Games by Marvelous AQL
Return to Popolocrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale 3DS
- 18th Jun 2015 (JPN)
- 18th Feb 2016 (UK/EU)
- 1st Mar 2016 (NA)
Reviews of Marvelous AQL Games
Review Rune Factory 4 Special (Switch) - The Definitive Version Of A Series Classic
"You're always welcome here"
The Harvest Moon series made quite a name for itself when it first released on the SNES in 1996, trading the typical combat-centric trappings of an RPG in favour of a much more laid-back and slower-paced focused on farming. Many sequels would follow in the coming years, and on the tenth anniversary, Marvelous produced an...
Review Return to Popolocrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale (3DS)
A heartwarming harvest
As a crossover between Yohsuke Tamori's PopoloCrois (an enduringly popular fantasy manga from 1978) and the evergreen Bokujō Monogatari series (formerly known as Harvest Moon and now Story of Seasons in the West), Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale stands out, even in the 3DS' impressively varied RPG garden...
Review Lord Of Magna: Maiden Heaven (3DS)
Domestic Bliss
When Rune Factory developer Neverland sadly shut up shop in 2013, there was still one project left on the table - a brand new story-driven SRPG named Lord of Magna. It lay unfinished until Marvelous miraculously reassembled part of the original team to finish the game, and we're lucky they did; it's not perfect, but with fun battles,...
Rewriting the story
Have you ever wanted to leave it all? Just pack your bags, move to a completely new place and start a brand new life? If you've ever wanted to see what it's like to start fresh, now is your chance with the release of Marvelous' latest farming simulation title, Story of Seasons. As was outlined in our recent review of
Review Harvest Moon: A New Beginning (3DS)
Cream of the crop
It may come as a surprise to some that a series of farming simulation games could become so popular and beloved by such a large audience, yet here we are, more than 15 years after the launch of the maiden game, with the release of Harvest Moon: A New Beginning. In celebration of this milestone anniversary, Marvelous AQL has decided...
Latest Marvelous AQL News
Wednesday4th Nov 2020
News Rune Factory 4 Online Trial Is Now Live Outside Of Japan
Update: Live in the UK now, too
Update: We can now confirm that this trial is now live in the UK as well. Original Story [Sat 31st Oct, 2020 16:30 GMT]: Rune Factory 5 might be coming out next year, but have you played Rune Factory 4 Special on the Nintendo Switch yet? We praised this definitive version of the game, awarding it nine out of ten...
Friday10th Nov 2017
Video Check Out the Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns New Neighbors Pack DLC
New outfits! New dialogue! New events!
We thought Story of Seasons: Trio of Towns was an excellent game when we reviewed it, praising the laidback pace and the breadth of content available in the base game. Now, a decently sized expansion has been put out for $7.99 that adds a whole lot more on top of this, giving you more options for dialogue,...
Tuesday31st May 2016
News Pokémon Ga-Olé Bringing Plastic Card Battling Action To Japanese Arcades This July
Olé!
A short time ago, we reported on the news that a fresh Pokémon arcade title was coming to Japan. We've now got more details on the unit - named Pokémon Ga-Olé - which is due to arrive in Japanese amusement centers this July. Developed by Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. and Marvelous AQL, Ga-Olé uses plastic cards for its 'mon battling action and...
Thursday7th Jan 2016
News Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale Will Feature Dual Audio
Both English and Japanese tracks will be available
It was just confirmed yesterday that Europe and Australia will be receiving Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale sometime early this year. Many were no doubt delighted to hear this news as the game seems to be pretty good, so far. While there may not be any so
Wednesday30th Dec 2015
News There'll Be More Senran Kagura Bursting Onto the Scene in 2016
Will you be tempted to see what the fuss is about?
It's quite an understatement to say that the Senran Kagura series is controversial. While it could be argued that the actual gameplay is pretty solid, taking one look at the box art is enough to see what really gets copies flying off shelves. On one side, there are the people who appreciate it for...
Tuesday15th Sep 2015
News Nintendo Publishing Story of Seasons in Europe, Due Q1 2016
Marvelous news!
We quite liked Marvelous' Story of Seasons when we reviewed it earlier this year. Our resident farming simulation expert Ron DelVillano said: "the charming characters and satisfying gameplay make this a game worth any Harvest Moon fan's time. If you're looking to start a relaxing new virtual life full of charm and charisma, look no...
Thursday16th Jul 2015
Interview Senran Kagura Producer Kenichirō Takaki Bares All
“I love games, I love girls, and I love sexy stuff”
The Senran Kagura series famously - and perhaps apocryphally - began life when its creator, Kenichirō Takaki, decided that the Nintendo 3DS' stereoscopic display was destined to display one thing over all else: breasts. Setting to work to fulfill his dream, Takaki-san produced two tales of...
Friday5th Jun 2015
News Looks Like We May Get To Play PoPoLoCrois Harvest Moon After All
XSEED teases a Western localisation
PoPoLoCrois Harvest Moon launches in Japan soon, and brings together two very famous names in the world of Japanese role-playing adventures. Of the two, Harvest Moon is arguably the most well-known - this farming RPG has been a staple of the games industry since the days of the SNES. PoPoLoCrois is perhaps less...
Friday22nd May 2015
Video This New PoPoLoCrois: Harvest Moon Trailer Will Scratch Your Fantasy Life Itch
Who needs Fantasy Life 2 anyway?
PoPoLoCrois: Harvest Moon is a mash-up of two famous Japanese RPGs and is coming to Japanese Nintendo 3DS systems on June 18th. Another trailer has just been released in Japan which shows off some gameplay footage, as well as some charming animated sequences. While the Harvest Moon series needs no introduction, the...
Friday13th Mar 2015
News Kaio: King of Pirates, by Keiji Inafune's Comcept, is Officially Cancelled
Publisher Marvelous loses around $3.8 million on project
Kaio: King of Pirates, an adventure game in the works by Keiji Inafune's Comcept development studio, has officially been confirmed as cancelled by publisher Marvelous. That's perhaps no surprise considering the continual delays and silence on the 3DS release, but it's nevertheless still rather...
Thursday12th Mar 2015
News Swedish Newspaper Questions The European Release Of Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson
"Nintendo has a responsibility to stop products of this kind"
Following the announcement that Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson is coming to the west, a columnist in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet has attacked the game for its objectification of women. Journalist Kersin Alex - who reviews games for the newspaper - has stated that she has issues with...
Tuesday10th Mar 2015
Will you be man enough to pre-order the "Happy Boobs" Limited Edition?
Marvelous Europe is bringing the Tamsoft fighting game Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson to Europe and Australia this summer. Following on from the events of Senran Kagura Burst, this sequel will be distributed both digitally and physically in Europe, with Marvelous offering a range...
Thursday4th Dec 2014
News Rune Factory 4 Arrives On The European and Australian 3DS eShop On 11th December
One week to go
Following on from the classification of Rune Factory 4 by the German videogame rating board in October, XSEED Games — in conjunction with Marvelous Europe — has announced the most successful iteration in the series to date will arrive in Europe and Australia exclusively via the 3DS eShop next week, on 11th December. The latest...
Saturday4th Oct 2014
News XSEED Will Release Rune Factory 4 as an eShop Title In Europe
Unnamed developer is assisting the process
After the closure of Japanese developer Neverland in November last year due to sluggish performance, along with further bad news of the cancellation of its most recent title, Rune Factory 4 for the 3DS in Europe, the chances of the fourth entry in the beloved series being released outside of North America...
Wednesday7th May 2014
News XSEED Considering Publishing Forbidden Magna in North America
A Marvelous proposal
Forbidden Magna is an intriguing and beautiful-looking game under development at Marvelous AQL in Japan. If things work out, XSEED has expressed an interest in placing the strategy RPG with potential inn management elements in North American hands as well. Siliconera had the chance to ask
Friday14th Mar 2014
Soapbox Ignoring The Objectification Of Women In Games Won't Make the Problem Go Away
Should we boycott Senran Kagura Burst's balloon-breasted characters?
Long-time readers of Nintendo Life will be aware that we've given a fair amount of coverage to Senran Kagura Burst, a 3DS fighting game which recently launched in Europe amid a campaign which focused almost entirely on the title's bevy of busty female combatants. To be honest, I...
Friday7th Mar 2014
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
Monday3rd Mar 2014
News Senran Kagura Bursts Into The UK Top 40 While Donkey Kong Country Hangs A Little Higher Up
Racy subject matter helps niche fighter gain some sales
Senran Kagura Burst isn't your typical 3DS title — it features large-chested anime girls rather than rotund Italian plumbers — but it has gained quite a bit of attention ahead of its European release. We've seen saucy (and
Thursday27th Feb 2014
Video Experience The Acute Embarrassment Of Owning A Physical Copy of Senran Kagura Burst
Thank goodness for the eShop version
Senran Kagura Burst launches this week in Europe, both digitally on the 3DS eShop and in physical form. While North Americans still bristle with anger at the fact that they missed out on a boxed edition when it launched in that region last year, it least it means that they didn't have to endure the shame of...
Wednesday26th Feb 2014
Video The Dubious Charm Of Senran Kagura Burst Is Explained In Thirty Slightly Awkward Seconds
Scantily-clad female fighters, you say? We hadn't noticed
Senran Kagura Burst hits Europe this week, and the game has already caused quite a stir thanks to its racy content, which is largely based around huge-chested Japanese schoolgirls shedding their clothing as they get beaten up (when they're not fighting in their swimsuits, that is)...
Monday24th Feb 2014
News The Harvest Goddess Appears In Harvest Moon: Connect To A New World
Not a moment too soon
We've looked at the upcoming 3DS Harvest Moon a few times before, so it's with some relief that just three days before the game launches in Japan the Harvest Goddess has shown her face, alongside two more new neighbours that will no doubt make life on your farm much more interesting than it would be otherwise. The Goddess...
Monday17th Feb 2014
News More Forbidden Magna Images Are Released
The innkeeper and his... spirits?!
We briefly mentioned Marvelous AQL's new RPG when the details first surfaced in Famitsu last week, but since then the official Forbidden Magna website's opened up; we can finally share some quality images with you of Lux and three of the spirits he'll encounter — Charlotte, Diana and Beatrice. Each of these...
Thursday13th Feb 2014
News The UK Is Getting A Senran Kagura Burst "Life And Hometown" Special Edition
Limited to 500 copies, comes with T-Shirt and lenticular poster
Senran Kagura Burst may have come to North America before Europe, but the latter is getting a physical and a pre-order bonus release — something which has annoyed some US players, as they had to make do with a digital launch only. As if to pile on the pain even further, it has today...
Wednesday12th Feb 2014
News Details of Forbidden Magna Emerge, a New 3DS Title From Marvelous AQL
The Rune Factory team try something different
Just recently there was a tantalising reveal of a new Marvelous AQL 3DS title called Forbidden Magna; some additional details have now come to light, thanks to a kind soul with a copy of Famitsu and a bit of patience. The game will apparently mostly closely resemble the 3DS Harvest Moon titles, using a...
Saturday8th Feb 2014
News Rune Factory 4 in Short Supply in North America
XSEED cites an unexpected crop of sales
Fantasy-farmer Rune Factory 4 has been harder to find at retail in North America lately. Publisher XSEED Games, via its Facebook page, has blamed the shortage on the fact that, you know, people want to buy the game; more shipments should be on the way: We've received quite a few inquiries asking about Rune...
Thursday23rd Jan 2014
News Harvest Moon: Connect To A New World Shows Us How To Get Started
English tutorials are never this good
A new issue of Famitsu has arrived, giving fans of the turnip-pulling series a very brief glimpse at the seasonal changes and two events in the upcoming Harvest Moon title. Short of trees looking a nice brownish-gold in autumn and snow covering the ground in winter there's not a fat lot else to tell there, so we...
Thursday16th Jan 2014
News Senran Kagura Is Bursting Onto European Store Shelves In February
Digital release coming a day earlier
If you're a fan of fighting games which feature buxom girls who lose their clothes during combat, then you'll want to sit up and take note of this news. MarvelousAQL has confirmed that Senran Kagura Burst will be coming to Europe this February in both physical and digital formats. A compilation of the first two...
Thursday19th Dec 2013
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...
Tuesday10th Dec 2013
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
Thursday29th Aug 2013
News Harvest Moon: A New Beginning Finally Sowing Its Seed In Europe This September
Better late than never, right?
Remember Harvest Moon: A New Beginning? The first game in the franchise to be built for the 3DS from the ground up, it launched in Japan and North America back in 2012 and was slated for a Q3 release in Europe. It has now been confirmed by MAQL Europe that the game will be hitting European shores on September 20th...
Friday9th Aug 2013
News Senran Kagura Burst Confirmed For Physical And 3DS eShop Release In Europe
Rip off your clothes in joy
It has been confirmed today that Senran Kagura Burst will be receiving a European release on the 3DS next year. Already confirmed for launch on the 3DS eShop in North America, this side-scrolling fighter will be going one better in Europe, where it will also be getting a boxed version as well. European distribution will...
Wednesday5th Jun 2013
News Harvest Moon: A New Beginning Sowing the Seeds for a Q3 Release in Europe
Courtesy of Marvelous AQL Europe and Zen United
Although a prolific franchise and one that appeared on 3DS initially with a DS dual release, Harvest Moon: A New Beginning represents the first departure for the series designed exclusively for the system. Its attempts to freshen up the series were a success, in our view, as we awarded it 8/10 in our...
