Ni no Kuni mobile games

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There are three mobile games in the Ni no Kuni series published by Level-5. The first two were developed by Level-5 in partnership with mobile distribution companies, and were released around the original games in the main series, Dominion of the Dark Djinn and Wrath of the White Witch. The first, Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories, is a role-playing game set before the events of the main entries. It follows the story of Oliver and his friend Mark, and their attempts to construct a car. The first chapter was released in December 2010 through Level-5's Roid service. The second game, Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters, is a social card role-playing game in which players collect cards and use them in battles, and use the abilities of characters who have been trapped in the cards. It was released in a partnership with the GREE mobile service in May 2012. The third game, Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds, is a role-playing game developed by Netmarble, following a beta tester in a fictional virtual reality game. It was released in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in June 2021, and worldwide in May 2022.

Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories[edit]

Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories
Developer(s)Level-5
Publisher(s)Level-5
Platform(s)Mobile phone
Release
  • JP: December 9, 2010
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories[a] is an episodic role-playing video game developed and published by Level-5. The first chapter was released for mobile devices through the Roid service on December 9, 2010.[1]

A prequel to Dominion of the Dark Djinn and Wrath of the White Witch, Hotroit Stories follows Oliver and his friend Mark,[b] who create a custom car by finding parts around the town of Hotroit,[c][1][3][4] eventually making their way to an abandoned factory in their search.[5] They are accompanied by a cat.[6] Throughout their search, Oliver and Mark encounter creatures similar to the imajinn/familiars[d] of the main game, which they must fight to proceed. Unlike the main games, Hotroit Stories does not feature magic; characters instead attack using items such as dry ice for similar effects.[7] Anne Lee of Chic Pixel noted that the game features a similar art style to EarthBound (1994).[6]

The game was first teased at a press conference in June 2010,[8] as well as at the Tokyo Game Show in September 2010,[9] before its formal reveal at the Level-5 Vision conference in October 2010.[10] The first and only chapter, titled "Oliver and Mark", was released in December 2010.[1]

Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters[edit]

Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters
One big island, with the logo "二ノ国 大冒険モンスターズ" in front. Two small islands are present in the background.
Developer(s)Level-5
Publisher(s)Level-5
Platform(s)Mobile phone
Release
  • JP: May 11, 2012
Genre(s)Collectible card game, role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters[e] is a social card role-playing video game developed and published by Level-5. It was released for mobile devices through the GREE service on May 11, 2012.[11]

In the game, players travel to a different world and collect cards featuring creatures known as "Imajinn",[d] of which there are over 200.[12] An occupant of the other world is trapped in every card; by flipping the card, players can use the occupant's abilities during battles.[13] Rare cards are also available, granting players powers such as improved recovery and special attacks.[14] The game also features a cooperative multiplayer mode, in which two players defend against a boss encounter in a "Raid" battle;[11][15] there are over 40 bosses in the game.[12] All of the cards were redesigned in June 2012.[16]

The team at GREE initially contacted Level-5 to create individual games for the platform; this eventually developed into a comprehensive partnership between the two companies, resulting in Level-5 developing three titles for GREE.[17] Early registrations for the game began on March 21, 2012.[18] The game was available for Android and iOS devices, through a membership with the GREE service.[11] The game's servers were terminated on September 28, 2012.[19]

Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds[edit]

Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds
Developer(s)Netmarble Neo
Publisher(s)Level-5
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)Android, iOS, Windows
ReleaseAndroid, iOS
  • JP: June 10, 2021
  • WW: May 25, 2022
Windows
  • WW: May 25, 2022
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds is a free-to-play role-playing video game developed by Netmarble Neo and published by Level-5 for Android, iOS, and Windows.[20][21] The game was revealed in November 2019 and was released for Android and iOS in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan on June 10, 2021,[22] and globally for Android, iOS, and Windows on May 25, 2022.[23] Cross Worlds was created using Unreal Engine 4.[24]

The game's story follows a beta tester for a fictional virtual reality game called Soul Diver, which transports them to the world of Ni no Kuni. Within Soul Diver, they meet an AI character named Rania before a glitch crashes the game. The character awakens in a burning city where they save the Queen, who is revealed to be the parallel version of Rania. The world is based on the one from Dominion of the Dark Djinn and Wrath of the White Witch.[25] The game features five character classes: Destroyer, Engineer, Rogue, Swordsman, and Witch. It also has two gameplay modes: Kingdom Mode is a cooperative multiplayer mode wherein players can explore the world with their Imajinn;[d] and Team Arena is a competitive multiplayer mode where six players compete in two teams to collect the most Higgledies.[f][25]

Level-5 president and CEO Akihiro Hino approached Netmarble in early 2018 with a proposal for an MMORPG based on Ni no Kuni, having been impressed with its previous game Lineage 2: Revolution. Netmarble general producer Bum-jin Park felt that the artistic style of the series would work well on mobile devices, though noted that it caused some trouble as the development team wanted to preserve its value. The game was developed independently by Netmarble based on initial guidelines presented by Level-5. Its three-year development involved core members of the team from Lineage 2: Revolution.[26] Cross Worlds generated US$101.3 million in revenue in its first two weeks; it was the second highest-grossing game globally in that period behind Honor of Kings.[27] Japan accounted for 45% of the revenue, while South Korea represented 35%, and Taiwan around 15.7%.[28]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ 二ノ国 ホットロイトストーリー in Japanese
  2. ^ In the English version of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, the character of Mark is renamed Philip.
  3. ^ In the English version of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, the town of Hotroit is renamed Motorville.[2]
  4. ^ a b c In English, Imajinn creatures are known as Familiars.
  5. ^ 二ノ国 大冒険モンスターズ in Japanese
  6. ^ Higgledies are small creatures first introduced in Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (2018).

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "NDS「二ノ国 漆黒の魔導士」の"プロローグ"，「二ノ国 ホットロイトストーリーズ」第1章が本日配信開始". 4Gamer.net. Aetas, Inc. December 9, 2010. Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  2. ^ Spencer (February 16, 2012). "A Tour Through Ni No Kuni: The Wrath Of The White Witch's World". Siliconera. Curse, Inc. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  3. ^ Ayano, Nikaido (December 9, 2010). "モバイル版だけのストーリーが楽しめる『二ノ国 ホットロイトストーリーズ』第1章配信開始". Inside Games. IIC, Inc. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  4. ^ "『二ノ国』の序章はケータイから！『二ノ国 ホットロイトストーリーズ』が配信". Famitsu. Kadokawa Corporation. December 9, 2010. Archived from the original on September 27, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  5. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (December 9, 2010). "Ni no Kuni Gets 600,000 Order". Andriasang. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  6. ^ a b Lee, Anne (July 6, 2012). "Mother + Studio Ghibli + Level-5 = !!!". Chic Pixel. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  7. ^ Monogatari, Gaijin (December 10, 2010). "Jandemonium (December 10th, 2010)". RPGamer. CraveOnline. Archived from the original on September 18, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  8. ^ Aniel, Alex (June 24, 2010). "Ni no Kuni Press Conference Live Blog". Andriasang. Archived from the original on December 25, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  9. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (August 31, 2010). "Sega, Konami, Level-5 Share Tokyo Game Show Plans". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  10. ^ "今年も数々のサプライズが―"LEVEL5 VISION 2010"詳報". Famitsu. Kadokawa Corporation. October 20, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c Aki, Gotsuki (May 11, 2012). "レベルファイブとグリーの提携タイトル第1弾「二ノ国大冒険モンスターズ」の配信が開始". 4Gamer.net. Aetas, Inc. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  12. ^ a b Gantayat, Anoop (March 21, 2012). "First Screens: Level-5's New GREE Games". Andriasang. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  13. ^ "「これでダメならソーシャルゲームは諦める」とレベルファイブ 日野晃博氏が語った。「グリー×レベルファイブ共同発表会」レポート". 4Gamer.net. Aetas, Inc. March 22, 2012. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  14. ^ Johnston, Ken (March 21, 2012). "GREE and LEVEL-5 Announce a Comprehensive Global Partnership" (Press release). Burlingame, California: GREE. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  15. ^ "レベルファイブとグリー、業務提携第一弾として「二ノ国大冒険モンスターズ」を配信開始". GREE. GREE, Inc. May 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved July 26, 2015.
  16. ^ "GREE向け「二ノ国 大冒険モンスターズ」がリニューアル。全カード画像を一新". 4Gamer.net. Aetas, Inc. June 14, 2012. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  17. ^ "レベルファイブとグリーが包括提携で世界を目指す、人気作品も続々ソーシャル化". Nikkei Trendy. The Nikkei. March 21, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  18. ^ Gueed (March 21, 2012). "4月にサービス開始予定の「二ノ国 大冒険モンスターズ」は，カードバトルやコレクションが楽しめる"二ノ国"をベースにした一作。現在事前登録を受付中". 4Gamer.net. Aetas, Inc. Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  19. ^ "『二ノ国大冒険モンスターズ』サービス終了のお知らせ". Level-5. September 5, 2012. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  20. ^ Stenbuck, Kite (June 11, 2021). "Netmarble Teases Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds Updates and global Release". Siliconera. Gamurs. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  21. ^ Guisao, Jason (May 25, 2022). "The Ni No Kuni MMO Is Out Today On Mobile And PC". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 16, 2022.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (May 17, 2021). "Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds launches June 10 in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan". Gematsu. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  23. ^ Yang, George (May 11, 2022). "Ni No Kuni: Cross Worlds MMORPG Launches Globally Later This Month". GameSpot. Red Ventures. Archived from the original on May 11, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  24. ^ Romano, Sal (November 14, 2019). "Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds launches in second half of 2020 in Japan; debut trailer, details, and screenshots". Gematsu. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Robson, Daniel (September 26, 2020). "Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds - First Gameplay Revealed". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  26. ^ "『二ノ国：Cross Worlds（ニノクロ）』インタビュー。レベルファイブ全面協力の誕生秘話が明らかに" [Interview with "Nino Kuni: Cross Worlds". The story behind the birth of Level-5 full cooperation is revealed]. Dengeki (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. June 11, 2021. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  27. ^ Walker, Alex (July 2, 2021). "The Ni No Kuni Mobile Game Is Making An Absolute Killing". Kotaku Australia. G/O Media. Archived from the original on July 2, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  28. ^ Mateo, Alex (July 2, 2021). "Report: Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds Game Topped US$100 Million Faster Than Pokémon Go Did". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
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