Xenoblade Chronicles X was a huge undertaking for Monolith Soft. Not only is the game quite a bit bigger than the original title on Wii, but this was also the studio’s first time working with HD development.
Xenoblade Chronicles X executive director Tetsuya Takahashi spoke about some of the challenges in making the project in this week’s issue of Famitsu. On the topic of having trouble creating a map five times the size of the original Xenoblade Chronicles in addition to numerous quests and equipment, Takahashi said:
As the volume was large, the most troublesome thing was debugging (laughs). As this was our first HD title, it was decided from the start that we won’t use cutting edge technology. When I considered what is the strength of Monolith Soft, I came to the conclusion it’s the ability to neatly put together huge volume.
The latest issue of Famitsu contains an interview with the developers behind Fire Emblem If. Yokota Kenki, Maeda Kouhe, and Masahiro Higuchi commented on the game’s concept, Phoenix Mode, different sides, gameplay, and a few other topics.
Head past the break for a roundup of the Q&A. All translations come courtesy of kantopia.
Capcom issued a new wave of screenshots from The Great Ace Attorney today. We get to see a look at some of the content covered in this week’s Famitsu – notably new characters Nikomina Bolshevich and Mitrov Stroganov. View all of the images below.
This week’s Wii U eShop charts are as follows:
Software
1. Paper Mario
2. Super Mario 64
3. Donkey Kong 64
4. Super Mario World
5. EarthBound
6. Splatoon
7. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
8. Super Mario Bros. 3
9. Mario Party 10
10. Super Metroid
11. Donkey Kong Country
12. Mega Man & Bass
13. Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3
14. Mario Kart 8
15. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
16. Metroid Fusion
17. Golden Sun
18. Super Mario Bros.
19. The Legend of Zelda
20. Mario Kart 8
Videos
1. Splatoon Direct – 5/7/15
2. The World of Xenoblade Chronicles X
3. Play Nintendo Introduction Video
4. Splatoon “Splat the World” TV Commercial
5. Donkey Kong 64 Trailer
6. LEGO Dimensions Announce Video
7. Don’t Starve: Giant Edition for Wii U Trailer
8. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS Lucas Comes out of Nowhere
9. Super Mario 64 Trailer
10. The Nintendo Bragg Report – Splatoon
11. Mario Party 10 Launch Trailer
12. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS Mewtwo Strikes Back
13. High Strangeness Trailer
14. Splatoon Ranked Battle, Battle Dojo and amiibo Trailer
15. Splatoon Start Inking Trailer
16. Nintendo Minute – Mario Party 10 with Lamarr Wilson
17. Mario Kart 8 New amiibo Racing Suits Trailer
18. Mario Party 10 Trailer
19. Great Games to Buy with eShop Cards
20. Runbow Guest Character Reveal Trailer
Source: Wii U eShop
This week’s video additions to the Wii U/3DS eShops are as follows:
Wii U
Get Ready for E3!
Splatoon “Squid Kid” TV Commercial
Splatoon “Splat the World” TV Commercial
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Launch Trailer
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Story Trailer
Splatoon Direct – 5/7/15
3DS
Get Ready for E3!
Splatoon “Squid Kid” TV Commercial
Splatoon “Splat the World” TV Commercial
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Launch Trailer
Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker Story Trailer
Splatoon Direct – 5/7/15
Source: Wii U/3DS eShops
Vector Assault is heading to the North American Wii U eShop next week, Nintendo’s website confirms. It’ll be available on May 21 for $4.99.
Here’s an official overview:
Vector Assault is a fast paced dual stick shooter where you have to survive a onslaught of enemy attackers. The more enemies you defeat the higher your score will become. Try to achieve the highest score possible across multiple game modes, and levels. Compete against your friends and other players to see who can get the highest score on the online leaderboards. Or you can play cooperatively with a friend in local multiplayer.
A trailer for Vector Assault is posted below.
Serenes Forest has translated even more details about Fire Emblem If from this week’s issue of Famitsu. We have additional information about Phoenix Mode, plus a few other elements as well. All of the details are rounded up below.
– Again, Phoenix Mode is where fallen allies are resurrected on the next turn
– It sits alongside Casual and Classic Mode and
– Phoenix Mode is independent of your difficulty choice
– The game describes it as a mode where your allies cannot die
– According to the devs, Phoenix Mode was invented to sway players interested in the game, but concerned it was too hard for them
– In the Nohr campaign, you can’t train outside of the story
– During these situations, players can lower the mode and difficulty mid-game, rather than starting again from scratch
– Going back up to Classic Mode is not possible
– Playing on Phoenix Mode offers no gameplay disadvantages
– Beating Classic Mode is meant for the feeling of accomplishment
– Although durability is gone, the developers have tried to make players think hard about which of the various weapons they should use in a given situation
– Ex: some weapons may reduce the enemy’s critical rate, while others may be extremely powerful, but difficult to attack twice with
– Hoshido and Nohr seem to have their own set of weaponry
– Aqua was originally the princess of Nohr, taken prisoner by Hoshido
– The circumstances of her capture are unknown
– Aqua is Songstress and has the ability to Sing to allow allies to move again (like Dancers in previous games)
– Ryouma is of the Trueblade class
– Other classes include Nohr’s Sorcerers, who excel in Magic, and Brave Heroes, renown heroes who wield swords and axes (likely renamed Heroes)
– The Hoshidans have Oni, fierce mace-wielding warriors with high strength and defense and Priestesses, maidens who heal with batons
– Fire Emblem if supports all of the 3DS’s communication functions: SpotPass, StreetPass, Local and Internet
– There are other factions in the game besides Hoshi and Nohr
– When initiating an optional battle in the Hoshido route, players can select from a list of locations, such as a suspension bridge, mountainside village, royal capital plaza, grasslands and a fortress
Amazon Canada is now taking pre-orders for the silver Mario amiibo. Reservations can be placed here. Keep in mind that Amazon Canada doesn’t ship to the U.S., sadly!
Just like with other retailers, Amazon Canada lists a May 29 release date for the silver Mario amiibo. That still hasn’t been confirmed by Nintendo at this point, but it’s pretty much a lock.
Nintendo already came out with a new Japanese 3DS theme based on Nikki (of Swapote fame) last month. Another one has since landed on Club Nintendo, and is based on Nikki’s Travel Quiz. You can find footage of the theme below.
PoPoLoCrois Farm Story’s release date is fast approaching, so Marvelous has been sending out updates in quick succession. The latest news surrounding the game covers a town Prince Pietro will visit and a few key characters.
Here’s the latest:
– Pietro will come across the town of “Cordan”
– Cordan is located in the northwestern part of Garaliland, the Autumn Lands of the Cordan Region
– Since Cordan is nearing its harvest season, it’s been getting a lot of visitors lately
– Hero/mayor named Berg is in the town
– “Man Who Lives By the Cannon” is here as well
– Both characters seem to know about the recent happenings of Garailand
– There’s also been talks about a bronze statue that fell from the sky into the corner of town
– Berg is the brother of a bodyguard from a certain castle; devoted in the growth and expansion of Cordan
– Mireille: young girl who lives in Cordan; Berg’s daughter and gets along with Anna
– Anna: young girl who lives in Cordan; seems to sense something from the rusty soldier’s statue in town
– Prince Pietro will get to interact with special girls by communicating with them and giving them gifts
– Once they become better friends, they’ll even help out with items that can help in the farm or the journey
– Lily: innocent girl who lives in Cordan; loves insects
– Iris: strong-willed girl; loves performing experiments and also loves cats
PoPoLoCrois Farm Story launches in Japan on June 18.
