Any Naruto fans out there? Yep, I think I see a hand or two raised... Although, personally, I'm not into that kind of animes (not by a long shot), there's no denying that Naruto is currently one of the most popular animation series, so it was only a matter of time before it would make its way onto the most popular handheld console in the Western world as well. Right, that would be the Nintendo DS. While there have already been several Naruto fighting and role-playing games for the DS in Japan, Naruto: Ninja Council 3 will be the first one to receive an English version.

Originally released in Japan in 2005 as Naruto Saikyô Ninja Daikesshû 3, the game is now also due for release in the West, during Spring 2007, under the title Naruto: Ninja Council 3. Announced by D3Publisher of America and Tomy Corporation, Ninja Council 3 is based on episodes from VIZ Media's hit anime series Shonen Jump Naruto and will feature mission-based gameplay for up to four players. Wireless, that is.

Word is the ninja action game utilizes an interchangeable attack system allowing players to combine attack techniques from all available characters in the mission to increase their chance of success:

"The new interchangeable attack system and the ability to choose from over 20 playable characters are a first in hand-held Naruto games," said Careen Yapp, vice president of licensing and business development, D3PA. "We feel very strongly that this game will appeal to both the fans of Naruto and DS gamers that enjoy action games."

Using the new interchangeable attack system, players select a main character to complete the mission and then customize their attack scheme by selecting special techniques from other available characters - increasing their chance of success by combining the best techniques for the mission. Players can activate special attacks using the Nintendo DS stylus on the touch screen or by blowing into the microphone.

Just like a true ninja, in Naruto: Ninja Council 3, players will have to protect, defend or defeat as they train hard to perfect their skills in order to progress through the ranks in over 40 missions ranging in difficulty from moderate to challenging. Up to four players (wireless) can choose from over 20 different characters with four different playing modes including Timed Mode, Scroll Collection Mode and Head-to-Head Versus Mode.

Not much else is left to say about it, for now, though we're still waiting to get our hands on the first screenshots from the English version.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)

In just a couple of months, another Diablo wanna-be game going by the title of Silverfall will be unleashed upon the Action-RPG community by Atari (in the US) and Deep Silver (in Europe). I'm sure you have at least heard about it by now, and if you haven't, now's your chance: we received word that the official Silverfall blog has gone live, and it already hosts an interview with project-manager Jehanne Rousseau. In it, she responds to ten of the most pressing questions submitted by the fan community over the last few weeks - including some brief discussion about the game's public toolset. Here's a bit:

"What this "public editor" will allow players to do is create missions, change existing elements, etc. Some of the more advanced features still haven't been finalized, as the implications in term of re-development are huge (importer, exporter, script editing, etc...). What I can say for sure is that we're working on it."

Other topics of interest are the two multiplayer modes - "Free mode" and "Campaign mode" - and the so-called "zone levelling" system, which seems like a nice choice for the game:

"There is no world-levelling in Silverfall. What exists, though, is what can be called "zone-levelling", which means there is a levelling but only in a specific area, and with a specific limit. When you begin the game in the swamps, monsters are between level 1 and 3. When you play the game, they become stronger so that you still have some challenge in killing the monsters, but they never go above level 10. So if you come back to this area when you're at a higher level, yes monsters will be level 10, but as you'll be level 40, they won't hurt you and when you kill them in one hit, you gain no XP."

Silverfall is set for release in North America on March 6, and three days later in Europe. Until then, the blog will be used to offer up news about the game, new screenshots, info and more, so - as they urge us - make sure to check back regularly.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)