Rising Star signs Sonic creator

Rising Star Games has announced a new partnership with Yuji Naka, the co-creator of Sonic The Hedgehog.

The company will be publishing Ivy The Kiwi, an innovative platformer from Naka-san’s development studio PROPE. The game will be released for Wii, DS and DSiWare this autumn.

Bringing Ivy the Kiwi to PAL territories is immensely satisfying for us and the fact that it comes from such a highly respectable studio, headed by Mr. Yuji Naka himself, makes us specially proud,” Rising Star marketing manager Raul Nieto Garcia told MCV.

A title of these characteristics is posed to be a success story in both retail and the media. We are thrilled with the prospect of publishing Ivy the Kiwi in PAL territories. Rising Star Games continues to find its way to hidden gems from the Far East and Ivy the Kiwi is certainly one of them.”

Ivy The Kiwi is a platformer in which a small bird travels the world searching for her mother. As the main character continually walks forwards, gamers must guide her around obstacles and enemies by drawing vines across the screen.

The game boasts a unique art style, with plenty of high quality hand-drawn artwork to recreate the atmosphere of a storybook. The retail version features 100 levels, while a selection of 50 will be available as a standalone DSiWare title.

Ivy the Kiwi is a charming and highly addictive casual game, with genuinely innovative and intuitive gameplay mechanics, which are perfectly suited for the DS stylus and Wii remote,” said Nieto Garcia.

The game is perfect for those playing on their Nintendo DS while commuting to work. For those who like their party games at home, Ivy the Kiwi can be enjoyed with friends and family thanks to its fantastic multiplayer mode.

Marked by high production values and a captivating atmosphere, the developer’s heritage will be instantly recognised and appreciated by everyone playing Ivy the Kiwi.”