Back in 2005, Sony released Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner in Japan. While we weren't quite able to follow the title's development and what happened after the launch, we kept on hearing things than can be summed up in one sentence: "That game is Sony's take on Pokemon." It was unfortunate that, back then, we had to take people's words for it because there was no mention of a U.S. release date at all.

This piece of news could give the Cozy Okada-created title a chance, maybe even some justice. We we learned that developer-publisher ATLUS U.S.A. just acquired the rights to publish the game here in North American shores. The game is expected to come out by early 2007 and as of now, it is slowly building steam.

Aside from the gameplay and storyline that is somewhat reminiscent of the great Pokemon series, Monster Kingdom boasts of a phenomenal soundtrack designed by music composers of titles Ridge Racer, FF XIII, Chrono Trigger and others. And of course, you will always have the assurance that the game was originally developed and created by Okada, the master of the Shin Megami Tensai series.

Sounds promising, already? Still not that good for you? Oh well, let us all wait and reserve our judgements until the game finally hits this part of the world.