Rising Star Picks Up European Distribution Contact

Rising Star Games today announced that Nintendo DS owners will get the chance to interface with an alien visitor in Contact this Autumn.

Marvelous' Contact is heading for Europe. After a North-American release by Atlus USA, Rising Star Games announces that they'll pick up the upcoming Nintendo DS RPG for Europe.

Contact tells the story of a stranded alien professor and Terry, a young man accidentally caught up in the off-world scholar's plight. The story centres on a quest to find the scattered remnants of the professor's extra-terrestrial power-source, adding in a variety of sub-quests and an air of intrigue as shady, sinister parties are looking to find the scattered crystals for use in their own nefarious plans.

Complementing the plot are RPG mechanics of considerable depth, including real-time updating of statistics and abilities, as well as a wealth of items to discover and use. Levelling-up occurs as soon as the necessary experience has been gained, making for a dynamic, continuous play experience in keeping with the game's real-time combat systems.

Contact also features a unique split of graphical styles across the DS's two screens. On one display, there's a vibrant representation of earthly locales, complete with lush flora, fauna and other inhabitants. On the other screen, however, this look is contrasted by an austere pixel-art look for the portrayal of the professor, his lab and his alien hybrid pet.

The professor's unusual nature is not only defined by his visuals. He's entirely aware of the player and will talk to them directly, even commenting on Terry's progress. This breaking of the 'fourth wall' of videogames will raise questions about the professor's role, to the extent where the player will question the professor's morality and motives, possibly even questioning what Contact is. Is it 'just' a game, or is it something more?

Martin DeFries, COO, Rising Star Games enthuses: "Contact is a real step forward for the genre. Conceptually, it's on a different level to anything else on the DS and is truly the gem we hold in our 2006 portfolio."

Contact will be released in Europe during Autumn 2006.

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Comments

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  That write up has just made me want this game.

  jonno394, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Thank you, Rising Star Games... ^_^ I´m really looking forward to this.

  twilight, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  Yeah! Autumn though, that's a bugger. Why do most online titles get so horribly delayed for europe!?

  yakutatazu, 30-11--0001 at 00:00
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  the story was kinda used :~p who needs another game about finding hidden crystals i mean seriously sonic,final fantsay and a bunch of other games that i forget

  cha-chingo, 30-11--0001 at 00:00