ATLUS SPOILS THE DARK SPIRE™ FOR NINTENDO DS™, TO INCLUDE BONUS SOUNDTRACK CD WITH EVERY LAUNCH COPY
Each and every launch copy of the game now a premium boxed release

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 9, 2009 - Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today continued its Atlus Spoils fan appreciation program with the news that The Dark Spire™, an upcoming RPG of exploration and character development for Nintendo DS™, will be a premium boxed release, with each and every copy of the game's initial launch run including a soundtrack CD featuring 24 tracks of music from the game. Brooding yet lively, The Dark Spire's score, laden with synth and sharp chords, complements the game's foreboding style perfectly. Songs from both the contemporary and retro modes are included on the bonus disc.

"Our census data indicates that given the choice between only a game, and a better-packaged game with a free bonus soundtrack, a significant number of our fans seem to prefer getting free extras," analyzed Aram Jabbari, Manager of Public Relations and Sales. "We don't want to rush to any conclusions here, but it seems possible that people enjoy free bonus things along with their games. Hopefully, we're actually reading the data correctly this time, unlike that study on whether or not our fans enjoyed bonus live scorpions with their games. We really blew it on that one, and we apologize to those affected."

Parties will be assembled; stats will be rolled; items, weapons and armor shall be equipped, and monsters will be slain. The powerful Archmage Tyrhung resides in a tower of mist and shadow. He holds in his possession a jewel of great worth and power. A group of adventurers assemble. Will they be able to conquer Tyrhung and his nefarious tower? The party sets out, its fate yet to be determined...

The Dark Spire is scheduled for release on April 14, 2009 with an MSRP of $29.99.

For track samples from the bonus soundtrack CD:

http://www.atlus.com/darkspire/bonus/

For more information about The Dark Spire, visit the official website:
http://www.atlus.com/darkspire

About The Dark Spire
The Forest of Mist... Wrapped in a perpetual, impenetrable fog... No one knows what lies within... Just beyond the edge of the woods lies an old castle. Numerous battle flags fly proudly above its gate as symbols of its Lord's power. It is here that King Kronus resides and rules his vast domain. During a celebration of the kingdom's most recent conquest, Archmage Tyrhung, a powerful magician and key to the kingdom's recent military success, stole a necklace of immeasurable value from round the Queen's neck and disappeared into the night. Guards rushed after him, only to see him transform into a ferocious creature: a dragon. Tyrhung flew off toward the Forest of Mist, scattering the fog with his powerful wings. And when the beacon atop the Dark Spire lit up, it was clear to all: the beast had chosen his new lair... The Dark Spire, once the domain of an ancient goblin civilization, had found a new master. This is where your story begins...

Key Features

• Homage to classic RPGs -- Take back the age of the great classic RPGs where you build your perfect party from the ground up. Shrewd strategy is required to navigate tough dungeon floors with limited resources, earning experience by taking on 80 different enemies out to end you.

• Dual dungeon modes -- The traditional RPG experience is fully realized in Classic Mode, which offers a black-and-white wireframe dungeon environment reminiscent of the nostalgic PC RPGs. Switch back to Modern Mode to update to the full 3-D atmosphere of the Dark Spire.

• A captivating story of mist and shadow -- A second person narrative reaches out from the game to speak to you of codpieces and killer rabbits, enveloping the gamer in an unforgettable adventure that offers three possible endings.

The Dark Spire has been rated "E10+" (Everyone 10 and older) with Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, and Suggestive Themes by the ESRB.