Prepare for a touch of the paranormal as detective-adventure Lux-Pain is confirmed for a UK release by Rising Star Games. Available exclusively on Nintendo DS™, Lux-Pain features a unique adventure system where it is necessary to ‘extract’ evil parasites by erasing on the bottom screen what you see on the top. To accompany this announcement, the first set of screenshots and the official trailer have been released, highlighting the dark anime atmosphere. Lux-Pain will be released in the UK during March 2009.

Bizarre and paranormal murders have put Kisaragi City into a state of fear. A powerful mind parasite known as SILENT is spreading throughout the city. It infects humans and pushes them to perform horrendous acts by controlling their minds. Atsuki is a member of FORT, a secret organisation devoted to eradicating this parasite. Despatched to Kisaragi City as an undercover student, Atsuki has a special skill that can gain him the advantage against an invisible enemy: he can see SILENT.

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to bring Lux-Pain to gamers over here,” said Martin Defries, managing director of Rising Star Games. “It is one of those rare games on the Nintendo DS that is a genuinely dark experience but wrapped in some gorgeous anime artwork. It is engrossing, blood-chilling, very addictive and fits perfectly into Rising Star Games’ product portfolio!”

Developed by Killaware, the studio started by Atlus veterans, and published by Rising Star Games’ parent company Marvelous Entertainment, Lux-Pain was met with extremely positive critical reception upon its Japanese release earlier this year and has garnered growing interest from western markets. The near simultaneous UK/US release demonstrates that there is genuine anticipation for the title from both sides of the Atlantic, allowing all to experience this gripping detective-adventure story without having to wait or import.

Lux-Pain is animated by the illustrator behind the Japanese anime series Eureka Seven, Robin Kishiwada, and also features a soundtrack composed by Kenji Ito and Yasuyuki Suzuki who have worked on the Mana series and Space Invaders Extreme, respectively.

Key features:

• NPC’s you meet are fully voiced and have original stories of their own
• Unique adventure system - synchronise the two screens and use the Nintendo DS features to find SILENTs and help your friends
• A touch of Japanese horror-style to add extra atmosphere
• Emotion system - up to seven different emotions to choose to reply to NPC’s and discover their hidden secrets