Here’s the first in a (hopefully) regular series that details what’s going on overseas in gaming. All of the titles listed in this feature are based off information received mostly for video games in Japan or Europe.
This Crosses the Line
Fortunately for European players, though, they will be pleased to know they will be receiving a quality first-party title that marks the DS entry into a long-running Japanese series.
Recently, Nintendo announced it would be releasing Picross DS in Europe, making a U.S. release the only territory in question. Some players may remember the series’ only entry into the U.S., when the debut title, Mario’s Picross hit the Game Boy. Overseas in Japan, however, the series has enjoyed a much higher number of entries.
Picross puts players to the task of using lineups of numbers to fill in squares on a grid to reveal a picture. Each puzzle features a time limit with errors deducting from the time left to finish the puzzle. The title features 300 different puzzles that range from a five by five grid to massive 20 by 20 mind-busters.
The DS version allows players to create their own puzzles that can be used to challenge friends or uploaded to the Nintendo Wi-Fi service. A calendar mode throws a daily picross puzzle at players with results being charted to show a player’s logical progression over time. By participating in the mode, new game modes including no xs, error search and memory will be unlocked by players.
Even more unlockables include new skins, touch-screen mini games and more. The title will also allow for online multiplayer battles as well as local matches when the title hits shelves May 11.
Here’s hoping for a U.S. release of one of my favorite Game Boy titles.
OUENDAN!!!!
Along with Jump Super Stars, Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan! was the most-imported title for the Nintendo DS thanks to its unique and quirky game play.
The success brought the title to the U.S. in the totally re-made form of Elite Beat Agents and it’s no surprise that iNiS is back to the drawing board with an Osu! sequel: Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2. Yeah. That’s a mouthful. According to Keiichi Yano of iNiS, the new bits of the title translate to “Burn! Hot Rhythm Soul!”
Article comments
1 - Jeff Harris
Great article, but one little sidebar:
Case Closed (nee Detective Conan) never aired on Cartoon Network's Toonami block, but rather their Adult Swim block. If it was on Toonami, it'd probably still be on the air today on CN.