Japan Gaming Guide

Those of you that have ever dreamed of setting foot in the mushroom kingdom will soon be getting their wish. Universal Studios Japan have commenced work on Super Nintendo World, a new themed area set to feature characters and rides from Nintendo’s most popular games. We’re expecting an official real life Mario Kart, Nintendo parades and who knows what else? There’s a while to wait as the new zone will be opening in 2020. Until then, why not take a look at the trailer:

A mini version of the SNES/Super Famicom bundled with a range of software will launch before Christmas, according to a report in Eurogamer.

The new system is the reason the hugely successful NES mini has been discontinued. Nintendo scored a big hit with the retro console, but raised a few eyebrows by cancelling it so soon. The new console will likely follow a similar format, with a bunch of classic games bundled with the system.

The SNES boasts a fantastic software library and will surely be a hit with fans. Games like Super Mario World, Super Metroid, Secret of Mana, Super Tennis, Pilot Wings, Super Punch Out, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario Kart and Zelda – Link to the Past are well worth revisiting. Here’s hoping the rumours are true.

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 was shown at the Tokyo Game Show this week. The game looks to be shaping up well and will launch in Japan on November 2nd, for PS4 only. Outside Japan there will also be versions for Windows and Xbox one.

Check out famitsu for a few screenshots, and pictures of Japanese celebrities in wigs: link

Players wanting to get in on the action early might want to sign up for the open beta which will start on October 8th, details at the official website here.

You can order the game here [affiliate link].

Fans of psychic high school student Saiki Kusuo will get the chance to step into their hero’s shoes very soon. A 3DS game based on the manga/anime character is due on November 11th. You’ll get to hang out at the local school and participate in activities ranging from garbage collection tournaments to school trips. You’ll be able to call on a range of powers including telepathy, telekinesis and psychic vision. Who wouldn’t want that? You’ll also be able to explore Okinawa and hurl cars around.

The game looks like a cross between Bully and Skool Daze but with the added bonus of psychic powers. Might well be worth checking out.

Published by Bandai-Namco, Saiki Kusuo no Sainan Shijou Saidai no Saina will retail for Y5700.

Get this game on play-asia.com

When word spread last year that Nintendo was dipping its toes into mobile markets, fans were absolutely delighted. The expectation was that we might get a gaming experience based on one of the company’s iconic characters or properties that could be downloaded onto mobile devices. Indeed, one has to imagine Nintendo could make an absolute fortune by expanding some of its most beloved titles to mobile. It all seemed inevitable.

Then Nintendo came out with Miitomo, a bizarre social app that has to be one of the bigger letdowns in Nintendo history. As Forbes put it, the app “disappoints and baffles” with its apparent desire to take on Facebook rather than produce a real gaming experience. In Miitomo, your task is to create a “Mii” avatar (you know, like you did when you first turned on your old Nintendo Wii back in 2006), and then answer questions about yourself. Your Mii then interacts with your friends’ Miis like a social network.

But for all its greatness, Nintendo is no stranger to misfires. The company has produced its share of disappointments over the years, but it always seems to rebound. So in the hopes that they’ll do just that, here are 10 ideas for better mobile apps than Miitomo.

1. Super Mario

Let’s just start with the most obvious idea. A side-scrolling, platformer Super Mario game would translate pretty well to mobile devices, and it would most likely become the most popular app in the market.

2. Donkey Kong

Pretty much any Donkey Kong experience could enjoy similar success to a Super Mario app, though it would be really cool to see Nintendo go all the way back to the original Donkey Kong arcades. Those games were not only simple enough from a control standpoint to translate well to mobile, but their pixellated quality fits in pretty well with some hot design trends in app gaming.

3. Pokémon Red/Blue

Yes, Pokémon Go is an interesting idea. But has there ever been a Nintendo game that seems more like a mobile app already than the original Pokémon Red/Blue titles? Built for Gameboy, these games were exceedingly simple from both a visual and a control standpoint. Not to mention they were some of the biggest sensations in video game history. Pokémon Mobile could be the most lucrative app in history if Nintendo decided to go for it.

4. Super Smash Bros.

There are countless mobile games that have adopted the fighter style, pitting foes against each other in simple, swipe- and tap-based combat. It wouldn’t be as sophisticated as Super Smash Bros. games on consoles, but the general format adapts well to mobile.

5. Mario Golf

This game is too often overlooked among other great N64 titles. However, IGN pointed it out in a post about Nintendo franchises that would be great on mobile, and I have to agree. The article made a few wise points about this one. First, you could load up, play a few holes, and come back later, which satisfies the desire for quick gaming sessions. Second, there could be a connected leaderboard feature to satisfy more competitive gamers.

6. Mario Kart

Mario Kart would surely be a hit, even if racing games are a little bit hit-and-miss on mobile. Even if this were done clumsily, people would love the chance to play one of the most iconic Nintendo franchises on mobile.

7. Nintendo Bingo

If Nintendo wants to keep things simple, they could look for a gaming format that allows for the placement of popular themes and characters but doesn’t actually adapt an established title. Bingo is an interesting option in this regard, as there’s a strong precedent for similar games. There are several themed titles at Gala Bingo that are available on mobile platforms and that appeal to fans of various TV shows and the like. Nintendo could do the same with their own themes and characters, using simple backgrounds, cards, and character callers to create a simple, albeit satisfying, experience.

8. Nintendo Poker

Everything I said regarding bingo would also work well with poker. These types of casino games are well established in mobile markets and don’t require a whole lot of invention to embrace themes. It would be particularly cool if a poker game allowed you to use Nintendo characters as your own avatar (you know, instead of a Mii…).

9. The Legend Of Zelda

You didn’t think I’d forget Zelda, did you? These games have covered a pretty broad spectrum of styles over the years, but some of the earlier Zelda games are every bit as simple in look and gameplay as Pokémon and could adapt very well to mobile. Indeed, it’s been tried by other companies, so frequently that Games Radar wrote up a list of 10 games that have blatantly ripped off Zelda.

10. Super Mario RPG

Possibly the most underrated Nintendo game in history, this SNES title was an extensive RPG that utilized a really interesting cast of Mario characters we just haven’t seen very often elsewhere. There’s endless evidence that RPGs work pretty well on mobile, and a Super Mario RPG comeback would be a stroke of brilliance by Nintendo.

This list could keep going and going, but you get the idea. The good news is that Miitomo is viewed as just the beginning for Nintendo’s foray into mobile markets, so let’s hope they get moving with some more interesting ideas.

The 3DS bandwagon just got a little easier to climb onto as Nintendo have announced the ‘Happy Price Selection’, a range of cut price titles for the handheld. The collection launches on March 17 and each title will sell for a little under Y3000 yen.

Titles include Animal Crossing:New Leaf, Tomodachi Collection, Luigi’s Mansion 2, Nintendogs and several others. Check here for the full selection.

Sounds like a good deal doesn’t it? Buyers of Demitasse canned coffee will be getting something extra with their purchase this September – one of these cute Namco chain plate souvenirs. There are 7 designs including Pac-Man, Mappy, Xevious, Dig Dug and Galaga.

I wouldn’t mind picking up a few of these – wonder if the coffee is any good?

Osaka’s America Mura contains a wide range of entertaining diversions, quirky shops, interesting cafes and fashionably dressed shoppers. It’s also home to ‘The Silver Ball Planet’ pinball arcade. The place isn’t too hard to find, it’s inside the ‘Big Step’ mini-mall on the 3rd floor.

The Silver Ball Planet contains over 100 pinball machines including a number of classics and rarities. It truly is a pinball fanatic’s dream with so many tables in one place.

We tried a few of the machines and weren’t disappointed.

This Star Wars original trilogy table was fantastic fun. There are also two other Star Wars tables to try, including an Episode One table for fans of the more recent movies.

This classic Black Hole table was still going strong despite being over 30 years old.

The Super Mario Mushroom World table is a lot of fun, with the ball emerging from pipes in classic Mario fashion.

Our feeble pinball skills were no match for this Spiderman table.

Enjoyed this Wizard of Oz table, and won a free play!

Overall this place comes highly recommended – for pinball fans it is probably the closest they can get to heaven on earth, and for other gamers it’s worth spending an hour or two trying out a few of the tables. There’s a huge choice so I’m sure everyone would find something that appeals.

Legend of Legacy is a promising looking new RPG for the 3DS. Developed by former Square Enix and Level-5 staff members, the game promises to be a more open affair than the standard Japanese RPG, offering players the chance to explore freely and figure out goals on their own.

The game is out on January 15th but in the meantime there are some nice wallpapers available on the official site.

Those of you that have always wanted to try Mario Kart in real life (I presume that’s pretty much everyone), need wait no longer.

Real life Mario Kart racing is now available around Akihabara. Drivers are able to discuss their choice of character with organizers who then try and allocate everyone someone they like. Training is given, although since they are driving on the road a proper driving license is required. The racing itself lasts over two hours though racers can always pick up a drive-through if they find themselves flagging.

Items, such as bananas and shells are provided although the precise details of their use remains a mystery. Racers go from Akihabara to Shinjuku before finishing in Shibuya. If you manage to book a place at this event expect a lot of interest from tourists.

[source: yahoo Japan]

UPDATE:
It is now possible to book tickets to this event in English and we’d appreciate it very much if you did so via our affiliate link: here

You can also book a range of other activities in Tokyo, (some of which are mildly NSFW), here.