RIZ-ZOAWD: the confusing DS RPG set in the land of Oz. Hint: The name’s an anagram
The Wizard of Oz is coming to the DS in the form of Riz-Zoawd, an all-new RPG by the developer of Wild Arms (Media.Vision) and published in Japan by “d3 Publisher”. XSEED games, who typically publishes Media.Vision titles in the United States, has expressed interest in localizing the title for North American release.
As the anagrammatic title suggest, the game is an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz (although it’s unclear if it is based on the original storybook or one of the films) that uses the same characters and locations that generations know and love.
Included with the game will be a limited-edition CD featuring music from the game with the title theme (composed by Wild Arms’ composers Michiko Naruke and Kaori Asoh) among the discs’ six tracks.
As far as gameplay is concerned, you will play the game by using the stylus to roll a trackball that appears on the bottom of the screen. This is used to control Dorothy around the 3D world of Oz in which enemies walk around the environments and touching them will activate a battle. Battles are turn-based and like the popular Dragon Quest series, are seen from the first-person perspective. All of the game’s characters are based upon the protagonists of The Wizard of Oz and their abilities will reflect their personalities, such as the Cowardly Lion allowing players to escape from battle.
Characters Include:
* Dorothy Gale: The protagonist, who with her dog Toto, ended up in a magical world and tries to find her way home by going to Oz Castle.
* Scarecrow: A friendly scarescrow Dorothy meets who lacks a brain.
* Tin Woodman: A metal woodsman Dorothy encounters in the woods who lacks a heart.
* Cowardly Lion: A lion who lacks courage, who Dorthy meets after the Scarecrow and Tin Man.
* Flora: The Witch of the Spring North of Oz Castle.
* Deene: The Witch of the Summer East of Oz Castle.
* Horiin: The Witch of the Fall West of Oz Castle
* Pachi of Fire: Fire elemental who helps Dorothy.
* Hyul of Wind: Air elemental who helps Dorothy.
* Doron of Earth: Earth elemental who helps Dorothy.
* Ulu of Water: Water elemental who helps Dorothy.
* Jiyukaku: Tall Dragon Granfather
* Kouyoku: Overweight Dragon Grandfather
* Io: Shortest of the Dragon Grandfathers
Via DS Fanboy
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