG.

Am I the only one who was already excited about this game and waiting for a NA release?

I've finally decided where my future lies.

Care to guess where it is?

Will it sync up with Dark Side of the Moon?

Isn't this based off the 14-book series rather than the movie? Could've sworn I heard that somewhere.

When I heard the rumor of this game being localized I went and finally read the book...
"There's no place like home" is no where in the book! The Winged Monkeys are not evil but instead are used for evil.
So I hope this is based off of the books.
G_G

I don't think you need a "license" for a book published in 1900.

Just thought I'd mention, as far as I'm aware, Wizard of Oz wouldn't be a licensed game, as Wizard of Oz is in the public domain.

Good News, I've been hoping someone would pick this up ever since I first heard about it. Xseed is becoming a second atlus. I love them both.

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Breaking News

XSEED clicks heels together, brings Wizard of Oz RPG to North America

The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road (DS)

Reader Comments (33)

Posted: Jul 20th 2009 2:26PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Jul 20th 2009 2:32PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 20th 2009 2:39PM Nigeria said

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Posted: Jul 20th 2009 3:13PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said

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Posted: Jul 20th 2009 3:08PM Duke said

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Posted: Jul 20th 2009 3:15PM BPMOmega XBL PSN Steam said

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