We store cookies, you can get more info from our privacy policy.
3DS

Japan eShop Round-Up (09/05/2012)

by Danny Bivens - September 5, 2012, 10:17 am EDT
Total comments: 1

The spirtual predecessor to Link's Awakening, Game Freak's rhythm game and more hit the eShop this week.

It’s a pretty hearty week on the eShop in Japan. There are several solid titles and other bits of content that are now available. Let’s take a look:

3DS Downloadable Titles

Rhythm Hunter: HarmoKnight – 1,800 yen
Hungry Burger – 400 yen

Virtual Console

Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru (For the Frog the Bell Tolls, Game Boy) – 400 yen
Chō Wakusei Senki Metafight (Blaster Master, Famicom) – 500 yen

Video Content

Considering last week gamers in Japan got a couple of hours worth of content from Nintendo Direct, it’s not surprising that this week is a little bit sparse when it comes to videos. For those interested in purchasing in Virtual Console titles, there is a short clip showing off Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru. The video shows gameplay footage and what the gaming world looks like, which is eerily similar to what would later be found in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. It’s said that part of the game engine (the top down view portions) were later used in the game.

Other than that, there is a short 30 second video for Metalots 7 and a short trailer for the upcoming Rocket Studio title, Kemono Mix Plus.

Software Impressions

After playing the demo of Game Freak’s Rhythm Hunter last week, I was left wanting to play more. Similar to Daan Koopman of the Famicast, I have become a rhythm game junkie as of late, and made up my mind that this was a title that I needed. This week, however, I’m going to talk about something different, but if you want to read more about Rhythm Hunter, definitely be sure to check out Daan’s impressions. I’m going to tell you a little bit about Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru.

Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru is an action RPG Game Boy title that was released exclusively in Japan twenty years ago in 1992. The game was developed by Nintendo R&D1 and Intelligent Systems and had a team composed of people who worked on games such as Metroid and Kid Icarus. It puts the player in control of Prince Sabure. The prince is has a rivalry of sorts with another prince, named Richard, in the game world where they would usually end in ties or close wins by one or the other. One day, the peaceful world is torn apart when an evil King named Delarin invades one of the smaller kingdoms and captures a princess. Throughout the game, the Richard and Sabure are transformed into frogs while trying to find out what is happening as the evil king is disturbing the peace.

I didn’t get to play a ton of this game yet, but from what I have played I have enjoyed. After finding out that the princess has been captured, Richard sets out with his knights to rescue her. Sabure tries to go along, but is kicked off of the boat by Richard and his large ego. You’re forced to purchase another boat and follow by yourself. The controls in Frog are easy enough to understand. The overworld is laid out in a very similar fashion to Zelda titles. Combat, on the other hand, is quite different. When you come upon an enemy, you exchange blows with each other in a clouded scuffle which you don’t have much control over. Where I’m at now, as long as you have more health than your opponent, you are guaranteed a victory. During the battle, you do have the option to use items, such as a potion to regain health. It’s a little bit strange, but I’ve honestly never played anything quite like it.

I managed to make it to the first dungeon in the game, which takes you out of the overworld view and puts you in a sidescrolling, Zelda II style dungeon. Once in the dungeon, you also have the ability to jump. Fighting plays out the same as in the overworld, where you basically run into an enemy, and then exchange blows in a cloud of dust until one of you falls. There are different keys, ladders and areas to explore. I haven’t reached a boss fight yet, so I’m not too sure if they are any different from combat with typical enemies.

Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru is a pretty interesting game and unlike anything I’ve played up to this point. At this point, I’m not completely sold on the battle system, however, I would like to continue playing just to see more of this action RPG. It’s too bad for those of you without a Japanese 3DS as this game has never seen a release in the West and at this point, almost twenty years later to the date, doesn’t look like it’s going to officially happen anytime soon.

Talkback

geoSeptember 05, 2012

I've always wanted to play for the frog the bell tolls :(  Can't deny any game that was converted into a zelda engine.

Got a news tip? Send it in!
Advertisement
Advertisement