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Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies' Japanese launch trailer
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies for 3DS will be available later this week on February 28 in Japan. For those with the ability to comprehend Japanese, here's the latest trailer for the game. Still no word on international release window.
Namco brings more Ni no Kuni stock to the UK following sellouts
Namco Bandai assured us it's making available more, limited stock of Ni no Kuni to the UK's leading retailers this week following widespread reports of it selling out across the country.The Level-5 and Studio Ghibli PS3 game was the surprise leader of this week's UK charts, becoming the first JRPG outside of Final Fantasy or Pokémon entries to grab top spot in the last ten years.
Free Ni No Kuni familiar Draggle makes eyes at North America Feb. 12
In Europe, a free Ni No Kuni familiar – they're essentially monsters you defeat, recruit and then train to fight for you – has been available for download. On February 12, Namco Bandai will extend the gesture to North America and offer the same critter, named Draggle, as a free download.Draggle is a plump little domesticated dragon said to have "downright adorable eyes" that families looking for a pet seem to favor – at least, so says the little guy's PSN page. In Europe, Draggle was offered gratis alongside Golden Hurly, though it would appear Namco Bandai has no intention of giving us the latter.
Ni no Kuni PSN EU download not working, being republished
European PS3 owners who pre-ordered Ni no Kuni on PSN are still waiting for the game following download issues. Although the game, out today in Europe and Australasia, can be downloaded, when you try to play it a message appears saying it isn't installed properly. PlayStation Europe says it's republishing the game onto PSN now, and hopes to complete the process by afternoon time over there.The PSN issues in Europe follow the debacle on the US side with pre-orders of the Wizard's Edition, which left many customers with cancellations. The issues threaten to overshadow what's generally been a very well received game, one which we doled out four and a half stars to in our review. We felt the Studio Ghilbi and Level-5 collaboration is what made the game tick, saying that "one without the other might have been good, but together they've created a superb role-playing game for this generation to savor."
Namco Bandai denies collusion with eBay reseller amid Ni no Kuni Wizard's Edition shortage
After some orders for the Wizard's Edition of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch started being mysteriously cancelled, Namco Bandai stepped forward to clarify that the special edition had been oversold, that the issue was caused by an error in its e-commerce provider's software and that said provider would be in touch to work things out.Shortly thereafter, Wizard's Editions were found on PlayCanada's eBay store, marked up to an astronomical $400 each. The Internet, being the Internet, quickly jumped to the conclusion that Namco Bandai and/or Digital River had entered into a clandestine agreement with PlayCanada, removing inventory from its official site in order to maximize profits through an eBay scalper."NAMCO BANDAI Games America is not, nor has it ever, worked with or in conjunction with the EBay seller known as 'PlayCanada' to sell units of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Wizard's Edition at a price premium on EBay," Namco Bandai has told us."According to our records, this individual or group of individuals purchased Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Wizard's Edition during the NinoStarter promotion period (August 2012); at which time, no limits were placed on how many units an individual could order. PlayCanada's claims that they officially worked with NAMCO BANDAI Games America to obtain their stock is entirely false."Namco Bandai is still attempting to make it up to fans who pre-ordered the Wizard's Edition and aren't going to receive one; every affected person will receive a 400-page hardbound strategy guide that includes a code for an in-game "Gold Hurly Familiar," as well as a $20 clubNamco voucher.
Ni no Kuni Wizard's Edition oversold, some orders being canceled
The special "Wizard's Edition" of Level 5's Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, available exclusively through Namco Bandai's online shop, has been oversold, resulting in a multitude of issues for those that placed orders while the package was supposedly still in stock.Digital River, the e-commerce middleware provider that powers Namco Bandai's shop, experienced an error in its ordering system that resulted in the Wizard's Edition's erroneous post-sellout availability. As a result, some orders have simply seen shipping delays, while others have seemingly failed to process at all or have been cancelled entirely. The number of non-existent packages sold is unknown."If your order(s) has been cancelled, we will be reaching out to you by email with additional information as soon as possible," an official update reads. Affected customers that feel proactive about resolving their issue can also contact Digital River directly by emailing namcobandai.en.cs@digitalriver.com, or by calling 952-392-2057.It's also worth mentioning that while Digital River says it will be addressing the issues of everyone affected, the update does not go into detail about what that resolution may look like. To be on the safe side, we recommend tempering your expectations towards a refund and an apology.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Metareview: Ni no Kuni
Level-5's Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch delivers that Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) animation charm like it's tapped into a fascination factory. Reviewers were pulled into the game by its engrossing world, but the gameplay they found there is where things begin to vary. IGN (94/100): "I wanted it to keep going. That's because Ni No Kuni is just that special, and every RPG fan owes it to him or herself to pick it up and see why." Gamespot (90/100): "Ni no Kuni proudly joins that elite group of games providing such an enticing world that you can't imagine never having visited it. The only problem, of course, is that you may never want to leave." Eurogamer (90/100): "Ni no Kuni is rich yet breezy, classic yet modern, exquisitely made and completely sure of itself. Best of all, Level-5 and Ghibli's artists have worked together to create a gorgeous adventure that feels like it belongs to both of them." Game Informer (70/100): "Despite the adrenaline-pumping intensity, the battle system has its frustrations. Sometimes the window to defend passes far too quickly. Not only must you select defend for your character, you must also order the sub-par AI companions to protect themselves as well." Polygon (65/100): "I was charmed, but always by stuff surrounding the gameplay - never by the gameplay itself. Level-5 hasn't created a bad game but an inconsistent one that doesn't seem to understand its own strengths and weaknesses. The flashy look and cheerful tone will pull some people through, but at its core, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is missing a chunk of its heart that's hard to ignore. "
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies unravels in Japan on February 28
Luke, a true gentleman should always be aware that Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies releases in Japan on February 28. The 3DS game is the final entry in the Layton prequel trilogy, and the last to star the hatted pointer as a protagonist.Release dates for other regions aren't yet known, but given the last entry also came to Japan during February, there's a good chance Azran Legacies arrives in North America and Europe around October time. As for whether or not Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney is making its way to Western shores, that remains an unsolved mystery.On the sweeter side of things, Layton fans in Japan can look forward to a new range of chocolate with the prof's face plastered across it. As Siliconera reports, the chocolatiers behind Pocky are releasing two flavors of 'Professor Layton's Puzzle Solution Break Chocolate,' namely chocolate gateau and the wonderful-sounding oolong tea chiffon cake.We'd be (pleasantly) surprised if the chocolate finds its way over here.
New Ghost Watch screens live among us
We don't know much about Ghost Watch (known as Youkai Watch in Japan), but these new screens show the game's Sakura New Town as being a pretty normal place to live, according to a Siliconera translation. That's if you don't count having monster neighbors as being out of the ordinary, and not the type that leave bags of garbage on their front porch in 90-degree weather, but actual monsters.The game has Keeta, the boy in the red shirt, wearing a ridiculously large watch that allows him to see the apparitions and befriend them. Ghost Watch is the latest 3DS game from Level-5, though no release date has been announced yet. %Gallery-174337%
Behind the scenes of Ni No Kuni's art style
This latest development diary for Ni No Kuni focuses on the game's art style, pioneered by world renowned Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli. As you might expect, literally every single thing about Ghibli's creative process is completely adorable, even the old dudes. Especially the old dudes.
Crimson Shroud review: A successful roll
You may not see them, but dice rolls are pretty much everywhere in RPGs. Even role-playing shooters like Alpha Protocol feature dice rolls to an extent. But Crimson Shroud is one of the few I can think of to literally feature dice. It's one of its most endearing features.In essence, Crimson Shroud is a one-shot tabletop adventure for the Nintendo 3DS. As with the classic Dungeons & Dragons games, multiple dice are used in everything from rolling for initiative to determining whether the party can launch a surprise attack. Characters are represented by the tiny figurines used to map distance, and the story is told across long tracts of text, as if the Dungeon Master were actually narrating. For longtime tabletop gamers, it's a treat.%Gallery-173328%
Heartbreaking beauty of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
The visual quality of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is so impressive, the upcoming PlayStation 3 role-playing game often resembles an interactive Studio Ghibli movie. No matter your angle, Ni No Kuni is bright, beguiling, and beautiful – even in the face of disparities between its animated cutscenes and in-game action.Given the storytelling pedigree of co-developers Studio Ghibli and Level-5 – and the latter's prowess in the role-playing game genre – my hope was Ni No Kuni can be as enchanting as Spirited Away, yet underlined by the kind of design that makes Dark Cloud 2 so deep.Based on my brief experience with the final build, there's legitimate cause for optimism; however, concerns remain. There are, at the very least, the seeds of curiosity in Ni No Kuni.
Sega sues Level-5, charges patent infringement in Inazuma Eleven
Level-5, perhaps best known in the western world as the publisher of the Professor Layton games, has a popular soccer series in Japan called Inazuma Eleven, and Sega doesn't like it. Sega is suing Level-5, alleging patent infringement on a mechanic in Nintendo DS versions of Inazuma Eleven that allows players to move characters with their fingers or a stylus, Kotaku reports.Sega's endgame is to halt the sale of all eight Inazuma Eleven games and to get ¥900 million ($11 million) in damages from Level-5. The case heard opening statements on December 7, and Level-5 plans to fight the charges."We are preparing our rebuttal and do not have any comments to make at this time," Level-5 says.
Behind the scenes of Ni no Kuni's development
In this video, Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino guides you through the company's Fukuoka headquarters, to show where and how Ni no Kuni acquired its beautiful look. At least part of that look comes from the motion capture studio, with the help of a fake book and wand.
Porterbliss: Aero Porter (3DS eShop)
This is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go. I didn't think it was possible, but I feel sympathy for the people in airports who deal with my luggage. But only if I imagine all of the sorting is done by one person, in a system exactly like the one shown in Aero Porter. I ... would have to imagine that's not how it really is.%Gallery-171125%
Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney trailer heralds Japanese launch
3DS crossover Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney is out today in Japan, but a Western release is yet to be announced. While every Layton game has made its way here, the same can't be said for the Ace Attorney series.
Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney gameplay trailer is puzzling
This trailer for Level-5's crossover game Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney shows off some of the courtroom drama and puzzle-solving players can look forward to. Well, that's the action most players can only hope for, since the game has yet to be announced for North America.Professor Layton Vs. Ace Attorney is set to release November 29 in Japan for 3DS.
Vagrant Story creator Matsuno leaves Level-5
Yasumi Matsuno, creator of Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story, as well as Final Fantasy XII, has left his most recent job at Level-5 after just over a year. While at the company, Matsuno directed Crimson Shroud, one of the games in the 3DS Guild01 collection, which will be released separately as an eShop game this year in North America and Europe."I'd like to formally announce my departure from Level-5, effective last month," Matsuno announced via Twitter. "With my work done on the domestic and overseas version of my latest 3DSWare game, it was good timing for me to step down and take a short break in order to recharge for my next project. My deepest thanks to everyone at Level-5 and everyone playing our games for your continued support." When asked what he's doing next, Matsuno replied "Sorry, it's a secret ..."
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask review: Mask of makeovers
Professor Layton has become one of my favorite series over the course of five games, but I never think of it as such until another one drops in my lap. The same low-key quality that makes each game such a relaxing, rejuvenating bit of comfort food also makes it easy to forget when one isn't in my DS at that very moment.It's a shame that I should take something like a Layton game for granted. They're universally lovely experiences, and I revel in the genuine unwinding that I get to do while playing one.They're also formulaic. That's not a negative judgment – the formula works well. It just makes it difficult for me to evaluate them against each other. But Level-5 took some chances with Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask in the transition from DS to 3DS, ranging from minor interface and presentation tweaks to surprisingly dramatic breaks from the familiar formula. The real achievement is in making a game that still feels fundamentally like Professor Layton while also experimenting.%Gallery-169523%
Portabliss: Liberation Maiden (3DS)
This is Portabliss, a column about downloadable games that can be played on the go. The adage "leave them wanting more" immediately came to mind upon completing Liberation Maiden, a feat which took a little under two hours to accomplish. Level 5 and Grasshopper Manufacture's 3DS eShop shooter is engaging enough to whet the palate, but the ideas presented by its design don't feel like they have enough time to mature.It's almost like the development team started out with the design document for an entire, full-length shooter, and then decided to only made the first five levels. Thankfully, those five levels are exciting, twitchy arcade fun with Level 5's trademark of polish and Suda 51's sense of style.%Gallery-167532%
