Dawn of Mana for PS2 in Stores Now

Allow me to give you another reason why you shouldn't give up on your PS2 yet. Meet Dawn of Mana, the next game in the World of Mana series and hopefully the next big hit in the Square Enix series of RPGs.

Here's the official press release from Square Enix:

SECRETS REVEALED AND NEW DIMENSIONS FOUND IN SQUARE ENIX’S DAWN OF MANA – SHIPPING NOW

Origin of the Sword of Mana and the Mana Tree Revealed in this Exciting 3D

Adventure LOS ANGELES (May 24, 2007) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix™ interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that DAWN of MANA™, the next installment in the WORLD of MANA™ series, has shipped to retail outlets across North America. Just in time for summer, this exciting adventure, developed exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, is the highly anticipated follow-up to SECRET of MANA™, the timeless classic that originally mesmerized North American audiences in 1993. HEROES of MANA™, developed exclusively for the Nintendo DS™ and the next title released in the series, will ship August 14, 2007.

After the unveiling of the WORLD of MANA series of titles in 2005, fans have been eager to experience the next installment in the popular MANA series. DAWN of MANA at last reveals the origins of the legend behind the Mana Tree and the Sword of Mana. Freed from the limitations of two-dimensional graphics, DAWN of MANA brings the world of MANA into 3D for the first time while preserving the atmosphere that fans have come to know and love. New characters and environments join familiar monsters and elemental spirits from previous MANA titles, with cutting-edge rendering techniques that preserve the signature beauty and subtlety of the acclaimed series.

About DAWN of MANA

STORY

Long ago, when the world was at peace and magic was yet unknown to man, the beautiful isle of Illusia floated in the center of the Inner Sea. Over the island towered the Great Tree, the source of all life and creation. There it had stood since the dawn of the world, but over time, the tree gradually turned to stone and slept as though death had at last arrived. So begins the story of how a boy came to wield a sacred sword and how a maiden became a goddess, entwining the fate of spirits, mortals, and the entire world into a captivating tale of hope and despair.

FEATURES

• Cinematic production values are amplified by a gripping opening theme composed by Grammy and Academy Award winner Ryuichi Sakamoto, and a sweeping score from series composer Kenji Ito

• Instant accessibility makes the game fun and intuitive for a wide variety of gamers – simple controls and quick “pick-up-and-play” mechanics make the game fun for long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise

• Witness a beautiful lighting system that softens the game world, exuding a feeling of warmth and subtlety that cascades through trees, over the hills and onto the elements of vividly detailed landscapes fans have come to expect from the MANA series

• Different weapons and gameplay mechanics allow multiple ways to approach enemies – attack head-on with the sword, use the slingshot from afar or manipulate the environment with a whip to cause a fantastic avalanche of boulders – guaranteeing no two adventures are the same!

For a limited time and while supplies last, the Breath of MANA™ music sampler disc will be available at Amazon.com, Game Crazy, GameStop, and EB Games as a gift with the purchase of Dawn of Mana.

About HEROES of MANA

Breathing new life into the vaunted MANA franchise, HEROES of MANA takes the beloved series into an entirely new dimension. In the first real-time strategy title for the series, generals will plan, plot and strategize their way to victory on the battlefield. Command an army of heroes, creatures and beloved rabites with the use of the Nintendo DS Touch Screen, and experience an all-new perspective on the ever-evolving MANA saga. Players can see how they rank among others in the country by accessing the HEROES of MANA servers via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. HEROES of MANA is being developed by BROWNIE BROWN Inc.

Both entries in the WORLD of MANA series continue the legacy of the MANA series, as they provide fresh and unique takes on the familiar universe that has captured the hearts of fans around the world.

DAWN of MANA has been rated T (Teen) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). DAWN of MANA is available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $49.99. For more information on DAWN of MANA please visit http://na.square-enix.com/dawnofmana/. HEROES of MANA has been rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB. For more information about the ESRB please visit www.esrb.org.

Look for my review of this game in a week or so.