Last King of Africa comes into Focus later this year

Written by Jack Allin — June 18, 2008 at 12:34

White Birds' Paradise didn't quite live up to its name when released on PC two years ago, but the game will undergo quite a few changes when it's published on Nintendo DS as Last King of Africa late this year by Focus Interactive.

The story casts players in the role of Ann Smith, who has come to the imaginary African country of Maurania to visit her dying father, the king. With the country gripped in the throes of civil war, however, Ann crash lands and awakens with amnesia, and her remaining adventure becomes as much about self-realization as a physical journey through the dangers of the wartorn African landscape.

While the two versions will share much in common, the original PC adventure has been "totally rethought" for adapting to the DS. Perhaps most notably (and importantly to some), the 3D action sequences of Paradise have been removed, making Last King of Africa a fully traditional adventure. Other key changes include puzzles that have been "completely reworked" to be more intuitive and make use of the DS features, and some differences in the storyline itself, such as a "radical change in the relationships between the principal characters". The interface and presentation will also benefit from several improvements, with simplified dialogues, a "clear and detailed layout" of the game's environments for easier navigation, and a help system to avoid unnecessary pixel hunting.

Last King of Africa is currently targeting a release at the end of this year.