On September 2nd, Nintendo will release Mogitate Tingle Bara Iro Rupee Land in Japan. Even though a majority of us Westerners can’t decipher the crazy code that is Asian language, Zelda fans can immediately lock in on two key word of the title, Tingle and Rupee. Frighteningly enough Fresh Tingle’s Rose-Colored Rupee Land feature the other green guy of the Zelda series—the flamboyant, and, yes ladies, still single 30-something wannabe fairy we all know and love (to hate) now has his original RPG. The big question for us outside of Japan: will we get a translated version of the game? Or will this bizarre little gem remain forever lost from translation?
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As suggested by the slightly insane title (fear not, Zelda zealots, the name will most definitely take on a more masculine tone if it gets localized), Tingle RPG revolves around Rupees (which are the Zelda series’ form of currency for those of you who’s game systems have been living under rocks). The story starts at the time when Tingle was your simple, run-of-the-mill middle-aged guy, bored to tears. Suddenly, he receives a message telling him to pay a visit to an area known as The Spring. There, Tingle meets an old man named Rupee-ji (translation: Old Man Rupee) who presents Tingle with a sort of quest: if he saves up his Rupees and tosses them into The Spring he will be transported to the all-your-dreams-come-true Rupee Land. Tingle, apparently ready to take on a mid-life crisis, agrees to Rupee-ji’s task and magically transforms into the oddly costumed Tingle we know.
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Upon his fairy transformation, Rupees begin to rule Tingle’s life—quite literally. If players allow their stash of cash to completely diminish, Tingle will perish. Through this aspect, the game becomes a crash course in money management, since how you progress through the game relies solely on balancing income and expenditures. And it will be a little more demanding than the usual slay monster, acquire money, buy goods sequence Link is accustomed to. Since Tingle lacks in the “heroic strength” department, he has to get by via methods like bribing guards to let him pass into a new area or even win a fight. Tingle also has to save up to stock ingredients in his kitchen, and buy/sell/trade items to merchants. Then it seems there is a sort of tithe to pay to the Spring, or at least an offering of Rupees required in order to make a tower arise from the waters. The Rupee Rats from Wind Waker also return, with a mousy little mind to lighten your wallet.
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Using the inscrutable logic of “when a door closes, a window opens,” players will find plenty of ways to make sure Rupees find their way back into the wallet. Trading with merchants seems to be a big part of business, but you’ll also delve into sidequests to help people and be able to try your hand at cartography with Tingle’s famed map-making skills. Having to buy ingredients for a kitchen suggests Tingle might even be hosting a few bake sales.
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How this money madness translates into a broader plot for the game is yet to be known, but a little bit on gameplay has been leaked. Tingle RPG utilizes both screens for the DS, and action will alternate from top or bottom depending on what the player is doing. For example, when Tingle is wheeling and dealing with shopkeepers, a calculator will sometimes appear on the bottom screen. When Tingle visits the Spring, his dreams will be shown in the top screen. And just to make sure the rumor mill is up and running, early game screenshots show Tingle using the Tingle Bomb that debuted in Wind Waker. Perhaps we’ll even learn what events ultimately made Tingle, Tingle.
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No word on other Zelda characters enlisting in the Tingle RPG cast, but Tingle has a new lady-friend (their exact relationship is unknown), named Pingle who will greet Tingle when he returns home and further help him on his quest. Tingle’s house itself resembles a DS. Oh, and Tingle has a dog. Named Dongle. The sweet names just keep on coming.
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While Japan is for sure being treated to Tingle RPG, Nintendo seems a little wary of releasing it elsewhere. Thus, they’re testing the waters by encouraging gamers to participate in an online survey. After having gamers review a brief synopsis of what the game could be, they get the choice of either giving a general yay or nay to the game. Nintendo plans on factoring the survey results as they make their decision in localizing Tingle’s game. View the survey here (the survey requires you be registered with Nintendo’s site).
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If the game does get released to the states, it’s doubtful it will do anything to help the cartoony “kiddie game” stereotype Nintendo has been branded with. But, hey, it might help me with my econ class.
Tingle survey: Nintendo.com/tinglesurvey