[Famicompendium] Daigasso! Band Brothers P
Posted on 9 years ago by Patrick(@Patricklous) in 3DS, 3DS eShop, Famicompendium, Features | 4 Comments
It’s been a long time coming, but Nintendo Everything’s longest-running feature with the lowest number of updates is back and ready to cover a whole new platform of import games. I not so recently bought a Japanese New 3DS while overseas so now I can actually write about games that came out during this decade. And now six months later I’m finally taking some time out from managing my Girls Mode 3 store and decorating my home menu with badges of Waluigi in a train to review my favourite Japan-exclusive 3DS title I’ve played so far – Daigasso! Band Brothers P. This game mixes rhythm gameplay with the ability to create and share your own composition to create a unique experience that’s unlike anything else on the 3DS. There aren’t many other games that do such a great job of making players feel like they’re part of a band – and without a single plastic instrument, too!
[Let’s Talk] What are you playing? – August 2015
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Let's Talk | 23 Comments
Let’s Talk #18: What are you playing – August 2015
It’s the first Friday of a new month! That being said, what games are you playing at the moment?
I’m still busy with Mario Tennis from the 3DS Virtual Console. Things have been busy here, so I’ve been playing through it slowly. Based on what I remember from completing the game many years ago, I’m on the last part of the game (Mario Tour). It’s definitely a lot of fun. I did mention this last time, but I still feel like the actual tennis mechanics are very solid. The RPG-esque elements in the campaign add a nice touch as well!
Highlights from last week’s topic: Thoughts on the latest Smash Bros. update/DLC
ArsonDoctor
I haven’t had the chance to try out the new stages yet, but I did give tournament mode a whirl the other day, and while it’s great that we have an online mode like this finally, it could definitely use some improvements. There should be more customization with tournament rulesets, like a 1v1 mode and bracket mode. There should also be more standard public tournaments than there are now, I found it quite difficult to get into one at all, and the only open tournaments were all for fun. I also think there should have been an offline mode tourney function, since it’s been in previous games. All complaints aside, however, the tournament mode came out pretty well.
As for the mii costumes, I think it’s really cool that we’re getting a wider selection for costumes, although I totally understand the sentiment of dlc character hopes being dashed away (Megaman.EXE for smash!). I also believe that not every character can be suitable enough for their own place in the roster, and the mii costumes are a neat workaround for those characters to get their foot in the door. It’s also very possible that just because a character got a mii costume doesn’t mean it won’t come as a full fledged character, so who knows, maybe you K. Rool hopefuls will still get your wish?
Kogamo
As much as everyone’s going to talk about K. Rool, the real problem with the latest update is the tourney system. I was greatly looking forward to just a menu option for Tourney, but no. The tourney system is online-only and requires you to wait an upwards of 20 minutes before the match starts. This combined with the fact that you can lose the first match and have nothing to do within 2 minutes makes it a real problem. Alternately, you can use the Mario Kart 8 tournament system, which is a little nicer, but it certainly isn’t what I wanted from Smash.
Ugh… Now that that’s over. The new DLC makes me smile, especially the Lloyd and Black Knight costumes. And as much as I think K. Rool would make a great character, I don’t think he’d be even close to ready by now, so I think the costume could be a nice holdover for now if you choose to see it that way.
José Pedrero
I only own the 3DS version so I will only talk about its new content . I was so excited to know we were getting Hyrule Castle back and I already bought it and I love it :). I am mildly interested in the Mii Costumes. Ive already bought most of the character based ones. I don’t really find myself buying the animal inspired ones, though. I think Mii costumes are cool if you like messing around with them, taking quirky screenshots or whatever. I’m really looking forward for other series representation through them and I’m hoping more stages get released aswell (specially Saffron City)
A look at some of Splatoon’s upcoming weapons found via data mining
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Images, Wii U | 2 Comments
Following the release of Splatoon’s August update, Twitter user “NWPlayer123” data mined the files and managed to discover images of upcoming weapons. We’ve placed the images past the break to avoid spoilers.
Square Enix open to bringing Final Fantasy XIV to NX
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 78 Comments
Final Fantasy XIV may have a shot of coming to the NX. Director and producer Naoki Yoshida has said that he’s waiting to know when the console will be released, and the company would need to talk with Nintendo about the policies regarding cross-platform gameplay before a port can be considered. Note that negotiations with Nintendo have not yet been started.
More: Final Fantasy XIV, Naoki Yoshida, Square Enix, top
Splatoon producer on the game’s origins, 4-on-4 matches, Super Jump, and name
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 16 Comments
This month’s issue of Nintendo Dream has yet another interview with one of the developers behind Splatoon. This time, the Japanese magazine spoke with producer Hisashi Nogami.
Going back to the origins of Splatoon, Nogami commented on how program director Shintaro Sato came up with the idea of inking. Sato wrote a program for a drawing system, which included affixing textures on models and processing shadows. He thought at the time, “If I replace a shadow with the possibility of repainting with a color, wouldn’t that be a new way to play?”
Nogami also spoke about the decision to feature 4 on 4 matches in Splatoon:
Nogami: It’s not like we couldn’t have made 3 vs. 3 battles, but if just one player is splatted, the balance changes drastically and the enemy team can make a push in one go.
Nogami: On the other hand, when we tried increasing the number of players, the effect of splatting one person was small.
Nogami: However, when we tried 4 vs. 4, just splatting one player got the other team into a quite unfavorable situation. It is like a power play in ice hockey.
More: Hisashi Nogami, interview, Nintendo Dream, Splatoon, top
Amazon listing suggests single release for Fire Emblem Fates in Europe
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, Rumors | 13 Comments
Fire Emblem Fates was released in two versions in Japan. In North America, that’s how the games will be sold as well (Birthright and Conquest). But what about Europe?
Amazon UK currently has a notice on its Fire Emblem Fates product page stating that there’s only one version due out throughout Europe. However, the message is only appearing on iOS/Android devices at the moment.
Keep in mind that Nintendo hasn’t made an official announcement regarding its plans for Fire Emblem Fates’ distribution in Europe. We’ll just have to wait and see if there’s any truth to Amazon’s listing.
More: Amazon, Fire Emblem Fates, top, UK
Monster Strike 3DS – lots of content, local play, more
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 0 comments
This week’s issue of Famitsu features an interview with Koki Kimura, the producer on Monster Strike for 3DS. Kimura touched on the amount of content in the game, confirmed plans for local multiplayer, and more. Our translation of Kimura’s comments are below.
On how much volume there is in the game…
When it comes to the RPG section, we are anticipation there’s as much volume as in a usual title. Of course, we are also considering creating content that you can enjoy even after finishing the storyline. By the way, we don’t have plans to implement a similar payment system to the mobile version.
On how the story progresses…
It’s still a secret. Although this game and the anime shares the same world and characters, the target audience is a little different. The anime is targeted to middle school boys, while this title is created so that younger people, even elementary school students, can enjoy the game.
On whether it uses connections such as the Internet…
We are planning to support local play in this title so that players that gather together can enjoy the game. I’d also like to use the StreetPass function of the Nintendo 3DS.
On whether systems and monsters from the mobile version appear in the game…
Although the systems and monsters in the 3DS version are created based on the mobile game, there are original elements like exploring villages, so we are planning to add things that aren’t in the mobile version. For that reason I’d want people that have played the mobile game to enjoy this title and of course kids who don’t have a smartphone, too. Please look forward to follow-up information.
More: Famitsu, interview, Japan, Koki Kimura, Monster Strike, top
Over 312,000 Animal Crossing amiibo card packs sold in Japan, more on HHD sales
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News | 11 Comments
Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer sold 523,000 copies in its first week in Japan (four days to be exact). According to Media Create, it saw a sell through rate of 76.29 percent.
When Animal Crossing: New Leaf launched it Japan, it managed to move just over 600,000 copies. It also sold through 96.09 percent of its initial shipment. While Happy Home Designer didn’t quite reach the same amount of success, it still performed very well – especially for a spin-off title. Happy Home Designer also boosted 3DS hardware sales, as the system’s sales essentially doubled compared to the previous week.
That’s not all from Media Create. The sales tracker reveals that more than 312,000 packs of Animal Crossing amiibo cards were sold in Japan between July 30 and August 2. As previously reported, the cards have been seeing significant shortages in the country.
Images of two upcoming Splatoon maps
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, Images, News | 6 Comments
Update: As some of you have pointed out, these maps were shown during one of the recent Japanese Splatoon commercials. We’ve taken off the rumor tag.
Since this deals with leaked content, head past the break for more information!
Company EVP says risk-taking is in Nintendo’s DNA
Posted on 9 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 31 Comments
Examiner has put up another excerpt from its interview with Nintendo of America executive VP of sales Scott Moffitt. In these latest quotes, we get to see what Moffitt had to say about Nintendo taking risks, which he says is “in our DNA”.
He stated:
“It’s in our DNA, it’s what makes us tick, and it’s what brought all of us to Nintendo. We like to be a company that’s willing to take some risks on a franchise like Splatoon, propose new forms of gaming to gamers, and see what their reactions are.”
“Often times, those [ideas] work, sometimes they don’t, it’s always risky to be an innovator, but that is woven into our DNA and is a bedrock value for Nintendo.”
As for why Nintendo continues to take risks, Moffitt says that it’s all for the gaming community. He explained:
“I think gamers have come to appreciate that from us, but also to respect it and expect it. They want us challenging the norms and challenging conventions, and I think that’s part of our role in the broader industry.”
