I am convinced that the PlayStation Portable is going to become the best platform for Japanese RPG if they ever get around to phasing out the PS2, and XSEED's announcement of Wild ARMs XF (Corssfire) coming to North American PSPs in Spring of next year only strengthens that belief. The first handheld Wild ARMs game ever, XF is the natural progression of the series from the hex grid system used in the past two console versions into full-on hex-based strategy. It places you on the dying world of Filgaia, where a personal story of revenge slowly transforms into a mission to save the world. Pretty standard for Wild ARMs, really. What isn't is standard is the turn-based strategy, which features over 60 stages, tons of optional battles, and 20 job classes to help customize your party. As a special bonus, the US version includes a 20 track music library accessible from the game's main menu, letting you listen to the game when you shouldn't be playing. Check out the gallery below for tons of portable Wild ARMs goodness.

XSEED Games Announces Wild ARMs XF

Journey Through the World of Filgaia With Strategic Hex Battle System

Torrance, Calif., (November 29, 2007) —- Are you ready to carry around the fate of a dying planet in your hands? XSEED Games today announced that it has acquired North American publishing rights for Wild ARMs XF, a deep and challenging turn-based strategy RPG for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, scheduled for release in Spring 2008.

Wild ARMs XF (pronounced "Crossfire") is the newest installment in the long-running role-playing series which marks a couple firsts for the franchise; the first one containing tactical strategy gameplay, as well as the first Wild ARMs game to appear on a handheld system. Wild ARMs XF offers a unique strategy role-playing experience with a hex-based grid system producing more tactical positioning options, a large number of job classes allowing vast party customization, and a wide range of mission objectives making it one of the deepest strategy games on the PSP® system. Wild ARMs XF features an all-new cast in an epic story of death, betrayal and redemption played out against the backdrop of the dying world of Filgaia.

The Story

The once vibrant world of Filgaia is slowly dying, a result of some cataclysmic event lost in the dim, misty reaches of the past. The few pathetic remnants of once mighty nations are caught up in an endless cycle of war, fighting over Filgaia's ever-dwindling natural resources. Amidst the carnage and slow decay, there is one kingdom that has until recently managed to avoid the chaos and suffering plaguing its neighbors; the kingdom of Elesius.

However, the kingdom is slowly descending into anarchy with the king inflicted with a mysterious illness that has kept him bed-ridden, intensifying the future uncertainty as the heir-apparent disappeared a year earlier and is presumed dead. An opportunistic senate has formed its own police force and is gradually usurping power from the royal family.

It is against this backdrop of political intrigue and social decay that the main character Clarissa Arwin, accompanied by her half-brother and protector, Felius, enter Elesius hot on the trail of Rupert Dandridge, the man who murdered her mother. What started out as a personal vendetta soon turns into an epic battle to not only keep a kingdom from falling, but to save the world of Filgaia from being turned into an uninhabitable wasteland.

Key Features

· Innovative hex-based battle grid system allows more tactical positioning options, such as Formation Arts and Combination Arts, as opposed to the traditional square-based battle grid.

· One of the deepest strategy games on the PSP system with over 60 stages containing a wide array of mission objectives, as well as numerous optional battles.

· Almost endless party customization with over 20 unique job classes to choose from such as Berserker, Elementalist, Grappler, Geomancer and Sacred Slayer.

· Extensive material creation options to create more powerful weapons, spell books and armor by combining rare materials obtained by sending out hired mercenaries to scavenge throughout the world of Filgaia.

· US-exclusive inclusion of a Music Library containing 20 select tracks from the game accessible any time from the game menu.

The ESRB rating and suggested retail price will be announced at a later date. Additional information on the title will be available at http://www.xseedgames.com.

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