[Mushishi] Mushishi DS

This is a game based on a comic called "Mushishi". The game web site can be found here

The comics won many awards in Japan with its unique atmosphere and mood in the storytelling. In this fantasy world, there are some things called "Mushi" (can be translated as "Bugs") These are unique and amazing creatures that not all people can see. They don't have any fixed form or shape. They also have supernatural powers and are very much in touch with the very essence of life. They are mostly harmless. But when they cause trouble for humans, it is up to "Mushishi" (Master of Mushi, people who can see and interact with Mushi) to help solve the problem.

The story of the game centers around a village. Ten years ago, the villagers and animals all died without particular reasons. Everybody is dead except you. Ten years later, with the help of a Mushishi, the village is rebuilt and people come from other places to live here. But now strange things start to happen again...

You can do some player setting the first time you start the game. You can choose to be a boy or a girl. You can also enter your name as well. After that, you can begin your adventure. (Screenshots) Each day, you are free to explore the village and collect information. You can also try to catch some Mushi (Screenshots) and make records of these creatures (Screenshots). You can collect food and materials for medicine. You can also accept request of "Mushi Healing" and perform "Mushi Healing". The "Mushi Healing" is a way of using Mushi to help solve people's problem. Of course you need to have the correct Mushi to use and know the correct way of using them together with the materials you collect before hand. (Screenshots)

The game progresses when you gain more knowledge of the Mushi and experience of using them. At the beginning, you are basically the understudy of the Mushishi until you learn enough from him. Then you can start helping on the villagers with their problems. You keep using the Mushi to help them and level up in the way of Mushishi until you solve the mystery of the disaster ten years ago. You can unlock the library after you beat the game. It contains a lot of information about the Mushi in the game. There is also some side quests for you to perform as well. So there is certainly some replay value here.

The special edition of the game also comes with a nice "Mushishi" bag (shown below). It is large enough to hold your NDS in it.

The game will be released at the end of January in Japan.