Tag: Japan - Page 43
Gotta catch 'em all, again
1996 saw the introduction of the Pocket Monster - or Pokémon, as it is better known - series in Japan. That means that next year is the 20th anniversary of the birth of the franchise, and to celebrate this milestone fans will be able to purchase the very first base set of Pokémon cards - in Japan, at least. The set will...
Higher ticket sales, but lower takings
The world may be gripped by Star Wars fever at the moment but in Japan, the most-seen movie didn't feature lightsabers or X-Wings, but mischievous ghosts and magical timepieces. More tickets were sold for Yo-Kai Watch the Movie 2: King Enma and the 5 Stories, Nyan! than Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but due to...
News Monster Strike Ships Over A Million Copies In Just Four Days
Mobile smash finding favour on 3DS
Monster Strike - a mobile phone smash in Japan with daily revenues of over $4 million - is shaping up to be something special on 3DS, too. The game - which was co-created by former Capcom legend Yoshiki Okamoto - has shipped over a million copies in four days in Japan. Like fellow Japanese smartphone hit Puzzle...
Video Mother 3 Hits Japanese Virtual Console With Impressive Trailer In Tow
Will we ever see this classic in the west?
The Game Boy Advance title Mother 3 hits the Japanese Virtual Console service today, and to mark the event Nintendo has released a surprisingly comprehensive trailer. Mother 3 is the sequel to EarthBound - which was known in Japan as Mother 2. Originally intended for release on the N64's 64DD drive, it...
News Wii U and 3DS Hardware Sales Lead the Way in Japan
Monster Hunter X, Splatoon and Super Mario Maker going strong
Sales are on the up in Japan as the Holiday season approaches, and the latest Media Create chart results bring very happy reading for Nintendo in terms of both software and hardware. Starting with software, Monster Hunter X (Cross) continues its dominance at number one, with its lifetime...
Monster Hunter X (Cross) is still dominant
The Media Create results for Japan are out, and this week has a few interesting talking points to consider in terms of both hardware and software. Starting with the latter, Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam makes its debut in second place with just under 50,000 sales; its launch numbers are actually a little...
News Nintendo's Move To Smartphones Helped It Top Japan's Gaming Stock Market
DeNA deal and Splatoon success kept things ticking over in 2015
Nintendo may have endured a difficult 2015 with delayed titles and underperforming hardware, but on the Japanese stock market the company has been dominant, outpacing Sony and other traditional game publishers. This robust performance is largely down to Nintendo's deal with DeNA, which...
News Monster Hunter X (Cross) Storms to Japanese Chart Lead and Boosts New 3DS Sales
Nearly 1.5 million sales in two days
It's that time again for Media Create chart results from Japan, and this week's numbers have an air of predictability about them; that's good news for both Nintendo and Capcom. The launch of Monster Hunter X (Cross) has brought nearly 1.5 million sales for the title - with Famitsu having a number slightly above...
News You Can Now Register For A New Nintendo Account In Japan
It's happening!
With the Club Nintendo service finally shutting down this year, fans have been waiting expectantly for Nintendo's new account system. The company revealed the snappy title of Nintendo Account in October, and explained that the system will use cloud storage to exchange data between platforms. It was also revealed that accounts will be...
News We'll Be Seeing More Of Level-5's 3DS Title The Snack World This Month
Anime will debut alongside Yo-Kai Watch the Movie 2 in Japan
At its media event this year, Level-5 lifted the lid on its latest cross-media extravaganza, The Snack World. The property is hitting a wide range of sectors - including smartphones, TV, comics and toys - but Nintendo fans will be interested to learn that it's coming to the 3DS as well...
Video Santa Is Ready For Insane Levels Of Monster Strike 3DS Demand In Japan
Very asobemasu!
You might not have heard of it, but Monster Strike is one of Japan's biggest smartphone games, and pulls in daily revenues in excess of $4 million. Think Puzzle & Dragons, but even bigger. Co-created by former Konami and Capcom employee Yoshiki Okamoto (1942, Final Fight, Street Fighter II) and currently available on Android and...
News Dragon Quest X Compilation of All Three Versions Heading to Wii U in Japan
The rest of the world says hi, Square Enix
Until recently Western Nintendo fans of the Dragon Quest series had to either gaze longingly at the Japanese release slate or resort to importing the various titles that have arrived on Wii U and 3DS. Thankfully Dragon Quest VII and VIII on 3DS were both confirmed recently for localisation in the most...
News Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival Has Modest Impact in Japan as 3DS Sales Improve
Wii U is still comfortably in five figures
The latest Media Create Japanese chart results are in and bring a mix of good and bad news for Nintendo. Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival has, unsurprisingly considering the trends elsewhere, struggled to achieve notable sales; the Wii U title shifted just 20,303 units in its first week, well down on the...
News Soon You'll Be Able To Create A Games Store In Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer
Gaming at home
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer might not have been the Animal Crossing game fans had hoped for, but it still has its fans - and those same fans will no doubt be over the moon to hear that a host of new video game-related items are on their way. The items are due to arrive next month in Japan, and include racks full of games, an...
Video Check Out Ganondorf's Terrifying Trident In This New Hyrule Warriors Legends Trailer
Stick 'em with the pointy end
Forthcoming 3DS brawlerHyrule Warriors Legends has been blessed with another new trailer, this time showcasing the evil Ganondorf's Trident weapon. The footage shows some of the new attack combos available to the malevolent character, as well as the destructive power of the weapon itself. Hyrule Warriors Legends...
News You Can Now Buy A Replacement Wii U GamePad On Its Own
In Japan, at least
Eagle eyed Pokémon Master and Nintendo Life contributor Joe Merrick has spotted that Nintendo are now selling a solo GamePad for the first time in Japan. While we've come to accept that the Wii U will probably never support two GamePads at the same time in future games, it's nice at least to have the option to replace your...
News You'll Be Able To Dress Up Your Felyne Palico As A Yu-Gi-Oh Dark Magician In Monster Hunter X
Or "Dark Maginyan", to be precise
The latest issue of Weekly Jump reveals that the forthcoming 3DS title Monster Hunter X will allow players to dress up their Felyne Palico as a Dark Magician from the popular Yu-Gi-Oh! series. Known as the "Dark Maginyan", the costume will be obtainable via an event quest. This is likely to be the first of many...
News Splatoon Bundle Boosts Wii U Sales in Japan as Project X Zone 2 Struggles
3DS 'family' sneaks top in hardware
It's Media Create chart results day, once again, and the Japanese market has had a few key releases to shake things up. Starting off with software we have Project X Zone 2 making its debut on 3DS, though it's unable to overthrow Call of Duty: Black Ops III having only shifted 40,935 units; that's well down on the...
Video These Charming Japanese Commercials Highlight Festive Wii U Bundles
Splatoon and Mario Maker get a big push
Christmas is an important time of year when it comes to selling video game hardware and software, and over in Japan Nintendo is giving the Wii U a festive push with special bundles. The company has given recent hits Splatoon and Super Mario Maker their own hardware bundles, and has rolled out some TV...
News Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final to Feature Predecessor's Cast and Use Its Save Data
For those dedicated to the series
While we're still awaiting news of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final being localised to the West, the popularity of its processor - unsurprisingly called Shin Megami Tensei IV - gives us hope that Atlus will bring the title outside of Japan. For now we can only follow coverage for the February 2016 release in Japan, and...
News Puzzle & Dragons X Confirmed for 3DS in Japan
Why about Y?
A little while ago we shared the news that a new Puzzle & Dragons title had been confirmed for the 3DS, albeit without a name or details. Well, there's a little more to share now - it's called Puzzle & Dragons X and will arrive in Japan in 2016. It was confirmed by GungHo Online Entertainment and Nintendo in the latest issue of...
News The 3DS Is Getting A New Puzzle & Dragons Game
CoroCoro magazine will reveal more details later this month
Puzzle & Dragons Z was a massive success in its native Japan, and encouraged Nintendo to work with developer GungHo to create a Super Mario-themed semi-sequel - which was released alongside the original game in the west. While Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Edition wasn't as...
News Disney Magical World 2's Whimsy is Outsold By Call of Duty's Futuristic Warfare in Japan
Also can't match the launch sales of its predecessor
The latest Media Create Japanese chart results are in, and this week reflect one notable sales trend from the West with a big-name shooty-shooty-bang-bang game making a strong debut and boosting Sony's hardware, while there's also a major release on 3DS. Yes, Call of Duty: Black Ops III takes top...
News Gaze Upon The Lush Mega Man Legacy Collection Limited Edition You'll Probably Never Own
$120 to you, sir
Mega Man Legacy Collection arrives on the 3DS early next year - a little later than the home console editions - but should be well worth the wait for long-time fans of the series. Compendium of the six "classic" 8-bit adventures, the collection comes with added bonuses for hardcore fans, such as artwork and a special challenge mode...
Wii U sales stay in four figures
It's Media Create chart results time in Japan, and after a debut week at number one for The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes and plenty of Nintendo platform releases close behind, the latest results show new titles on rival platforms taking over the top spots. We already highlighted that Tri Force Heroes
News Nintendo's Latest Hanafuda Deck Is Perhaps Its Most Eye-Catching Yet
If only we knew how to play
As we all know, Nintendo started out making playing cards - Hanafuda cards, to be precise - and although the company's focus has changed over the years, it has maintained a link with its past by producing special Hanafuda packs. The latest set is possibly the most visually alluring yet, and uses classic Super Mario...
News Fire Emblem will be Getting an Art Book for its 25th Anniversary
Naturally, it's Japan only
It's hard to believe, but Fire Emblem has been a source of SRPG nirvana for almost 25 years already. Of course this statement is kind of cheating, as Nintendo didn't opt to bring the series West until a little over ten years ago, but at least Japan got to enjoy it for all that time. When it comes to Fire Emblem, it seems...
Less than a quarter of Link Between Worlds launch sales
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes has rolled out around the world, with the quirky spin-off bringing a multiplayer focus on the 3DS. It's with interest that we check out the latest Media Create results in Japan, then, to see whether it's hit it off with the portable's audience in Nintendo's...
News Japan Is Getting Some Gorgeous New 3DS Hardware Bundles And Cover Plates
Jealousy mode: engaged
Japan gets all the best hardware bundles - that's just one of the things us westerners have to live with. As if to prove this universal truth, details have just been released regarding two fresh New 3DS bundles coming to The Land of the Rising Sun, and both look downright lovely. First up is the Super Mario Bros. 30th bundle,...
News 7th Dragon III Code: VFD Claims Japanese Number One Spot as Nintendo Maintains Momentum
PS4 still leads hardware, though
The Media Create results are out in Japan, and this week is relatively low key overall, with a new SEGA RPG on 3DS arriving as the most successful newcomer. 7th Dragon III Code: VFD jumps up to number one spot in the software top 20, with Yo-Kai Watch Busters holding onto second place. In a chart dominated by...
News Nintendo of Japan Has Just Published a 30th Anniversary Super Mario Bros. Complete Encyclopedia
255 pages of gaming history
As many of you are likely aware, we're currently approaching the end of the year that has marked the 30th anniversary of the Super Mario series. It's hard to believe that this iconic game franchise has only been around for 30 years when you look at the impact it's had on the game industry and the world as a whole, but...
News The Chibi-Robo amiibo is Being Sold Separately in Japan
Perhaps Nintendo has similar plans for the West?
Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash launched recently in North America to somewhat middling critical reception. We awarded the game a 6/10, praising its solid gameplay and criticising its somewhat derivative execution. The game also launched alongside an amiibo which was sold exclusively in a bundle with the game...
News Yukio Sawada's Super Mario-Kun Is Coming To Super Mario Maker
In Japan, at least
Super Mario-Kun is a manga series which has been appearing in the pages of CoroCoro Comic since 1991. Created by Yukio Sawada, the series is coming to Super Mario Maker in the form of a special costume. In addition to allowing his own unique take on the character to appear in the game, Sawada will also be designing his own level,...
News Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 Will Contain Over 500 Beasts For You To Befriend
Monster mash
This week's Jump magazine has fresh details relating to the forthcoming Square Enix 3DS RPG Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3. First up is the storyline, which is set in the far-flung future. The hero is a young man suffering from amnesia (original!) who discovers a device known as a "Reactor" which allows him to analyse the monsters...
Random Check Out These Awesome Splatoon Plushies from Japan
So fresh
Gaming paraphernalia can be a wonderful way to casually introduce elements of your favorite franchises into an environment. Be it an amiibo to be kept on a desk, a Yoshi plush toy to sit on your kitchen counter, or a replica of the Master Sword to be mounted over a fireplace; a simple object can act as a nice reminder of the things that...
News SEGA’s GBA Version Of ChuChu Rocket! Arrives On The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console This Month
The Dreamcast port returns
Around the turn of the millennium when Sonic Team was in its prime with releases such as Sonic Adventure and Phantasy Star Online, Nintendo's Game Boy Advance was fortunate enough to receive a port of the Dreamcast title, ChuChu Rocket! Released in 2001 alongside the launch of Nintendo's latest portable system at the...
News Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash Fails to Clean Up in Japanese Charts
Outperformed by baseball title Pro Yakyuu Famista Returns on 3DS
The Japanese Media Create charts are out in Japan and, despite some positives, are likely to cause some disappointment in Nintendo HQ. This is due to an attempt at mainstream success for a long-established franchise falling flat at launch in the country. The game we're referring to is...
News Yo-Kai Watch Busters Is Getting A Third Variant In Japan
Say hello to Moon Rabbit Team
As the west prepares itself for the onslaught of Yo-Kai Watch, our Japanese friends have been enjoying the franchise for some time - as well as its spin-off releases, such as Yo-Kai Watch Busters. Released this year in two flavours - Red Cat Team and White Dog Squad - Busters takes inspiration from the Hollywood series...
News Nintendo Enjoys Market Share Dominance in Japan
Splatoon and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer lead the way
We report the Japanese Media Create chart results on a weekly basis, with most entries showing a strong position for Nintendo in its home country. Its level of dominance has now been reflected in figures posted by Dengeki Online for the first half of the financial year - 30th March to...
News Gaze with Jealousy at These Monster Hunter X 3DS Themes
Keep your fingers crossed
Though the West is still being left in the dark, Japan is due to receive Monster Hunter X in a little over a month. The latest instalment in Capcom's best-selling monster hunting extravaganza, Monster Hunter X is set to introduce significantly more dynamic fighting styles and tactics into the already frantic gameplay...
News Hyrule Warriors Legends Site Shows Off Skull Kid and Phantom Ganon
The stuff legends are made of
The official Japanese site for Hyrule Warriors Legends has been updated, and as expected it features playable character Skull Kid, a bit more of the Wind Waker stage and a new enemy in the form of Phantom Ganon. All of these elements were confirmed by a recent Famitsu feature. Skull Kid is one of the most iconic c
Video Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma Guides You Through 15 Minutes Of Tri Force Heroes
In Japanese, obviously
The launch of The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is very nearly upon us, and to tempt a few more people to part with their hard-earned cash Nintendo has convinced producer Eiji Aonuma to step in front of camera for 15 minutes in order to show you the ropes. The first video - which will be part of a series - Aonuma shows...
News PS4 and Sony Enjoy Dominant Week in Japan With Price Cut and New Releases
Price cuts can help, Nintendo
The Media Create chart results are in for Japan, and after a number of weeks with Nintendo's systems and exclusive games leading the way there's a change in momentum. In the software top 20 the shift has come through a range of new releases, with the top 5 consisting of three games across three separate Sony platforms...
Video Here, Have Some More Zany Japanese Zelda: Tri Force Heroes Commercials
Three's a crowd
The Japanese marketing campaign for The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes has already veered towards the odd, and now Nintendo is pushing out TV spots to promote the upcoming release - and they're just as amusing. The two commercials shown so far feature a trio of real-world Japanese chaps (we're assuming they're famous in their...
News English Translation Of Metroid EX: Samus & Joey Manga Finally Complete
It's non-canon, before you get too worked up
Keen followers of the Metroid series may be aware of the Comic Bom Bom manga, Metroid: Samus & Joey. This non-canon story was first published in the magazine in 2003 and focused around Joey, a young boy who is saved by Samus Aran after an attack on his village, and thereafter swears to stay by her...
News The 3DS Is Getting A New Medabots Game, But Don't Expect A Western Release
Coming in two versions
The Medabots series may not be as popular in the west as it is in its native Japan, but there are still plenty of fans in this part of the world who will no doubt be pleased to learn that the series is getting a new entry on the 3DS. Those very same individuals may be equally annoyed by the fact that it probably won't get a...
News Pokémon Rumble World Is Getting A Physical Release In Japan
Minus microtransactions, of course
A physical version of the free-to-play 3DS eShop title Pokémon Rumble World is coming to Japan on November 19th, it has been revealed. The game will feature none of the microtransactions seen in the digital release and will give players all 3,000 Poké Diamonds and the Poké Diamonds Digger from the outset. It...
News Super Mario Maker Back on Top in Japan as 3DS and Wii U Sales Increase
Building blocks for success
The Japanese Media Create chart results are out once again, and despite an absence of major new releases this time around there's good news for Nintendo. New releases in Japan have been on Vita, PS4 and PS3, though none have shifted significant numbers. In fact Nintendo system exclusives occupy the top three places, with...
News Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon Tops Japanese Charts as Wii U Beats PS4
Super Mario Maker claims second place
The Media Create Japanese chart results have been later than normal this week, but the eventual outcome certainly has some positives for Nintendo. For starters, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon has claimed top spot in its début week, with the 3DS title sneaking past 150,000 sales. Super Mario Maker claims second...
News Amazon Offers Neat Picross 3D 2 Demo Promotion in Japan
'Buy' a free demo, get a discount on the full game
A little while ago it emerged that Picross 3D 2 is heading to the 3DS in Japan, providing a sequel to the popular DS retail puzzler. Due on 1st October in the country, it'll serve up more 3D puzzles and include amiibo support for extra content. In a neat promotion simply trying out a demo will also...
