Tag: Japan - Page 70
News Monster Hunter 3 G Helps 3DS to Its Best Ever Sales in Japan
Staggering numbers inside
In news equivalent to the revelation that the Pope is head of the Catholic church, Monster Hunter 3 G has racked up phenomenal sales in its first week in Japan. The game sold a staggering 471,055 copies in its first two days. As a point of comparison, Super Mario 3D Land accumulated 343,492 sales in its first week. Monster...
News Expect the Circle Pad Pro Battery to Last for 480 Hours
Or thereabouts
The Circle Pad Pro attachment needs its own AAA battery, but don't think you'll need to shell out on new ones every time you fancy a game of Resident Evil Revelations. According to one eager Japanese early adopter, the device's instructions claim it can last for up to 480 hours on a single AAA battery. Good job too, as the battery...
News Japan's eShop Gets Its First Demos
Try before you buy
The 3DS system update paves the way for paid add-on content and free demos to reach the eShop, but while Europe and North America has to wait a little while for demos Japan's store has a few to choose from. Owners of Japanese consoles can choose free trials of the following games: Dead or Alive: Dimensions Monster Hunter 3 G
News Japanese eShop Takes a Trip to Wario Land Next Week
He's-a gonna ween
Japan's Super Mario Land trilogy reaches completion next week, as Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 reaches the Virtual Console. Regarded as one of the best platformers on the Game Boy, Wario Land was OFLC rated so we expect to see it in Europe and North America pretty soon, perhaps even before Christmas. Cross those fingers now.
News 3DS Nears 3 Million Sales in Japan
Mario Kart does the business too
3DS is selling better than ever, with Nintendo president Satoru Iwata telling the Nikkei newspaper (via Andriasang) the system is about to tip the scales at 3 million units sold in Japan — two weeks quicker than the DS reached the same milestone. The news comes a week after Nintendo confirmed 3DS beat the DS's...
News Capcom Committed to Monster Hunter in the West
Wants it to be big
Monster Hunter 3 (~Tri) is the only taste of Monster Hunting action Nintendo fans in Europe and North America have been able to savour, but it's safe to say it's left them wanting more if the interest in Monster Hunter 3 G and Monster Hunter 4 is anything to go by. Capcom USA senior vice president Christian Svensson knows that,...
News Japan Buys Half a Million Copies of Super Mario 3D Land
Off to a flyer
Super Mario 3D Land saw release in Japan last month and made light work of the competition, selling over 500,000 copies across the country. Andriasang reports the game shifted 542,842 copies across Japan between 31st October and 27th November, with the best first-week sales of any 3DS game yet. In North America Super Mario 3D Land set...
News Code of Princess is a 3DS RPG From the Guardian Heroes Team
Get excited
Treasure's Guardian Heroes is one of the SEGA Saturn's best games, and its recent Xbox Live Arcade re-release isn't bad either. The original development team has now banded together once more to create Code of Princess, a Japanese action roleplaying game for 3DS. Set for release by Agatsuma Games in Japan early next year, the game...
News Hunting King is an Augmented Reality eShop Shooter
Oh deer
The 3DS comes with a few augmented reality games built-in, but Arc System Works is going one better than arrows and boards: it's going hunting. Hunting King hits the eShop in Japan next week for 500 Yen (£4.00/$6.50/€4.75), and while it uses computer-generated backdrops as you try to shoot deer and secret animals, you can also engage its...
News Monster Hunter 3 G Demo Stomping to Japan's eShop
You asked for it
3DS-enhanced monster mash Monster Hunter 3 G is set to be one of the first 3DS games to offer a downloadable demo in Japan. The 169MB demo contains two quests and a choice of 12 weapons, with quests lasting around 20 minutes. Most interesting is Capcom's confirmation the demo is playable a maximum of 30 times before it becomes...
News Japanese Virtual Console List - December 2011
Keep on trucking
Japan got seven Wii Virtual Console games last month while other regions got zero, but they still show no signs of stopping, as next month will offer another four. It's evenly divided between the Super Famicom and Neo Geo, with one of the games being another instalment in a certain Capcom series that ends with "X". The...
News No Good at Monster Hunter? Buy Quest Rewards Instead
StreetPass mode explained
While every hunter this side of Japan anxiously awaits a release date for Monster Hunter 3 G, Capcom has revealed more of the game's StreetPass features including an intriguing method of clearing quests. StreetPassed players will appear in a tavern by the harbour; for a fee, you can send them out to clear any quest they've...
News New Harvest Moon: First Earth 3DS Videos Ripen Up
Don't soil yourself
North America has already had one Harvest Moon game on 3DS — Harvest Moon 3D: The Tale of Two Towns — but that was really a slightly different version of the DS original rather than a just-for-3DS deal. The console's first original entry in the series is Harvest Moon: First Earth, or Bokujou Monogatari: Hajimari no Daichi in...
News Japan Gets His 'n' Hers Wii Remote Plus Bundle This Month
The perfect match
While the rest of the world rejoices in the gold Wii Remote Plus included in the limited edition of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Japan is also getting a double pack of MotionPlus-packing controllers this month. The set of two controllers — one pink, one blue — launches across the country for a pretty reasonable ¥5,800,...
News Match Those 3D Animals in Zoo Keeper for 3DS
Elephants all in a row
Remember Zoo Keeper? Remember how many hours you lost to it? Want to play it again in 3D? Eager fans crying out "yes!" to all three questions, rejoice: Zoo Keeper is on the way to 3DS in early 2012. Siliconera spotted a listing at the Japanese website of retailer HMV, pitching the match-three-in-3D game for a 26th...
News Super Famicom Reaches 21 Years Old Today
Finally able to drink
It might seem like just yesterday, but it's 21 years ago today that Nintendo's 16-bit leviathan took its first step onto Japanese soil. The Super Famicom launched on in Japan on Wednesday 21st November for ¥25,000, selling out of its first shipment of 300,000 units within a few hours: hardly surprising considering it launched...
News Blaster Master: Enemy Below Joins Japan's GBC VC Library
Always growing
The options for colourful Virtual Console games in Japan keep on growing: after The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX kicked off the chromatic revolution back in June, the Japanese service has grown to welcome three more GBC titles, while Western gamers still have just the one. Next week the gap widens further, with Blaster Master:...
News Japan Gets Super Street Fighter II with Online Play on VC
Hadouken!
While the Wii Virtual Console continues to decompose in the West, Japan's still getting the goods, with a few enhancements to boot. The latest game to hit the service is the Mega Drive version of Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers, brought up to date with online play via Nintendo WiFi Connection. By comparison, in the West we...
News Super Mario 3D Land Leaps to a Strong Start in Japan
Bigger than galaxies
By now you've read in our Super Mario 3D Land review that Mario's latest outing is very good indeed, but has it succeeded in lifting the console's sales in Japan? Yes, and how. In its first week the game shifted a staggering 343,492 copies, according to figures from Media Create (via Andriasang). That's nearly triple the amount...
News Capcom Considering Monster Hunter 3 G Western Release
Never say never
Despite rumours to the contrary, Monster Hunter 3 G is still not confirmed for release outside of Japan. Does that mean it will never leave the Land of the Rising Sun though? Capcom fielded that exact question during a recent investor Q&A call, and although the answer isn't the life-changing announcement some might hope for it's...
News Nintendo's 3D Samurai Game Slices eShop in Japan
A cut above?
Nintendo has revealed a new piece of downloadable 3DS software for Japan — swordfighting game Samurai Hirari Sakura, or Nimble Sakura Warrior, roughly translated. The download, due for release in Japan next week for 700 Yen, puts you in the shoes of a passionate swordfighting student who must prove his skill. At first you'll take on...
News Bionic Commando Swings to Japan's 3DS VC Next Week
Who's next?
Capcom's already put two Game Boy titles on 3DS Virtual Console in the West — Mega Man: Dr. Wily's Revenge and Gargoyle's Quest — and next week it adds a third title over in Japan: Bionic Commando. We already know the game is heading to the West in "Quarter 4" thanks to an announcement in
News Japanese Virtual Console List: November 2011
A whopping seven new titles
Europe is now getting frightfully close to going five entire months without a Wii Virtual Console game, and North America also hasn't had anything in a while, but that isn't stopping Japan from trucking on. Although most of their previous months only had three or four games, this month has a whopping seven, one of the...
News Go Beyond the Labyrinth With New 3D Screenshots
RPG gets Japanese date
Konami just revealed a release date for gorgeous 3DS RPG Beyond the Labyrinth, and bundled in a load of new 3D screenshots too. The game — developed by experienced RPG studio tri-Ace — will reach Japan on 19th January, and follows a mysterious and anonymous white-haired girl as she chances upon an ancient sealed magic...
News Nintendo Posts 70 Billion Yen Net Loss in Past Quarter
The results are in
Nintendo's quarterly financial results just appeared on the company's Japanese site and, as expected, the company is still struggling in the market. Nintendo failed to meet its sales targets set in July 2011, with DS software and the 3DS still dropping short of expectations, missing its ¥240 billion income target by 10%. This in...
News ThruSpace Slides Through the 3DS eShop Keyhole
A game about fitting in
WiiWare's ThruSpace is in line for a 3DS eShop update, as a sequel has just hit the Japanese download service. The trailer below shows what to expect, but anyone familiar with the WiiWare original should already have a pretty good idea: you fit different shapes through holes. The translation of the Japanese genre is...
News New Monsters and Weapons Ahoy in Monster Hunter 3 G Video
A new twist on old favourites
Monster Hunter 3 G looks good in screenshots, but it looks even better in the video below. We already knew that new monsters would appear, but the trailer also shows off variants on some of Monster Hunter 3 (~Tri)'s most fearsome challenges: there's a purple Jhen Moran and a white Lagiacrus for starters, as well as a...
News We've Plucked the First Footage of New 3DS Harvest Moon
Land a panda
Three weeks ago Marvelous AQL announced a new Harvest Moon on 3DS, and now we have the first in-game footage from upcoming agricultural adventure Bokujou Monogatari: Hajimari no Daichi, or Harvest Moon: First Earth. As you can see it's business as usual in Harvest Moon world, with chickens to fuss over, fields to till and giant pandas...
News We Wish These Mario 3DS Consoles Weren't Japan Only
Too cool for words
It's a complaint we've heard countless times over the years: "Japan gets all the cool stuff." It's not always true of course — just look at StarTropics — but these limited edition Mario-themed 3DS consoles are definitely some of the coolest things we've seen. The Mario, Peach and Super Mushroom machines are special...
News Nikkei Leads with Nintendo Firmware Update Details
10 minutes of 3D recording
Japanese newspaper Nikkei reports that the upcoming 3DS firmware update will land in late November and allow up to 10 minutes of 3D video recording. The paper (via Andriasang) also states that these videos can be uploaded to sites like YouTube, though it doesn't specify that this is possible directly from the 3DS, meaning...
News Nintendo Holding Online 3DS Press Conference on Friday
Learn more about Mario Kart
Nintendo of Japan has announced an online press conference for 3DS taking place this Friday at 8pm Japanese time. Dubbed the "Nintendo 3DS New Information Internet Presentation", the event will be a pre-recorded video of Satoru Iwata going over some of the information that couldn't fit into the company's...
News New Fantasy Life Trailer is the Cutest Thing You'll See Today
Also contains giant dragon
Level-5 and Brownie Brown collaboration Fantasy Life is shaping up to be pretty special, if the super-cute video below is anything to go by. Revealed this past weekend at Level-5's regular press event, the video shows off some of the game's anime-styled cut scenes as well as in-game footage of the fantasy world itself. As...
News Monster Hunter 3G Definitely Doesn't Have Online Play
The final word
Capcom's confirmed its much anticipated 3DS title Monster Hunter 3 G, due out in Japan in December, definitely won't have online play. The game's official Japanese site restates that the 3DS's online capabilities are only used to download extra content, and that anyone wanting to play multiplayer will need to get together with...
News Guild 01 Is a 3DS Compilation by Japan's Brightest Lights
A dream team of talent
Level-5 is extremely busy on 3DS these days: we know a little more about Fantasy Life but the company also just announced a new project called Guild 01, a collaboration between some of Japan's best designers. Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51, Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen director Yasumi Matsuno and Seaman creator...
News Get the Job You Always Wanted in Fantasy Life for 3DS
No, not Nintendo Life reviewer
Japanese developers Level-5 and Brownie Brown — creators of Professor Layton and Mother 3 respectively — are teaming to make Fantasy Life for 3DS, an RPG about keeping your job at the end of the world. Famitsu (via Siliconera) reports that the game will feature 20 jobs including chef, lumberjack, scholar, street...
News The 3DS Circle Pad Expansion Comes in This Box
Batteries not included
The 3DS Circle Pad Expansion might look like a beefy behemoth, but there's something appealingly dinky about the box it comes in, in Japan at least. Amazon Japan has an image of the accessory's retail packaging along with a 10th December release date and price of ¥1,500. The box's bottom-right corner also bears an important...
News Limited Edition Monster Hunter 3 G Bundles to Hit Japan
Time to drool
Monster Hunter 3 G is just two months away from launching in Japan, with a lot resting on its broad warrior's shoulders. For maximum impact, Nintendo and Capcom have teamed up to provide two limited edition bundles that should hopefully turn excitement into sales. First off is the limited edition Monster Hunter 3 G 3DS console...
News Nintendo Japan Unveils Ice White 3DS Console
Out 3rd November
It seems the 3DS console's range of colours is growing out of control: no sooner has Nintendo announced the Misty Pink 3DS for Japan, it's come out and announced another new colour — Ice White. The colour harks back to the Game Boy Advance's classic Arctic White scheme, of course, but boasts the familiar black surround for the 3DS...
News Marvelous Reveals Brand New Harvest Moon for 3DS
It was only a matter of time
Natsume is preparing a 3DS version of Harvest Moon: Tale of Two Towns, but it's really just an enhanced version of the DS game and not a brand new game. The honour of being the first unique Harvest Moon for 3DS goes to Bokujou Monogatari: Hajimari no Daichi, or Harvest Moon: First Earth according to Andriasang. Famitsu...
News Japanese Virtual Console List - October 2011
Four score
The amount of releases for Wii Virtual Console in the West has gotten woefully small as of late. Europe hasn't had a new title since early June, while the last handful of releases North America has gotten were all simply to catch up to Europe. The situation isn't so dire in Japan: they've been getting four or more new games per month for...
News New 3DS eShop Puzzler from Fire Emblem Team Revealed
It's cute and has blocks in it
Intelligent Systems is best known for its work on tactical games: the Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series have both emerged from the talented team over the years, but the studio has just unveiled its new franchise, a downloadable 3DS game called Hiku-Osu. As you'd expect from Intelligent Systems, it's not a simple case...
News Zelda: Skyward Sword Bundle Costs $115 in Japan
So be thankful
Want that awesome gold-but-not-gold Wii Remote Plus with your Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword? Of course you do. Bet you don't want to shell out $115 for it, though. That's the reality facing Japanese gamers, as Nintendo has unveiled the special controller and game will launch for ¥8,800 — that's $114 / £73 / €84. The game alone...
News Get Your Special Resident Evil Miis Now
Straight from Tokyo Games Show
Nintendo might have been a no-show at TGS this year, but there's still a neat little surprise for 3DS owners. Around the show floor, Capcom placed some special Resident Evil Revelations adverts, each bearing a QR code. Scan these with your 3DS and surprise — you get a special Mii with shiny gold trousers based on one...
News Happy 122nd Birthday to Nintendo
An auspicious day
While this year is full of anniversary celebrations — Zelda, Super NES and much more — today is a particularly special day as it marks the 122nd birthday of Nintendo itself. As many will know, Nintendo started off producing so-called hanafuda cards often used for gambling. It was Fusijaro Yamauchi who opened a small wooden...
News 3DS Reclaims Top Spot in Japan
A return to form
There's been some positive news for Nintendo in Japan with the 3DS reclaiming top spot in the Hardware charts, according to Media Create weekly sales charts. The 3DS sold 58,837 units to seize the crown, an increase on the previous week: with no major new releases on the handheld last week it is a reasonably impressive showing. It...
News Point Your Finger at This Layton vs. Phoenix Wright Trailer
All together now...
Two of the DS's greatest heroes are combining in one 3DS adventure. Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright is real, and it looks like this. The first thing worth noting is the 3D polygon models of Layton and Phoenix are remarkably faithful to their original two-dimensional selves, with the familiar sight of Wright's brow dripping...
News Dragon Quest Monsters Remake Charts a Course for 3DS
Taking up arms again
While today sees the launch of Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 in North America, there's more Dragon Quest news to go around, as Square Enix has confirmed it's remaking Dragon Quest Monsters (or Dragon Warrior Monsters as it's also known) for the 3DS. The Game Boy Color original was the first game in the series to make it to...
News Beat More Picture Dungeons in Dot Eater: New Picdun
DSiWare treat goes 3D
GO Series: Picdun is something of a DSiWare gem, so it's pleasing to hear it's going to see a downloadable follow-up on 3DS with the aptly named Dot Eater: New Picdun. The game will see release in the 3DS eShop next week for 300 Yen (around $4/£3), with the trailer below showing a new emphasis on picking up pills in a Pac-Man...
News Hear the Roar of More Monster Hunter 3G Shots and Details
Unless you're using earplugs
Monster Hunter 3 G is coming to 3DS, and it's bringing new features, monsters and more along with it. Aside from the opinion-splitting analogue stick add-on the game will offer a form of lock-on camera control using the touch screen. When a large monster enters the area, tapping the target icon will activate the feature:...
Rumour Yoshi 3DS, Super Mario 3D Land Demo and More
Pick up your salt at the door
An astronomical amount of attention surrounds any Nintendo press event, particularly one where the company announces it'll be revealing new products. Next Tuesday's "3DS new product conference" is just such an occasion, and once again we have a fresh batch of rumours about exactly what'll be shown off at the...
