The question is: am I going to put any time at all into my Japanese copy of The Legend of Legacy before the North American version of this 3DS RPG hits the streets in a few months?

The most likely answer to the question posed in this post's headline is "probably not," I sadly have to admit, although I'm going to do my best to turn that ho-hum response into something that's far more appealing--you know, like, "yeah, but only a couple of hours."

Seriously, though, I've wanted to dig into my Japanese copy of The Legend of Legacy ever since it arrived on my doorstep in early March. Unfortunately, all sorts of annoying things--like work, work and more work--have kept me from doing so.

Actually, that's not completely true. My day job and my on-the-side freelance gigs aren't solely responsible for my failure to pop this cart into my Japanese 3DS LL even once over the last three months. At least a bit of blame can be heaped on the technical writing certificate program I just wrapped up (imagine me doing a little happy dance right now), my slow-as-a-snail Japanese studies and my insistence on having some sort of life outside of work, class and blogging about games.



At any rate, one of my many gaming goals at the moment is to spend at least a little time with this SaGa-esque, FuRyu-developed 3DS RPG before it makes its way to North American store shelves (as well as this region's eShop) later this year.

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you--an English version of The Legend of Legacy is being prepped as we speak. Specifically, it's being prepped by the folks at Atlus, who revealed today that both physical and digital versions of the game will be released in both North and South America sometime "this fall." Oh, and it'll sport a perfectly acceptable (to me, at least) $39.99 price tag.

Does this news thrill any of you as much as it thrills me? If so, share your excitement in the comments section below. (Also, if you'd like to catch a glimpse of the Japanese version's beautiful packaging, check out my post about it when you've got a spare second or two.)

Wubbadubbadubba, it's true: a Rhythm Tengoku 'Ringside' theme just hit the Japanese 3DS eShop

An alternate headline for this post, if you're the kind of person who gets a kick out of that sort of thing: "If Nintendo doesn't add this Rhythm Heaven 'Ringside' theme to the North American 3DS eShop, and soon, somebody's probably going to get hurt."

After all, who wouldn't jump at the chance to replace their 3DS' generic menu screen with a theme that features the iconic--and more than a little homoerotic--wrestler who appeared in Nintendo's last Rhythm Heaven (Rhythm Tengoku in Japan) title?

Speaking of Rhythm Tengoku--or Heaven, depending on which way you swing--the latest entry in this fabulous series, Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus, just hit Japanese store shelves (as well as that region's 3DS eShop).

Here's hoping it's announced for release in other countries and territories soon. (You can count on me to chat about it even if it isn't, by the way, as the Japanese copy I pre-ordered ages ago should find its way into my grubby paws within a week or so.)

Nice Package! ('Noble Pink' Nintendo DS Lite)

Considering all of the love I've shown for the Nintendo DS over the years (especially this past year, as I've devoted an entire series of posts to it), you might think that I'd have a whole slew of systems that are dedicated to playing its wonderfully diverse catalog of games.

In fact, I've only ever owned or played a single DS system--that being the white DS Lite I semi-begrudgingly bought (I wasn't all that keen on Nintendo's first dual-screened handheld until I finally experienced it for myself) sometime in 2007 so I could play Animal Crossing: Wild World while traveling for work.

Although I've barely put any time into Wild World in the ensuing years, I’ve spent hours upon hours with the aforementioned DS Lite--which continues to chug along like I only pulled it from its box yesterday, I'm proud to say.



Still, as much as I love its sleek design and its diminutive size, I recently came to the conclusion that I’d love it even more if it were a bit more colorful. Specifically, I'd love it even more if it were a pretty shade of pink. Which initially struck me as kind of funny, as my mom has had a pink DS Lite for ages, and I never much cared for the particular hue that Nintendo chose for its casing.

For some odd reason, though, I recently had a change of heart that prompted me to see the "coral pink" DS Lite ("noble pink" in Japan) in a far more appealing light.

So, when I came across an eBay auction for a (mostly) complete-in-box "noble pink" DS Lite a month or so ago, I naturally couldn't keep myself from bidding on it.

Anyway, imagine my surprise when I was able to win the auction in question with a bargain-basement bid (in my humble opinion) of $25.



As I alluded to earlier, the Japanese DS Lite I acquired as a result of this online shopping extravaganza can’t really be described as “complete in box.” Oh, a box was included, as you should be able to see in the photos shared throughout this post, and a pretty-in-noble-pink DS Lite system was included, too, but that’s about it. In other words, it didn’t come with an instruction manual or any of the pamphlets and fliers that Nintendo usually stuffed inside this product's packaging.

Of course, who in 2015 really needs an instruction manual for a DS Lite, especially one that’s totally, or at least mostly, in Japanese? Not me.

Even if I were the kind of guy who refused to buy anything but undeniably complete-in-box gaming products, though, I’d have shoved aside those irrational feelings in favor of picking up the lovely DS Lite shown in the snapshot above, as the hardware, in particular, is in pristine condition.



If I were to guess, I'd say the system's never been used. At the very least, its previous owner either has the softest skin ever or wore gloves while playing it, as the outer shell is free of the usual smudges and scuff marks. Also, he or she must've obsessively ignored the lower touch screen, as it has absolutely no scratches on it.

Is this beauty going to be my new go-to system for DS games? Sadly, probably not, but don't take that to mean it's going to sit in a cabinet, forever unused. I'll definitely pull it out and put it through its paces now and then, but for the most part I'll turn to my trusty OG 3DS when I want to play DS carts, as I love the more modern hardware's ability to track playtime.

Are any of you aficionados of the DS Lite's packaging--or, more likely, of the DS Lite itself? If so, let me (and others) know why in the comments section below.