Nintendo Boosts 3DS In Japan With Monster Hunter 4, Crop Of Major Titles

Author: by Staff

At a Japanese-focused event in Tokyo, Nintendo tried to win over its home country by announcing a raft of new first and third-party 3DS titles. These included a surprise reveal of Capcom's Monster Hunter 4 for the stereoscopic handheld. As translated by Wired, the Japanese language only press conference started with a demonstration of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Wii, one of the few major arriving on Nintendo's console this year. After going through other major Wii games debuting this year in Japan, including Pokepark 2 and Kirby, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata debuted a 'Misty Pink' colored 3DS in Japan for October 20th. This hardware color has apparently appeared because the 3DS "doesn’t have as many female users as Nintendo’s other platforms", according to Wired's write-up of the executive's comments. The event, held immediately before Tokyo Game Show but only open to domestic press, moved on to the 3DS. Following the handheld's poor sales and subsequent major price cut, the company is concentrating on first-party stalwarts like Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, both debuting in 2011 in the U.S. In addition, it was revealed that Mario Tennis will debut for 3DS in 2012 in Japan, as well as the previously announced Paper Mario and Luigi's Mansion 2. Also now confirmed for a 2012 release in Japan is noted Nintendo franchise Animal Crossing, as well as a slightly delayed Kid Icarus. The company was keen to showcase a larger amount of third-party games as well, including Bandai Namco's SD Gundam and Ace Combat, Capcom's Resident Evil: Revelations, Square Enix's odd music title Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, and Konami's Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater. Finally, the company detailed Capcom's Monster Hunter 3GS, the already-announced title that brings the massively popular Japanese adventure game to the 3DS. With a release date for that title confirmed as December 10th in the territory, Nintendo and Capcom then surprised the crowd by showcasing Monster Hunter 4 for the first time. Although no additional information was given, the two firms confirmed that the hotly awaited post-Monster Hunter 3GS iteration of the series - currently without a release date - will come to Nintendo 3DS in the future. With the franchise having sold 18 million copies in total, the majority in Japan, it's unsurprising that Nintendo chose to cap their event with such an announcement. [UPDATE: Nintendo has also revealed more details about the previously leaked slide-pad attachment for the 3DS. The peripheral will retail for 1,500 yen (about $20) when it's released in Japan December 10, and will require a single AAA battery to operate. The pad will work with the previously revealed Monster Hunter 3G, as well as upcoming titles including Capcom's Biohazard Revelations, Konami's Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Namco Bandia's Ace Combat 3D Cross Rumble, Tecmo Koei's Dynasty Warriors VS and Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts 3D.]