Level-5 (company)
- (President
- CEO)
- Dark Cloud
- Professor Layton
- Inazuma Eleven
- Ni no Kuni
- Yo-kai Watch
- Snack World
- Freestyle Work[2]
- Level-5 Comcept
Level-5 Inc.[a] is a Japanese video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka. The company was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from Riverhillsoft. Early in its history, the company enjoyed a close relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment, with many of its games then funded by and produced in conjunction with them. Level-5 began self-publishing its games in Japan by the late 2000s, with other companies such as Nintendo handling publishing worldwide. The company is best known for their Dark Cloud, Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Ni no Kuni, Yo-kai Watch, and Snack World franchises.
History
Level-5 was established in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino and his development team at Riverhillsoft, following the release of OverBlood 2.[3] Since Hino did not originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment, who would allow him to develop for their upcoming PlayStation 2 under the condition that he set up his own company.[3] The name, "Level-5", was a reference to Japanese school report cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being created, the company had eleven employees.[3]
Level-5's first full-scale production was the action role-playing game Dark Cloud, developed under contract by Sony Computer Entertainment. Intended to be a launch game for the Japanese release of the PlayStation 2, it was delayed before the console's launch in March 2000 to allow further development, eventually being released in Japan in December 2000, and worldwide in 2001. Work immediately began on a sequel titled Dark Chronicle, released as Dark Cloud 2 in North America. The company was working with Microsoft on an MMORPG for the Xbox, True Fantasy Live Online, before it was cancelled in 2004.[4]
Yasumi Matsuno, director of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the Ogre Battle series, briefly joined Level-5 in June 2011,[5] and left the company after completing work on Crimson Shroud for the Nintendo 3DS.[6] By the early 2010s, Level-5 was one of the ten largest video game companies in Japan, holding a market share of 3.2%.[7] In October 2015, Level-5 founded a spin-off company in Santa Monica, in cooperation with Dentsu, called Level-5 Abby.[8] In October 2020, it was reported that the company's North American operations, including Level-5 Abby, were shutting down due to low sales.[9] The same month, Level 5 launched a manga publishing platform called "Manga 5".[10]
Roid service
In 2009, Level-5 launched its Roid (Revolutionary Original Ideas Discovery) service, a mobile phone application that serves as a content delivery platform for mobile games.[11] It is only compatible with NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet service in Japan. Users pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive games and social game functions. The platform debuted with six games: Sloan and McHale's Mystery Story, Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Mirror of Death Remix, Chara Jo P, Yuuenchi wo Tsukurō Revolution, Treasure Island, and Elf the Dragon. The first three were developed by Level-5, while the last three were developed by outside companies.[11]
List of games
All games were developed and/or published by Level-5 unless otherwise noted
Game | Platform(s) | Initial release date |
---|---|---|
Dark Cloud[b] | PlayStation 2 | December 14, 2000 |
Dark Chronicle[b] | PlayStation 2 | November 28, 2002 |
Dragon Quest VIII[c] | PlayStation 2 | November 27, 2004 |
Rogue Galaxy[b] | PlayStation 2 | December 8, 2005 |
Jeanne d'Arc[b] | PlayStation Portable | November 22, 2006 |
Professor Layton and the Curious Village | Nintendo DS | February 15, 2007 |
Android, iOS | June 8, 2018 | |
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box | Nintendo DS | November 29, 2007 |
Android, iOS | December 5, 2018 | |
Inazuma Eleven | Nintendo DS | August 22, 2008 |
Nintendo 3DS | December 27, 2012 | |
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future | Nintendo DS | November 27, 2008 |
Android, iOS | July 13, 2020 | |
White Knight Chronicles[b] | PlayStation 3 | December 25, 2008 |
Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales[12] | Nintendo DS | May 21, 2009 |
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #1 and #2[12] | Nintendo DS | June 18, 2009 |
Dragon Quest IX[13][c] | Nintendo DS | July 11, 2009 |
Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales 2[12] | Nintendo DS | September 3, 2009 |
Inazuma Eleven 2[12][14] | Nintendo DS | October 1, 2009 |
Nintendo 3DS | December 27, 2012 | |
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #3 and #4[12] | Nintendo DS | October 8, 2009 |
Professor Layton and the Last Specter[12] | Nintendo DS | November 26, 2009 |
Inazuma Eleven 3[13] | Nintendo DS | July 1, 2010 |
Nintendo 3DS | December 27, 2012 | |
White Knight Chronicles II[b][15] | PlayStation 3 | July 8, 2010 |
Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn[13] | Nintendo DS | December 9, 2010 |
Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories[13] | Mobile phone | December 9, 2010 |
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask | Nintendo 3DS | February 26, 2011 |
Danball Senki | PlayStation Portable | June 16, 2011 |
Inazuma Eleven Strikers[16] | Wii | July 16, 2011 |
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch | PlayStation 3 | November 17, 2011 |
Nintendo Switch | September 20, 2019 | |
Windows | ||
PlayStation 4 | ||
Xbox One | September 15, 2022 | |
Xbox Series X/S | ||
Little Battlers eXperience Boost | PlayStation Portable | November 23, 2011 |
Inazuma Eleven GO[17] | Nintendo 3DS | December 15, 2011 |
Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Xtreme | Wii | December 22, 2011 |
Girls RPG: Cinderellife[18][19] | Nintendo 3DS | March 8, 2012 |
Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters | Mobile phone | May 11, 2012 |
Guild01 | Nintendo 3DS | May 31, 2012 |
Little Battlers eXperience | Nintendo 3DS | July 5, 2012 |
Time Travelers[20] | Nintendo 3DS | July 12, 2012 |
PlayStation Portable | ||
PlayStation Vita | ||
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room | Android | September 21, 2012 |
iOS | ||
Little Battlers eXperience W | PlayStation Portable | October 18, 2012 |
PlayStation Vita | ||
Professor Layton and the Phantom Thieves | Android | November 14, 2012 |
iOS | ||
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney[20] | Nintendo 3DS | November 29, 2012 |
Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stone | Nintendo 3DS | December 13, 2012 |
Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013 | Wii | December 20, 2012 |
Fantasy Life | Nintendo 3DS | December 27, 2012 |
Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy[21] | Nintendo 3DS | February 28, 2013 |
Liberation Maiden | iOS | March 7, 2013 |
Guild02 | Nintendo 3DS | March 13, 2013 |
Earth Devastating B-Grade Girlfriend Z: Space War | iOS | June 25, 2013 |
Android | August 12, 2013 | |
Yo-kai Watch | Nintendo 3DS | July 11, 2013 |
Nintendo Switch | October 10, 2019 | |
Android, iOS | July 10, 2021 | |
Little Battlers eXperience W: Super Custom | Nintendo 3DS | July 18, 2013 |
Fantasy Life Link! | Nintendo 3DS | July 25, 2013 |
Little Battlers eXperience: Wars | Nintendo 3DS | October 31, 2013 |
Inazuma Eleven GO 3: Galaxy | Nintendo 3DS | December 5, 2013 |
Weapon Shop de Omasse | Nintendo 3DS | February 19, 2014 |
Yo-kai Watch 2 | Nintendo 3DS | July 10, 2014 |
Yo-kai Watch Blasters | Nintendo 3DS | July 11, 2015 |
Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble[d][22] | Android | October 21, 2015 |
iOS | October 28, 2015 | |
Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version[e] | Wii U | December 5, 2015 |
Yo-kai Sangokushi[f] | Nintendo 3DS | April 2, 2016 |
Yo-kai Watch 3 | Nintendo 3DS | July 16, 2016 |
Inazuma Eleven: Everyday+ | Android | June 30, 2017 |
iOS | ||
Layton's Mystery Journey | Android | July 20, 2017 |
iOS | ||
Nintendo 3DS | ||
Nintendo Switch | November 8, 2019 | |
Snack World: Trejarers | Nintendo 3DS | August 10, 2017 |
Otome Yusha[g][23] | Android | December 16, 2017 |
iOS | ||
Yo-kai Watch Busters 2 | Nintendo 3DS | December 16, 2017 |
Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars[f] | Android | January 11, 2018[24] |
iOS | ||
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom | Windows | March 23, 2018 |
PlayStation 4 | ||
Nintendo Switch | September 17, 2021[25] | |
Xbox One | March 21, 2023 | |
Xbox Series X/S | ||
Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl – Gold | Nintendo Switch | April 12, 2018 |
Yo-kai Watch: Gerapo Rhythm | Android | May 10, 2018 |
iOS | ||
Yo-kai Watch World[h] | Android | June 27, 2018[26] |
iOS | ||
Fantasy Life Online | Android | July 23, 2018[27] |
iOS | ||
Yo-kai Watch 4 | Nintendo Switch | June 20, 2019[28] |
PlayStation 4 | December 5, 2019[29] | |
Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu | Nintendo Switch | August 13, 2020[30] |
PlayStation 4 | October 29, 2020 | |
Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds[i] | Android | June 10, 2021 |
iOS | ||
Megaton Musashi | Nintendo Switch | November 11, 2021[31] |
PlayStation 4 | ||
Megaton Musashi Cross | Nintendo Switch | December 1, 2022[32] |
PlayStation 4 | ||
Megaton Musashi Wired | Nintendo Switch | April 25, 2024 |
PlayStation 4 | ||
Windows | ||
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road | Android | 2024 |
iOS | ||
Nintendo Switch | ||
PlayStation 4 | ||
PlayStation 5 | ||
Windows | ||
DecaPolice | Nintendo Switch | 2024[33] |
PlayStation 4 | ||
PlayStation 5 | ||
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time | Nintendo Switch | October 10, 2024[34] |
Professor Layton and The New World of Steam[35] | Nintendo Switch | 2025 |
Ushiro | Nintendo Switch | TBA |
Notes
- ^ Japanese: 株式会社レベルファイブ, Hepburn: Kabushiki gaisha Reberu Faibu
- ^ a b c d e f Published by Sony Computer Entertainment
- ^ a b Published by Square Enix
- ^ Co-developed by NHN PlayArt
- ^ Developed by Ubisoft
- ^ a b Developed by Koei Tecmo
- ^ Developed by h.a.n.d.
- ^ Developed by GungHo Online Entertainment
- ^ Developed by Netmarble
References
- ^ "会社概要|株式会社レベルファイブ".
- ^ "株式会社レベルファイブ".
- ^ a b c Hino, Akihiro; Iwata, Satoru (2010). "Iwata Asks: Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles, page 2". Iwata Asks. Nintendo of America Inc. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
- ^ Cook, Chris (June 3, 2004). "True Fantasy Live Online Cancelled". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
- ^ "How Yasumi Matsuno Ended Up at Level-5". June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on June 30, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Yasumi Matsuno leaves Level 5". November 8, 2012.
- ^ "Market Data". Capcom. September 30, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
- ^ "LEVEL-5 abby Inc".
- ^ Galiz-Rowe, Ty (October 12, 2020). "Ni No Kuni Developer Level-5 Is Shutting Down In North America-Report". GameSpot. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (October 15, 2020). "Level-5 Opens 'Manga 5' Website with 9 New Manga on October 15". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ a b "Level-5's ROID Service Kicks Off Today -- Andriasang.com". December 24, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b c d e f "Level-5 International America History & Products 2009". 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Level-5 International America History & Products 2010". 2011. Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ "In shops now: Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm and Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard". 2012. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
- ^ "TGS 2009: White Knight Chronicles 2 Revealed". Kotaku. September 24, 2009.
- ^ "今度の敵は未来から!? 『イナズマイレブン』感謝祭で映画版・Wii版・第4弾を発表 - 電撃オンライン" (in Japanese). News.dengeki.com. June 27, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2013.
- ^ "3DS Inazuma Eleven Due This Winter". June 19, 2011. Archived from the original on June 19, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Level-5 Bringing Mobile Hostess Sim to 3DS (andriasang.com, 10.20.2010)". October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Girl's RPG Cinderelife - In Development". Archived from the original on March 28, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ a b GUEST. "Level-5 Vision 2010 Live Blog (andriasang.com, 10.19.2010)". Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
- ^ Gantayat, Anoop (2011). "First Professor Layton Crosses One Million". Adriasang. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ "Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble". yo-kai-wibblewobble.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved June 25, 2017.
- ^ "オトメ勇者". Official Otome Yusha game page.
- ^ Romano, Sal (January 11, 2018). "Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars now available in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
- ^ Gilliam, Ryan (May 20, 2021). "Ni no Kuni 2 comes to Switch this September". Polygon. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
- ^ Sato (June 27, 2018). "Yo-kai Watch World For Smartphones Is The Series' Take On Pokémon GO". Siliconera. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ Sato (July 18, 2018). "Fantasy Life Online Goes Live In Japan On July 23". Siliconera. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ^ Ryan, Craddock (October 11, 2018). "Yo-Kai Watch 4 Has Been Delayed Until Spring 2019 In Japan". Nintendo Life. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- ^ Sato (December 5, 2019). "Yo-kai Watch 4++ Released Today In Japan, Here's Its Opening Movie". Siliconera. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
- ^ Romano, Sal (March 11, 2020). "Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y – Waiwai Gakuen Seikatsu announced for PS4, Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
- ^ Romano, Sal (August 5, 2021). "Megaton Musashi launches November 11 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
- ^ Stenbuck, Kite. "Megaton Musashi Cross launches as a F2P title for PS4 & Switch on December 1 in Japan". RPGSite. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ "Level-5's DecaPolice Pushed to 2024 Release". rpgfan.com. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ Romano, Sal (February 21, 2024). "FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time launches October 10". Gematsu. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (February 8, 2023). "Professor Layton and The New World of Steam announced for Switch". Gematsu. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- v
- t
- e
Dark Cloud | |
---|---|
Dragon Quest | |
Guild | |
Inazuma Eleven |
|
Ni no Kuni |
|
Professor Layton |
|
White Knight Chronicles | |
Yo-kai Watch |
|
- Atamania
- Fantasy Life
- Jeanne d'Arc
- Little Battlers Experience
- LBX: Little Battlers eXperience
- Megaton Musashi
- Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
- Rogue Galaxy
- Snack World
- Time Travelers
- True Fantasy Live Online (cancelled)
- Ushiro
- Wonder Flick