With E3 right round the corner it's fair to speculate about what new titles we'll see at the show, and Level-5 has set chins wagging by confirming that it has at least one Switch game in development. The studio - best known for Ni no Kuni, Professor Layton and the Yo-kai Watch series - has always had a close relationship with Nintendo so this should come as no surprise.
Speaking in an interview with Japanese monthly magazine Nikkei Trendy, CEO of Level 5-Games Akihiro Hino expresses his new love for the Switch before going on to mention that the company is working on games for the console.
The full quote from the interview can be read below:
NT: Nintendo Switch, which you can play as both a stationary system and as a portable game machine, was released in March.
Hino: I think Switch is good. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is extremely fun. It’s almost dangerous. (Laughs.) Actually, playing with Switch myself, my impression [of the system] has changed a lot from when it was still in development. I was hesitant about its ‘play both inside and outside’ style, but I feel like there is a considerable potential there.
Anyway, Zelda is a lot of fun, so I personally carry it around and play it as much as I can, even on airplanes. The model that Nintendo gave me is the one with the red- and blue-colored controllers, so when I carried it around a lot, the looks I got made me self-conscious. I bought the black controller that they released myself and attached it. (Laughs.)
I think the Style of Switch is a wonderful fit for competitive games. You can play if you’re gathered in real life, as well as online. For example, I think the fact that the game lovers within a company can get together and play Mario Kart is really fascinating and interesting. And while I can’t say the content quite yet, we’re working on game(s) that support [Switch].
Please bear in mind that this has been translated from Japanese and the actual wording leaves it to interpretation whether or not Mr Hino said "Game" or "Games". This does mean at least one Switch game is on the way.
Professor Layton is the next scheduled release from Level-5 with Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy releasing for the 3DS sometime later this year.
Will we see a new reveal this E3? Leave us a comment.
[source gonintendo.com]
Comments 68
I would kill for a Fantasy Life sequel on Switch. I love almost everything Level-5 does, but that little underrated 3DS gem has to be at the top of the class for me.
An HD-proper Yo-kai Watch game would be nice! I also hope they address a lot of the problems the West has with the overall gameplay.
Potential E3 news?!
A Professor Layton compilation would be nice. Cheap as chips to make too. Everyone else is making cheap and lazy ports, so why not?
I would love Ni No Kuni 1+2
Ni No Kuni or gtfo
I'd be so up for Ni No Kuni.
Anything related to Professor Layton, Ni No Kuni or Fantasy Life would be awesome!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE I actually agree. Who wouldn't want all the games on one cart for one system that can go anywhere?!
Level 5 is so involved with mobile and handheld these days that it's probably something along those lines, and not NNK 1 or 2. To me they'll always be the company that made Rogue Galaxy and the Dark Cloud games on PS2. White Knight Chronicles wasn't quite as good on PS3.
Hoping for NNK but expecting YW.
So good or great news depending on the translation then. Still for me it does not matter what they release on the switch as I've like every game I bought that they made.
A Layton game on the Switch would be sweet. My money is on their Switch game being a Yo-Kai Watch sequel.
A new Prof. Layton game please.
With HD Rumble!
@Nintenerdguy There is a new one coming But not for the Switch
@Tsurii You mean like a collection of Wrath of the White Witch and Revenant Kingdom?
@crimsontadpoles iirc doesn't Yo-Kai sell like hot cakes in Japan but elsewhere is pretty slow mover? Whether they decide this or a more established series outside of JPN it will tell us a lot about the direction nintendo are taking.
I expect the Yokai Watch franchise to make the jump to Switch in 2018, when more kids own the platform. Same thing for the Layton franchise.
Also, Inazuma Eleven Ares was announced for the 3DS and a "higher quality" platform. That "higher quality" platform is probably the Switch.
Fantasy Life 3 (In HD Rendering) !
Or somewhat like Animal Crossing !
A new IP from Level 5 would be a welcome surprise!
Probably the Yokais most likely. While its hardly made a splash outside of Japan, it somewhat still has a big fanbase in Japan and a HD adventure would really get them excited.
But will it arrive before the eventual Pokemon game, hmmm.....
Ni no Kuni if I may ask - the DS version never left Japan and doesn't seem to have complete English fan translations either, so the enhanced edition would be among the many PS3 ports I'd welcome with open arms and wallet. And then there's the upcoming sequel, too.
Loving Layton games, but since I have enough DS and 3DS entries in my backlog, Ni no Kuni is an obvious priority.
I'd like to see a brand new IP, hopefully one in the action-RPG genre.
Ni No Kuni I believe is a PS3 exclusive, and part 2 is to be a PS4 exclusive...I think Sony owns the rights to the franchise, so don't count on that one. Other than that, would be nice to see something that the other consoles won't have that actually looks brilliant and fun...possibly an RPG (granted it's not my favorite genre)...I'm just hoping that it's not something 'party-style' or cheap like many titles became on the Wii.
As much as I wish it will be Ni no Kuni, I don't think it will be... Everything Level 5 makes is quality though so I'll be happy with anything to be honest. Actually, maybe not an Inazuma Eleven game though since I just have lost interest there but if it's something like Fantasy Life, I'll die of happiness.
@JLPick The new Ni No Kuni is getting a PC release too so we can hope that it will come to switch!
Give me more Layton!
@Grawlog It seemed like they invested a lot of time and energy from 2013 to 2015 on that mobile Wonder Flick game that never made it west or to consoles. Since then YokaiWatch seems to be the company focus. With Switch being a tribrid it would be nice to see them make another JRPG that could work well in both modes. Feels like JRPG could be having a bit of a resurgence with everyone talking about DQ11, NNK2, FF7 remake and, XC2. Even 3DS is getting in on it with Ever Oasis. Maybe when they finish NNK2 Switch can get something epic.
@chriiiiiiiiiis
Imagine Fantasy Life Switch is somewhat like Portal Knights.
@rjejr
Oh, yeah.
We forgot about Wonder Flick.
It has been 3 years ago and no updated news.
Hopefully that game revived by Level-5. ;$
Ni No Kuni!!!!!!! Please!
I want a true RPG game just like Dragon Quest 8! Give us some quality game!
Ni no Kuni and Fantasy Life would be great. A console Layton game is fine too. I would say another RPG is fine as well but we're getting Dragon Quest XI on Switch so that's good enough, hopefully Nintendo doesn't disappoint us by not releasing it outside Japan.
@retro_player_22 We need more. 1 game is not enough
Hoping for Ni no Kuni.
I know no one here cares about it, but I hope it's Yo-Kai Watch. It would definitely help give an extra push to the Switch in Japan.
Plus, I actually happen to like YKW.
Well, the Layton series pretty much concludes with the 3DS... Can't do touch screen controls if you dock the NS, and the pointer functionality of the JoyCons aren't as intuitive for that type of series compared to a stylus... Fantasy Life is also out, since that's migrated over to mobile platforms. So hopefully they're working on something new, in the vein of Dark Cloud 2/Dark Chronicle, Rogue Galaxy, or Ni No Kuni. Yokai Watch is certainly in the cards, but it's never going to make it big outside Japan. It's characters are too reliant on Japanese mythology and occult history, and it's gameplay is too gimmicky to match Pokémon.
YES! I was hoping Level-5 would develop something for the Switch. They have so many well-loved franchises and their new IPs are always great - they could release anything hahaha.
I'm going to be a weirdo and say I hope they release something like the Guild series from the 3DS (it was a compilation of smaller games) or just random games in general. That way, the company can test the waters for the type of audience the Switch has, and then produce the IPs that come closest to it.
That or they can just take a dive and throw their IPs right in, but I'm not sure that's a good idea for them... It's more exciting anyway to have new games and IPs. If all the other companies are just porting over their IPs, Level-5 would stand out best by putting something new or unknown on the table.
According to My Nintendo News its Yokai Watch 4 and maybe also something else.
I'm hoping for Lady Layton or Yo-Kai Watch! A Ni No Kuni port of some sort would be great too!
I am never going to play Ni No Kuni 2 on PS4.
While you're at it, maybe write better characters than NNK1 while you're porting the Switch version over so it's actually worth my time.
^ Lol. Sometimes people talk about "entitlement" on NL for wanting things to be reasonably better than how they turn out, and some even call others "entitled" for wanting Nintendo to charge reasonable prices for their products. Well, look no further than the above comment for a fine example of some genuine snoot.
@Tsurii Me neither readies wallet in anticipation ^_^
I'm surprised by the CEO 's initial reaction to the Switch - you'd think that based on how big handhelds are in Japan, and the good results they had with the 3DS, he would have a bit more confidence on the Switch.
Even know, it seems that whatever project is more a quick port to try to take advantage of the good results of the console rather than something develop for it from scratch.
I doubt the Layton series will come since they depend a lot on touch controls, so maybe Yokai Watch to try to capitalize in the Pokémon crowd. No idea about Ni No Kuni, though.
I hope it's Yokai Watch. I'm also still hoping YW 3 comes out over here as well.
"News"
FANTASY LIFE 2 on Switch! Go Level 5 Go!
If it is an RPG of some sort I will be happy!
I kinda hope it's something entirely new.
Ni no kuni 1+2 would be the best news for me, ever! Please Nintendo I'll buy another dock for £80!
@Frosty_09 I think porting games that used the dual screens is more problematic than the DS/3DS touch controls.
@Frosty_09 The difference is that Trauma Center has only one type of activity, using various tools and variations of it. Whereas the Layton series has a wide variety of activities through it's puzzles, some which could transfer over no problem, and others which would feel like the Ace Attorney games did on WiiWare- workable, but lacking in flavor.
Others still just wouldn't feel right, such as the drawing and twisting portions. Not to mention there wouldn't be dual screens anymore, which the Layton series has always made good use of. Single screen Layton wouldn't be as versatile.
All 3, plus fantasy life and a new Dark Cloud please!
Fantasy Life 3 please
@Tsurii If they release a Ni no Kini collection for Switch that would be the system seller for me as I already have Zelda BotW on WiiU.
That said, it's probably unlikely White Witch will be released on Switch, but maybe the new one. Prof. Layton or Yo-kai Watch games are even more likely.
NI NO KUNI COLLECTION!!!!!!
@Frosty_09 Well, when you put it like that... Maybe if they reimagined the Layton series with something new, that could work. The old format wouldn't work anymore, but a new one could refresh the series. It wouldn't be Layton as we know it, but I suppose it doesn't have to be. Every era deserves it's own identity.
@Reginald You're not the only one, the first one was decent, but it was far too short and the pacing was odd. If a HD YKW came to Switch and got enough positive attention I might give the series another go.
Also, they're gorgeous games on 3DS, I can only imagine what they could do on Switch.
@ricklongo still getting over the sting of that series going over to mobile, but here's hoping.
I guess it will just be a mobile-game or a 3DS game ported to Switch!
@Nintenerdguy me too! I hope everyone remembers Fantasy Life? I would love to see a switch version.
@ECMIM Tell me about it. That reveal was one of the most frustrating gaming-related moments of recent years for me. I had just recently finished the original with over 100 hours on 3DS.
@Anti-Matter Wonder Flick
Last anybody spoke about this game was 2 years ago when it was cancelled on mobile and everybody assumed it was also cancelled on consoles. I was really looking forward to it but even I've given up and moved on.
http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2015/05/11/level-5-ps4-rpg-featuring-nobuo-uematsu-music-cancelled/
https://www.pixeldynamo.com/news/gaming/2015/05/11/63415/jrpg-wonder-flick-cancelled/
@rjejr
Aw.... too bad.
@westman98 When was the Ares confirmed for 3DS? In one ofnthe Net shows they put every month on YouTuvbe?
@Rei
Yes
I'll take Ni No Kuni, Fantasy Life, Dark Cloud, or anything as long as it isn't a port.
@Kimyonaakuma I hope it does too, but it seems Sony exclusives are also coming to PC, just like Microsoft's exclusives are also coming to PC. Not giving up hope, but I just have my doubts about it coming. However, something new in the form of an adventure-RPG like it or similar to it would be a nice welcome too...it will give nintendo something that the other consoles don't have, which is definitely what nintendo needs on their consoles (besides nintendo-made titles). Granted some of the 3rd party exclusives don't do good, it's just nice to have a bigger selection, and granted I don't own a Switch (maybe by the end of 2018 or later), it's nice to know that I can look forward to more than just the nintendo-made ones that I'd be getting first!..here's to hoping that it doesn't go like the Wii era and a ton of shovel ware flows out the same time as one good game does come out.
@westman98 Thanks. Now hoping it won't become magically a Switch exclusive if it graces us.
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