12 import games I bought in 2012 but didn't tell you about until now: Inazuma Eleven (DS)

OK, so the title I'm focusing on in today's "12 import games I bought in 2012 but didn't tell you about until now" post isn't as thrilling as the one I wrote about yesterday--or at least I don't think it's as thrilling.

Still, it's an import, and a fairly odd one at that (thanks to it being a soccer-based RPG), so at least it's not a total loss.

Would you believe that I've yet to spend much quality time with this pick-up? Yeah, I thought you would--especially given the track record suggested by the majority of my "Acquisition #123" posts.



Actually, I'm kind of amazed it's even been unwrapped, as I honestly don't remember playing it at all since it arrived on my doorstep a number of months ago.

I guess I should have included Inazuma Eleven in one of those silly posts--like "Five games I have to get back to (and hopefully finish) in 2013" or "Five games I have to rip from their shrink-wrap and actually play in 2013"--I published last week, eh?

See also: Previous '12 import games I bought in 2012 but didn't tell you about until now' posts

Pointless confession of the day: If Nintendo somehow brings Calcio Bit 3DS to the US, with this box art, I'll probably buy it

Keep in mind that the confession above is being made by someone who is no real fan of the sport known in some regions as football and in others as soccer. 

Still, I can't help but love the box art (below) that Nintendo of Japan's designers came up with for this soon-to-be-released 3DS game.

Considering Nintendo of America has thus far passed on bringing any of the Inazuma Eleven titles to the States, though, I can't imagine it will give the green light to a soccer sim filled with adorable chibi characters.

Oh, well, it's probably for the best. After all, I know as much about football/soccer as I do about crochet (which is to say, not a whole lot). 

Let's Play: 'Which Box Art is Better?' (Inazuma Eleven 2 edition)

I don't know how many of you are aware, but Level-5's second soccer-themed--or football-themed, if you're not a North American--RPG, Inazuma Eleven 2, is set to hit the streets of Europe today.

Because I've been interested in this series since the first game was unleashed upon the Japanese public back in 2008, I thought I should devote a "Which Box Art is Better?" post to this second release.

The following piece of art will grace the cover of Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm:

The illustration below, on the other hand, will serve as the box art for Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard.

Which one do you prefer?

As for me: I slightly prefer Firestorm's cover art to Blizzard's, although I have to say I find both illustrations to be a bit busy. That said, I plan on picking up one or the other sooner rather than later--after I've acquired the first Inazuma Eleven, of course.

See also: Previous 'Which Box Art is Better?' posts

Inazuma Eleven, now in English

I have no idea why I'm so interested in Inazuma Eleven. It certainly isn't because I'm a soccer/football fan. Maybe it's because it was developed by the same folks who made Dark Cloud, Dragon Quest IX and the Professor Layton titles?



Regardless of the reason, this soccer/football-focused RPG has piqued my curiosity and interest. Here's hoping it's released in the US at some point (or at least in the UK, so I can pick up a copy via sendit.com).

(Via gonintendo.com and tinycartridge.com)