Nippon Ichi Software today announced a budget series re-release of its popular strategy RPG Phantom Brave for PlayStation 2. However, similar to the budget priced director's cut of Aruze's Shadow Hearts 2, the tentatively titled Phantom Brave 2: Nishuume ha hajimemashita will incorporate several new features: After completing the game once, players will now be able to play through the game a second time with their characters' stats and items being carried over from the previous play-through. In order to re-acquire those stats and items, players will have to talk to a certain character. The second new feature will allow players who own the original game to carry over their clear save data. Last but not least, the budget re-release will feature an incredibly powerful new enemy named Pringer XX. As his name suggests, this guy will be a more powerful version of the original game's optional boss Pringer X.

Phantom Brave: Nishuume ha hajimemashita will be available in Japan sometime this summer for 2,800 yen ($24.32 US).

• GameWatch