Tag: Japan - Page 64
News This Custom Twin Famicom Is The Stuff Hardware Dreams Are Made Of
Remember when console designs actually mattered?
We hate to keep going on about it, but Microsoft revealed the Xbox One to the world this week. We're obviously biased, but we happen to think it looks a little underwhelming in purely physical terms — Nintendo Life Operations Director Darren Calvert said it best when he described the console as...
News Japanese 3DS Owners Can Download Double Dragon II Next Week
8-bit classic is punching its way to the 3DS eShop in Japan
Nintendo has confirmed that the popular side-scrolling fighter Double Dragon II: The Revenge will be coming to the Japanese 3DS eShop on 29th May, priced at 500 Yen. Once again, the heroes of the hour are Billy & Jimmy Lee, who must avenge the brutal murder of Marian at the hands of...
News Japanese Hardware Sales Slow Down For the Second Consecutive Week
Tomodachi Collection: New Life knocked off top spot
This week's Japanese chart results are in, and show that the slow software release schedule in the past couple of weeks is causing a hit on hardware sales across the board. Only the PSP enjoyed a small boost, which can be attributed to the fact that this week's number one is for Sony's ageing...
News Fantasy Life Expansion Heading to 3DS in Japan
We're still hoping for localisation
Level-5's Fantasy Life, which was developed along with Nintendo subsidiary 1-Up Studios — formerly Brownie Brown — has performed well in Japan, so much so that the publisher has announced a new upgraded version of the title, called Fantasy Life Link!. As an RPG that allows you to choose a career, set off on a...
News 3D Altered Beast is Ready to Kick Some Shins on the Japanese 3DS eShop
Wise-ing Fwom Its Gwave
While, admittedly, Japanese gamers currently suffer from comparatively empty eShop platforms — particularly on Wii U — due to tough publishing rules, as always there are some extras in the region that make us jealous. Notably, there's been a SEGA range of 3D Classics, including Sonic the Hedgehog and Space Harrier. Now...
News Recent Taiko Drum Master Games Ship Over 500,000 in Japan
Rhythm games aren't fully dead just yet
While the manic clacking of plastic guitars has largely fallen quiet across the world, Japan still has a place in its rhythm gaming heart for a different instrument: the humble-yet-iconic taiko drum. According to Siliconera, Namco Bandai has announced more than 500,000 combined units shipped for two titles in...
News Yakuza 1 & 2 HD Confirmed for Wii U in Japan
A remake of the PS2 Titles
While we were enjoying largely similar Nintendo Direct broadcasts in Europe and North America, Japan had its own stream to enjoy that had an even greater emphasis on Nintendo's collaboration with SEGA; a segment was even called "SEGA Direct". There was a section dedicated to Yakuza 1 & 2 HD, a new Wii U version of the...
News Nintendo Announces Metallic Red 3DS, Cobalt Blue And Misty Pink To Be Phased Out
Nintendo giveth and Nintendo taketh away
Nintendo has announced yet another new 3DS colour for gamers in Japan: Metallic Red. Announced yesterday — though the Eevee 3DS XL stole a majority of the limelight — the new system is a more vibrant shade of red than the previous Flame Red 3DS. It'll launch on the 13th June for 15,000 yen, along with a...
News Animal Crossing Co-Director Thinks Tom Nook Is "Very Misunderstood"
"He’s not as bad as other people might think he is"
When you start a new game of Animal Crossing, the figure who seems to loom largest in those early hours is Tom Nook, a tanuki who always seems to have dollar (or should that be bells?) signs in this eyeballs. Nook has a reputation of being a rather greedy capitalist, profiting on naive newcomers...
News Eevee 3DS XL Evolves For Pokémon Center 15th Anniversary
One of the many Eeveelutions
Last month we reported that posters hinted that Eevee would be featured in some way on a new 3DS XL design, but details were scarce on its appearance. And now we know it's official - an Eevee-themed 3DS XL is indeed making its way to Japan judging by a leaflet found in Pokémon Center stores, posted by Twitter user...
News GungHo Online Entertainment's Market Cap Surpasses Nintendo's
Puzzle & Dragons owner sees a huge rise in its share price
The mobile gaming market is certainly on the rise as more and more people start to adopt devices such as tablets and smartphones. No longer do you need to have a dedicated gaming console to enjoy games as you can now find them within various app stores. Naturally, the quality may not...
News Pokémon Tretta Lab Coming to the 3DS This Summer in Japan
Includes a large Tretta Scanner
Last year, Nintendo and Marvelous AQL joined forces to develop an arcade game for Japan, Pokémon Tretta. Players collect different Tretta - small discs that you scan into a machine - call out whichever Pokémon it features and send them off to battle; if you win, you get more Tretta. It has come to light that the...
News 3D Sonic The Hedgehog Spinning Onto The Japanese 3DS eShop Next Week
Sonic's debut is getting a 3D makeover
Sega has confirmed that the next entry in its "3D" range is Sonic The Hedgehog — an auto-stereoscopic re-imagining of his first 16-bit outing. It will launch on May 15th and will cost 600 Yen. The game will boast 3D visuals which take advantage of the console's unique display, and will also come with...
Weirdness Legend of Zelda's Triforce Gets Carved Into A Japanese Tombstone
A Link to the Afterlife
It's not uncommon for people to have poignant messages carved into their headstones when they eventually shake off their mortal coil, but you've got to go a long way to beat the legendary Triforce when it comes to tributes to the dead. According to Twitter user mahosyouzyo, when a relative passed away she was asked to create...
News Nintendo Accused Of Infringing Trademark With Wii U WaraWara Plaza
Restaurant owner Monteroza is less than happy
Restaurant chain owner Monteroza has filed a claim against Nintendo over the use of its "WaraWara Plaza" trademark. Monteroza — which operates 300 restaurants in the far east and runs a chain of Japanese-style public houses under the brand Wara-wara — filed a request with the Japanese Patent Office...
News Trio Of Kirby Games Hitting Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
Three Super Famicom classics incoming
Japanese Wii U owners are being treated to three Kirby titles in a single week. Some folks have all the luck, right? The games in question are all Super Famicom titles. Kirby’s Super Star Stacker (Kirby no Kirakira Kizzu), Kirby’s Dream Course (Kirby Bowl), and Kirby’s Dream Land 3 (Hoshi no Kirby 3) will...
News 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience Hits DVD
Blu-Ray and digital launch expected this year, too
Those of you with exceptionally good powers of recollection will no doubt remember that we reported on the production of 100 Yen: The Japanese Arcade Experience last year. A love letter to the coin-op scene in Japan, the film has been completed thanks to two IndieGoGo campaigns which raised a...
News Poster Hints At An Eevee-Themed 3DS XL Set For Japan Next Month
What? Eevee is evolving?
At the start of the week, we reported that a new Pokémon-themed 3DS XL would be available in Japan in May to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Pokémon Center stores. It was rumoured that the handheld would feature the 133rd Pokémon in the Pokédex, Eevee; and to add further speculation, wild posters have appeared in...
News Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Launches With 14 Titles Available To Download
Three more games to be released next week
The Wii U Virtual Console is now available in North America, with eight games available to download, and in Europe where there are seven titles to choose from. Japan's version of the download service has also launched and there are a total of 14 games already in the catalogue, with three more on the way...
News Tomodachi Collection: New Life Storms the Japanese Charts
3DS LL (XL) sales double
Another week of Japanese chart results, and another happy story for the 3DS. In recent weeks we've seen consistent success for Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and the ever-green Animal Crossing: New Leaf, but the release of Tomodachi Collection: New Life, the life-simulation game currently exclusive to Japan, has given another...
News Meet The Wii U Karaoke System Which Costs $16,000
Big in Japan
With many retailers complaining that the Wii U costs too much, it's odd that we're reporting on a variant of the console which retails for an eye-watering $16,000, but such is the weird and wacky world of the video game industry. Produced by Japanese company Xing, the JoySound Festa is so large it has to be wheeled around on a trolley...
News New Pokémon 3DS XL to be Available Through Lottery Next Month in Japan
You lucky Japanese gamers
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Pokémon Center outlets in Japan, news has emerged that a brand new Pokémon-themed 3DS XL will become available in the region next month. Similar to the Charizard 3DS XL (pictured), you'll need to enter into a lottery to be in with a chance to purchase the system. It's rumoured...
News Japanese 3DS Owners Can Now Post Images Directly To Social Networks
New tool supports Twitter and Tumblr
Sharing is apparently caring — we're told — and Japanese 3DS owners can now share to their heart's delight by posting in-game screens shots from Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Tomodachi Collection to Twitter and Tumblr. Twitter user Cheesemeister gives some more information:
News Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Remains Spookily Resilient Atop Japanese Charts
Animal Crossing: New Leaf shows impressive legs, too
2013 is well and truly the Year of Luigi, with Mario's sibling locking out the Japanese sales charts again this week. Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon sold another 56,562 copies, bringing its lifetime total to over half a million units. Card Fight!! Vanguard Ride to Victory!! was in second place, with...
News Special Luigi 3DS XL System Coming To Japan
The XL stands for "Xtra Luigi"
The Year of Luigi has seen some promising products on the way for the Cult of the Green, but what may be the piece de resistance is currently limited to Japan. A special edition Luigi 3DS XL system was announced during the Japan Nintendo Direct Wednesday. Similar to the Animal Crossing: New Leaf system that was...
News Nintendo Direct Luigi Special Announced For Japan
Continuing the Year of Luigi celebrations
Nintendo of Japan has revealed via its Twitter account that it will be holding its own Nintendo Direct presentation, alongside the European and North American broadcasts. The Japanese presentation — titled Nintendo Direct Luigi Special 2 — will take place at 10 AM Eastern Time / 7 AM Pacific Time / 3PM...
News Twenty Years On, It's Time To Check Out Benimaru Itoh's Awesome Star Fox Artwork
Freshly translated into English, too
Star Fox is twenty years old this year, and to celebrate that fact, translating powerhouse GlitterBerri has taken the comic intro to the Japan-only Star Fox: Mission File Printout guide and adapted it for English audiences. Featuring the artwork of Benimaru Itoh, the guide reveals the back story of the game and...
Rumour Ni no Kuni Could Yet See A Western Release, According To Publisher Namco Bandai
DS role-player could find a new lease of life on the 3DS
You might be familar with Level-5 and Studio Ghibli collaboration Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch from its recent release on the PlayStation 3, but the origin of the series actually stretches back to a Nintendo DS game, released in Japan in 2010. Ni no Kuni: The Jet-black Mage shares the...
News Ace Attorney 5 Release Date Accidentally Revealed By Capcom
Someone made a boo boo in the courtroom
It seems that Capcom has let the release date for Ace Attorney 5 slip in a recent blog post about a Nico Nico developer Q&A on the upcoming 3DS title. The game is set to have fingers pointing in Japan on the 25th July this year. Capcom objected by removing the evidence of the release date from the blog...
News Nintendo Stock Rises By 11%
The largest increase since 2008
The Japanese yen has reached a three-year low against the euro meaning many successful exporters are enjoying a rise in stock. Nintendo has seen an 11% rise in stock value, which now stands at 11,850 yen, the largest gain since 2008. The yen has weakened against all 16 major counterparts this year as speculation...
News Animal Crossing: New Leaf Passes Three Million Sales in Japan
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon still number one in the charts
Update: As correctly pointed out on Twitter by NintenDaan, it's worth remembering that Media Create charts only account for physical retail sales. The full sales for Animal Crossing: New Leaf will be further beyond three million due to its success on the 3DS eShop. Original Article: Last...
News KORG M01D Music Workstation Hitting 3DS eShop This Summer
What sweet music you'll make
Some of you may fondly recall KORG DS-10, a "musical workstation" for your humble Nintendo DS. If you enjoyed making bizarre aural creations with this cult release then you'll be please to learn that it's getting a sequel for the 3DS eShop, entitled KORG M01D. Essentially a souped-up version of the DS original, KORG...
News Level 5's Fantasy Life Ships 300,000 Copies In Japan
Another 3DS smash-hit is on the cards
Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino has revealed that total shipments to date of 3DS title Fantasy Life have reached the 300,000 mark in Japan. Back in January, we reported that the game — which is a collaboration between the Professor Layton studio and Brownie Brown — had sold out upon release, an event which no...
News Japanese Games Market Makes Long Due Return to Growth
5% boost in hardware offsets drop in software sales
Quite often we share the latest weeks' Japanese sales charts with you, to highlight how a new release is performing and to track hardware sales in Nintendo's homeland. A trend that's been consistent for well over a year has been 3DS dominance, with some occasions where the combined sales of the...
News New eShop Game Cards Surface in Japan
For the retail shopper in us all
While Nintendo's made great strides in improving its digital download services, there are still many players who prefer to buy their games at retail. Japanese gamers will soon have a new way to get download-only games like Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger and Freakyforms: Your Creations, Alive!, in the form...
News Children Of The '80s, Here's That Battle Beasts Game You Always Wanted
"Fire burns wood!"
If you're old enough to remember the original Transformers, He-Man and G.I. Joe toy lines, then chances are you'll also be aware of Battle Beasts. These small plastic figures were launched back in the late 1980s and came with heat-sensitive stickers on their chests which revealed the figure's affinity, such as wood, fire and...
News Wii U Sales Double in Japanese Charts Following New Releases
3DS is still King
Earlier today we reported on more woes for the struggling Square Enix, with Dragon Quest X posting poor launch week sales in Japan. The overall Media Create results for last week do also tell a few other tales, including a modest improvement for Wii U and some good results for a famous green brother. In terms of the software...
News Inafune: Japanese Developers Are "Too Proud" And "Don't Know What To Do"
Recovery is happening too slowly for former Capcom man
Former Capcom developer Keiji Inafune has had some choice things to say about the state of games development in his homeland — it was his famous "Japan is over" speech at the 2009 Tokyo Game Show that triggered a protracted period of self-assessment on the part of many game designers in the...
News Former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi Slumps To 13th In Japan's Rich List
Nintendo's former figurehead impacted by tumbling share value
Having $2.1 billion in the bank would make us very happy indeed, but that amount of cash can only secure you 13th place in Japan's rich list, according to Forbes. Former Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi used to be sitting pretty at the top of Japan's richest people, but his fortunes...
News Dragon Quest X Posts Poor Sales Figures In Japan
Wii U version shifts just 33,000 units
Square Enix is certainly in a tricky spot right now, with under-performing games and a major reshuffle at the top thanks to some poor financial results. Things have just gotten worse for the firm with the news that one of its big titles for 2013 — Dragon Quest X on Wii U — has only mana
Rumour Bravely Default: Flying Fairy Is Taking Flight To The West
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 be...
News Capcom Is Bringing Custom Armour Action To The 3DS With Gaist Crusher
You know, for kids!
Capcom has announced the excellently-named Gaist Crusher for the Nintendo 3DS. An ambitious project which will span video games, comics, cartoons, music and (of course) toy merchandise, Gaist Crusher is part of Capcom's fresh desire to create content for younger players. The fact that it also focuses on "collecting" elements —...
News Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger Gets Japanese Release Date
Should be coming this month in the West
During the latest Chotto Nintendo Direct Satoru Iwata revealed some new footage as well as a release date for Dillon's Rolling Western: The Last Ranger. The downloadable game stars an armadillo ranger called Dillon and is the sequel to last year's Dillon's Rolling Western. It's set to feature the same style...
News Special AR Pre-Paid Cards Coming To Japan
Satoru Iwata shows them off during a Chotto Direct
Satoru Iwata has announced a selection of new special pre-paid cards will be coming to Japan during a Chotto Nintendo Direct. What's so special about them? Well, they double up as augmented reality cards, which can be used in conjunction with new 3DS downloadable AR software called Isshoni Photo...
News Club Nintendo Japan Rocking Five New 3DS LL Cradle Colours
Let your 3DS LL sit in style
There are some new additions in the Japanese Club Nintendo rewards catalogue in the form of five different coloured 3DS LL cradles. As you can see from the image below, club members can choose from a red, green, white, blue and yellow cradle. Any of these colourful cradles can be redeemed for 200 points from Club...
News Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon Tops Japanese Charts
3DS remains best selling hardware, too
Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon has successfully spooked its way to the top of the Japanese sales charts. The 3DS adventure sold 280,151 copies in its first week on sale. The arrival of Luigi's latest outing helped the 3DS shift 76,553 units, putting it ahead of the PS Vita, which sold 41,073 consoles in the same...
News Etrian Odyssey: Millennium Girl Revealed In Famitsu Magazine
Remake of the DS original hitting Japan in June
Yesterday, we reported that the latest issue of Famitsu magazine could well be featuring some news on a fresh instalment in the Etrian Odyssey series. Leaks from Japan suggest that the magazine will be unveiling Etrian Odyssey: Millennium Girl for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is expected to launch in...
News News on Etrian Odyssey, Devil Survivor 2 Expected In Next Famitsu
More RPG goodness on the way for 3DS owners?
While fans in the West are just forging into Etrian Odyssey IV or eagerly awaiting its arrival, time marches on in Japan: news on what’s next for the series is expected to arrive soon. Tweets from Atlus Japan have teased an announcement regarding the Etrian Odyssey series which will appear in the March...
News 3DS is Back on Top of the Japanese Charts
Normal service is resumed
Last week the House that Mario Built may have been a little rattled, as 3DS was knocked off the top of the Japanese Media Create hardware charts for the first time — at least by our memory — since late 2011. Sony's Vita handheld combined a healthy price drop with the release of Soul Sacrifice to improve on its major...
News Toriko: Gourmet ga Battle Gets Hungry on 3DS This Summer
In Japan, and supposedly reminiscent of Power Stone
If you mention Power Stone or, more pertinently, Power Stone 2 to certain members of the Nintendo Life team, they may start to convulse and enter a fit of SEGA fanboy/girl glee, requiring a splash of cold water to snap them out of it. So when a four-player action brawler called Toriko: Gourmet ga...
