Tag: Japan - Page 40
Weirdness Gummy Super Mario Maker Looks Like More Trouble Than It's Worth
Hey, at least it's in 3D
Nintendo's games tend to attract some pretty off-beat merchandise, especially in Japan. We've already seen Splatoon sweeties but now there's a Super Mario Maker Gummy kit - and as you would expect, it allows you to craft your own chewy sweets in the comfort of your own home. As you can see from the video above, the process...
News Sony Holds Lead in Japan as 2DS Keeps Solid Momentum in Charts
One Piece: Great Pirate Colosseum has modest start on 3DS
It's Japanese chart time again, and the results this week include a notable release on Sony hardware and some modest results from Nintendo's perspective. Starting with software we have Utawarerumono: The Two Hakuoros leading the way on Vita, with PS4 and PS3 versions also in the top 10. The...
News Free-To-Play Version Of Puzzle & Dragons X Released On Japanese 3DS
Try before you buy
GungHo Online has released a scaled-down, free-to-play version of Puzzle & Dragons X on the Japanese 3DS eShop. Battle Puzzle & Dragons X includes a "Battle Mode" identical to that seen in the main game, which features "Fixed" and "Free" contests. In these you can customise your team of monsters and also battle against...
News Mercenaries Saga 3 Headed To Japan Next Week
Tactical!
Rideon Japan is releasing the next game in the Mercenaries Saga series on the 3DS eShop next week. Mercenaries Saga 3 will launch on October 5th in Japan for 500 Yen. The launch trailer can be viewed above. The gameplay - which is a close match to Square Enix's excellent Final Fantasy Tactics franchise - looks largely unchanged, which is...
Matters of Import The "Perfect" Super Famicom Compendium
Perfect in every way
If you didn't know, Nintendo celebrated its 127th birthday recently. With so many years of history, there are naturally going to be retrospective books that pop up from
News Bases Loaded Is Being Resurrected On Nintendo 3DS
Complete with 8-bit visuals
Bases Loaded is considered to be something of a classic with North America NES players, and many rejoiced when the title got a new lease of life via the Virtual Console service a while back. Those same fans will no doubt be tickled pink to discovered that the game is getting a sequel of sorts in the form of Bases Loaded...
News 2DS Relaunch Makes Decent Chart Debut in Japan as Persona 5 and PS4 Run Riot
'Slim' model takes PS4 top again
The Media Create chart results are out for Japan, and after some quiet weeks they've brought some notable releases and changes in momentum; not necessarily in Nintendo's favour, either. Persona 5 is the week's biggest success story, taking the top two spots on PS4 and PS3, followed by Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 on...
News Square Enix Confirms New Dragon Quest Monsters Title At Tokyo Game Show 2016
Call the professionals
Square Enix has announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2016 that it is releasing an updated version of Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3. Dubbed Dragon Quest Monsters: Jokers 3 Professional, the enhanced edition adds new scenarios to the base game as well as characters from previous Joker outings. You'll also meet famous monsters from...
News Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 3: Final Stage Adds Thunder Force III
Riding the thunder
Japan is getting its third and final retail collection of Sega 3D Classics this year, and Sega has been teasing the new games which will be included. We recently discovered that Turbo Outrun is making the cut on Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 3: Final Stage, but there were still three more unknown games to be confirmed. We now know...
Video Fans Are Getting Bent Out Of Shape By The New Pokémon Sun And Moon Anime
"Is this fan-made?"
The Pokémon anime is officially one of the longest-running animated franchises of all time, and over its five different series - split into 19 seasons - we've seen the lead characters change a little in general appearance. However, some fans have reacted rather badly the the teaser for the new Sun and Moon anime, based on...
News Turbo Outrun Is The Next Sega 3D Classic In Japan, Three More New Games Coming
Going turbo
Not so long ago we reported that the next Sega 3D Classics retail collection to arrive in Japan would contain a mystery title which had been voted for by fans. Sega has now released a trailer which shows that the game in question is Turbo Outrun, the 1989 sequel to original racing smash hit. The trailer also gives us a tease of what the...
News New 3DS Stays on Top in Japan As Wii U Holds Top Spot Among Home Consoles, For Now
Release of updated PS4 model likely to end brief Wii U run
Though there are more exciting times ahead in terms of new games, we're in the middle of a relatively quiet spell of major releases. That's certainly the case in Japan, where the limited number of new releases are struggling to make much of an impact. In fact, the Media Create charts are...
Feature Dragon Quest Museum Wraps Up in Tokyo, Re-Opens in Osaka Next
Thirty years of history, art and slimes
The Dragon Quest Museum has ended a fantastic six week run in Tokyo, Japan. The museum was held in honour of the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Dragon Quest game in Japan, in 1986. Its not the only thing Square-Enix has done to mark this milestone. There have been smaller promotional events like...
News New 3DS LL Stays on Top in Japan as Wii U Leads Home Consoles Courtesy of PS4 Drop
Strange circumstances as new PS4 models are on the way
The Media Create charts are out in Japan, as expected, and the surprises mostly come in the hardware stakes; there's only one major newcomer in the software top 20. Starting with software, Yo-kai Watch 3 - in two versions - continues to lead and accumulate a decent number of sales. It's closely...
News Hello Kitty And Friends Are Linking Up With Animal Crossing: New Leaf
New amiibo+ cards will unlock themed furniture in the game
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is getting an amiibo-style facelift later this year, and Nintendo has just revealed that a collaboration with Sanrio will see some of its most beloved characters appear in the game. Scanning the new range of amiibo+ cards will grant access to items of furniture...
News Metroid Prime: Federation Force Power Bombs in Japan
A grim outcome for the spin-off
Metroid Prime: Federation Force arrived in North America first and is due in Europe this week, but it made its debut in Japan on 25th August. As a result we can see how it's performed in the Media Create chart results; the outcome is not good. Metroid isn't always a huge-seller in Japan; for example Metroid: Other M...
News Sega 3D Classics Collection 3: Final Stage To Include Mystery Title Picked By Fans
Arrives in Japan on December 22nd
Sega's line of 3D Classics has gone down a storm with 3DS owners thanks to a cunning combination of superb emulation, neat extras and - of course - killer games. While the titles have been released individually on the eShop, Sega has also published collections at retail, and the next helping - the third to arrive...
Feature A Close Look at New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World
Taking a unique Mario game for a spin
Think you've played every Mario game out there? There may be just one that's off your radar and you may have missed, but now you can take a look at it in detail. New Super Mario Bros. Wii Coin World was a special arcade collaboration between Nintendo and Capcom from back in 2011. With a name like New Super Mario...
Random A Delicious New Dragon Quest 30th Anniversary Promotion in Japan
Slime flavoured gum and special prizes
Its been 30 years since the first Dragon Quest game was released in Japan, and Square Enix has teamed up with Lotte Co. Ltd. in Japan to sell special Dragon Quest themed gum, released earlier this week, and is holding a giveaway contest to go along with it. The gum, which comes in "Blue Slime" and "Metal...
News This Pokémon Eevee Plush Aims To Make Typing More Comfortable
Looks like it might just get in the way, if you ask us
Remember the massive Snorlax bean bag? Well, Bandai is back with another cuddly Pokémon product - and this time, it's Eevee's turn to be immortalised in soft material. This particular soft toy comes with a cushion (designed to look like a cute little keyboard) which you can rest your arms on...
News Nintendo Acquires Japanese Company JESNET To Gain Control Of Product Distribution
Will result in "rapid decision-making and an improvement in sales service"
Nintendo has announced today that it is acquiring distribution company JESNET in a deal worth $47 million. JESNET will become a Nintendo subsidiary next April, and the firm will work closely with video game wholesale firm AJIOKA to assist in bringing Nintendo's products to...
News New Nintendo 3DS Stays on Top in Japan Despite Tales of Berseria Release
Wii U dips back below 5000 units
It's Media Create chart time, in which we see what's hot and what's not in Nintendo's homeland. This week brings a new release on Sony hardware to the top of the software chart, though Nintendo hardware continues its recent lead. Bandai Namco's Tales of Berseria is the newcomer, with its PS4 and PS3 releases pushing...
News The Nintendo 3DS Is Getting A New RPG Maker Game
85 percent complete, online features promised
Famitsu has revealed that the popular RPG Maker series is finally coming to the Nintendo 3DS. RPG Maker Festival is apparently 85 percent complete and should see release later this year in Japan. The series can chart its history all the way back to the late '80s, and has appeared on a wide range of...
News You'll Want These New Star Fox, Zelda And Super Mario T-Shirts In Your Wardrobe
The Japanese get the best merchandise
Like most self-respecting gamers, we love clothing which celebrates classic video game franchises, and the latest shirts being teased by Japanese store Editmode have certainly caught our attention. Three new designs have been added to the King of Games range showcasing Star Fox, Zelda and Super Mario. You can...
News 3DS Continues To Dominate Japan As Yo-Kai Watch 3 And Dragon Ball: Fusions Hold Top Places
Handheld gaming holds firm
The latest Media Create sales figures from Japan once again hammer home just how popular the 3DS is in Nintendo's homeland, with the top ten dominated by portable offerings. The figures - which cover the period between August 8th and August 14th - see the latest Yo-Kai Watch installment claiming top spot, with Dragon...
News Etrian Odyssey V and Dragon Ball Fusions Lead the Way in Japanese Charts
3DS games lock out top five
The Media Create chart results are out in Japan, and they make happy reading for Nintendo and an assortment of 3DS game publishers. Titles on the portable hold the top five software positions, with hardware sales also showing a modest boost. Starting with software, Etrian Odyssey V has made its debut at number one - its...
News The Latest Super Sentai 3DS Tie-In Tries to Make Tile Matching Exciting
With lots of enthusiastic 'Haaaaaaa' attacks
This writer vaguely remembers Power Rangers on TV as a child in the '90s, and was surprised to recently discover that the series is still going, and there's a big-budget movie on the way in 2017 - some things just never go out of fashion. The series originated, back in the day, as a localisation (with...
News Yo-kai Watch 3 and Puzzle & Dragons X Keep The Good Times Rolling for 3DS in Japan
New 3DS LL still leads hardware sales
Another week, another set of Media Create chart results out of Japan; they continue positive trends for the 3DS and its latest releases. In the software charts two 3DS titles hold the top two spots - first of all we have Yo-kai Watch 3 inching towards one million overall sales. A newcomer from GungHo is next in...
News Pokémon GO Credited With Boosting Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire Sales in Japan
Similar increases have also been evident in the UK
In the past couple of weeks we've seen all four current-gen main Pokémon titles on the 3DS return to the UK top 40, evidently riding the Pokémon GO wave and perhaps benefitting further from the Summer school holidays. This GO effect is now being acknowledged in Japan, too, even if the app is...
Review Front Mission Series: Gun Hazard (SNES)
Out Of This Valken World
The original Front Mission raised the bar very high indeed for what we have come to expect from mecha games on Super Nintendo. Just one year later, Square released a sequel - but don't be fooled, Front Mission Series: Gun Hazard is everything but a traditional follow-up. In fact, it's not even in the same timeline as the...
News Yo-kai Watch 3 and New 3DS Continue to Lead the Way in Japan
Tasty results
It's Japanese Media Create charts time, as we see what's hot and what's not in Nintendo's homeland. It's another good week for Level-5 and the 3DS, with a handful of new releases on Sony hardware arriving in the top 20. Dual release Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi / Tempura comfortably retains top spot, albeit not quite living up to the sales...
News Pokémon GO Players Told To Steer Clear Of Japanese Nuclear Disaster Zone
Strangely evolved Pokémon discovered at Fukushima plant
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings has requested that Pokémon GO developer Niantic remove the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant from its database after discovering that the app spawns Pokémon on the site. The plant was partially destroyed by a nuclear reactor meltdown in March 2011,...
News Megaton Musashi Boasts Giant Morphing Mechs And Cunning Cross-Media Marketing
Pacific Rim for kids?
Level-5 has lifted the lid on its next "cross media" property, Megaton Musashi. Set in a universe where aliens have decimated 90 percent of the human population, this new venture will take the same approach as Level-5's other multimedia projects. There will be a 3DS game, smartphone title, anime show and plenty of merchandise,...
News Level-5 Announces Lady Layton, Coming To Nintendo 3DS In 2017
Also coming to smartphones
Level-5 has confirmed the next title in the Professor Layton series, Lady Layton. The game will be coming to 3DS and smartphones in 2017, and looks set to continue the puzzle-solving tradition of the original Layton outings. The trailer above shows off a lot of animated content and a little of the smartphone game, which...
Guide How To Gain XP Fast In Pokémon GO
All those Pidgey, Weedle and Caterpies are useful after all
While some might assume that capturing Pokémon is the ultimate objective in Pokémon GO, what you really need to focus on in the beginning is levelling up your trainer as fast as possible. Not only do you need to be a level 5 trainer to gain access to gyms, the level of your avatar...
News Pokémon GO Finally Arrives In Japan
Coming home
Pokémon GO's Japanese adventure has been something of a saga. It was initially released in that region alongside Australia and New Zealand a few weeks back, but was pulled when it became clear that the servers simply couldn't cope with the demand. Japanese players were then told that they might have to wait until later in the month to...
News Yo-kai Watch 3 and New 3DS LL Lead The Charts in Japan
Level-5's latest release struggles to match its predecessors, however
This week's Media Create chart results for Japan tell an interesting tale of one enormous hit overshadowing a number of older, struggling titles. Only two games managed to sell unit numbers above five figures, with Nintendo being one beneficiary of the week's one smash hit...
News Japanese Launch Of Pokémon GO Delayed Due To McDonald's Email Leak
Fast food causes slow down
Yesterday, we reported that Pokémon GO was set to launch in Japan alongside a campaign which would see 3,000 McDonald's outlets turned into gyms within the game. However, TechCrunch - the source of that piece of news - is now claiming that the launch has been postponed amid fears that the leaked info would cause
News Pokémon GO To Arrive In Japan Tomorrow Along With McDonald's Gym Sponsorship
3000 outlets included, global launch mooted
TechCrunch is reporting that Pokémon GO will be coming to Japan tomorrow alongside a special sponsorship deal which will see 3000 McDonald's outlets transformed into gyms within the game. This report flies in the face of the official line from developer Niantic, which has previously stated that the app...
News Japanese Kids Go Crazy For McDonald's Pokémon Toys In The Absence of Pokémon GO
McDonald's shares jump 23 percent as a result
Another day, another Pokémon GO success story. This time it's McDonald's in Japan which has enjoyed the benefits of the new surge of interest in all things Pokémon. Since it started giving Pokémon-themed toys away with its Happy Meals, sales have gone through the roof and their shares have jumped a...
News Server Demand For Pokémon GO Means Japan Won't Get It Until Late July
Some speculate it could even be September
Pokémon GO has slowly but surely finding its way to more countries over the past week, but one region which is still waiting is Japan. Despite briefly getting the game alongside Australia and New Zealand, access was withdrawn when it became clear that the game's servers couldn't cope with the demands of...
News Culdcept Revolt Tops Japanese Charts as Splatoon Bundle Boosts Wii U Sales
Splat-tastic shooter back up to second in software results
With the middle of the week upon us we have the usual Japanese Media Create chart results, and this batch brings a mix of good and interesting news for Nintendo followers. First of all we have Culdcept Revolt on 3DS making its debut at number one, though the card-based strategy game has had...
News Etrian Odyssey V's DLC Gets Detailed And Dated For Japan
Still no word on a western release, sadly
We already know that Etrian Odyssey V is getting DLC that will enable FM sound, but that's not the only paid-for additional content coming to the game. The dungeon-crawling 3DS adventure - due for release in Japan next month - is getting a raft of DLC, all priced at 300 Yen each and available from August...
News Japan-Exclusive Satellaview Zelda Game Gets Translated And Dubbed Into English
Yes, we said dubbed
The Satellaview truly stands as one of the most unique and visionary peripherals Nintendo has ever developed. Downloading games from outer space (well, Low Earth Orbit if you want to be technical about it) truly sounded like science fiction back in 1995. In the five years this Japan-only add-on operated along with the Super...
News Zero Time Dilemma Makes Modest Debut in Japanese Charts as Shovel Knight Digs Into Top 20
Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns maintains solid momentum
It's that time of the week once again for the Media Create Japanese chart results, and there are a few notable new arrivals to consider. All told, it's a mix of good and bad news for those following the fortunes of titles on Nintendo hardware in Japan. First up we have Story of Seasons: Trio...
News Nintendo Staffing Up Internal Smart Device Development Team
Upwardly mobile
Nintendo is accepting applications for smart device developers who will work within the company on future mobile and tablet projects. That might not seem like surprising news on its own, seeing as Nintendo is currently in the process of expanding into the mobile space in partnership with established firm DeNA, but what makes these...
News Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns Takes Number One Spot in Japan
Minecraft and Mario & Sonic on Wii U grab top five places
As the middle of another week arrives we have the Media Create Japanese charts results, and this week brings a number of new releases in the top 10. At number one is Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns, which is the latest entry of the popular Bokujō Monogatari series in Japan; it's shifted an...
Video Japanese Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice Trailer Shows Off Speedy New Footage
Stay frosty
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice might not have fans quite as excited as it should, but it would appear that Sega and developer Sanzaru Games appear committed to making up for previous Sonic Boom offerings and producing a quality 3DS outing - and new footage seen in the Japanese trailer for the game should give plenty of reasons to be...
Metroidless Bounty Huntress
Banpresto always boasted a healthy lineup of anime and manga licensed video games. If you had a favourite series, there would be a good chance if there was a video game counterpart made for your video game console of choice, it was probably released by Banpresto. Of course, getting a western release was easier said than...
News Devil's Third Online Servers To Close At The End Of The Year
Tick tock
Nintendo has confirmed that it will be shutting down the Devil's Third multiplayer servers at the end of 2016 - a year after they went live. The servers will shut on December 29th at 1PM local time in Japan. However, things are going to be winding down sooner than that; players will no longer be able to purchase Golden Eggs - in-game...