The latest batch of screens hit the net for developer Media Vision and publisher D3 Publisher's upcoming RPG, RIZ-ZOAWD for the Nintendo DS, by way of Famitsu. These screens showcase the game's battle system.

RIZ-ZOAWD is based on the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with the game's title a jumbled combination of "Wizard" and "Oz", and pronounced as the two words in succession. RIZ-ZOAWD will utilize the novel's characters, location, and plot, but whether the game will follow the story of the original novel or the countless retellings remains to be seen. The primary method of control for the game will be the use of a large trackball on the touch screen that will control the character on the top screen.

The game will make use of two different battle systems: the Ratio Battle System, which is the main one, and the Semi-Automatic Battle system. The Ratio System assigns different ratio values to actions, with the player's party only able to execute a total ratio of 4 or less. Ratio values are assigned based on the action performed, and who is performing the action, and under what circumstances. The Semi-Automatic Battle is more streamlined, with the party performing automated actions, with the player using the stylus to change commands on the fly.

RIZ-ZOAWD is set to release in Japan this Winter. The game is currently unannounced for outside Japan. The official site for RIZ-ZOAWD can be found here.

Akira_EX via famitsu.com »