Earlier tonight, Nintendo had two Nintendo Direct videos back-to-back; the first was for the Japanese audience, and the second was for American gamers. We’ve summarized the most interesting points from the Japanese presentation here; note that times are Japan local time, and release dates apply to Japan only.
- A new Super Smash Bros. game is now in development. This time around, Project Sora, the development studio headed by Masahiro Sakurai, is teaming up with Namco Bandai to develop the game, in order to use their added resources. A number of high-profile Namco designers are on board, including Yoshito Higuchi (producer and director of the Tales games), Tetsuya Akatsuka (producer and director of Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.), the art and sound director of the Soul Calibur series, and the Tekken development team.
- The new Fatal Frame title for Wii was mentioned briefly. The game will cost 6,800 yen and will be released on June 28, one week from today.
- Nintendo is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kirby with Kirby’s Dream Collection Special Edition for Wii. The package contains six classic Kirby games: the three Dream Land titles, Kirby’s Adventure, Kirby Super Star, and Kirby 64: the Crystal Shards. Additionally, the game will come with a number of challenge courses, based on Kirby’s Return to Dream Land. The package also includes an interactive timeline, a history book, and a soundtrack. The game will be at a lower price of 3,800 yen and will launch on July 19. Japanese gamers who purchase and register a Wii Kirby game on Club Nintendo will be entered into a drawing to win a Kirby plush cushion.
- Dragon Quest X, the first MMORPG in the game’s history, was shown as well. While the game will require a paid subscription, the first 20 days of service will be free. Additionally, there will be two hours of free “Kids’ Time” every day; from Monday to Friday, it will be 4 to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday will have free time from 1 to 3 p.m. The game will cost 6,980 and will launch on August 2.
- Pokémon Black & White 2 was shown, as well. The game takes place two years after the original game, and will feature older Pokémon from the outset, classic gym leaders, and in-game tournaments. The game will cost 4,800 yen and launches on June 23, in time for the Pokémon World Championships on June 29.
- Culdcept, which has been shown in several previous Nintendo Direct presentations, returned. The game will feature an online leaderboard, and will be celebrated with a Culdcept tournament in Japan. There will also be a collectible card campaign with the launch of the game. Culdcept will cost 4,800 and launches on June 28.
- Calciobit, a soccer sim, will feature an online leaderboard like Culdcept, but the Internet integration with Calciobit will be much more intricate. Each team will have its own web page made automatically, and players can seek out and challenge other teams by searching the web site. There will also be live broadcasts of exhibition matches between players. The game will cost 4,800 yen and will be released on July 12.
- An Atlus title, Soul Hackers, features characters fighting each other using demons; the game has over 300 different kinds of demon, and will include StreetPass integration. The game will be priced at 6,279 yen and launches on August 30.
- Lost Heroes is a game starring famous mascots from properties like Gundam, who will battle in order to regain their lost powers. Each copy of the game will include a download code for the Famicom version of the game. Lost Heroes will cost 6,090 yen and is scheduled for a September 13 launch.
- Dynasty Warriors Chronicle 2nd will cost 6,090 yen and has a release date of September 13.
- AKB48, an enormously successful Japanese pop group, is coming to 3DS with AKB48 + Mii. Players can insert their own Mii into the AKB48 group and sing along with their songs. The game is slated for a Fall release.
- E.X. Troopers, from Capcom, was mentioned as well; players and their classmates have fun adventures in a comic book style. The game will be released this year.
- Project X Zone, the collaboration between Capcom, Sega and Namco Bandai, made an appearance. The game is strategy-based, and has very simple controls, mainly using the D-pad and the A button. The game will be released this year.
- Bravely Default: Flying Fairy, a new RPG from Square-Enix, will be available later this year. A battle demo will be on the eShop shortly.
- Nintendo dedicated some time to New Super Mario Bros. 2, putting emphasis on just how many coins will be in the game. In addition to the normal single player and co-op modes, a new Coin Rush mode will be included. Players will run through three randomly-selected levels, trying to collect as many coins as they can before losing their only life. Totals can be exchanged through StreetPass, and new courses will be available as paid DLC.
- A new game in the vein of Brain Age was announced, with an exceedingly long name that boils down to “Demon Brain Training”. A demonic version of Dr. Ryuta Kawashima guides the player through exercises designed to test their working memory.
- Nintendo unveiled a new 3DS LL, which features a significantly larger pair of screens. The top screen is 4.88 inches, and the bottom screen is 4.18 inches, a 90% increase in screen size. The battery life is also extended, but an AC adapter will not be included. Both the 3DS LL and New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be released on July 28, and the 3DS LL will cost 18,900 yen.
- A new Art Academy title was announced for the 3DS, which lets players make drawings from existing photographs, and then exchange them with StreetPass. The game will cost 3,800 yen and launches on September 13.
- The new Animal Crossing game on 3DS made an appearance as well. Players will act as the mayor this time around, and get a hand in designing the town. The game will arrive this fall.
- Some downloadable news was shown in quick succession. Line Toss Loop is a Zuma-inspired game that has players trying to clear out a long line by matching colors. A new Challenge Quest will be made available for Monster Hunter 3G soon. Lastly, a demo for Etrian Odyssey IV will soon be available in the Nintendo eShop. Additionally, the Japanese eShop will be seeing a couple of weeklong sales; click here for more information.
- Finally, Nintendo is expanding the available collection of Kid Icarus AR cards. Volumes 2, 3 and 4 will be available soon, and each pack of cards will cost 263 yen.
If the 3DS LL does not include an AC adapter, what the hell am I supposed to charge it with?!
This “no adaptor included” is ONLY for Japan (maybe Europe). So if you live in NA you dont need to worry about that. Also the reason they decided not to include the adaptor in Japan is because of Japans rate of 3DS adoptees / buyers. They know that MOST (not all but most) of the 3DS LL consumers will be people who already own a 3DS / past adapter that will work with the 3DS LL. Also remember that this is not technically redesign… aside from bigger screens and longer battery life this version of the 3DS is identical to the original 3DS… and thatys what Nintendo meant for it to be – NOT A REDESIGN! Its really quite simple. If you own a 3DS, dont mind the screens size and its portability… dont buy the 3DS LL (XL). If you own a 3DS and really wised the screens where bigger, battery lasts slightly longer and wont miond that its almost not as portable … but the 3DS LL (XL). If you dont own a 3DS what so ever, well now Nintendo has provided you with more choices…