Chronicles Coming to Japan

Placeholder Page says Stay Tuned for April

Often times with RPGs, the language barrier can get in the way of a speedy worldwide game release.  Translating all that type from one language to another and programming it back into the game is a process that can take months.

But as opposed to most instances where domestic English-speaking gamers lay in wait for Japanese to be translated, the case of Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood poses a reverse scenario.  Developed for the English speaking world first, Japanese Sonic fans have wondered whether Chronicles would make it to their country, as no release date was ever announced for the land of the rising sun.

They need not worry anymore.  A teaser site has surfaced as a sub-section of Sega’s Japanese websites, and it all but confirms the game will make it to Japan, possibly as early as this Summer.  That’s probably old news to most reading this, but what isn’t is that the site has since been updated to reflect news that new information on the Japanese edition will be coming beginning April 10th.

Any number of details could be revealed then, including an exact release date, any possible extra features, and even a potential name change.  Some are speculating that due to the advent of the Nintendo DSi in Japan, there could be a couple DSi-specific features added, and others reworked.  Also keep in mind that the teaser site is, for now, branding this as a Sonic RPG, and not necessarily as Chronicles.  That could mean another Sonic title gets a name change, just as Sonic Unleashed became Sonic World Adventure in Japan.

We’ll let you know of any changes come April, when more details are expected to be unveiled.