Tag: Japan - Page 51
Video We Put The Pedal To The Metal In Sega's 3D OutRun
Can M2 keep up their winning streak?
It hardly feels like Japanese 3DS owners have finished with Fantasy Zone, but M2 is back on the eShop and granting gamer wishes once again, this time bringing Yu Suzuki's OutRun into the palms of arcade fans. As we've come to expect this is yet another fantastic port with just the right balance of hardcore...
News Yo-kai Watch Returns to the Japanese Chart Summit as Hardware Sales Dip Again
3DS systems reclaim number one spot
It's been a tough month in the Japanese charts, with few notable winners setting the tills alight. This week continues that trend, though it brings good news for Level-5 and a return to the top for the 3DS systems. On the software side of things it was a quiet week, with new entries to the charts failing to shift...
News Level-5's 3DS RPG Youkai Watch Has Now Sold One Million Copies In Japan
Sales have doubled in the last two months alone
New reports suggest that Level-5's 3DS title Youkai Watch has shipped one million units in Japan. The game launched in July last year, but it wasn't until the transmission of the related anime TV show in January that sales began to spike; in February, Level-5 confirmed that it had delivered 500,000...
News Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call Announces Free And Paid-For DLC Tracks
Yuffie joins in too!
The Curtain Call news just keeps coming this week! Not only do we now have a confirmed western release, but in Japan the first wave of additional DLC tracks have been announced — including two tracks that are free for a limited period. The full line up is as follows: Final Fantasy V Battle 2 (BMS) - Free until the 8th of...
News Pokémon Moviegoers in Japan Can Receive Diancie and Darkrai
No word on when the West's moment will shine
The dazzling Rock/Fairy Pokémon Diancie has been known to us for some time now in the West, and while we patiently wait for an opportunity to acquire such a gem for our own copies of Pokémon X & Y, fans in Japan will have an opportunity to receive one while seeing the next Pokémon movie on 19th...
News Vita Overtakes 3DS in Tough Week for Japanese Charts
All hardware sales are down
The Japanese game retail market seems to be in the midst of a rather glum spell, with a brief burst a few weeks ago — which can certainly be attributed in part to a pre-tax increase flurry of sales — making way for trends sliding in the wrong direction. This week also brings an unwelcome weekly loss for the 3DS,...
Matters of Import Ucchannanchan no Honō no Challenger: Denryū Iraira Bō
Down to the wire
The Nintendo 64 is fondly remembered for delivering groundbreaking titles such as Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. However, in amongst the system's relatively small library of games are a few wacky, obscure and out-of-the-ordinary experiences to be had. Sadly, many of us in the West never got to play a...
News Castlevania: Dracula X And Mega Man 5 Hitting The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
Scream bloody murder
Next week's Japanese Wii U Virtual Console titles have been confirmed, and fans of Konami and Capcom should be pretty pleased with what's on offer. Arguably the most notable release is Castlevania: Dracula X (known as Akumajou Dracula XX in Japan and Castlevania: Vampire's Kiss in Europe), the SNES port of the PC Engine classic...
Video Yo-kai Watch 2 Promotional Trailer And TV Commerical Hit Japan
Double trouble?
We've brought you details on Level-5's Yo-kai Watch 2 just a few days ago, but now we're able to show you some brief footage of the game(s) in action. The first video below is the most useful one, featuring just over a minute of story and battle footage that really shows off the excellent (or mad, depending on your point of view)...
News Nintendo Launches 3DS XL "Recommended Software" Hardware Promotion in Japan
A free game with a 3DS XL purchase
Nintendo has run a number of eShop retail download promotions in the past couple of years to encourage gamers to buy its products. Most of these have focused on the 3DS, with varying schemes in different territories offering free game downloads in return for registering a fixed number of retail titles or hardware...
News Nendoroid Toon Link Figure Slated for August Release
To be released only in Japan, of course
The Nendoroid series — from Good Smile Company — certainly has a group of cool figurines set for 2014. A few months ago the company announced a Luigi figure to cap off the Year of Luigi. Today, the company has announced that it will be releasing a Toon Link Nendoroid statue in August 2014 through the Good...
News Yo-kai Watch 2 Coming to 3DS in Japan with Two Different Versions
Hunting down demon spirits, now in two new flavours
Level-5 has announced this week it will be releasing Yo-kai Watch 2 on 10th July for the 3DS in Japan. A sequel to last year's popular monster-watching title Yo-kai Watch, Yo-kai Watch 2 will hit stores with two different versions — Yo-kai Watch 2: Ganso (Founder), and Yo-kai Watch 2: Honke...
News Mario Party: Island Tour Stays on Top in Japan as Hardware Sales Plummet
Tax increase and quiet week of releases take their toll
It's time for the Media Create Japanese chart results once again, as we see how the retail sector has held up following a 3% increase in sales tax in the country, from 5% to 8%. That may sound trivial, but as has been proven in multiple marketplaces a small percentage change in sales tax can...
Video Second Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call Demo Now Available In Japan
Final Fantasy VI and VII get a chance to shine
Excitement has been building recently for Square-Enix' Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call; the company has been teasing us with extra-long video previews as well as the inevitable range of toys. Those
News Subtle Character Design Changes Spotted for North American Version of Azure Striker Gunvolt
Ponytail and midriff mysteriously removed
Keiji Inafune and Inti Creates must think North Americans don't appreciate masculine heroes with luscious locks and bellies showing. NeoGAF user Rockman ZX noticed a subtle difference between the Japanese and North American artwork for Inafune-san's upcoming Mega Man X-style action platformer Azure Striker...
News Dracula Is Cursing The Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week In Castlevania III
Mystic Quest, Gradius and Neutopia also coming along for the ride
Castlevania fans will be pleased to know that NES classic Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse — one of the best entries in the entire lineage — is hitting the Japanese Wii U Virtual Console next week, which means a western release shouldn't be far behind. Originally released in...
News New Taiko Drum Master Game Revealed for 3DS
...in Japan, that is. Alas.
Popular Namco rhythm series Taiko no Tatsujin (known as Taiko: Drum Master in the West) will get a new instalment on 3DS in Japan, as reported by Famitsu. Entitled Taiko Drum Master: Don and Katsu’s Space-Time Great Adventure, the new drumming game will arrive 26th June for ¥4,740 (roughly $46 or £28). It will support...
News Curtain Call Brings The Cute With Static Arts Mini Range
Moogle, Chocobo and... Squall?!
With Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call's Japanese release date now mere weeks away Square Enix has started to get the full weight of its formidable merchandising arm behind the game, with this three piece "THEATRHYTHM FINAL FANTASY STATIC ARTS mini" set no doubt the first of many similar figure releases. The...
News Skypeace on 3DS Looks Like a Rival For Bird Mania 3D
Don't stop flying
There is a small but dedicated group of gamers in the Nintendo Life community that particularly enjoys Bird Mania 3D and its superior seasonal sequel Bird Mania Christmas. They're simple, budget priced endless runners — or fliers, to be more accurate — where the only task is to navigate the treacherous route and set a new high...
News 3DS Enjoys a Major Hardware Boost in Japan as Wii U Sales Also Increase
Increase in Japanese sales tax drives extra pre-rise sales
The results for last week's sales in Japan are here thanks to Media Create, and they bring pleasing news of hardware sales increasing for both 3DS and Wii U. It may be a peak before a notable dip, however, as Sales Tax in Japan increased from 5% to 8% in 1st April; many likely rushed ahead...
News Tales of the World: Reve Unitia Announced For 3DS in Japan
Tantalising tactical Tales!
Following on from the Android/iOS game Tales of the World: Tactics Union, the Tales of... team has now turned its attention towards the 3DS with the tongue-twisting Reve Unitia. Details are scarce as the announcement's only just been made in this week's Jump magazine, but from what has been shown it will be another...
Video Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call Showcases Almost Thirty Minutes Of Content
Magnificent melodies heading towards 3DS
1st April my be a popular time for companies to come up with creative pranks, but thankfully Square-Enix has gone down a different route and instead gifted us with two videos for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call instead. We have of course looked at the published track lists and
News These Sega 3D Classics T-Shirts Will Be Perfect For The Summer
To be this good takes ages
3DS owners will be aware that Sega is giving the console some retro love at the moment with its superb range of 3D Classics. We've seen the likes of Space Harrier, Shinobi III and Galaxy Force II so far (along with the guilty pleasure that is
News Take a Look and be Jealous of This Beautiful Monster Hunter 4 3DS XL
The stylish handheld was released in Japan yesterday.
Impatient for Monster Hunter 4 to hit Western shelves in its Ultimate guise? Japanese fans have not only been playing Monster Hunter 4 since September 2013, but yesterday they got this stunning 3DS XL (or LL, as it's known in the country) in a colour Nintendo calls "Rajang Gold." Take a look:...
Matters Of Import Steel Empire Is Flying High On Nintendo 3DS
Chocks away!
First released on the Mega Drive over twenty years ago and then remade for the GBA in 2004, Steel Empire is a side-scrolling shoot ‘em up with a distinctive visual twist. Looking like a cross between Jules Verne’s imagination, a Hayao Miyazaki anime and World War I archive footage; Steel Empire’s biplanes, zeppelins and steam...
News Arc System Works Releases Ghostly Visual Novel Adventure On Japanese 3DS eShop
Looks sensationally spooky!
Arc System Works is bringing a ghostly adventure to the 3DS eShop in the form of a mystery visual novel entitled Ghost Detective: Shida’s Ayakashi Case Book – which also translates to "Mononoke Detective" in Japanese. The game’s trailer reveals players will take on the role of ghost detective Shida Mori, who has...
News Yoshinori Satake Lifts Steel Empire's Iron Curtain And Teases Possible Sequel, Burning Steel
Developer talks about steam engines, outer space and Dragon Quest
Over the past few days we’ve been relentlessly tweeting, videoing and generally getting ourselves lost in playing Steel Empire in every format it’s available on. But as enjoyable as the game is, experiencing it in its final form doesn’t give much insight into all the hard work...
Video We've Compared All Three Versions Of Steel Empire So You Don't Have To
Mega Drive, Game Boy Advance or 3DS - which is best?
In case you hadn't noticed from the amount of coverage we've been giving it, steampunk shooter Steel Empire recently launched on the 3DS eShop in Japan. A port of a 1992 Sega Mega Drive / Genesis blaster, the game is possibly best known for its eye-catching visuals, with massive steam-powered...
News Dragon Quest X Reaches One Million Sales In Japan
A slow increase in popularity of the Square Enix MMORPG
The subscription-based Japanese exclusive Dragon Quest X – released on the Wii in 2012 and the Wii U just last year – has today reached a significant milestone. According to Producer Yosuke Saito via Twitter, the Square Enix MMORPG has now sold a total of one million copies. Last April,...
News Mario Party: Island Tour Makes Japanese Chart Début at Number One
3DS and Wii U enjoy hardware bumps
It somewhat flew under our radar due to its previous release in Western territories, but Mario Party: Island Tour arrived in Japan only last week — proof that it's not always North America and PAL regions kept waiting. With that release the 3DS enjoyed an increase in sales, while the Wii U has crept closer to...
News Modern Final Fantasy Tracks Confirmed For Theatrhythm: Curtain Call
Did your favourite make it in?
Last time the official Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy: Curtain Call website updated we were able to bring you news of the classic Final Fantasy tracks that were confirmed for inclusion in the game; now we can finally tell you which tracks from Final Fantasy VIII all the way up to
Video Steel Empire Proves Sega Aren't The Only 3DS Remake Experts
Let battle commence!
Earlier today we had the pleasure of telling you that Steel Empire was coming to the US eShop, and now we can add to that exciting announcement with freshly-captured video footage of the Japanese version of the game. Steel Empire originally released on the Mega Drive over twenty years ago, and a GBA remake followed in 2004 (but...
Matters of Import 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Brothers Powers Up A Sega Classic
This colourful classic is tougher than it looks
Sega’s enthusiasm for the 3DS continues unabated, which means that gamers have another excellent port-with-extras from the technical wizards at M2 available on the Japanese eShop: the twenty eight year-old Fantasy Zone. As we've now come to expect, this 3D remake is a port of the arcade version of...
News Knights Of The Round Joins The Fray In Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
Thankfully the summon sequence is much shorter in this game
Much like last time, Square Enix has once again released a few tantalising images of the characters and summons we can look forward to using in the awkwardly-named Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy: Curtain Call. As before there's a selection of old and new characters to ogle, this time from the...
News OutRun Confirmed As The Next 3D Classic Racing to Japan
3DS gamers, get ready to race
While Sega had us distracted with the excellent 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Brothers, it's gone and announced another classic that Sega fans have all been patiently waiting for — Outrun. This information is so minty-fresh that nothing else is currently known — not even an estimated release date — but we can at least...
Video 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Brothers Shoots Down The Competition
Pastel coloured pew-pew
We gave you a brief overview of Sega's latest 3D Classic Fantasy Zone: Opa-Opa Brothers last week, but now we've finally got our hands on it we can show you some real footage of our own. It should come as no surprise at this point to hear that M2 has once again produced an exceptional port, arcade accurate in the most minute...
News Capcom Shows Off Graphical Improvements In Ace Attorney 3DS Trilogy
You won't object to this
The Ace Attorney trilogy coming to Japanese 3DS owners next month appears to be shaping up nicely, with Capcom sharing images of how the 3DS version compares to the original GBA release and Nintendo DS follow-up. The above image shows off Phoenix at his best in court – sprite art and all. From left to right is footage of...
News Keiji Inafune Discusses the Indie Experience in Japan and Shows New Mighty No. 9 Footage
"It feels like a return to the golden days"
GDC (Game Developers Conference) 2014 is now approaching its close in San Francisco, and has hosted a variety of games, demonstrations and reveals. As is also the norm there have been presentations from various figures in the games industry, with a particularly high profile example being that given by...
News Real-Life Mario Kart Event Brings a Community Together in Japan
Not a blue shell in sight!
The streets of Shibuya, Tokyo were transformed into a Mushroom Kingdom speedway last weekend, as a group of kart-drivers in full costume got together for a multiplayer session not to be forgotten. The event was organised by the members of Tokyo Gaijins, a Japan-based community group dedicated to bringing overseas and...
News Yo-kai Watch Maintains Strong Run in Japan as 3DS Continues Battle with Vita
PS4 dips below 30,000, Wii U remains in four figures
It's Media Create charts time once again, our weekly insight into what's hot and not in Nintendo's homeland. It's a quiet week in terms of earth shattering revelations, but does continue some trends that have begun in the past few weeks. The software top 20 has a strong 3DS contingent as always,...
News Strategic Card Battler Gundam: Try Age SP Announced For The Nintendo 3DS
Suit up, soldier
It's no secret that we love Gundam here at Nintendo Life — our resident import expert Kerry has a collection of scale-model Mobile Suits that would make even the most seasoned Otaku green with envy. Taking this into account, you can imagine how excited we are by reports that the latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu carries an...
News Japanese Persona Q Limited Edition 3DS Revealed
Velvety smooth
It feels like a long wait for Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, Atlus' fascinating mix of Persona fan-favourites with the dungeon crawling of the Etrian Odyssey series, but as that 5th June Japanese release date draws nearer — it's a Fall arrival in North America — more details continue to be unveiled. Today's treat is a first...
News 3DS Faces a Renewed Vita Challenge in Japan as Home Consoles Underperform
3DS software continues strong run
It's Wednesday, so it's Media Create Japanese charts day. After a 2013 where each week could roughly be summarised as "3DS crushing all in its way", this year is shaping up to be a more competitive, dynamic contest. To begin with software, top spot is taken by PS Vita newcomer Soul Sacrifice Delta, an expanded and...
News These Nintendo Illustrations to Highlight The Wii U Difference are Just Too Good
Hardware advertising, Japanese style
It's little secret that Nintendo will be aiming to up its game, in territories all around the world, in selling the Wii U concept to the masses. We expect that these marketing efforts will retain the hallmark style for which Nintendo is famous — in other words, there'll probably be plenty of light-hearted,...
News Sega's Classic Shooter Fantasy Zone Is Blasting Onto Japanese 3DS eShop This Month
Welcome to the... ah, you know
If you're a fan of Sega's 3D Classics range then you'll be pleased to know that the company has revealed that a new version of Fantasy Zone — entitled 3D Fantasy Zone: Opa Opa Brothers — will hit the Japanese 3DS eShop on the 19th of March. As with all previous 3D re-releases, the usual Sega love is on show —...
News Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy: Curtain Call Unveils First Track Details
A medley of classic tunes coming to Japanese 3DS'
While we were busy twiddling our thumbs waiting for Theatrhythm: Curtain Call and playing the threedemo tracks until our stylus wore out, Square-Enix sneaked an update onto the official website detailing some of the tracks to be included from the original Final Fantasy up to
News Pikachu And His Pokémon Pals Are Throwing Their Support Behind Japan's World Cup 2014 Campaign
Pocket Monsters join forces with kit maker Adidas
One of the biggest sporting events of 2014 is the World Cup in Brazil, which will attract an audience of millions of fans from all over the globe. That of course means ample opportunities for advertising, and Adidas — which makes the kit of the Japanese national soccer team — has announced that...
Video This Steel Empire Footage Makes Us Jealous of Those With a Japanese 3DS
Gosh...
Our past coverage of Steel Empire, a 3DS conversion of the cult Mega Drive / Genesis shooter, may have betrayed the fact that some of the Nintendo Life team have fond — and increasingly distant — memories of Sega's 16-bit machine. More importantly, however, this shooter was loved by those who played it because it's rather good, so the...
Matters of Import Prepare To Die In Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
This Super Famicom swansong takes no prisoners
Fire Emblem is a strange series; much loved and well known, yet still a relative outsider when compared to the likes of Kirby or even Star Fox. Released first as a Nintendo Power exclusive deluxe pack in 1999 and then again in more standard SNES packaging in 2000, Thracia 776 has the d
News Senran Kagura 2's Japanese Website Bounces Into Action
Twice the...the...umm...
Just as European gamers are finally able to enjoy ninja-schoolgirl-cleavage-action with Senran Kagura Burst, Japan insists on reminding us how far ahead it is by opening the official Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson website. As far as in-game screenshots go it doesn't really show us anything we haven't already looked at, b
