It looks like Famitsu still loves their virtual puppies. The popular Japanese publication has released reviews for a bunch of the 3DS games launching this week over there, nintendogs + cats being one of them.

nintendogs + cats – 10/9/9/10 = 38/40
Super Monkey Ball 3D – 9/8/8/7 = 32/40
Ridge Racer 3D – 8/8/7/9 = 32/40
Samurai Warriors: Chronicles – 9/9/8/8 = 34/40
Super Street Fighter IV 3D – 9/8/8/9 = 34/40
PES 2011 3D – 8/8/8/8 = 32/40
Professor Layton and the Mask or Miracle – 8/8/8/8 = 34/40

Source: Nintendo Everything [via GoNintendo, NeoGAF]

EDIT: Dead or Alive: Dimensions will not be out in time for the Japanese 3DS launch.

From the same issue of Famitsu that revealed Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Over Clock, we have new info regarding the 3DS version of Tecmo’s Dead or Alive fighting series.

According to the popular publication, Dead or Alive: Dimensions will have a “Chronicles Mode” – a sort of story-based training mode where players are taught moves while being filled in on the Dead or Alive mythos. The developers say that lesser-known elements from the series’ story will be fleshed out in this mode.

The move list in Dimensions will be able to do more than tell you what commands to input. By tapping a move on the list, characters will automatically perform it. The Dead or Alive games don’t exactly have the most complicated inputs, but I’m sure there are people who will find this feature useful.

Dead or Alive: Dimensions will be out in time for the 3DS’ launch EDIT: in North America.

Source: Vooks

One of the games Atlus announced for the 3DS way back when it was first revealed to the public is actually a upgraded port of a current DS game. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Over Clock is, for the most part, the same as its DS counterpart – a game which is, admittedly, still sitting unfinished in my game case (screw the Last Day boss battle).

However, scans out of Famitsu reveal that Over Clock will sport some slightly improved visuals (note the crisper-looking character portraits and less blurry sprites):

DS

3DS

Also coming from Famitsu is info that the game will feature full voice acting with over 20,000 voice samples. Some of the talent on board for the game are Atsushi Abe, Ayako Kawasumi, and Mamiko Noto.

It’s worth noting that, judging from the resolution of the images floating around, it looks like Over Clock will keep all the stat menus on the top screen, relegating all the action to the non-3D capable bottom screen.

Source: NeoGAF (More images available there)

It was revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu that Resident Evil Revelations, Capcom’s attempt at survival-horror on the 3DS, will bridge the story between Resident Evil 4 and 5.

Revelations will star the original Resident Evil duo, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, and take place on a luxury cruise liner.

Perhaps the biggest news regarding the game is the statement from Revelartions producer Masachika Kawata saying that the game will bring about a return to more puzzle and exploration-based gameplay and an attempt to put the “horror” back in the survival-horror series.

Source

Producer Tetsuya Nomura revealed some new details regarding his latest project, Kingdom Hearts 3D, in an interview with Famitsu.

On the development front, the core mechanics of the game are done and are now being tested to see what works and what doesn’t.

Players will be able to play as Riku and Sora over the course of the game’s story. The two will have different playstyles, highlighting the differences between both characters.

What should be great news to Disney fans, Nomura said that the dev teams goal is to have all of KH3D’s levels be never-before-used Disney worlds. He didn’t say which worlds would make it into the game or if old Disney worlds will return. However, original locales from previous games, like Traverse Town, will return.

Let’s just hope they leave out Atlantica.

Source [via Vooks]

The latest issue of Famitsu has screens and info on a brand new Rune Factory heading to the Wii and PS3. Titled Rune Factory Oceans, the game is the first in the series to be released on a non-Nintendo console.

As the name suggests, Oceans has a large nautical theme. Where in the previous console Rune Factory, Frontier, you explored a giant floating whale-shaped island in the sky, Oceans has you voyaging across the seas on a giant named Ymir.

Many of Rune Factory‘s game mechanics (and Harvest Moon‘s, transitively) will return in Oceans. There are three lovely ladies for you to woo and marry (the lower left corner of the scan): Odette, purple-haired one; Iris, the one with light brown hair and Lili, the blonde-haired one.

Rune Factory Oceans is scheduled to dock in Japan February 24th.

Source, 2

New screens from Famitsu show Dead or Alive game running on Nintendo’s 3D-enabled 3DS. The top-heavy fighter was announced way back when the 3DS was presented to the public at E3, but now it’s sporting the title Dead or Alive Dimensions.

View all the new screens after the break. Most of them are of the above guy beating on chesty women and some dudes.

Source

Read more

Following up Famitsu‘s reveal yesterday, Capcom officially announced the sequel to Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth by opening up the game’s official site.

From the looks of things, spunky sidekick Kay Faraday and bumbling oaf Dick Gumshoe will return to assist Edgeworth in a new series of mysteries/cases.

Gameplay-wise, cases still progress in the “Investigate, Use Logic, Confront Suspect” format used in the first Investigations.

Lucky attendees who play the demo at Tokyo Game Show will get a neat little charm with an image of in-game TV hero The Steel Samurai.

Source

Yet another Nintendo series receives a perfect 40 out of 40 in Famitsu. Pokémon Black and White apparently did enough to blow away the reviewers at one of Japan’s top gaming magazines. The attempt to reboot the series and lock out all old pokémon until after the game has been beaten was among the many positive things the reviewers had to say. They were also smitten with the game’s new PC and Wi-Fi functions.

But really, is this top honor actually as prestigious as it once was? I remember back when Famitsu was notoriously stingy with their scores. In fact, after Vagrant Story for the PSX, their next perfect score was awarded almost three years later!

This is the ninth 40 out of 40 given out in the past three years; the fifth in the past two years! I really have to wonder: Are games getting better, or has Famitsu been letting its coffers do the reviewing?

Source [via 4cr]

Everyone’s favorite cravat-wearing, maroon-clad prosecutor is back! The latest issue of Famitsu revealed a sequel to Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth.

Little can be gathered from the current scan (seriously, did someone smother their lens in Vaseline or something?), but Siliconera managed to make out a gameplay-related tidbit. Apparently, “chess” is a keyword.

The wait for more info on the game won’t be long, however. It’s been confirmed that Capcom will have a playable demo at Tokyo Game Show, which kicks off next week.

Source