Tag: Japan - Page 54
Video Persona Q Website Shows New Footage
Some downloadable goodies for your PC too!
The Persona Q website has been updated with a new trailer showing off a lot of new event scenes in both movie and real-time forms, as well as some brief and irritatingly small screens of actual gameplay. Sharp-eyed readers may also spot a quick cameo from Catherine's Vincent Brooks! The trailer closes with...
News Nintendo Dominates Festive Hardware Charts in Japan
Wii U sales increase to over 100,000 units
The most recent Japanese Media Create game charts were revealed on Christmas Day, and will have certainly brought festive cheer to Nintendo HQ. In the last full shopping week before the big day there were major successes for the company in terms of both hardware and software, with the 3DS dominant and the...
Guide Understanding The Basics Of Japanese For Import Gaming Goodness
Prospective import players: We've got you covered
Buying and playing Japanese imports is one of gaming's little adventures. It can be exciting and rewarding, but it's not without its pitfalls — the most obvious of which is the language barrier. While many import games will feature a small amount of English text, most will be impenetrable to those...
Video Bravely Second Teaser Trailer Goes Live
An even bigger tease than presents under the Christmas tree
Square Enix has just released a short teaser trailer for Bravely Second, the sequel to the beautiful 3DS RPG Bravely Default. Like all good teaser videos it reveals absolutely nothing and yet somehow still leaves you gasping for more - the video opens with a fantastic shot of Istantahl...
News Dreamcast Shooter Radirgy Is Coming To The 3DS eShop In Japan
Milestone's blaster is due for release in February
Back in 2005, Japanese developer Milestone Inc. released Radirgy for Sega's NAOMI arcade hardware. This vertically scrolling shooter was subsequently ported to the Sega Dreamcast, and later the Nintendo GameCube and Sony PlayStation 2, where it met with mostly positive reviews. The game is now...
News Persona Q: Shadow of Labyrinth Website Launched
Demons and dungeons coming soon!
The Persona Q: Shadow of Labyrinth website opened today, giving us a touch of artwork and info on the upcoming 3DS dungeon crawler as well as a handy place to view the trailer released last month. At the moment there are a few short character bios for members of the Persona 3 and 4 cast, as well as the all-new...
Video Unlock This Footage Of Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Wonderful Mysterious Keys
Gotta catch 'em all?
We've reported before on Square Enix's upcoming 3DS remake of the Game Boy Colour Dragon Quest Monsters 2, but now we've got some footage to show, too. As you'd expect, much of the video focuses on showing off the enormous G-sized monsters and giving us a quick peek at small portion of the 800+ beasts in the game, but there are...
News Puzzle & Dragons Z Shifts Almost 80% Of Its Initial Shipment With Half A Million Copies Sold
GungHo is hoping for one million units sold
As we reported yesterday, GungHo's smartphone RPG port Puzzle & Dragons Z has sold more than half a million units in its first week on sale in Japan. That's impressive in anyone's book, but we're now hearing reports that the figure accounts for 78% of the initial shipment — which means that more...
Video Watch The Chickens Come Home To Roost In The New 3DS Harvest Moon
It's going to be moo-velous
Due out in Japan on the 27th of February 2014, Bokujou Monogatari: Tsunagaru Shin Tenchi (roughly: Harvest Moon: Connect to the New World") will be the latest entry in the evergreen farming series and the third outing on 3DS. The theme of the game is "connectedness", interacting with other farmers online and via local...
News Sega's Japanese Christmas Present For 3DS Owners Is Puyo Puyo Tsuu
A popping gift
Sega continues to shine with its 3DS retro download offerings, this time it’s the turn of Game Gear puzzle classic Puyo Puyo 2: Tsuu, due out on Christmas day in Japan for just 400 Yen. The game — the Mega Drive version of which was also released on the Wii Virtual Console back in 2008 — will include local multiplayer (both...
News Wii U Sales Jump Again as Nintendo Maintains Hardware Dominance in Japan
It's the most wonderful time of the year
After a year of enjoying the triumph of 3DS in Japan while wincing at Wii U sales, it seems both of Nintendo's systems are now showing strong form in Japan. This week's results see another major leap for the Wii U, while the 3DS has an outstanding week along with the highest selling software titles. To start...
News PC Engine And MSX Games Coming To Japanese 3DS And Wii U Virtual Console Services
Retro goodies promised for next week
Nintendo has confirmed that it is expanding both the 3DS and Wii U Virtual Console services in Japan to cover additional systems. On the 25th December, PC Genjin (600 Yen) and Parodius (800 Yen) will be hitting the Wii U Virtual Console — titles which originally released on the PC Engine and MSX respectively...
Video Fresh Footage Of 3DS Action RPG Swords & Darkness Emerges From The Shadows
New title from Arc System Works is coming to the 3DS eShop
Arc System Works has released a new trailer for its upcoming 3DS eShop title, Swords & Darkness. A 2D fantasy-themed brawler with RPG elements, the game is set to launch on the Japanese eShop tomorrow. Looking a lot like a Dungeons & Dragons take on River City Ransom, the game will...
Weirdness This Game Combines Hello Kitty With Rhythm Cooking and Arcana Heart
Either awesome, strange or a mix of both?
Quite often games arrive earlier or exclusively in Japan, and those of us elsewhere in the world can only look on with envy or splash the cash on imported systems and games. Occasionally these Japan-only games are intriguing primarily due to the fact that they're peculiar — Hello Kitty & Apron of...
News Shift Into Fifth With These New Screenshots Of Initial D On 3DS
New info as well
Open-road racing, manga-inspired visuals, wage battles – it’s all there according to fresh translations and screenshots for Sega’s free-to-play Initial D Perfect Shift Online. As previously reported, this new title is headed to the 3DS and will allow wannabe delivery drivers to experience the thrill of high speed mountain...
Feature Why I Love Import Gaming
Import gaming addict Kerry Brunskill explains the appeal of overseas gaming
I’ve been fascinated by Japanese games for as long as I can remember, going right the way back to faux-Japanese Amiga games like Leander and Apidya II. There's something appealing about Japanese game design and art which can't quite be matched by western titles, and...
News Cast Your Gaze Over These Rare 3DS Models
Open to Flets Hikari customers, or you can go to China
We often hear of limited edition 3DS hardware models available around the world, though many of the best examples are typically reserved for the Japanese market. That's going to be the case once again, though this time around Chinese gamers did get in there first. The two 3DS XL models pictured...
News Wii U Hardware Sales Take a Significant Leap in Japan
A new Dragon Quest X release certainly helps
The Wii U has enjoyed an upward trend of sales in Japan in the last couple of weeks, a welcome respite from troubling figures and disappointing news. This week gives even more cause for optimisim, as Nintendo's home console achieved the sort of numbers we haven't seen since its launch weeks in late 2012;...
News Sega's Free-To-Play Racer Initial D Perfect Shift Online Is Coming To The 3DS
Based in the hit manga and anime series
The latest issue of Famistu magazine has revealed that Sega is bringing the latest in its long line of Initial D games to the 3DS. Based on the long-running manga series — which has been adapted in both anime and live-action forms — Initial D Perfect Shift Online is a free-to-play offering which...
News Keiji Inafune's KAIO: King Of Pirates Isn't Setting Sail Until 2014
Long-delayed 3DS adventure gets another release date
Remember KAIO: King of Pirates, the 3DS title developed by Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune? The last we heard, the game was looking good for a worldwide launch, but the proposed 2012 release date never materialised and the title has been considered MIA since then. However, according to the
News Nothing Would Make XSEED Happier Than Localising GameCenter CX 3, But It Isn't Happening
Retro-themed sequel could remain Japan-only
US publisher XSEED has ruled out localising the third GameCenter CX title, which means that the game could well remain a Japanese exclusive. The same fate befell GameCenter CX: Arino's Challenge 2, which XSEED passed on due to poor sales of Retro Game Challenge, the English version of the first GameCenter...
News Bravely Default Sequel Confirmed for 3DS in Japan
To be called Bravely Second
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy — shortened to Bravely Default in the West — has been a commercial success for Square Enix in its homeland. That's likely contributed to its localisation (along with support from Nintendo) in its follow-up and improved form that's known as Bravely Default: For The Sequel in Japan. As that...
News Wii U Console Sales Climb in Japan as 3DS XL Maintains Dominance
Positive signs
While sales results in North America and Europe are infrequently shared and occasionally vague, it's easy to keep track of Japanese equivalents with the country's weekly charts. The trend has been largely the same for a long time — the 3DS is dominant. Last week brought a slightly underwhelming début for Super Mario 3D World, and...
News Super Mario 3D World Sells 57% of Its Initial Shipment in Japan
Roughly 175,000 copies shipped at launch
Last week we reported that Super Mario 3D World had sold 99,588 copies in its first week in Japan, making it the lowest debut for a 3D Mario platformer, although this does not take into account eShop download sales. The game came in at number 2 in the Japanese charts behind Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy...
News SEGA Working on Second Round of 3D Classics
May come worldwide if the first set sells well
This week saw the arrival of the first two titles in SEGA's range of 3D re-releases on the 3DS eShop, with 3D Space Harrier and 3D Super Hang-On. There are another six games coming in the next three weeks to give retro SEGA fans — and perhaps those trying them for the first time — a taste of...
News New LovePlus Launching With Limited Edition 3DS Consoles Next Spring
Looks lovely
Konami’s popular dating simulator returns next year with a new entry in the series, along with three limited edition 3DS XL designs. New LovePlus+ will feature new story scenarios and locations to visit, and will also be available in a deluxe package. “The Manaka Deluxe” set of New LovePlus+ includes a copy of the game, a 40...
News Nintendo Launches New Wii U Christmas Advertising In Japan
'Tis the season to be jolly
Although Nintendo's advertising in various regions arguably took a while to ramp up, a fresh campaign in Japan appears to tick all the right boxes. It promotes the fun of Wii U with friends and family, as well as some of the exclusive first-party titles on offer this holiday season. The “Atsumareba” advertising...
News Super Mario 3D World Underwhelms on Japanese Chart Début
Wii U hardware sales increase by just 5,000 units
Last week we reported on the continuing dominance of the 3DS XL in Japan, and the hope that the launch of Super Mario 3D World would provide a notable boost to the Wii U hardware sales; unfortunately, that hasn't quite been the case. To start with software, Media Create's charts show that Mario's...
Video This New Puzzle & Dragons Z Trailer Has A Monstrous Amount Of Detail
3DS outing expands dramatically on the popular mobile game
December will see the Japanese release of Puzzle & Dragons Z, the 3DS port of the insanely successful smartphone puzzle / RPG hybrid. Developer GungHo has released another trailer to crank up interest even further, and it contains more details about the game's massive over-world, the...
Video Check Out This Puyo Puyo Tetris Trailer and Dream of Localisation
We may be lucky, right?
A little while ago we told you about Puyo Puyo Tetris, which is exactly what it sounds like. It's a puzzle mashup that dreams are made of courtesy of SEGA, and arrives on Wii U and 3DS in Japan on 6th February 2014. Sadly there's been no hint of localisation yet, though we certainly hold out hope that, at the very least,...
News Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth Announced For 3DS
Coming to Japan in June 2014
Persona, the critically acclaimed RPG series, is finally coming to the 3DS. During a recent event in Japan, Atlus revealed details for Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth. The spin-off is set to feature various characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4, as well as being presented in a chibi-like style. With previous...
News Nintendo Shares Hit Three-Month High Ahead of Major Releases
Positive signs
Nintendo looks to be making a recovery on the stock market, with shares reaching a three-month high on 22nd November after gaining 4.2 percent on the Toyko Stock Exchange. The milestone lines up with the release of Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U, as well as The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour on...
News 25 Year-Old Japanese Man Arrested For Allegedly Threatening To Blow Up Nintendo's HQ
Said he would kill Nintendo executives "sooner or later"
It has been reported today that a 25 year-old Japanese man has been arrested in connection with death threats made against executives at Nintendo. According to Sankei News, the suspect used Nintendo's online inquiry form to make the threats, even going as far as to name the Nintendo staff he...
News 3DS XL Given A Close Run by Vita and Vita TV in Japanese Charts
Wii U sales dip again, but remain above PS3 et al
The madness of Nintendo Direct meant that we skipped the Japanese chart update last week, which saw the 3DS remain on top and the Wii U sales dip to 17,737 units, which was still a long way above the lows it had suffered in previous months. We have been in the midst of a relative dip in new software...
Interview KORG M01D Creator Nobuyoshi Sano Talks About Making Sweet Music On The 3DS eShop
Detune's Sano talks about turning 3DS consoles into music-making tools
To celebrate the release of KORG M01D on the 3DS eShop and the publication of our review, we present to you an exclusive interview with its creator Nobuyoshi Sano, conducted by dedicated fan Graham Ellaby. Since its launch in December 2010 on the Nintendo DS, KORG M01 has...
News Ace Attorney Producer Wants To Revive Capcom's Final Fight
Motohide Eshiro also wants to revisit Devil May Cry and Shadow of Rome
Motohide Eshiro is the producer of Capcom's recent 3DS offering Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies, and has worked in a wide range of roles at the company, including a programmer, director and planner. Given this wealth of experience, it seems only fair to ask which...
News Kirby: Triple Deluxe For 3DS Floats Into Japan on 11th January, Teaser Site Goes Live
Suck it up, Europe and North America
Everyone's favorite pink cream puff will be returning soon in a brand new adventure on Nintendo 3DS. Kirby: Triple Deluxe, as it was dubbed by the latest Nintendo Direct, has received an official Japanese release date, along with a brand new website. The game will be arriving on 11th January 2014 in the Land of...
News WonderFlick Hits iOS and Android This Month, Cross-Platform Saves Should Support Wii U in 2014
In Japan, naturally
Earlier this year we told you about WonderFlick, a new RPG from Level-5 that will be coming to a host of platforms, including smartphones and the Wii U. The unique selling point of this title is an effort to directly correlate and connect progress on smartphones and consoles, with the developer aiming to go "beyond the...
News Famitsu Reveals Japan's Best Selling Games Of The 21st Century
New Super Mario Claims Top Spot
Japanese video game publication Famitsu has just unveiled the top 100 Best Selling Video Games in Japan for the 21st Century (the period 1st January 2001 until 29th September 2013), and as expected Nintendo games feature heavily, with nine of the top ten games being for Nintendo platforms — seven of which are for...
Video Watch Japanese Celebrity Aya Ueto Make Cat Noises In These Mario 3D World Commercials
Almost too cute
In Japan — just like any other part of the world — famous faces are often rolled out to promote various products or services. For Super Mario 3D World, NCL has selected Japanese singer, actress and all-round personality Aya Ueto to front its TV campaign for the game. She's a good choice; easy on the eye, relatively famous and...
News Wii Party U and Wii Fit U Deliver Major Increase to Wii U Hardware Sales in Japan
Pokémon X & Y dominate at number one, of course
The weekly Japanese charts often tell the same story, with the 3DS dominating the hardware scene and, in the recent software stakes, Pokémon X & Y doing the same. Those trends continue this week, but we actually have positive Wii U results to share as well, with Wii Party U and Wii Fit U bringing...
Hardware Review Gametech Neo Fami
The Famicom Clone To Rule Them All?
The concept of clone retro hardware isn't anything new — in fact, we've already covered the likes of the Retro Duo V2, RetroN 3 and SupaBoy here on Nintendo Life — but as time goes on these cheap and cheerful systems are becoming more and more desirable. Older machines are either failing as
First Impressions Stardust Amazoness
Arc System Works swaps fighting for dungeon-crawling in this saucy RPG
Arc System Works may be famous for the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series of fighting games, but the company is broadening its horizons somewhat with dungeon-crawling 3DS RPG Stardust Amazoness. Starring an all-female cast trapped in a futuristic prison complex, the game showcases...
News Dragon Quest Monsters 2 Dated for Japan, Alongside 3DS XL Model
So pretty...
Earlier in the year we directed your attention to the fact that Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Wonderful Mysterious Keys was coming to the 3DS in Japan, a remake that incorporates the content of the two original iterations on the Game Boy Color. It'll feature over 800 new monsters, eight player multiplayer and various...
News Flipnote Studio 3D Friends Gallery Disabled in Japan
Paid service World Gallery remains
Yesterday we reported that Nintendo had halted the Swapnote / Nintendo Letter Box SpotPass service due to some users utilising it to "exchange offensive material". The direct exchange of photos, and minors actively sharing their friend codes and photos, were both highlighted as issues that drove the decision to...
News Pokémon X & Y Reign Supreme in Japan Once Again, Though the Wii U and Sonic Endure Tough Times
The games are coming, the games are coming, the games...
Thanks to the lovely people at Media Create, we have our weekly dose of Japanese game charts to enjoy. In recent times it's been less about what's number one, but by how much it's dominating, and that applies to software and hardware. In the software stakes, Pokémon X & Y maintains its...
So long, and thanks for all the fish
Natsume has revealed that it will be localising Agatsuma’s Farewell Umihara Kawase for North American release under the new title Yumi's Odd Odyssey. A sequel to the much-loved Super Famicom game Umihara Kawase, this 3DS outing introduces extra characters like time-bender Noko, a young version of Yumi called...
News The Pokémon Company Is Working On A Detective Game In Which Pikachu Is Your Partner
Gotta sleuth 'em all?
It would appear that The Pokémon Company is working on a 3DS title which places you in the role of a detective who is teamed up with the famous Pikachu. The game was revealed during Japanese TV programme "The Professionals" in an episode which focused on Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekaz Ishihara. The game has a proposed...
News Rayman Legends Lands With A Thud At Japanese Retail
Less than 1,500 copies sold
Rayman Legends was supposed to be a Wii U exclusive, but Ubisoft changed its mind and delayed the title to accommodate a multiplatform release. However, the wacky epic remains unique to Nintendo's console in at least one region: Japan. Sadly, it would appear that game hasn't been a hit with Japanese players. Although it...
Weirdness Japanese YouTuber Dresses Up As Mega Man, Powers Up Via Electric Shocks
It's one way to celebrate the Blue Bomber's 25th, we guess
As we all know, Mega Man turns 25 this year. Capcom is doing its bit by re-releasing classic adventures on the Wii U and 3DS Virtual Console services, but what fans really want is an all-new Mega Man outing. They may well be getting it, too — although in the form of Mighty No.9, which is a...
