The release date for Square-Enix's DS Mana game may be sooner than you think... well, in Japan anyway.

IGN is reporting that Japanese retailers have recieved a solid release schedule for Square-Enix's anticipated Children of Mana for the Nintendo DS. With a reported release date of February in Japan, the game is set to closely follow a dense holiday lineup for the handheld.

Developed by Next Entertainment (older gamers might remember them as Nextech), the game is said to be in its "final tuning phase". Children of Mana is a wholly new side story set in the World of Mana universe, Square-Enix's umbrella term for new games in the popular series (currently the other title is Secret of Mana 4 announced for PS2). It will feature the action-RPG gameplay the series is largely known for set to lavishly detailed hand-drawn backdrops, and will allow 3 players to adventure together via the DS Local Wi-Fi function (online support is not likely at this late phase of development). Finally, anime fans may be pleased to learn that Children of Mana will also feature animated cutscenes courtesy of animation house Production I.G. of Ghost in the Shell fame.

As is often the unfortunate case, release dates outside of Japan are not yet known. The good news is that the release of a game the caliber of a Secret of Mana title is nearly assured in the West. The bad news is that we are not likely to see it anywhere close to next February. Still, if the gorgeous screenshots that have begun trickling out are any indication, fans have a real treat to look forward to.

Count on R-E to deliver more details as we recieve them.