Nintendo today announced Heracles no Eikou: Tamashii no Shoumei for Nintendo DS. The project was originally announced last October under its working title Eternal Chronicle. Developed by Paon, Tamashii no Shoumei is the first new Heracles no Eikou title in 14 years. Between 1987 and 1994, four installments had been released on Famicom, Super Famicom and GameBoy. The DS game's scenario is written by Kazushige Nojima. Nojima might be best known for his work on the Final Fantasy series, but he also wrote the scenario for 1992's Heracles no Eikou III.

Similar to its 8 and 16-bit predecessors, the new title's story is based on ancient Greek myth. In the age of legend, the gods rule over the world, magic does exist on earth, and heroes work their miracles. On the backdrop of this setting, players will assume control over a young man who has lost his memory. Meeting friends, he slowly but surely finds out about his destiny. It turns out he is immortal, but he still doesn't know who he is and why he is immortal. Hence he sets out on a journey to find the truth. This journey will eventually lead him to Mount Olympus where the Gods dwell.

Heracles no Eikou: Tamashii no Shoumei's battles will be turn-based. In battle players will have standard attacks, magic, skills and abilities at their disposal. Abilities are special actions happening automatically under certain conditions. The effects of attack magic and skills can be improved by performing certain movements with the DS' stylus. In the game's towns and cities, players can create and upgrade their equipment or transform "rusty items" obtained during their journey into powerful equipment.

Heracles no Eikou: Tamashii no Shoumei will be available in Japan on May 22nd for 4,800 yen ($46.91 US).

• Famitsu