Tag: Japan - Page 58
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
News Latest Mana Game Rises To The Challenge
Now we're hoping for a 3DS port
Launched just a few hours ago in Japan on iOS (due on Android later in the year), Rise of Mana is the most recent title in Square's long running RPG series, perhaps most fondly remembered by Western gamers for the first SNES entry Secret of Mana. In keeping with some of the more iconic Mana games, Rise of Mana is an...
News Harvest Moon: Connect To A New World Dominates for 3DS in Japan
Hardware sales for the region aren't pretty as PS4 drops
The latest Media Create Japanese chart results are in, and they have some interesting numbers to consider. Software sees the latest Harvest Moon title enjoy an impressive début, while a substantial drop in the PS4 system's sales — which some reports suggest is due to stock shortages — is...
News Hamatora: Look At Smoking World Announced For 3DS
"Shared World" concept tying together multiple mediums into one setting
Shuuhou Imai, best known for his work on the Tokyo Majin Gakuen series that's been on everything from the original Playstation to the Nintendo DS, has just released some details on a new title — Hamatora: Look At Smoking World — for 3DS through his blog. The game is set...
Feature Games That Almost Were - A Look At Cancelled N64 Titles
Everything not saved will be lost
The end of the millennium was a turbulent time for Nintendo – the N64 hadn’t quite turned out to be the SNES Mk.II success it’d hoped the hardware would be, the 64DD add-on got off to a cautious launch in Japan and in 2001 both the N64 and the Game Boy Color would be completely replaced with younger and more...
News Japanese Prime Minister Says the Country's Economy "Can Learn From" Nintendo
Keeping the faith
Nintendo's stock market value and current financial results may be a long way short of the recent glory days of the Wii and DS era, yet despite that drop in fortunes the company still has substantial cash reserves and is emphasizing plans to evolve its business and return to significant success. The 3DS continues to perform —...
News Swoon! Style Savvy: Trendsetters Is Getting "Dream Boyfriend" Mode In Japan
OMG!
Style Savvy: Trendsetters is a game which is unashamedly aimed at female players, and in Japan it's getting an update that is sure to get pulses racing. On April 17th, a new edition will be released which contains a raft of new features, the most interesting of which has to be the "Dream Boyfriend" mode. In this new mode, you'll be able to...
Matters Of Import Wonder Project J2 Brings Masterful 2D To The N64
Making cute robots girls cry
The N64 never did get much 2D love when it was around, but games like Wonder Project J2 — as well as Treasure’s Bangai-O — show that other developers were missing a trick by ignoring the untapped potential of this side of Nintendo’s hardware. First published by Enix in 1996, Josette’s adventures on Blueland...
News Steampunk Shooter Steel Empire Hits The Japanese 3DS eShop Later This Month
The 16-bit Sega release is getting a new lease of life
We first told you about the 3DS eShop conversion of the cult Mega Drive / Genesis shooter Steel Empire in August last year, but things have been pretty quiet since then. Thankfully, we can now update you with some more info — the game hits Japan later this month and will retail for 2940 yen...
Weirdness Don't Be Afraid Of This Big, Bad Japanese Monster Hunter 4 Commercial
Here, little piggy
Capcom has already unleashed some pretty unusual commercials to support Monster Hunter 4 (and, by extension, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate) on the 3DS, but this latest one looks set to top them all. The TV spot — which is due to air on March 1st — has been teased by Japanese site
News Wii U Lifetime Sales in Japan Overtake the Xbox 360
Hey, it's a landmark
At the end of 2014 we're hopeful, even optimistic, that we'll be looking at a far brighter scenario for the Wii U. We don't have the facts and figures to start talking comebacks at the time of writing, however, so are restricted to looking ahead and taking the positives that we can. There is one, too. Earlier today we reported...
News PS4 Launch Sales Close to Wii U Equivalents, 3DS Remains Best of the Rest
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze swings past 50,000 sales to date
It's been a big week for the games industry in Japan, with Sony's PS4 arriving in the market. Naturally it's made a splash in both the hardware and software charts, leaving efforts on 3DS, Wii U and other systems up against a new group of launch games. To start with software, as...
Matters of Import Protect Buildings in Radirgy de Gojaru
A single screen shocker
We had a quick look at this title before, but now we’ve had more time with it we can finally give the game the full Matters of Import treatment. It looks like a pretty standard shooter at first glance, but you're tasked this time with protecting an unassuming grey building at the bottom of the screen from harm, instead of...
News Gargoyle's Quest II and Street Fighter 2010 Could Be Heading to the 3DS Virtual Console
Retro-heads Rejoice!
The Virtual Console has been an incredible asset to Nintendo over the years. Not only has it served as a method of playing yesterday’s games today, but it’s also come in handy when bridging the gap between retail releases. One of its downsides of course is that with every new console’s release, the back catalogue of games...
News Nintendo Releasing a Wii Sports Club Wii U Hardware Bundle in Japan
A reverse from Wii Sports not being bundled with Wii in the region
With Wii U hardware sales in Japan once again down to four-figure numbers in the weekly charts, Nintendo's preparing a fresh bundle to attract the region's consumers. This time around the offering, pictured above, will include the three Wii Sports Club eShop titles released so far,...
Video Import Only 3DS Blaster Radirgy De Gojaru Shakes Up The Shmup
Hand-cramping action ahoy!
We had a poke around Japan-only 3DS eShop shooter Radirgy De Gojaru's official website last week, but now the game's been released in The Land of the Rising Sun we've been able to spend some time with it ourselves. The first thing that strikes you is that while it looks like a shmup it's actually more of a tower defence...
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...
News New Characters, Monsters And Modes Join Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
Faces old, new and import-only are now part of the crew
We've already looked at the demo before, but now Square Enix have released some new information about Curtain Call's new versus mode as well as artwork for Makina and Rem, both from the currently Japan-only Final Fantasy Type-0. Versus mode can be played against either a friend or against...
News Bravely Default Producer Outlines a Continued Focus on the Story for Upcoming Sequel
Player choice with battle frequency customisation included again
With Bravely Default now available worldwide, it's naturally no surprise that the sequel is already confirmed for Japan, ensuring a likely scenario that gamers in the West will have to patiently await localisation news as those in the homeland of Square Enix enjoy the follow-up. The...
News Persona Q: Shadow of Labyrinth Soundtrack and 3DS XL Announced
More goodies for Atlus fans
We've looked at Atlus' upcoming dungeon crawler Persona Q a few times before, and once again the publisher has released a pair of videos, this time for the lead characters of Persona 3 and 4. Normally that would be all, but with the Japanese release oh-so-slowly drawing near it's also let slip that customers who get their...
News Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze Only Sells Just Over 35,000 Units in Japanese Launch
No notable Wii U hardware boost
The latest Media Create Japanese chart results are in, and while there are positives for the 3DS there's little cheer for Wii U. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze arrived in Japan on 13th February and, despite coming in second in the charts, has failed to make a significant impact. Top honours in the software...
Video Hanging Out With Arino In The Japanese GameCenter CX 3 Demo
Short and sweet
Japanese 3DS users are now able to get their hands on a demo of GameCenter CX 3, perhaps better known outside Japan as the latest game in the Retro Game Challenge series. The demo's a short slice of the story mode, with your chosen character (male or female) bumping into a youthful Arino back in a little 80's shop and eventually...
News R-Type, Street Fighter And Alien Crush Are All Flocking To The Japanese 3DS Virtual Console
Retro heavyweights flex their muscles on Nintendo's handheld
If you're a fan of blasting aliens, punching robots and playing demented pinball tables, then next week's Japanese 3DS Virtual Console releases should be right up your street. Irem's iconic 2D shooter R-Type is on the way (the PC Engine version), along with fellow PC Engine title Alien...
News Famicom Remix 1 + 2 Coming to Retail in Japan
A one-two nostalgic combo right in Japan's childhood
NES Remix was a pleasant surprise when suddenly announced for the Wii U eShop, and the appearance of its slightly more mature cousin NES Remix 2 is a good sign that this particular brand of retro carnival play is taking off. It may come to the delight and/or great envy of others, then, that Japan...
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...
News Sega's New Shining Game Is Rather Different From What You Might Have Been Expecting
Turn-based action is replaced by 2D fighting
Sega's Shining series is one of gaming's most beloved franchises, but for the past few years western fans haven't been able to join the party, as all of the recent instalments have been strictly Japan only. However, that doesn't mean that we haven't been keeping a keen eye on upcoming entries, largely in...
Matters of Import Dragon Quest Monsters 2 Shows Us How Remakes Should Be Done
A monster masterpiece
Iru and Luca’s (or Tara and Cobi’s, if you prefer) adventure first graced the world with its presence thirteen years ago on the Game Boy Color, had a very brief fling with the PlayStation (Japan only, of course) in 2002, and then lay dormant for over a decade before Square Enix dusted it off and gave it an excellent modern...
Video Two Fan Favourites Are Added To The Persona Q: Shadow of Labyrinth Line-Up
Welcome Aigis and Teddie
Valentine's Day is the perfect time for Atlus to show Persona fans some love, and what better way to do it than share new videos of Aigis and Teddie in action? They're as painfully short as all the others but we can't help but get excited about what's looking to be another excellent 3DS dungeon crawler. If the Japanese...
News Kamen Rider: Battride War II Steers Its Way to Wii U in Japan
Like Power Rangers with bikes
In positive news for Wii U gamers in Japan, and a reminder that some third-party projects in the region are supporting the platform, it's emerged that Kamen Rider: Battride War II is coming to the system; the predecessor to this game was a PS3 exclusive brawler / bike-action game and enjoyed reasonable chart success...
News Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed Finally Hitting the Track in Japan
"You're too--uh... what was it, again...?"
Most often, a cool game gets released in Japan and the rest of the world languishes, wondering when it will ever hit their corner of the planet — if it even will in the first place. However, now and then Japan is the last to receive a title, and that is most definitely the case with Sonic & All-Stars...
