Tag: Level-5 - Page 3
News The Snack World Is Level-5's Next Cross-Media Project, And It's Coming To Nintendo 3DS
Toys use NFC to interact with the game
As if announcing three new Yo-Kai Watch titles wasn't enough, Level-5 has today revealed its next big "cross-media" venture, The Snack World. A multimedia effort which will see Level-5 collaborate with Takara Tomy, TV Tokyo and CoroCoro Comics, The Snack World will cover movies, manga, toys and video games...
News Level-5 Announces Yo-Kai Watch 3 For Nintendo 3DS, Action Takes Place In USA
Third time's a charm
Level-5 has just revealed the third entry in its best-selling Yo-Kai Watch series, due to launch on the Nintendo 3DS. Yo-Kai Watch 3 will take place in North America, in keeping with the storyline of the ongoing anime series. A new character is introduced called Inaho Misora, who has her own Yo-kai named USApyon. Level-5 has...
News Level-5 Confirms Yo-kai Watch Crossover With Koei Tecmo's Three Kingdoms
Platforms still unclear
In an eye-raising development from the Level-5 Vision 2015 event in Japan, the company has confirmed yet another spin-off release for the Yo-kai Watch series, in addition to the 3DS-bound Yo-kai Watch Busters. Yo-kai Watch: Three Kingdoms has been announced as a collaboration with Koei Tecmo. Three Kingdoms is a series...
News Yo-Kai Watch Busters Hitting 3DS This Year, Main Franchise Coming To The West In 2016
Busting makes me feel good
Level-5's Vision 2015 event is happening right now, and the company's CEO Akihiro Hino has just announced a new entry in its popular Yo-Kai Watch franchise. Yo-Kai Watch Busters is an 3DS action title based on a mini-game featured in Yo-Kai Watch 2. The title will come in two versions - Red Cat Troupe and White Dog Unit -...
News Fantasy Life 2 Is Skipping 3DS In Favour Of Smartphones
Phone home
Level-5 has just revealed that the sequel to the 3DS title Fantasy Life is coming to smartphones, ignoring Nintendo's handheld entirely. Fantasy Life 2: Two Moons And The Village of God will contain all the usual character-building RPG goodness - with a focus on exploring different "lives" or jobs - but the catch this time around is that...
News Yo-kai Watch Localisation Creeps Closer With Anime Confirmation for Europe
The Level-5 franchise that's a phenomenon in Japan
Level-5 has enjoyed plenty of success as a company, with brands such as Professor Layton and Inazuma Eleven, but Yo-kai Watch has been on another level entirely. Just recently the company announced that the IP has sold over seven million games on the 3DS, 200 million Yo-kai medal toys, 10 million...
News Yokai Watch Yo-Kai Pad Sells Out in a Blink in Japan
You don't even know what it is, but now you want one
So that Yokai Watch game, right? It's gargantuan in Japan and slowly working its way westward, even bringing its anime along with it. It's enough to make any '90s kid relapse into the Pokéjitters waiting for this franchise to arrive--just what is so amazing about it?! Well, it'll still be a...
News Yokai Watch Anime Spiriting Westward
Level-5 also teasing an even "bigger" franchise for next year
It's already pretty well known that the runaway hit franchise Yokai Watch has had plans to spread out of Japan and peacefully annex the West into its empire. But in case you were worried they were beginning to forget about us, Level-5 head Akiro Hino recently confirmed that the anime will...
News Level-5 Confirms Some Handsome 3DS eShop Festive Discounts
Inazuma Eleven! All of the Guild01 and Guild02 games!
With the next download update set to fall on Christmas Day, we can certainly hope for some exciting releases and discounts across the Wii U and 3DS eShop stores. The home console's Virtual Console already has a tweaked version of Duck Hunt on the way in North America, and Level-5 has now...
It’s a wonderful Life
Fantasy Life, Level-5 and Brownie Brown’s life sim and action RPG, is a game with a long and storied history. Originally announced in Japan for the Nintendo DS/DSi generation of consoles back in 2009, it spent three years in development, seeing a platform upgrade to the Nintendo 3DS, finally releasing in Japan-only on 27th...
Preview Fantasy Life is Waiting to Become Part of Yours
Gotta live 'em all!
Originally released in Japan in late December 2012, Level-5 and Brownie Brown’s part life sim, part action RPG Fantasy Life was announced for the West at this past E3 and will see release in Europe on 26th September and on 24th October in North America for the Nintendo 3DS. Selling over 300,000 copies in its native Japan and...
News Yokai Watch Western Release Targeting Next Year, With Toys Also Planned
No detailed plans revealed as yet
Level 5 has been clear that it's exploring its options to bring Yokai Watch to the West, though quite what form it'll take remains intriguing. The popularity of the first title gained additional momentum when the animated TV show took off in Japan, and the sequel — which is a dual release — has well exceeded the...
News Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright Art Books Coming West from UDON Entertainment
Top-notch finger-pointing for your coffee table
Art direction fanatics who can read this are in for a treat now that UDON Entertainment will be bringing two new art books to English-speaking territories; one for Phoenix Wright's latest "I can't shout OBJECTION! on the bus" screen-tapping epic Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies and another...
Nintendo Direct Yokai Watch 2 Gets Its Own Broadcast in Japan
Play the 'figure out what's happening' game
Although it's said to be on the way to the West, we're yet to receive firm release details on Yokai Watch, the 3DS title from Level-5 that's enjoying continued success in Japan. That success has certainly been assisted by the accompanying anime series, with the brand as a whole capturing the imagination in...
E3 2014 Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney to Finally Have Its Day in North America
Slated for a 29th August release
One of our time's greatest mysteries has finally been solved: When in the blue-suited, top-hatted blazes will Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney finally make it to North America!? The answer, dear friends, came following the Nintendo Digital Event. North American puzzle-lovers can look forward to...
News Level-5's 3DS RPG Youkai Watch Has Now Sold One Million Copies In Japan
Sales have doubled in the last two months alone
New reports suggest that Level-5's 3DS title Youkai Watch has shipped one million units in Japan. The game launched in July last year, but it wasn't until the transmission of the related anime TV show in January that sales began to spike; in February, Level-5 confirmed that it had delivered 500,000...
News Yo-kai Watch 2 Coming to 3DS in Japan with Two Different Versions
Hunting down demon spirits, now in two new flavours
Level-5 has announced this week it will be releasing Yo-kai Watch 2 on 10th July for the 3DS in Japan. A sequel to last year's popular monster-watching title Yo-kai Watch, Yo-kai Watch 2 will hit stores with two different versions — Yo-kai Watch 2: Ganso (Founder), and Yo-kai Watch 2: Honke...
"We wanted to offer two intelligent characters"
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy has now arrived in stores around the world, bringing a close to the prequel trilogy and, it seems, the adventures of the iconic Professor Hershel Layton. It was a fantastic finale that was also tinged with sadness, as it closed the door on the top hat wearing...
News Level-5 Wants to Know Whether You Want Yo-kai Watch in the West
Looking for some Likes
Not so long ago we reported that Level-5 had filed a trademark in the U.S. for Yo-kai Watch, prompting speculation that the 3DS title is on its way to the West. The company seems to be gearing up to make that a reality, as it's now posted a message on its Facebook page to gauge interest: Between the strong sales of the game...
News Level-5 Trademarks Yo-kai Watch in the US
Watch for monsters
You know youkai? Those strange creatures of Japanese folklore that sometimes masquerade as "raccoons" or "turtles" in certain localized games? Level-5 might be giving these monsters more of their due outside of Japan, if recent trademarks are any indication. According to Siliconera, Level-5 has trademarked "Yo-Kai Watch" in the...
News Level 5 Is Hard At Work On A New Game That Will "Surprise" Us
CEO hoping to move the gaming industry along
Level 5 is a thoughtful company, and not only because it is the developer behind the brain-bending goodness of Professor Layton. The studio is careful and considered in its evaluation of the current gaming industry, and is interested in how ''technology advances'' and is always striving to defy...
News Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Finally Dated for North America
Mark out 28th February in your diaries
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy arrived in Europe recently, bringing a close to the series in its current form. Unfortunately North American gamers only had a vague 2014 release window, but during today's Nintendo Direct festivities it was confirmed that the 3DS title will finally arrive in the region on...
News WonderFlick Hits iOS and Android This Month, Cross-Platform Saves Should Support Wii U in 2014
In Japan, naturally
Earlier this year we told you about WonderFlick, a new RPG from Level-5 that will be coming to a host of platforms, including smartphones and the Wii U. The unique selling point of this title is an effort to directly correlate and connect progress on smartphones and consoles, with the developer aiming to go "beyond the...
Review Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy (3DS)
A final puzzle to savour
The arrival of Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy is an occasion both exciting and tinged with sadness. For dedicated fans of the franchise across DS and 3DS there's the promise of hundreds of puzzles and a generous dosage of gentlemanly charm, offset by the knowledge that — for now at least — this is the last...
Hat-trick hero?
The Inazuma Eleven football / soccer RPG franchise is a major success in Japan, so much so that spin-offs and new releases are — at a minimum — arriving on an annual basis. Localisation to Europe has been a slower burn, and unfortunately non-existent in North America, so the arrival of Inazuma Eleven 3, the third title in the...
News Professor Layton Franchise Sales Hit 15 Million, Guild Downloads Reach 400,000
Ni No Kuni performed well on DS
Today seems to be Level-5 day, courtesy of its Vision press conference in Japan. From a Nintendo gamer's perspective the big news is that the peculiar-looking Layton 7 is confirmed for the 3DS, while new RPG Wonder Flick is coming to the Wii U in Japan and, hopefully, West in the future. Alongside new game reveals,...
News Level-5 Announces Wonder Flick, A New RPG Coming To The Wii U In Japan Next Year
Flick 'em up
During Level-5's Vision event today in Japan, the company behind the popular Professor Layton series announced it has a new game in development: Wonder Flick. The title will be a touch-centred RPG and is set for release on the Wii U in Japan in 2014. It will also release on other platforms such as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3,...
Weirdness Level-5 Flies Straight With its Favourite Character Poll Wallpaper
Well played
A little while ago we shared the peculiar news that a load of online pranksters had voted for the Aero Porter plane as their 'favourite' Level-5 character. It was a poll to celebrate the company's 15th anniversary, and pleas for the vote to be taken seriously were clearly ignored — we feel confident saying that these were pranksters,...
Review BUGS vs. TANKS! (3DS eShop)
Repellant
The Guild01 series brought 3DS owners three completely different, off-the-wall, and well-received games. The second iteration of this series, appropriately named Guild02, is already off to another fantastic start with the recent release of The Starship Damrey, a story-heavy science fiction adventure. Now, we’re lucky enough to experience...
News Level-5 Has No Plans To Bring Any Titles To New Systems Just Yet
Currently observing "how technology advances"
Level-5, the Japanese developer behind titles such as Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, Inazuma Eleven, the Guild01 and 02 collections and a whole heap more, is celebrating its 15th anniversary later this year. The time has certainly flown by and in an interview with Famitsu - helpfully translated...
News Level-5 Registers Three New Trademarks
Could they be Guild 03 related?
Level-5's Guild 02 titles are already out in Japan and are on their way to the West. The Starship Damrey will be released first - 16th May in North America - and will be followed by Bugs vs. Tanks! and Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale. There's been no official news on any development of a Guild 03 series...
News Launch of Professor Layton's Final Adventure Falls Below Series Heights
Only his 3DS debut performed worse in week one
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies is likely to already be on the wishlists of a number of puzzle fans in the West, arriving in Japan as the sixth main-series title starring the tea-drinking and fashionable hat-wearing academic. It'll bring a conclusion to the prequel trilogy and, if Level-5 sticks...
News Level 5: Fantasy Life Will Become A Series
Not just a fantasy
Cutesy 3DS title Fantasy Life has been selling like hot cakes over in Japan with so many copies sold in its first week that the game has reportedly sold out. It's unsurprising then to learn that, during a recent interview with Famitsu, Level 5 has earmarked Fantasy Life as a new franchise for the studio saying it will be made...
News 3DS RPG Fantasy Life Already Sold Out In Japan
Hopes of a Western release boosted
Level 5 has a few 3DS games out in Japan that are yet to be confirmed for Western release. Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney has been out since the end of November and just before the New Year the ultra-cute Fantasy Life was made available in both physical and digital form. Fantasy Life is actually developed by...
News Level-5 Responds To SEGA's Legal Threats Regarding Inazuma Eleven
"We've concluded that there is no patent violation"
Japanese developer Level-5 has responded to SEGA's recent legal campaign to have the company remove its Inzauma Eleven series from sale due to an alleged patent infringement. SEGA is claiming that Level-5's soccer RPG features a touch-driven interface which violates two of its patents. The...
News SEGA Takes Legal Action Against Level-5 Over Nintendo DS Patent Dispute
Inazuma Eleven to blame?
In one of the strangest turn of events we've witnessed for a while, Japanese publisher SEGA is suing Professor Layton studio Level-5 over the use of touch control patents on the Nintendo DS handheld. Japanese news site Yomiuri Online broke the news, revealing that SEGA was taking action to protect two patents it had...
News New Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney Trailer Points the Finger
More puzzling gameplay details solved
Capcom and Level-5 have revealed more details about the gameplay in the latest trailer for upcoming crossover title Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney. The game will feature a combination of elements from both series, switching between Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright. Layton’s segments will see the player...
News Level-5 Discusses Guild 01 Localization Details And More
Maybe some new titles on the way too?
As you're no doubt already aware, Guild 01 is an interesting compilation of games spanning from four unique developers. Liberation Maiden has already graced our 3DS consoles, with Aero Porter and Crimson Shroud making their way to the west in the not-too-distant future. One title that hasn't been mentioned for...
News Yasumi Matsuno Steps Away From Level-5
Taking a well deserved - but not permanent - break
It has been announced that Yatsumi Matsuno has left Level-5, the developers behind the Professor Layton series. Matsuno tweeted to his followers that he was retiring from the company due to personal reasons which he didn't state. Matsuno had only joined Level-5 in June last year and had been...
News Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney to Receive Director's Cut DLC
There's no objection from us
Siliconera has reported that Level-5 is planning to release a director's cut in downloadable content form for its upcoming puzzle adventure crossover, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney. The DLC, which will be available some time after the game releases in Japan on 29th November, features an unedited script of the...
News Penélope Cruz Has the Answer in Professor Layton Advert
Cruz control
Movie star, Oscar winner and one-time moustache-wearer Penélope Cruz has returned for another stint at Nintendo advertising, this time turning her considerable talents to Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask. During a break in filming, Ms Cruz and her sister Monica are playing the latest entry in Level 5's puzzle series. Penélope...
News Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Trailer Showcases New Features
"Every (downloadable) puzzle has an answer"
With only a few weeks until its Western release, Level-5 and Nintendo have released a brand new trailer for Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask, which shows off a handful of new features. Taking full advantage of the 3DS hardware, Layton's latest adventure is fully rendered in 3D, and comes jam-packed...
News Witness Layton's 'Last Adventure' In New 3DS Trailer
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...
News Take a Look at Level-5's Fantasy Life TGS Trailer
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,...
News Capcom and Level-5 Reveal Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney TGS Trailer
Showing both styles of gameplay
If you were ever concerned that one of the two franchises in Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney would overshadow the other, then fear not, as this brand new trailer hot from Tokyo Game Show should put all your worries at bay. The trailer demonstrates not only the integration of the two art styles, but also the...
Talking Point The Future of Professor Layton
A puzzle yet to be solved
Thanks to its unique control interface and dual-screens, the DS generation has paved the way for some of the most diverse games ever committed to cartridge, perhaps none more so than the Professor Layton series. Ask a number of people ten years ago whether they would be interested in playing a game that tasks you with...
News New Professor Layton Title Confirmed for iOS and Android
Taking investigations beyond Nintendo
The Professor Layton series has become rather popular on Nintendo DS and 3DS, with the first of the latest handheld's entries arriving outside of Japan in late October. It's much-loved in Japan, especially, with manga, novels and a movie — Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva — all being released, the...
News Guild01 Could be Coming to North America
Join up
Have you been looking forward to Level-5's Guild01, the 3DS collection that gathers together four games from renowned developers? You might be in luck, as some trademarks have been uncovered that suggests it could be on the way to North America. Siliconera has been doing some digging around and discovered trademarks listed for Crimson...
News Level-5's Fantasy Life Living it up With Official Website
What a life
The official website for Level-5 / Brownie Brown RPG Fantasy Life has finally burst into existence. The website can be found here. It's all in Japanese, but if you pop over there you can at least see some new screens and artwork that show off the town and avatar system. Much of the information was also published in Japanese magazine...
News Time Travelers Live Action Advert is All Tears
Why so serious?
Level-5 has been very cryptic so far with information about its upcoming release of Time Travelers in Japan this week, and things aren't about to get any clearer with these two latest trailers. Even with only three days before its launch on Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita, and ten days until Time Travelers releases on PSP, Level-5 are...
