September2013
Video Level-5's Wii U RPG Wonder Flick Gets A Gameplay-Laden Trailer
Next-gen role playing with old school sensibilities
We revealed recently that Level-5's next big project is an RPG for the Wii U, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and PS Vita. Wonder Flick is due in Japan next year and will feature connectivity with a mobile application for smartphones and tablets. Level-5's Akihiro Hino insists that this link "goes beyond the...
News Youkai Watch Receiving A New Game in Japan Already
Will it be a sequel or an enhanced version?
Level-5 released Youkai Watch in the Summer in Japan and it looks like the region is set to receive another iteration of the series as CoroCoro magazine has stated a new title is in the works. The 3DS title centres around around a young boy who comes into possession of a special wristwatch that enables...
August2013
News Professor Layton Franchise Sales Hit 15 Million, Guild Downloads Reach 400,000
Ni No Kuni performed well on DS
Today seems to be Level-5 day, courtesy of its Vision press conference in Japan. From a Nintendo gamer's perspective the big news is that the peculiar-looking Layton 7 is confirmed for the 3DS, while new RPG Wonder Flick is coming to the Wii U in Japan and, hopefully, West in the future. Alongside new game reveals,...
News Layton 7 is Announced, and Looks Like Quite a Departure
It's all rather mysterious
We already knew that, as it stands, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies is the last of the popular series starring the tea-loving puzzle master. Perhaps not a surprise as sales dropped away in Japan, particularly, with each release, Level-5 has nevertheless been clear that the brand may well continue in some form. The...
News Two More Inazuma Eleven GO Titles Confirmed for Japan
Out of this world
European gamers have become used to slow and steady localisations of Level-5's Inazuma Eleven games, with the lengthy process meaning the region is well behind Japan; football / soccer fans in North America have unfortunately been entirely left out of the franchise. It seems a pity, especially as the main entries are typically...
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Scheduled For A November Release In Europe
The final chapter closes on the 8th November
During the 3DS-only Nintendo Direct broadcast back in April this year, the company announced that it was planning to bring the final chapter in the Professor Layton series, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy, to the handheld later this year. Today's Nintendo Direct presentation revealed that the final...
News Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney Is Being Localised For Western Release
No longer a mystery, thank goodness
During today's Nintendo Direct it was confirmed that Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney will be coming to North America and Europe in early 2014. The crossover title — which features Capcom's Phoenix Wright and Level-5's Professor Layton — hit Japan in 2012, and English-speaking fans have been requesting a...
July2013
News Inazuma Eleven 3 Kicks Off in Europe on 27th September
The 3DS remaster, rather than DS original
Earlier in the year it was announced, in a Nintendo Direct broadcast, that Inazuma Eleven 3 would come to Europe this summer on the 3DS. By confirming a 3DS release, Nintendo made clear that it'd be publishing the remastered version of Level-5's original DS title, which in itself is part of a 3DS trilogy...
News Level-5 Wants To Make Another Professor Layton Title
The series may not be over just yet
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies is the last game in the prequel trilogy and is heading to European shores this year, while North Americans will get their puzzle fix in 2014. It's been out in Japan since February and is largely seen as the last ever Professor Layton title, although that may not necessarily...
Weirdness Level-5 Flies Straight With its Favourite Character Poll Wallpaper
Well played
A little while ago we shared the peculiar news that a load of online pranksters had voted for the Aero Porter plane as their 'favourite' Level-5 character. It was a poll to celebrate the company's 15th anniversary, and pleas for the vote to be taken seriously were clearly ignored — we feel confident saying that these were pranksters,...
Rumour Attack of the Friday Monsters Breaching North American Shores Next Week
There goes the neighbourhood
We're not really sure where giant kaiju come from, perhaps they emerge from the depths or fly down from space, either way the North American eShop has listed Level 5’s Attack of the Friday Monsters: A Tokyo Tale for arrival on 18th July. The third and final game of the Guild 02 series is currently priced in the eShop...
News European Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney Release Given Some Hope
Level-5 CEO says something is in the works
One title many 3DS owners have been yearning for in the West is Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, which has been out in Japan since November last year. The game features two characters that have a proven track record in the Western market so many believe it will one day make it to Europe and North America...
June2013
Video Debut Fantasy Life Link Trailer Arrives in Japan
How's that localisation going, Level-5?
Fantasy Life, if you don't already know, is a 3DS title that came from a collaboration between Level-5 and Nintendo subsidiary Brownie Brown, which is now known as 1-UP Studios. It's a title where you can choose a a profession and interact with the large game world, and when you feel like it you can embark on...
Weirdness Level-5's Favourite Character Poll Doesn't Go to Plan
And the winner is...
As part of the celebrations for its 15 year anniversary, well-known Japanese developer Level-5 recently held an online poll to allow gamers to vote for their favourite characters from the company's lineup. With franchises such as Professor Layton and Inazuma Eleven in its portfolio, some would have expected the voting to be...
May2013
News Level-5 Has No Plans To Bring Any Titles To New Systems Just Yet
Currently observing "how technology advances"
Level-5, the Japanese developer behind titles such as Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Inazuma Eleven, the Guild01 and 02 collections and a whole heap more, is celebrating its 15th anniversary later this year. The time has certainly flown by and in an interview with Famitsu - helpfully translated...
News Level-5 Registers Three New Trademarks
Could they be Guild 03 related?
Level-5's Guild 02 titles are already out in Japan and are on their way to the West. The Starship Damrey will be released first - 16th May in North America - and will be followed by Bugs vs. Tanks! and Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale. There's been no official news on any development of a Guild 03 series...
News The Starship Damrey Landing In The North American 3DS eShop On 16th May
The first of three Guild02 titles will be available soon
Nintendo of America's Bill Trinen announced during last month's bursting Nintendo Direct that all three of Level-5's Guild02 titles would be coming to the 3DS eShop over the next few months. Well, we didn't have to wait too long as Nintendo has listed the first of the three titles on its...
April2013
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies Coming To Europe This Year
North America will have to wait until 2014
While today's 3DS-focused Nintendo Direct revealed a few titles that we didn't know about, there were a few pieces of information on those we most definitely do know exist. One of those titles was Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies, which is the last game in the prequel trilogy. We can now confirm...
News All Three Guild02 Titles Are Confirmed for the West
Starships and tanks and monsters, oh my!
During today's Nintendo Direct, Bill Trinen of Nintendo's Treehouse announced that all three of Level 5's Guild02 titles would be heading to North America and Europe soon. The Starship Damrey, Bugs vs. Tanks! and Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale will be coming to the eShop in the coming months...
News Level 5 Teaser Site Hints at Guild02 Localisations
The black box returns
After U.S. trademarks were filed for titles that appear to be localisations of Level-5's Guild02 games, Level 5 International America has launched a teaser site similar to the one released for last year's Guild01 series. The Guild collections include small, unique titles from well-known game designers. Last year, Level 5...
News Guild01 Titles Set For Discount in North America
Time to liberate these downloads
European Nintendo Download fans will have seen, in this morning's update, that the three localised Guild01 titles are set for a discount this week, which we optimistically hope is a precursor to confirmation of the Guild02 titles being brought West. The good news is that Level-5 has now confirmed the same deal...
Video Check Out These Three Guild02 Games in Action
Some thoughtful games, and tanks shooting bugs
It was confirmed earlier this year that Level-5's Guild02 collection is coming to Japan as individual 3DS eShop downloads, following the structure that saw three of the four Guild01 games come to the West. This collection includes three games — Bugs vs. Tanks!, The Starship Damrey and The Friday When...
News Level 5's Fantasy Life Ships 300,000 Copies In Japan
Another 3DS smash-hit is on the cards
Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino has revealed that total shipments to date of 3DS title Fantasy Life have reached the 300,000 mark in Japan. Back in January, we reported that the game — which is a collaboration between the Professor Layton studio and Brownie Brown — had sold out upon release, an event which no...
News Fantasy Life Trademark Appears in the U.S.
Can you hear the people sing?
Level-5 may be concluding business with its most famous character, Professor Layton, but it's a studio that does more than whimsical puzzle titles. Another release that's achieved sales success in Japan is Fantasy Life, an adventure RPG collaboration with Brownie Brown (the Nintendo subsidiary now known as 1-UP Studio)...
March2013
News Fantasy Life Trademark Emerges in Europe
Now the trademark officer will fight some monsters
Fantasy Life, the adventure RPG collaboration between Level-5 and Brownie Brown (the Nintendo subsidiary now known as 1-UP Studio), has enjoyed a successful launch in Japan. It was practically a sellout in its first week at the end of 2012, and has gone on to accumulate nearly a quarter of a million...