Namco Bandai’s new RPG features hand drawn anime graphics

Game publishers Namco Bandai have been slowly building up their reputation as purveyors of quality RPGs, with games like Tales of Xillia actually posting better sales numbers than competing blockbusters like Final Fantasy XIII-2. Now it seems the Japanese gaming giant is adding another role playing game to their catalog, though this anime-inspired epic has a rather unique visual style.

This Playstation 3 exclusive, Toki to Towa, is being billed at the first ever "animation RPG," but this means more than just a few anime cutscenes and characters. If you pay close attention to the trailer, you'll see that the in-game character models and battle animations are all hand animated. Taiwanese anime studio Satelight (Macross Frontier) and game studio Imageepoch (Fate/Extra) are working together to craft this tale of swords & sorcery, and I've gotta say I'm definitely crossing my fingers for an American release.

The only question now is whether Square Enix can get their act together, or if Namco Bandai will crown themselves the new kings of JRPGs?