In an email sent out today, video game publisher Ignition Entertainment, who had last week revealed that they will be publishing Vanillaware's Wii title Muramasa: The Demon Blade, has announced that they will be releasing the Matrix Software, Red Entertainment, and Tecmo RPG Wind of Nostalgeo as simply Nostalgia for the Nintendo DS.

Set in an alternate 19th century Earth, players control Eddie, a Londoner who travels on a steampunk-styled zeppelin across the world, exploring various locales and eventually saving the world. Nostalgia will employ two different combat systems: a traditional RPG battle system for when the party is exploring on foot, and airship battles for when they are travelling the skies. It is a spiritual successor to Skies of Arcadia, if you will.

Nostalgia will release in the US this September. The official site, although not yet up, can be found here

Ignition Entertainment Ltd., a UTV Enterprise, a worldwide publisher and developer of videogames, and Tecmo, in conjunction with Matrix Software and Red Entertainment, invite gamers to takeoff on a nostalgic journey through time and space with Nostalgia for Nintendo DS™ - launching September 2009. Set in an alternate-reality version of 19th-century Earth, Nostalgia casts you as Eddie, a headstrong Londoner who amasses a group of memorable companions to traverse the world in his steampunk-inspired zeppelin. As you navigate the open skies, you’ll explore mysterious foreign locales, slay all manner of fantastical enemies, complete a variety of thrilling quests, and ultimately, save the world from unfathomable evil.

Developed by Matrix Software (Dragon Quest V PS2, Final Fantasy III-IV DS), in association with Red Entertainment (Gungrave, Bonk, Thousand Arms), Nostalgia brings together a powerful think-tank of old-school Japanese RPG development talent to present a stunning new vision in gaming. Produced by Keisuke Kikuchi (Fatal Frame, Tokobot) and directed by Naoki Morita (Sakura Taisen), with art direction by Yoshiteru Tsujino (Far East of Eden), airship design by Takuhito Kusanagi (Grandia, Blue Submarine No.6, Samurai 7), and enemy design by Keita Amemiya (Iria- Zeiram the Animation, Kamen Rider), Tecmo has amassed an all-star dream team of industry veterans to forge a brand new DS adventure that hearkens back to the classic glory days of Japanese role-playing games.

According to Nostalgia producer, Keisuke Kikuchi, "I knew this game had such potential when I saw Mr. Morita's project book. It is an adventure game set in another Earth, offering an enjoyable story that involves various different cultures in many diverse locations. The key element that brings the game together is the airship, the conveyance which fits its game system and world-view. I wanted to make this idea into a product for everyone to play."

"We feel deeply honored for the opportunity to bring Tecmo’s esteemed Japanese Nintendo DS role-playing game "Nostalgeo no Kaze" to an entirely new audience as Nostalgia," said Shane Bettenhausen, New Business Development Director of Ignition Entertainment. "Amid a sea of remakes and rehashes, this endearing adventure blazes its own unique path with deeply engrossing gameplay systems, but it also hearkens back to the classic RPGs of yesteryear with its unforgettable characters and universal narrative themes."

Akira_EX via ignitionusa.com »