Rising Star Games Reveal DS Filled Line-Up

Rising Star Games sent us a delightfully wrapped package recently. After we tore off the paper like an over-excited child on Christmas Day and filled our stomachs with the pocky and kasugai peas nestled temptingly within, a further treat was discovered - a sushi-shaped USB stick containing details of the publisher's 2011 line-up.

Nintendo DS owners will be happy to hear that three of the five games that Rising Star are rolling out later this year are on the dual-screened portable. If you like farming, you'll be particularly pleased...

Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar brings the mother of all farming games back to Nintendo DS. Filled with the classic crop sowing you know and love, there are also new additions such as windmills that help to combine ingredients into unique goods to sell at the titular bazaar. The farmer's learnt to jump now too, helping you bumble over hills and streams with ease. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection allows friends to help each other with their farming, shop at different bazaars or empty their streams of fish. Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar is released in September 2011.

Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar media album.

Cradle of Rome 2 joins the million-strong library of Match-3 puzzle titles on Nintendo DS, challenging players to match identical tiles to build houses and palaces, seeking to build your small settlement into a towering empire. Cradle of Rome 2 is released in October 2011.

Cradle of Rome 2 media album.

Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon continues to take the Harvest Moon franchise in a different direction, combining farming fun with a monster training RPG. Online multiplayer means that up to three players can play co-operatively, sharing battles and accomplishments. Rune Factory 3: A Fantasy Harvest Moon is released in September 2011.

Rune Factory 3 media album.

On the non-Nintendo front, Rising Star's line-up is rounded off with October's The King of Fighters XIII from SNK Playmore on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, while Cave's DoDonPachi Resurrection is sure to entertain shoot 'em up fans on Xbox 360 in November. Cubed3 contributor Peter Willington interviewed Rising Star Games on the subject of each:

- King of Fighters XIII interview.
- DoDonPachi Resurrection interview.

"We have a reputation for publishing games that fans want and the final half of this year is no different. We're releasing some of the biggest titles we've ever had the pleasure of handling, including The King of Fighters XIII and DoDonPachi Resurrection, as well as the next instalment of our flagship series, Harvest Moon. It's an incredibly exciting period for us and we're delighted to be working on such distinguished titles at the top of their genres." - Martin Defries, managing director, Rising Star Games.

We'll bring you more coverage on Rising Star Games' Nintendo releases as information becomes available.

What do you think of Rising Star Games' 2011 line-up?