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[TehOh]

Been wanting to try this since they hyped it up on the Tiny Cartridge podcast. Was absolutely thrilled by the surprise eShop release in the Direct.

I was a little baffled at first, but I finally feel like I'm getting a good hang of it about three hours in (just got past the match with the kids at the river). The soccer matches are really fun, and I'm having a blast playing around with the tactics. Still just hanging on by the skin of my teeth in matches, but it's a lot of fun.

Hope they bring the rest of the games out here too.

 

[Roto13]

Axel Blaze?

Is this guy two thirds of the Streets of Rage cast?

 

[Roto13]

I'm shamelessly double posting because fuck da police.

What's the deal with picking an amount of power to put behind your shot? I assume there's a reason you might not want to just max it out.

 

[evanmisha]

I'm shamelessly double posting because fuck da police.

What's the deal with picking an amount of power to put behind your shot? I assume there's a reason you might not want to just max it out.

Drains more FP, I think? That's one of the parts of the gameplay I'm just running on conjecture still after 8 years. Wouldn't be surprised if there was an explanation in IE2+ that just isn't in this because it's such a pointlessly accurate port of IE1 despite its flaws.

Love the bit of text explaining that you can set 2P/3P skills to pick random players, only you can't because that's an IE2 feature that was put into the PAL release but the text slipped through the meh QC.

EDIT: Just got a response from Club Nintendo support. 5 coin registration survey for Inazuma Eleven is not an error. Weird

 

[Uthred]

Is the story in the game the same as the one in the anime and is the story a big draw or is the gameplay alone worth it? (Tried out an episode or two of the anime and its weirdly addictive)

 

[squall23]

Is the story in the game the same as the one in the anime and is the story a big draw or is the gameplay alone worth it? (Tried out an episode or two of the anime and its weirdly addictive)

Story in general is the same, only a few minor differences between the two.

 

[Danny Dudekisser]

Conceptually, this series has always seemed interesting, but how's the gameplay? I want something that would hold up on gameplay alone.

 

[NateDrake]

I'm an idiot and don't know where the club house for the meeting is at the start of the game? I did the soccer thing, saw the new student, and now have the meeting with Weathersbee but no one is at the club house or in the school.

 

[culafia]

8 hours and 5 chapters in. This game owns.

Some tips:
Stats: http://www.gamefaqs.com/ds/943160-inazuma-eleven/answers?qid=49585
When choosing between two options in a game: Choosing the rightmost option has a higher success rate but a lower chance of keeping the ball/can result in a foul. The left option has a lower chance of success but guarantees you possession of the ball after success.
When choosing shots: Chip shot is slower but has a higher chance of getting past the goalie. Reg shots are direct and faster. Power determines chance of getting past the goalie, but your shot becomes less accurate with the more power you use.

 

[bart64]

What a game, so much imagination and new real time mechanics. Brings me back to the early DS magic with touch screen drawing controls. For an understated soccer RPG it's really engaging and deep, and the combat is top tier for the genre.

 

[GhaleonQ]

What a game, so much imagination and new real time mechanics. Brings me back to the early DS magic with touch screen drawing controls. For an understated soccer RPG it's really engaging and deep, and the combat is top tier for the genre.

*high-five*

Bittersweet's the feeling, I suppose? It's nearly 6 years late in North America and released a surprise, but it's here and got the full, beautiful localization for which I hoped. Enjoy, all! I know I have.

 

[chickdigger802]

rebought this because i have no clue where my imported EU copy went. Any breakdown of whats different? Seems like every region got different versions of this game lol. Don't feel like the visuals are that much better than ds outside of better 3d models. Shame that the transitions between screens and battles and what not still feel a bit too llong.

How do the sequels work? Do levels carry over or do you essentially 'start fresh'?

 

[Gunstar Ikari]

I bought this game on a whim despite not giving a damn about soccer, and so far it's been pretty fun.

Hope that the US gets the rest of the series.

 

[eojoko]

Bought this when it came out a few days ago, but I finally put down Bravely Default for long enough to start it tonight — I'm hooked! Very fun game. Now that I'm comfortable with the gameplay, I can't put it down.

I really hope this series catches on in NA, because I'm having an absolute blast with this game.

 

[Draconian]

Alright, I actually figured out what I was doing and got through that battle ok. Eager to play more tomorrow as I think I've finally gotten used to the controls.

 

[evanmisha]

rebought this because i have no clue where my imported EU copy went. Any breakdown of whats different? Seems like every region got different versions of this game lol.

Compared to Inazuma Eleven's JP DS release...

PAL DS lifted the rematch system from IE2+ and added a bunch of stuff to the postgame, changed a few character sprites to those of later games, added the gender marker to character profiles, removed Professor Layton's mini-team, and upped the max recruited characters from 32 to 112. Got a dub with British accents.

3DS version happened independent of those changes, but randomly changed some (but not all) of the character sprites that the PAL DS version did, removed Professor Layton (I THINK??), moved the skill animations to the top screen and left the bottom screen empty which means no game clock during skills which can be annoying, removed the DLC opting instead to unlock it in post-game, lifted most of the 'character x must be in your party' restrictions outside of full matches, added the IE2+ method of swapping characters in and out of the active team (which makes their not upping the character limit so dumb), and lifted the connection map progression method from IE2+ which is a GODSEND. Got a dub with American accents.

That's all I noticed, barring in mind that I haven't played PAL DS (and JP DS) in a few years. I could be wrong about Professor Layton as I haven't spent any real time training where his team shows up, but nobody has posted about it so I'm gonna assume prof got the axe once again (even though he's apparently back in the new GO games).

How do the sequels work? Do levels carry over or do you essentially 'start fresh'?

You start fresh.

 

[creid]

Compared to Inazuma Eleven's JP DS release...

PAL DS lifted the rematch system from IE2+ and added a bunch of stuff to the postgame, changed a few character sprites to those of later games, added the gender marker to character profiles, removed Professor Layton's mini-team, and upped the max recruited characters from 32 to 112. Got a dub with British accents.

3DS version happened independent of those changes, but randomly changed some (but not all) of the character sprites that the PAL DS version did, removed Professor Layton (I THINK??), moved the skill animations to the top screen and left the bottom screen empty which means no game clock during skills which can be annoying, removed the DLC opting instead to unlock it in post-game, lifted most of the 'character x must be in your party' restrictions outside of full matches, added the IE2+ method of swapping characters in and out of the active team (which makes their not upping the character limit so dumb), and lifted the connection map progression method from IE2+ which is a GODSEND. Got a dub with American accents.

So if I'm not misunderstanding you: the max character limit in the NA 3DS version is still 32?

 

[evanmisha]

So if I'm not misunderstanding you: the max character limit in the NA 3DS version is still 32?

That is correct, unfortunately.

Though, in all fairness, the character pool is fairly small compared to even IE2, and it doesn't have any of the post-game matches that require a big roster (like, use a team comprised only of wind element players).

Despite all this, IE1 is a good game and is definitely worth 20$. IE2, however, is a GREAT game and improves on just about everything, especially when you've only played an IE1 sans PAL DS enhancements.

 

[Brazil]

What... Uh... How do you even play this game? I can't do anything. Is my brain too old for this?

 

[evanmisha]

What... Uh... How do you even play this game? I can't do anything. Is my brain too old for this?

What confuses you exactly? It's been so long since I was first introduced to the series that it's difficult to remember what had me stuck in the beginning. Does anyone who recently got the hang of the battle system want to give some insight in to how they turned it around?

I'll be happy to help if I can, though. Try checking out some YouTube videos of the match you're stuck on, or mulling over the manual. It can be difficult to grasp at first -- the game really doesn't do enough to ease you in. Once you 'get it', though, you're set.

 

[Brazil]

What confuses you exactly? It's been so long since I was first introduced to the series that it's difficult to remember what had me stuck in the beginning. Does anyone who recently got the hang of the battle system want to give some insight in to how they turned it around?

I'll be happy to help if I can, though. Try checking out some YouTube videos of the match you're stuck on, or mulling over the manual. It can be difficult to grasp at first -- the game really doesn't do enough to ease you in. Once you 'get it', though, you're set.

I don't even know. Do I have to stop time to make my moves? I simply can't control multiple characters at once. I can't even pass the ball without losing it because it's too much information ahhhh

 

[evanmisha]

I don't even know. Do I have to stop time to make my moves? I simply can't control multiple characters at once. I can't even pass the ball without losing it because it's too much information ahhhh

Let the AI move your characters for now. Focus on passing and keeping the ball away from the opposing team.

EDIT: And, y'know, shooting when possible.

 

[Peff]

Don't pass at players, though, shoot the ball slightly ahead of them so that they run up to it instead of standing there and letting other players catch up and force a battle.

 

[eojoko]

I don't even know. Do I have to stop time to make my moves? I simply can't control multiple characters at once. I can't even pass the ball without losing it because it's too much information ahhhh

I had this same reaction at first, but it gets less overwhelming quickly. The early 4 v 4 battles can be won by drawing a few arrows before the play has even begun, then clicking pass and shoot when the play begins.

One good way to score is to click the goal before the ball gets to your player. He will head or volley the ball instead of just a standard shot.

Just keep at it and when it clicks it's clicked. There are an infinite amount of 4v4 battles, and eventually scrimmages, and there is minimal punishment for losing them.

 

[Roto13]

Playing against the Occult team and wondering if the story matches ever stop being so damn scripted.

Also wondering if I'm ever going to have fun with this game.

 

[evanmisha]

Playing against the Occult team and wondering if the story matches ever stop being so damn scripted.

Also wondering if I'm ever going to have fun with this game.

By chapter 5, what you see is basically what you get with IE1. Story matches get less scripted, characters get some pretty varied skills, and the plot gets crazier.

IE2 introduces skills themselves leveling up, introduces block (a defender helps block a shoot, or blocks a shoot themselves entirely), volley (using multiple shoot skills in a line), and long shoot (using shoot skills a great distance from the goal) skill mechanics, has a notoriously crazy story and some great new cast members, practically doubles the character roster, beefs up the post-game by a ton, and has much, much less scripted story matches. IE3 introduces team skills, and ramps everything else up by about the same amount IE2 did. IE3 did also have a feature where you could link the 'Red' version with the 'Blue' version to unlock a new story chapter in each, but from what I understand the 1-2-3 version combines the two and doesn't require doing that.

If any of those things sound appealing to you, then you're in for a treat.

 

[chickdigger802]

i remember not feeling bad having a guide open for key games just to verify if the first half is scripted.

 

[evanmisha]

i remember not feeling bad having a guide open for key games just to verify if the first half is scripted.

I definitely have a guide open at all times just to make sure I don't miss any treasure chests.

 

[Roto13]

Why doesn't it always give me the option to choose what kind of shot I want to make?

Why isn't there a button or something I can push to cancel a plan I set in time out when something randomly fails?

Why does the map disappear when flashy things are happening on the top screen? Do they think what's happening on the field suddenly stops mattering?

Why are fouls completely random?

 

[evanmisha]

Why doesn't it always give me the option to choose what kind of shot I want to make?

Why isn't there a button or something I can push to cancel a plan I set in time out when something randomly fails?

Why does the map disappear when flashy things are happening on the top screen? Do they think what's happening on the field suddenly stops mattering?

Why are fouls completely random?

It... does? You mean whether or not you want to do a header/volley? That's because those are assist-only shots and can't be performed alone (in Inazuma Eleven, anyways.) EDIT: Oh, IE1 doesn't consider a shot made from a certain distance away from the goal to be an actual shoot attempt, and considers it a failed pass. IE2 rectifies this. Granted, most shots made from that distance with the way IE1 shots are calculated would be blockable by all but the weakest keepers.

Yeah, I tend to ignore time-outs in IE1 because they're just not worth the effort without a lot of the later engine enhancements.

Well, for the most part, it doesn't matter. Still wish they'd kept the info screen from the DS games, though. The GO 3DS games have it, too. While characters don't move around during skills, the clock does still keep going, so in specific situations it does suck not being able to see it.

Fouls are based on the strength of the move. From what I understand, the more overkill your winning a clash is, the more likely it is to result in a foul.

 

[Roto13]

It... does? You mean whether or not you want to do a header/volley? That's because those are assist-only shots and can't be performed alone (in Inazuma Eleven, anyways.)

So many times I've tapped the net and my character has just kicked it in that direction without asking what kind of shot I want to make. As in regular shot, chip shot, or special move.

 

[squall23]

Fouls are based on the strength of the move. From what I understand, the more overkill your winning a clash is, the more likely it is to result in a foul.

It also depends on the move as well. Breakthrough and all the various versions in the later games are notorious for giving fouls no matter the power.

So many times I've tapped the net and my character has just kicked it in that direction without asking what kind of shot I want to make. As in regular shot, chip shot, or special move.

Sometimes that happens when you're too far away from the goal. Long shots are something that will be implemented in IE2.

 

[evanmisha]

So many times I've tapped the net and my character has just kicked it in that direction without asking what kind of shot I want to make. As in regular shot, chip shot, or special move.

Oh, IE1 doesn't consider a shot made from a certain distance away from the goal to be an actual shoot attempt, and considers it a failed pass. IE2 rectifies this. Granted, most shots made from that distance with the way IE1 shots are calculated would be blockable by all but the weakest keepers.

That's my best guess, anyways.

It's also worth mentioning that, even in IE1, the closer you are to the goalkeeper, the stronger the shot will be. You always want to be as close as you can get. Until long shoot skills are implemented, anyways.

EDIT: Just saw on Miiverse, someone found Layton in the training facility. Looks like his team wasn't cut after all!

 

[eojoko]

For all this talk about how superior IE2/3/Go are, I have to reiterate how much fun I'm having with IE1 here for the first time. I absolutely have Inazuma Eleven fever.

The setting, story, and soccer gameplay combine to be something unlike anything I've ever played, but with the familiar simple addictiveness of a good jrpg. Really can't way to continue playing this series!

I've even been watching the anime a little just because I enjoy the world Inazuma Eleven creates. I'm finding the American voice actors top notch. Evans, Silvia, and Nelly all have the same sort-of-a-speech-lisp-but-not-quite-a-lisp thing that is very endearing. I think they're different actors than in the game?

 

[Watch Da Birdie]

I went with the sub (because the dub's like basically not advancing forward I've heard?), and I've watched like 20+ episodes in the last few days.

I'm loving it.

Spoiler

Although a bit disappointed all the original dudes on Raimon are getting slowly replaced by the more typical Shonen "Defeat Means Friendship" guys, but alas...

 

[vareon]

I went with the sub (because the dub's like basically not advancing forward I've heard?), and I've watched like 20+ episodes in the last few days.

I'm loving it.

Spoiler

Although a bit disappointed all the original dudes on Raimon are getting slowly replaced by the more typical Shonen "Defeat Means Friendship" guys, but alas...

Well IE is an RPG, you should expect more party members as the story goes.

 

[squall23]

I went with the sub (because the dub's like basically not advancing forward I've heard?), and I've watched like 20+ episodes in the last few days.

I'm loving it.

Spoiler

Although a bit disappointed all the original dudes on Raimon are getting slowly replaced by the more typical Shonen "Defeat Means Friendship" guys, but alas...

The problem was that most of the "other" Raimon characters were that they had the personality of a doorknob. Although, that's really Level 5's own fault.

 

[GrandHarrier]

How is the "form" stat calculated that you see during matches?

 

[timetokill]

Oh my god I suck at this game I'm about to play Occult and I'm just so awful at it... I have a really tough time trying to get a character to just dribble the ball consistently... feels like I keep mixing up passing and dribbling.

 

[GDGF]

Axel Blaze?

Is this guy two thirds of the Streets of Rage cast?

Ha!

 

[eojoko]

Oh my god I suck at this game I'm about to play Occult and I'm just so awful at it... I have a really tough time trying to get a character to just dribble the ball consistently... feels like I keep mixing up passing and dribbling.

They dribble automatically without you pressing anything. If you press the screen, it will be a pass or shot.

It's not required, but you can press and drag the stylus from characters to tell them where to run next. It's best to do this during "time-out" by pressing the red hand in the upper right. But if you're having a lot of trouble, don't worry about drawing runs. Just level your guys up and pass and dribble normally. Eventually you will get dribble and block skills that will help you out.

 

[Conan-san]

Oh boy would sure love to buy what is effectively IE 1 HD for my 3DS but apprently my ears would just explode upon hearing US VAs or some such rot.

I bite my thumb at thee, Level 5!

 

[timetokill]

They dribble automatically without you pressing anything. If you press the screen, it will be a pass or shot.

It's not required, but you can press and drag the stylus from characters to tell them where to run next. It's best to do this during "time-out" by pressing the red hand in the upper right. But if you're having a lot of trouble, don't worry about drawing runs. Just level your guys up and pass and dribble normally. Eventually you will get dribble and block skills that will help you out.

Thanks. I've been focusing on just passing more and drawing routes only occasionally and it's definitely easier.

 

[depward]

Props to these guys having the first three episodes of the anime up on the eShop. Watched them and definitely had me interested in purchasing the game!

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Roto13]

Oh boy would sure love to buy what is effectively IE 1 HD for my 3DS but apprently my ears would just explode upon hearing US VAs or some such rot.

I bite my thumb at thee, Level 5!

I know what you did.

 

[evanmisha]

Oh boy would sure love to buy what is effectively IE 1 HD for my 3DS but apprently my ears would just explode upon hearing US VAs or some such rot.

I bite my thumb at thee, Level 5!

Dry your tears with your region locked Inazuma Eleven 3, region locked Inazuma Eleven Strikers, inevitably region locked GO, and your TV airing of the series.

 

[Conan-san]

Dry your tears with your region locked Inazuma Eleven 3, region locked Inazuma Eleven Strikers, inevitably region locked GO, and your TV airing of the series.

What tv airing? Do you see any TV airing in the UK? I sure as fuck dont.

And Strikers got no printing whatsoever over here ether.

Future IE games are all but garanteed for the US but here? Nope, can't be dealin' with US Voice cast.

Fuckin' Level 5, just as scumbag as ATLUS.

 

[Lasdrub]

So after seeing this news I did a bit of research on the game because it reminded so much of Tecmo Cup Soccer Game.

As it turns out, that game wasn't a one off awesome soccer RPG, but actually had a ton of games in the series based off of an anime. We just got a version with changes to make it appeal to us more.

The Captain Tsubasa games went up through 1995 and there was a 2010 release by Konami to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Captain Tsubasa series.

Anyway, I didn't know about this being from the US. I just thought Tecmo Cup Soccer was a really cool game. I imagine that Inazume Eleven picked up where that series left off. All that being said, how does Inazuma Eleven compare? It seems to take a lot of ideas from the original game I played on the NES with more emphasis on character development.

 

[evanmisha]

What tv airing? Do you see any TV airing in the UK? I sure as fuck dont.

And Strikers got no printing whatsoever over here ether.

Future IE games are all but garanteed for the US but here? Nope, can't be dealin' with US Voice cast.

Fuckin' Level 5, just as scumbag as ATLUS.

Am I incorrect, or did over 100 episodes of Inazuma Eleven air in the UK on both Disney XD and CITV? I sure as fuck consider that more of an airing than we've got here in North America.

We got One Piece Unlimited Adventure. It didn't get much of a print run, but I think if I'd said to UK fans around the time of release that this was somehow insignificant, they'd tell me to get bent.

Future IE games are all but garanteed for the US? Uh... you just got The Ogre. Like, just now. It was a full blown release with promotion and a full price MSRP and you could walk into a store and buy a copy. We got this single one, ever, in a surprise, budget, digital-only release.

Not even gonna touch the ATLUS comment.

 

[Conan-san]

You are grossly incorrect. We got one season. One. Which, and my memory's rusty, I'm pretty sure didn't even reach the end of the first arc. And it's on Hulu now (which the UK can't use ether) so that's that point moot.
Disney XD couldn't be arsed and threw it up during the summer at some random time and CITV found better success with it but couldn't get the second season for whatever reason.

The fuck Unlimited Adventure got to do with any of this? Last time I checked I could buy UA for my UK DS and be done with it.

And, whoopdeshit, we get the Pokemon Crystal version of a game we got the previous versions of. What, you're going to tell me to shut up and eat shit over SMT 4 because we got Persona 4 Golden or something just as stupid?

You know what? If my fears are unfounded about future IE games in the UK (UK, if we get fucked out of IE2 HD like this again my point stands) I'd gladly eat Crow. I'd do it in a heart beat, even. But I've dodged many a crow in my life when it comes to Region Locking. My Diet is relatively Crow Free in that regard.