Nintendo 3DS

[Flawless]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

It's $19.99. I will be downloading it.

Designed by famed RPG producer Level-5, Inazuma Eleven is an RPG with a heavy soccer theme. You play as Mamoru Endou, captain of his junior high soccer team. All is not well with Endou and his players, as spirits are down and membership is so low that the team may not be able to play in the next game. Then one day, Shuya Gouenji, known throughout the youth soccer world as a legendary ace striker, transfers to Endou's school. Endou convinces Gouenji to once again take to the field as the team gears up for a match with Imperial Junior High, its rival school.

Inazuma Eleven features a full adventure mode with events set in your school and around town. As you move around, one of your responsibilities is to scout new players, who can then be assembled into a team. The game has over one thousand recruitable characters, each with different abilities that you will want to make good use of ... if you can successfully make the recruit.

During soccer matches, you have full control over your team. The game uses the stylus for all controls, with action-packed soccer matches (augmented with close-up viewpoints and highlights on the second screen) controlled simply with touches and swipes. There are also Command Battle sequences where the game cuts in for close, intense battles with other players or in the one-on-one match-up with the shooter and goalie. The game also includes wireless support, allowing players to face off against one another or trade players between friends.

[ubernoob]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

Downloading Inazuma Eleven as we speak. It should be done very shortly.

Impressions to follow later tonight, since I've never played this series but have heard a ton about it (also knowing that it has a manga and anime adaptations, which if I like the game I am sure I will at least watch.)

From what I've seen, my guess (and I could be way off base here, but again that will come with my impressions) is that it's an RPG that plays somewhat like Blitzball from FFX did when you are in the matches.

EDIT: A google search turned up this thread for me that I figured I may pass along. Don't mind the dates, the points about the game are still valid I'm sure. This game came out in 08 in Japan and already has 3 sequels (2 were OG NDS, 1 is 3DS.)

[ubernoob]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

So. Initial thoughts, some pulled from my Twitter as I booted up the game for the first time. I've played for about an hour or so.

Inazuma Eleven very very first thoughts: Anime cutscenes are very nice. The voice acting is pretty "meh" but haven't watched anime for quite some time there have been much worse voice jobs. They don't detract anything from the game but it's not adding much either. Nice to have voices, but they aren't great by any means. Even "good" would be stretching it.

Menus are very clean and well done, they remind me a tad of Pokemon (not sure if it's just because the font or what... but that was my first thought.)

The RPG-like part of the game (running around on the maps, talking to everyone) is very much what you think it is. The same goes for equipping. Obviously the stats for this game (Kick, Body, Control, Guard, Speed, Stamina, Guts) are fairly self-explanatory but I haven't dug around to see what exactly controls what part of the game (IE: I don't know if body and control could be used for the same thing, just at different times [keeping ball vs standing tackle and keeping ball vs slide tackle?].)

There are a ton of players to recruit for your team. Over 1,000 as a matter of fact. Eventually there's a "friend grid" that is somewhat like the sphere grid in Final Fantasy X - I haven't gotten to this point yet, so I cannot say for certain what it does other than it's related to recruiting new players. There's a chick you get a little bit into the game that scouts players for you based on the criteria you give her. She tells you where to find them and you go find them and there's a little "battle" you have to win to get them.

Random encounter 'battles' are soccer matches (so far I've only run into 2 variants: Dispossess the other team and score the first goal.) The controls are simple, but there is a learning curve to them. For winning them, you get prestige (basically what the money is called in this game), Friendship points (what you use to recruit the players your scout finds once you beat them in 'battle') and XP. Your stats go up as you level. So far encounters have been 4v4 (3v3 with a goalie on each side.) Anyways, back to the controls. There's a definite learning curve, and I am by no means a master. I'd say I win somewhere around 55-65% of the battles I've been in so far randomly. It is a bit blitzball-esque, but on a 2D level and you move / pass with the stylus only (the stick/d-pad/buttons [for lefties I'm assuming] move the camera around the pitch (field.)

If I'm running down the field with the ball and one of their defenders runs into me, three choices pop up at the bottom. One is safer to succeed but a toss up if success will keep the ball. The other is more difficult to succeed but will keep the ball if it does (normally the options are feint/dodge and charge.) There is a lightning bolt button in the middle that you will be able to click on and it grants you access to your "special moves" you have learned. I only have one right now and it's the keeper one you get from the story in the beginning of the game.

As I said, it takes some getting used to but the controls are relatively simplistic.

I'd easily give this game a very good grade as I have been having a blast with it so far - but YMMV. I dig RPGs, and I loved Blitzball in FFX (even if I hated the rest of the game.) It's something totally different than what normally gets released in America and I also support that. Japan has so many good games that we don't get to see because they don't think they will be purchased therefore not worth the localization costs, so I will always support a decent game that we do get in hopes we get more.

This game would never be for a die-hard sports only gamer, but if you are a fan of RPGs (and liked Blitzball in FFX at all) or even something like Pokemon, and don't mind giving a new 'battle' system a try I highly recommend the game.

That being said, if you are unsure try to find some more videos of it being played to see if you may enjoy it. I don't want people wasting money on my words - but I am having a lot of fun with it so far.

[mgoblue]

Re: Nintendo 3DS Announced

Thanks for the impressions....May give it a shot . Keep us in the loop as you get deeper in the game

[ubernoob]

Re: Nintendo 3DS Announced

Thanks for the impressions....May give it a shot . Keep us in the loop as you get deeper in the game

Will do. Mel's off to work now so, aside from dinner, I plan on giving it most of the night. I will keep posting in here when I get enough (or something) worthy of posting.

I will say that through this time spent, this is the different type of RPG I never knew I wanted so badly. I hope the sequels get localized and make their way over. I know Europe has gotten them and that Japan has another sequel in the works (which would make the 4th DS/3DS iteration to go along with the 3 Wii spin-offs.)

[opd897]

Re: Nintendo 3DS Announced

Downloaded the free version of Sub Wars, played a single player game and immediately bought the full version for $9.99. Much better than Steel Diver.

Online and single player with many unlocks, upgrades. I believe around 16 different subs can be unlocked with 4 more being able to be purchased in game.

Not a side view like Steel Diver but more of a 1st person type. Liking it a lot so far.

[DJ]

Re: Nintendo 3DS Announced

Downloaded the free version of Sub Wars, played a single player game and immediately bought the full version for $9.99. Much better than Steel Diver.

Online and single player with many unlocks, upgrades. I believe around 16 different subs can be unlocked with 4 more being able to be purchased in game.

Not a side view like Steel Diver but more of a 1st person type. Liking it a lot so far.

I've got $10 left in the eShop, may have to give this a look. Glad to hear its much-improved from Steel Diver.

[VTPack919]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

That Inazuma Eleven combines my two favorite things. Soccer and RPGs.


Do want.

[DJ]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

Started SMT IV last night ... holy crap this game is hard! I was quickly relegated to the easy difficulty after getting shredded twice in the training exercise. That training was ridiculous; one hit from a demon pretty much wiped out your HP, so not sure how you'd defeat them with such low powers.

Things were more enjoyable after I was able to lower the difficulty.

I've never played a game in this series, and haven't played many RPG's, so this was an eye-opener for me, in terms of how hard these games are compared to a game like Zelda.

[ubernoob]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

Started SMT IV last night ... holy crap this game is hard! I was quickly relegated to the easy difficulty after getting shredded twice in the training exercise. That training was ridiculous; one hit from a demon pretty much wiped out your HP, so not sure how you'd defeat them with such low powers.

Things were more enjoyable after I was able to lower the difficulty.

I've never played a game in this series, and haven't played many RPG's, so this was an eye-opener for me, in terms of how hard these games are compared to a game like Zelda.

Yeah, the first dungeon (or whatever you want to call it) in SMT IV is no joke.

I'm a "GAMER PRIDE" idiot that won't ever lower the difficulty, but I'm pretty sure I had to start over twice (got it on my third try finally.)

[DJ]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

Yeah, the first dungeon (or whatever you want to call it) in SMT IV is no joke.

I'm a "GAMER PRIDE" idiot that won't ever lower the difficulty, but I'm pretty sure I had to start over twice (got it on my third try finally.)

Yeah, I'm used to a gradual build up in difficulty but this game just throws it right at you and had no answer for it. Curious how you managed to do it without having to drop difficulty.

I could put it back on normal, I suppose, but I'd probably meet my demise in the next battle.

[ubernoob]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

Yeah, I'm used to a gradual build up in difficulty but this game just throws it right at you and had no answer for it. Curious how you managed to do it without having to drop difficulty.

I could put it back on normal, I suppose, but I'd probably meet my demise in the next battle.

No need to raise the difficulty. I struggled quite a bit, with a lot of trial and error in those deaths I had (multiple deaths each time, since the "game over" is a bit weird in the game.)

I'm just a masochist when it comes to games. Especially RPGs, since I love games that have a good grind in them.

I know when I was a kid and playing FF VII (I think I was 9 when I played it) I got to the last boss and couldn't beat him at all because I was too low of a level to pull off what I wanted to do, and since I was past the point of no return... I rage deleted the save and proceeded to start the next game unlocking everything and grinding my little butt off. Little me was an ******* to himself with games haha.

[mgoblue]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

No need to raise the difficulty. I struggled quite a bit, with a lot of trial and error in those deaths I had (multiple deaths each time, since the "game over" is a bit weird in the game.)

I'm just a masochist when it comes to games. Especially RPGs, since I love games that have a good grind in them.

I know when I was a kid and playing FF VII (I think I was 9 when I played it) I got to the last boss and couldn't beat him at all because I was too low of a level to pull off what I wanted to do, and since I was past the point of no return... I rage deleted the save and proceeded to start the next game unlocking everything and grinding my little butt off. Little me was an ******* to himself with games haha.

I'm kinda like this. I've gotten a lot better, especially as my gaming time has diminished. I used to hate skipping side quests and stuff, but now I have to force myself to chill a bit and just enjoy a game. I don't have the time to be crazy anymore lol.

[ubernoob]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

I'm kinda like this. I've gotten a lot better, especially as my gaming time has diminished. I used to hate skipping side quests and stuff, but now I have to force myself to chill a bit and just enjoy a game. I don't have the time to be crazy anymore lol.

Yeah... in some games (especially [which is rare] if I ever play something like GTA) I relax and just go with whatever, but JRPGs are my grind heaven for some reason. Most games I can chill out like you do, but not in this one stupid genre that I love so much D:

Also, because it's relevant... This is what my FF VII playtime felt like. Spoiler for hugeness, but it's old and I love it.

Spoiler

[Cubfan]

Re: Nintendo 3DS

I'm going to need to do some level grinding before i go back in to the first dungeon in Bravely Default.