Digi Communication 2 Datou! Black Magma-danHamtaro: Ham-Ham GamesKaiketsu Zorori to Mahou no Yuuenchi Ohimesama wo Sukue!Mirmo! Yume no KakeraMonster Summoner
This weekly section on IGN will keep you up to date on what games were released over the previous week in Japan. If you want to keep up to date on the import scene, be sure and check back every week.
The following games were released between 07.12.04 and 07.18.04. Click on the name to see all of IGN's current coverage on the title.
PLAYSTATION 2
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner
Publisher: Atlus
Genre: SF, Drama, RPG, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 7329 yen, Memory: 305K
This latest entry in the Shin Megami Tensei series places you in the role of Serph as you attempt to defeat five tribes and make your way to the paradise of Nirvana. You and your group encounter a pod which gives you the ability to change into demon form and suck up enemies. Use points that you've earned in battle to power up your character and his "Mantra," creating an original demon all your own. Check out IGNPS2 for a full playtest of the game.
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 11
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Baseball, Raising, Action, Simulation, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 7329 yen, Memory: 870K
Other: Compatible with PS2 Broadband Unit (hard disk only)
Japan's best-selling baseball game since the days of the Famicom returns for its 11th installment. In addition to new player data taken from the time of the 2004 pennant race, individual player stances, the ability to break your bat, safety bunts and all new pitches, the game features an improved "My Life" mode. This mode lets you experience the life of a pro baseball player, building up your in-game alter ego through practice and games. Your relationship with your teammates in this mode is important. Outside of this mode, the game includes battle, pennant, success, league, home run rally and scenario modes.
Lets Play Sports!
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Sports, Party, Action, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 4179 yen, Memory: 820K
Other: Requires Eye Toy camera
Konami's first Eye Toy game is all about sports. Fifteen mini games are included, and although soccer takes up the brunt of the total, baseball, golf and other sports are included as well. Also included is "Art Studio Mode," which makes you reassemble an Eye Toy snap shot that's been broken into pieces and scrambled.
CR Pachinko Yellow Cab Pachitte Chonmage Tatsujin 6
Publisher: Huckberry
Genre: Pachinko, Simulation, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 6090 yen, Memory: 159K
Other: Includes making-of video for real machine
Another videogame that recreates a real life Pachinko machine. The Yellow Cab machine features twelve models from a talent studio called Yellow Cab, including Megumi, Eiko Koike and Eriko Satou, all of whom appear with real pictures. A challenge mode of play has you attempt to increase your Pachinko ball total within a limited time.
Uo Nanatsu no Mizu to Densetsu no Nushi
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Drama, Action, Adventure, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 6090 yen, Memory: 298K
This latest Sony Computer Entertainment title was originally developed by Sega's Wow Entertainment. You become a fish called Uo and adventure through a variety of lakes. As Uo, you have to survive in the dangerous waters, eating, fleeing and battling when needed. Lots of different fish appear in the game. See IGNPS2 for a playtest of this game along with video footage.
GAMECUBE
Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 11
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Baseball, Raising, Action, Simulation, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 7329 yen, Memory: 103 Blocks
The GameCube version of Konami's popular baseball series is the same as the PS2 version, but with a nice controller feature that centers the cursor back when you let go of the controller.
X-BOX
Top Spin
Publisher: Microsoft
Genre: Tennis, Action, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 5040 yen, Memory: 12 Blocks
Other: Xbox Live compatible, Dolby Digital 5.1
Microsoft brings its Xbox Live tennis title to Japan, with Xbox Live functionality in tact. This is a full Japanese release -- it's not part of the World Collection label.
GAME BOY ADVANCE
Monster Summoner
Publisher: Ertain
Genre: Fantasy, Simulation, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 5000 yen, Includes Backup Feature
Peripherals: Link Cable
Your goal is to become Lord of Summoner in this simulation. You play as Case, a young magician apprentice, who heads off on an adventure. Call upon a variety of monsters to fight in battle, both against in-game opponents and with live opponents via the GBA link-up cable. Monsters emerge from Generators that are placed on the game field; to defeat an opponent summoner, you must destroy its Generator.
Wagamama Fairy Mirumo De Pon! Yume no Kakera
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Anime, Adventure, Simulation, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 5229 yen, Includes Backup Feature
The girls' cartoon Mirumo De Pon! gets another GBA game, complete with an original character, Dream the fairy. You play as Mirumo and must collect dream fragments to save Dream from the Warumo Tribe, who are out to get her. The game features an adventure part in which you speak to other characters and advance the story and a simulation part where you create Mirumo's room and set up furniture and items. Also included are eight mini games.
Tottoko Hamtarou Hamu Hamu Sports
Publisher: Nintendo
Genre: Sports, Action, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 4800 yen, Includes Backup Feature
Peripherals: Link cable, wireless adapter
The latest game featuring Nintendo's popular hamster is an event-filled sports game. Fifteen events are included in the game, including 100 meter dash, tennis, beach volleyball and hammer toss. Outside of these games, the game also has a free time mode where players can chat with other characters from the Hamtarou world and exchange cards with other players through link cable.
Kaiketsu Zorori to Mahou no Yuenchi ~ Ohimesama wo Sukue! ~
Publisher: Bandai
Genre: Kids, Anime, Other, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 5040 yen, Includes Backup Feature
Peripherals: Link cable
Zorori and friends have made their way to an amusement park for this latest cartoon to game adaptation. In order to save the princess, you must clear twenty mini games. Mini games are split into four areas of the park: adventure zone, sports zone, future zone and "Oyaji" (old man) gag zone. Your performance in the mini games rewards you with stamps that can be used to purchase items in a shop.
Deji-Communication 2 Datou! Black Magma-dan
Publisher: Broccoli
Genre: Anime, Card game, Release: 07.15.04
Price: 6090 yen, Includes Backup Feature
Peripherals: Link cable
Deji-Communication is a card game featuring characters from the Deji Carrot series. You play as the manager of a store called "Gamers" and attempt to beat your rival shops in various areas, including sales and total customers. Cards are used to lure customers into your shop and prevent customers from going into your rival shops. Forty different cards appear in the game.
Zettai Zetsumei Denjarasu Jiisan Byo ~ Ikari no Oshioki Blues
Publisher: Kids Station
Genre: Comic, Action Adventure, Release: 07.16.04
Price: 5040 yen, Includes Backup Feature
This action title is based off a popular comic. You play as the dangerous "Ojiisan" of the title, and attempt to take out enemies by picking up and tossing items that drop onto the field of play. You can change into fourteen different Ojiisans.
Konjiki no Gashbell!! Makai no Bookmark
Publisher:Banpresto
Genre: Anime, Action RPG, Release: 07.16.04
Price: 5040 yen, Includes Backup Feature
Peripherals: Link cable
The popular Gashbelle cartoon gets another game, this time on Game Boy Advance. You choose from three pairs of human/magicians, including Gash and Kiyomaro, Duo and Megumi and Canchome and Forugore, and face off against a variety of enemies in battle. Action-based battles see you make use of punch and hip attacks along with powerful team attacks. Bookmarks can be used to restore your health and increase your parameters and can be combined to form new bookmarks.
That does it for this week's software list. Remember, if you want to keep ahead of the Japanese game scene, be sure and check out our weekly Gaming Life in Japan article. In addition to the week in review, a look at the latest Japanese magazines and the latest sales charts and release dates, the latest issue features television commercials for Paper Mario, Moji Pittan, Final Fantasy I&II and Dragon Ball Z 2. Check out the latest issue by browsing here.
