Dark Souls was developed by Japanese developer Treasure and then localized for North America. The game will feature multiplayer games, personalization, new Bankai moves, 30 new Spirit Cards, power-enhancing crystals and seven new gameplay modes. The game's story will take place between seasons one and two of the animates series and was created specifically for the game.

"We are thrilled to once again partner with SEGA for the development of BLEACH: Dark Souls on Nintendo DS," states Linda Espinosa, Vice President, Content Management, VIZ Media. "SEGA games have enjoyed immense success in North America, BLEACH is a top seller in both Japan and the US, and we are expecting great fan response when BLEACH: Dark Souls releases with a multitude of new and exclusive features."

Hit the jump for the full release.

SEGA ANNOUNCES BLEACH: DARK SOULS FOR NINTENDO DS™

Critically Acclaimed DS Fighter Returns in Summer 2008 with More Blade Wielding Action

SAN FRANCISCO (March 7, 2008) - SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced that BLEACH: Dark Souls™ will be available on Nintendo DS™. BLEACH: Dark Souls delivers an authentic anime experience with non-stop action and swordplay. The game features an expanded cast of characters voiced by the actors from VIZ Media's award-winning BLEACH animation, rated T for Teens. The second season of BLEACH the television series began airing in the U.S. on Adult Swim on March 1.
Developed by famed Japanese developer Treasure and localized for North America, BLEACH: Dark Souls will feature a multitude of enhancements to last year's critically acclaimed BLEACH: The Blade of Fate. These enhancements include multiplayer games with expanded personalization features, brand new special Bankai moves, 30 new Spirit Cards, power-enhancing crystals, as well as seven new gameplay modes. The BLEACH: Dark Souls storyline takes place in between seasons one and two of the animated series and was created exclusively for the game.
The BLEACH: Dark Souls game for Nintendo DS will mark the expansion of a dynamic cast of over 40 playable characters including Rukia, Kon and hero Ichigo. Gamers can spend hours furiously fighting while unlocking individual character stories, all based on an exclusive story arc created for BLEACH: Dark Souls.
"With an exclusive storyline, an expanded playable character roster and spectacular new Bankai moves, BLEACH: Dark Souls is set to build upon the critical success of BLEACH: Blade of Fate," said Don Mesa, Director of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "The BLEACH franchise continues to gain momentum with anime fans and gamers alike in North America and SEGA is there to create a robust and exciting gaming experience that stays true to its anime roots."
"We are thrilled to once again partner with SEGA for the development of BLEACH: Dark Souls on Nintendo DS," states Linda Espinosa, Vice President, Content Management, VIZ Media. "SEGA games have enjoyed immense success in North America, BLEACH is a top seller in both Japan and the US, and we are expecting great fan response when BLEACH: Dark Souls releases with a multitude of new and exclusive features."
BLEACH: Dark Souls offers enhancements to the impressive 2D action and brilliant visuals that have become the hallmark of Treasure, the game's legendary development team. Players will face a variety of opponents as one of 44 highly-stylized characters in intense action-packed battles based on the animated series. For the first time ever, players will be able to assume the role of Evil Hollows, adding a new twist for gamers to explore. BLEACH: Dark Souls utilizes a traditional 2D fighting game format with enhanced visuals that push the graphical prowess of Nintendo DS to new heights.
BLEACH: Dark Souls continues to allow gamers to build customized Spirit Card Decks, this time with the addition of power-enhancing Reiju Crystals to boost their character's heath, attack strength and defense power cards. BLEACH: Dark Souls features four player multiplayer battles via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and DS Download Play. Players can battle each other at the same time or form tag teams for team play. Finally, BLEACH fans will enjoy using the newly included encyclopedia that offers detailed explanations of the BLEACH world, character info, descriptions of their attacks and a full glossary of BLEACH terms.
BLEACH: Dark Souls on Nintendo DS is slated for release in summer 2008. For more information, screenshots and art, please visit the SEGA FTP site at: http://segapr.segaamerica.com.

The Wii version sports 32 character and will let you use the Wii remote and nunchuck to slash, jab and lunge in 3D battles. Each of the characters have their own special attacks. The DS version will be a 2D fighter with 28 characters and battles that can move between the upper and lower screens of the DS. The DS version also supports four-player combat via a WiFi and the use of something called Spirit Card Decks.

Hit the jump for the full press release.

Hit TV Series Delivers Intense Swordfights in Video Game Debut in North America

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (July 6, 2007) - SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced that Bleach(tm): Shattered Blade will be available on the Wii(tm) home video game system from Nintendo and Bleach(tm): The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS(tm) portable handheld system. Based on the hit animated series, Bleach(tm) offers relentless action and dazzling swordplay with crisp, highly-stylized graphics that deliver an authentic anime experience. The games feature a robust cast of characters voiced by the actors from VIZ Media's award-winning BLEACH anime. The TV show is currently featured in the U.S. on the Cartoon Network's, Adult Swim. With a dynamic cast of over two dozen characters in the games including Rukia, Kon and hero Ichigo, gamers can spend hours furiously fighting while unlocking individual character stories, all based on the animated series' story arc.

The Bleach storyline follows fifteen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki who is able to see spirits, including warriors from the afterlife known as "Soul Reapers". The Soul Reapers are tasked with defending humans from otherworldly beings called "Hollows". One fateful day, Ichigo meets Rukia, a Soul Reaper who lends him her powers after she is injured by a Hollow. In the game, players progress through an exciting storyline facing increasingly difficult opponents in their quest to uncover the truth.

"Bleach offers both fans and newcomers alike an action-packed arcade experience that delivers fast-paced swordplay in the tradition of the animated series' intense action sequences," said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. "Bleach is an exciting and highly anticipated property that translates extremely well to the versatility of the Wii Remote and the DS' portable gameplay, and SEGA is proud to be the first to bring the video game series to the North American audience."

"We are thrilled to be partnering with SEGA for the Bleach Wii and DS games," states Linda Espinosa, Vice President, Content Management, VIZ Media. "The SEGA games have enjoyed immense success in Japan, the manga is a top seller in both the Japan and US, and we are expecting great fan response when these games release."

Bleach: Shattered Blade for the Wii enables gamers to wield the Wii Remote(tm) and Nunchuk(tm) as their weapons - slashing, jabbing, and lunging in furious battles like a real Soul Reaper. Bleach: Shattered Blade offers an exclusive storyline created specifically for the Wii with 32 characters to choose from. Once a new character is unlocked, players can replay the story episodes utilizing the characters' special moves and weapons which brings a whole new perspective to the storyline.

On the Wii, each character can perform special attacks that inflict massive damage on opponents with powerful weapons and super power attacks taken straight from the TV series. Characters can summon supernatural allies for battle support such as a giant serpent, a samurai titan, or a tidal wave. Gamers can also square-off against friends in high-speed multiplayer combat in 3D arenas and environments based on settings from the series.

On the Nintendo DS, Bleach: The Blade of Fate offers more of the impressive 2D action and brilliant visuals that have become the hallmark of Treasure, the game's legendary development team. Players will face a variety of opponents as one of 28 highly-stylized characters in intense action-packed battles based on the animated series. Bleach: The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS brings a twist to the traditional 2D fighting game with a new kind of battle system that enables players to move between upper and lower split-plane battle arenas to chase after or escape from opponents.

Bleach: The Blade of Fate for the Nintendo DS also allows gamers to build Spirit Card Decks to strategically access power-ups and power-downs to perform special attacks, cast healing spells on themselves, displace opponents, or prohibit them from using their own Spirit Cards. Additionally, gamers can take to the streets battling against enemies with up to four players in fast-paced combat via the Nintendo DS' Wi-Fi capabilities.

Bleach: Shattered Blade on the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate on the Nintendo DS is slated for release in fall 2007, just in time for the beginning of the highly-anticipated second season on Cartoon Network.

Not only do your Wii-mote movements register onscreen, but the controller turns into a giant glowing sword. But, only with the lights off, yo. Brian Ashcraft

Wii TV Spots [Siliconera]

As Sega didn't actually let any of the Kotaku editors touch their Wii titles, we instead decided that we'd just watch the six extremely attractive booth girls play for an hour. Decked out in outfits that matched the games they were playing, they'd clearly been playing Wii games all day since they had a thin layer of sweat and a solid grasp of the gameplay—both rare for booth girls.

Bleach, the fighting game based on the popular manga, has a very interesting cel shaded style, with a sketch-like cross hatching effect thrown on for good measure. Watching the Sega cutie frantically stab at the screen made me cautious than ever about using the Wii wand to control a traditional fighter. This really requires some personal play.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz looked like a bunch of minigame fun. The girls played the party game version of frisbee golf, which looked fair but still enticing, and a running/hurdling bit that looked exhausting. Check the video at the end of the post to see the... err, gameplay.

Sonic The Hedgehog was my favorite Sega Wii title on display. Looking surprisingly good for the underpowered Wii, it finally got me interested in playing a Sonic game again. Essentially a Sonic driving game with jumping and occasional platforming action, it had a great sense of speed and a fun control scheme. Far better looking in motion than simple screenshots.

Even though it's too bad we didn't actually get to touch the damn games at TGS, watching girls in ninja outfits and grass skirts was a fairly good replacement. Michael McWhertor