No online rescues for Shiren (Wii) in the U.S.

Atlus sent out a notice today to confirm our suspicions that the U.S. localization for Shiren the Wanderer (Wii) will not include the Nintendo WiFi Connection features that gamers enjoyed in Japan, likely due to the publisher’s inexperience with the system’s online infrastructure:

“Despite our best efforts, the North American version of Shiren will not include the Rescue, Versus, or Item Transfer online features. However, the downloadable dungeon content from the Japanese version will be included on the disc.

Without these subfeatures, Shiren is still a fantastic RPG, one we hope all gamers can experience and enjoy. Still, we understand that the absence of these features may influence some fans’ decision to purchase the game, which is why we are bringing this to their attention as soon as possible.”

So, if you had hopes of battling other wandering Shirens, trading pots, checking leaderboard scores, and rescuing fallen friends to earn rewards, you’ll need to put those aside. It’s unfortunate, but it’s a miracle that we’re getting an English version of the roguelike at all.

To placate series fans, Atlus posted a wealth of info about the forthcoming game in an official “blog”:

You have two difficulties to choose from, Easy and Normal. The only difference with Easy mode is you keep your items when you die.
Time travel plays a significant role in the story: “Shiren will travel back in time into the events that shape the story occurring in the present. Through a number of side quests, you can even make your trek through the dungeons that much easier by affecting the past to change the present.”
Shiren (and Koppa) are joined by his master and uncle Sensei, as well as swordswoman Asuka. You can either control your companions directly or give them specific orders “at the touch of a button”.
There’s a 1000-floor dungeon (likely post-game)!

Very nice! Hopefully, Atlus and project lead Scott Strichart will keep up these blog posts as the game’s February 9th release approaches. For now, enjoy some English screens:

Preorder: Shiren the Wanderer Wii ($39.99)

Buy: Shiren the Wanderer DS ($14.40!!!)

tags / mystery dungeon / chunsoft / atlus / shiren the wanderer / online / ec

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