Japanese Releases News, Japanese Releases Features

Love and hate

Last month during a Japan-only Nintendo Direct, the company revealed a hardware bundle for upcoming 3DS title Tomodachi Collection: New Life in Japan. A Nintendo Direct was broadcast yesterday focusing on the 3DS sequel, in which plenty of details were given about the simulation game. As we've

Localisation may be in the works as we speak

It may have one of the strangest names, but Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is high on the "most wanted" 3DS games list for many western RPG lovers. There hasn't been an official announcement on a release date outside of Japan, but earlier last month the game's Twitter page hinted that localisation could...

We can hear our wallets crying

The latest edition of CoroCoro magazine has released some new information on upcoming Pokémon title for the Wii U, Pokémon Scramble U. The game will be released in Japan on the 24th April, and it'll be the first title to utilize the console's NFC (Near Field Communication) feature. NFC allows the player to place...

Layton's final mystery out next month

Famitsu has released some new information on Level-5's next installment in the Professor Layton franchise, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies, revealing that the game will launch in Japan on 28th February. It was confirmed during a Nintendo Direct broadcast in the summer that this would be the final puzzle...

Slime-o-riffic

Square Enix of Japan has unveiled a new trailer for the upcoming 3DS remake of the PlayStation classic Dragon Quest VII. While the 3DS remake will remain largely true to its predecessor, we reported earlier this month that there will be visible encounters rather than random battles, which can be seen in the trailer. According to CVG

Is this Japan-only eShop release going to be music to your ears?

As games get more complicated, with motion controls and complex button layouts, is it still possible to have fun while playing a game using only one button? With the Japan-exclusive eShop title Dopamix (made by G-mode, the current owners of the Data East back catalogue, which includes...

Enter the Magna Gate and the Infinite Labyrinth

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Magna Gate and the Infinite Labyrinth will launch on the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on November 23rd, it has been confirmed. The latest instalment in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, this first 3DS entry apparently allows you to take photos of real-world objects using the 3DS...

Yet another Level-5 trailer

Today Level-5 has most definitely been leading the pack at Tokyo Game Show, showing off all its upcoming 3DS titles and wowing the crowds with gorgeous new trailers. Earlier today we reported the newly released trailers of Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney and Fantasy Life, and now we bring you the brand new trailer for...

It's all kinds of cute

Level-5 is keeping itself very busy at the moment, with the development of the upcoming Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney, as well as possibly the cutest RPG you will ever come across, Fantasy Life. The new trailer from Tokyo Game Show shows off the customisation features, some of the 20 playable jobs (such as a fisherman,...

In terms of data, at least

We're all quite excited about Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight here at Nintendo Life - it was arguably one of the highlights of the Japanese Nintendo Direct broadcast last week. Combining platforming with rhythm action, the game launches in Japan this week, although a western release hasn't been confirmed as yet. However, sho

Potty mouth

Last month we reported the announcement of a rather odd upcoming Japanese 3DS title, Denjarasu Jii-San Jya. 'Grandpa Danger', as he's known in North America, is a popular Japanese manga strip featured in Coro Coro magazine. In the 3DS adaptation, players will be put in the shoes of Grandpa as he goes on a quest to save his friends who...

Title meaning also uncovered...

The time is nigh for Japanese RPG fans, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy will be fluttering over to the 3DS console on 11th October. Square Enix has now revealed the official and finalised Japanese box art for the game, and incidentally uncovered a reasonably high age rating for an RPG on the 3DS - CERO C (15+). Since...

It's official

On Saturday we reported a rumour that Namco Bandai would be be bringing the arcade game Dragon Ball Heroes to the 3DS, in Japan. This has now been confirmed, as Namco Bandai has opened up an official website for the 3DS version — Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission. You can check out the website here. While it's currently a little...

It's over 9000!

There have been reports suggesting that Namco Bandai may be bringing the arcade title, Dragon Ball Heroes, to the 3DS in Japan: it's a Japanese card-based arcade game, originally released in late 2010 and developed by Dimps. The 3DS version will apparently be called Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission, and is said to include a...

Puzz Loop studio is back in the puzzle game

Mitchell Corp. — possibly best known as the creator of Pang, Polarium and Puzz Loop/Magnetica (which has been cloned as Zuma in the past) — is set to launch a new puzzle title on the Japanese 3DS eShop tomorrow (8th August). Called Nagerupu Matrix — which roughly translates as Action Puzzle Matrix...

Link up

The Japanese eShop is getting a Columns-shaped treat soon. The Game Gear version of SEGA's addictive puzzler will join the 3DS Virtual Console line-up on 8th August. It'll also have a function that we've rarely seen so far on 3DS Virtual Console: you'll be able to play in local multiplayer, provided that both users have a copy of the game...

Spot the Treevil

Nintendo has published its latest Nintendo Direct broadcast, this time focusing on the upcoming Japanese release Dragon Quest X. The broadcast began with an introduction from Satoru Iwata, and then included gameplay commentary from Dragon Quest designer Yuji Horii, series producer Yousuke Saito and director Jin Fujisawa, who you...

Get a job

Square Enix has announced that the next Bravely Default: Flying Fairy demo will be heading to the Japanese 3DS eShop on Wednesday. This will be the fourth playable demo available to the public, and is entitled 'Job and Ability Volume'. Those who download the demo will be able to sample five of the jobs on offer in the game: Knight, Mystic...

Featuring the Mario gang and Kirby

Today Nintendo of Japan has added two more goodies to its already bountiful collection of merchandise on the Club Nintendo website. For a mere 200 points you can bag yourself a rather snazzy-looking 40x40mm Kirby 20th Anniversary Special Collection medallion, to celebrate Kirby's recent escapade at the top of the...