If playing J-RPG's and staring at a couple of small LCD screens for hours-on-end are two of your favourite past-times, you might want to pay attention, as Nintendo have revealed the release date for forthcoming role-playing epic, Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.

Developed by Level 5 and published by Square Enix, Dragon Quest IX is the next chapter in the ever-popular Dragon Quest franchise, and is the first title in the series to launch on an handheld system - the Nintendo DS. It is scheduled to hit North American shores on July 11th, exactly a year after it was released in Japan. While European gamers will be able to get their hands on it a couple weeks later on July 23rd.

For those in the dark on Dragon Quest IX, the official PR is as follows:

In DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, players begin their adventure as a city guardian who is sent to retrieve a sacred tree’s fruits, which have the power to grant wishes. Players travel the world, conquer fearsome monsters and unravel an epic storyline. During their journey, players will encounter mighty opponents in fast-paced battles, and also interact with a colorful cast of characters.

Before setting off on their adventure, players can create their own heroes, deciding how they would like their face, hair and clothing to look. As the story unfolds, players become stronger, smarter and more powerful, and can customize companions who join their group. Players will have fun discovering more than 1,000 pieces of clothing, armor, weapons and other items that will provide them with a unique appearance and special abilities. Players can also change the class of their character at any time, choosing from a variety of vocations that will affect their abilities and strengths in the game.

To be honest, I'm a little surprised we're getting our hands on Dragon Quest IX this summer, as I half expected a Fall release date. Of course, I'm not complaining as I simply cannot wait for this game to release. I absolutely loved the DS ports of Dragon Quest IV & V - IX looks like it could be the best offering yet.

Are you as excited as me for the release of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies?

Dragon Quest IX will be hitting North American store shelves on July 11th & their European counterparts on July 23rd. It will be exclusively available for the Nintendo DS.

Source: Nintendo Everything