More Lufia: The Legend Returns information

[03.26.01] » News on battle system and random dungeons.

   Nintendo Power has released another round of information on Lufia: The Legend Returns, the Game Boy Color installment in the Lufia series.

   The most striking new revelation is one that may disappoint many series fans: the third Lufia game will feature entirely randomly-generated dungeons. As in titles such as Azure Dreams and Torneko: The Last Hope (and Lufia II's own Ancient Cave bonus area), the floor plan of each dungeon will change whenever the player enters. A helpful auto-map will guide the party through the changing layouts.

   What will the new dungeon style mean for the Lufia series' famous puzzles? While puzzles may be difficult to implement in random dungeons, some sort of action RPG elements will remain: The hero will have at least two different sword moves with which he can cut through plants, break open secret passageways, stun monsters, and spring traps.

   The battle systems has also undergone a few tweaks. As previously reported, the player will be able to make use of nine party members at once in battle. These characters are arranged in a 3 x 3 grid; which characters are placed next to one another will affect their Spiritual Force, or ability to use magic. As in Lufia II, you'll be able to see and avoid monsters without entering combat.

   A few additional plot details have also been released. The game begins in the remote Patos Village, the home of the hero -- named Wein in last year's E3, though Nintendo Power specifies no name. Wein is visited by the mysterious mage Seena of Northland, who has heard of Wein's swordfighting prowess. Seena is at first not impressed with Wein in person. However, after he saves a child from a fire, she recruits his help on her mission to stop the evil Sinistrals, thus beginning the adventure. (More story information can be found in the original E3 report.)

   Unfortunately, it seems as though Lufia: The Legend Returns may have suffered yet another delay. Nintendo Power now states that the game will be released "by early summer"; the previous issue had pegged it with a firm "spring" release date.

   A big thanks to Soul4ger for the scoop.