XSEED Games announced today that Ragnarok DS has gone gold, and will start shipping to retailers across North America beginning February 16th with a suggested retail price of $34.99. The game releases with an early pre-sale program that supports the game’s popular MMORPG PC counterpart, Ragnarok Online PC. Developed by Gungho Works, Ragnarok DS brings the same addictive gameplay of customization and exploration enjoyed by more than three million North American registered users in the PC version to Nintendo DS.

Players step into the roll of young Ales as he steps into the world in search of adventure with the goal of eventually starting his own Guild. It is not long before this young rookie adventurer is propelled down a path toward danger, excitement, and a heroine in distress. Throughout his travels Ales encounters individuals who help in his quest for fortune and fame, as these friends will become invaluable new allies as they join his party.

Players may use both the stylus and +Control Pad to control character movement, select items or access the menu. As a character’s base levels increases, the character earns both Status and Skill Points. Players may utilize these points to customize their characters to best suit their playing style, choosing from a number of different basic job classes such as Swordsman, Thief, and Merchant, eventually progressing towards more advanced job classes such as Knight, Assassin, and Blacksmith. Staying true to the community and teamwork that the original is based on, Ragnarok DS allows players to team up with two other friends wirelessly via Nintendo DS Wireless Connection or Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to take on the Mirage Tower, which has 50 floors with randomly generated maps and completion conditions, with the chance to obtain rare items.

[Ragnarok Website]