Time for another Handheld Gaming News article. A bit delayed as I’m writing this one after being away for a couple of days. As I told you a couple of weeks ago we enjoy visiting England. So, with a short holiday coming up here in the Netherlands we took the opportunity to go and see famous houses and gardens again.
We were in luck, as it’s been gorgeous weather. Clear blue skies, loads of sunshine and warm temperatures. Made for great pictures and we used the peace and quiet to relax. A good way to get ready again for the upcoming working weeks.
I considered taking my Switch but didn’t. First of all, I suspected that I wouldn’t have a lot of gaming time. I never get much gaming done during holidays. But aside from that: I was scared to take it with me. As if someone would try to steal it from me…do you recognize these signs of possessiveness?
Anyway, take a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, and let’s talk gaming.
Pokémon: Magikarp Jump, a new Pokémon mobile game
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Pokémon gamer that has been a fan for years or if you only know Pokémon from the Pokémon GO game. Either way, you probably know the lowest ranking Pokémon is a Magikarp. It doesn’t do much more then splashing moves. Not a good one to have in your team in it’s original form.
Still, Magikarp is a fan favorite and now has its own new mobile game. In this game you train your Magikarp to jump ever higher. Beware though of Pidgeotto, as he can snatch it straight out of the sky. But it’s not just that feature, there’s more to this game.
Here are more features on the game:
- Tap the food that appears on the screen to feed your Magikarp, or have it complete training to increase its Jump Power!
- In this app, you can fish up all kinds of Magikarp with unusual patterns like calico and polka dots!
A number of popular Pokémon can appear to help your Magikarp grow, you’ll have to unlock them one by one. - Spruce up the pond where you raise your Magikarp. You can make the pond of your dreams, and help your Magikarp grow faster.
Inazuma Eleven gets mobile game
Did you ever play Inazuma Eleven? I did give it a shot some time back, mostly because I like Level-5 games and this one is an RPG in another form. The soccer matches were really difficult though, so I gave up on it. It did interest me though to see the announcement of a mobile game being released late June in Japan.
The game is called Inazuma Eleven Everyday!! and it will be available in Japan late June for 600 yen. The game doesn’t feature any soccer, but it lets you keep your favorite Inazuma characters in your pocket. Like little Tamagotchi, you can take care of Endou, Gouenji and Kidou, but you’ll see other familiar faces as well.
You can check them out in their daily life, bid them good morning and goodnight, give them presents and talk to them. Just general bonding going on. Cute!
Monster Hunter XX confirmed for the Switch
Do you know a gaming series you would love to love but just can’t? For me, one of them is Monster Hunter. I’ve tried them before, I really have. But although I love the collecting part and all the themes that you can get your Palico’s into, the fighting was just too hard for me.
Still, I love the fact that Monster Hunter XX is confirmed for the Switch. The game will be released for the 3DS as well, and both versions will be able to transfer data back and forth. If you have save data for MH Generations ( called X in Japan) you can carry your data over.
Of course, they also announced a special bundle with a decorated Switch for Japan, release-date over there is August 25. We will have to wait for a Western date. The stock holders loved the news too, as last week Nintendo’s stock rose by almost 5,5% to its highest market value since October 2008.
Pikmin related rewards in My Nintendo America
Later this summer we will welcome Hey! Pikmin! To the 3DS, and now Nintendo has added some Pikmin related awards to My Nintendo.
Using gold and platinum points you can now get discounts on:
- 15% discount on Pikmin 3 for the Nintendo Wii U – 300 Platinum Points
- 30% discount on Pikmin for the Nintendo Wii U – 30 Gold Points
- Pikmin Working Together Nintendo 3DS theme – 20 Gold Points
- Pikmin 3 Map Pack 1: Collect Treasure! Stages 7-10 – 20 Gold Points
- Pikmin 3 Map Pack 2: Battle Enemies! Stages 7-10 – 20 Gold Points
- Pikmin 3 Map Pack 3: All New Mission Stages 12-15 – 40 Gold Points
- Pikmin 3 Prima Strategy Guide (digital) – 30 Gold Points
Most of the My Nintendo Pikmin rewards will be available until August 25, 2017. The only exception is the Pikmin 3 Prima Strategy Guide, which will be available until January 1, 2018.
Release date for Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
Some time ago I mentioned the new upcoming game in the Ys series: Ys Origins, which seems a good starting point for newcomers to the series, like me. Still, a new game is coming up for the Vita too, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. This game, for Vita, PS4 and PC will be released on September 12th in North America and September 15th in Europe.
This is what the story of this action RPG is about:
Ys returns with a brand new adventure for the first time in 8 years! Adol awakens shipwrecked and stranded on a cursed island. There, he and the other shipwrecked passengers he rescues form a village to challenge fearsome beasts and mysterious ruins on the isolated island. Amidst this, Adol begins to dream of a mysterious blue-haired maiden living in an unknown world. Join Adol as he unravels the riddle of the cursed isle and the blue-haired maiden Dana in Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana!
What I like about the description is that the shipwrecked passengers you rescue and bring to your village, will provide valuable services. I’m thinking like in Bravely Second? Anyway, will this be your game?
Nintendo Summer of Play Tour
Every summer, Nintendo has a tour that visits either malls or major locations and gives people an opportunity to try out games and systems. From June 9 until September 4, 2017, Nintendo will visit 13 places across the U.S. and show off newly released and upcoming games.
At each Summer of Play Tour spot, people will be able to visit a stand like the one shown on the picture. If you check in with your My Nintendo QR code you will get a free gift, and those who shop at a GameStop near one of these tour spots will get a PopSocket mobile accessory device while supplies last.
Here are the locations:
- June 9-11, 2017: Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine, CA
- June 16-18, 2017: Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, CA
- June 23-25, 2017: Mall of America in Bloomington, MN
- June 30-July 2, 2017: Henry Maier Festival Park Summerfest Grounds in Milwaukee, WI
- July 7-9, 2017: Navy Pier in Chicago, IL
- July 14-16, 2017: Marriot Marquis San Diego Marina in San Diego, CA
- July 28-30, 2017: The Parks Mall at Arlington in Arlington, TX
- August 4-6, 2017: Aventura Mall in Miami, FL
- August 11-13, 2017: Musikfest in Bethlehem, PA
- August 18-20, 2017: DUMBO Waterfront in New York, NY
- August 25-27, 2017: King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, PA
- September 2-4, 2017: Harborplace in Baltimore, MD
A pity I won’t be at any of these places this summer!
SINoAlice mobile game gets a Japanese date
Mobile game, developed by Square Enix, that is looking extremely good got a release date in Japan: June 6, and it will come to Android and iPhone simultaneously. Here’s a bit more info about the game.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for Android
Dual Destinies, the Phoenix Wright game that was released on the 3DS in 2013 is coming to Android devices too. has come to another platform. You can find it on Google Play for $19.99.
It’s been on iOS since 2014 where it had a pricing of $0.99 for the first episode and the other episodes could be purchased for $4.99 each. You could also buy it as a $14.99 Main Story Set, so cheaper then on Android. Still, it’s good that everyone can play the game now, no matter your kind of device.
Well, I’d say that’s enough for this week. I’m still traveling with Firis on my Vita, we have finally arrived in Reisenberg getting ready to take the alchemy exam. And I have started my Breath in the Wild adventure too. Enjoying it, though I’m a little scared of forging ahead. I do like the fact that there is no wrong or right in the game! What have you been playing lately?
I wonder if SinOAlice will come to America. It looks interesting, and I like Yoko Taro’s works, despite how grim they can get. Despite that, they still have a good sense of humor. The only Yoko Taro game I can name without much humor was the first Drakengard.
I should really get into Ys.
I wonder too if SINoAlice will make it west, but square Enix does have a good track record of releasing their games here!
Don’t underestimate Magikarp. I have seen a few videos online were people have managed to beat mightier Pokemon using that fish.
Not football in an Inazuma app sounds like a waste. I loved Inazuma Eleven 2 because it combined sport management with RPG mechanics. Once you level up some players the matches get much easier (some of my players could even score from the other side of the field.)
Lol, your players were really something then! Mine couldn’t keep a ball, but that might have been because of my football skills. It was a good game though, looked good and nice story. Still have it, who knows when I might go back again.
Oh and I’ll apologize to Magikarp…