RPG
Marugame Castle also holds the distinction of being one of only 12 castles in Japan with this particular architectural element left intact.
Keep your wits about you — you never know what might appear as you walk these underground tunnels.
Game developer Square Enix, renowned for its number of long-running Japanese RPG series, announced yesterday that a new, smartphone-only entry in the fabled Dragon Quest franchise will hit online stores sometime this year.
In January this year, we brought you news of an upcoming video game that quite literally evolves as you play, starting off as a monochrome mass of pixels before slowly introducing virtually every gaming mechanic and action RPG element that we’ve come to know and love, culminating with full-on 3-D visuals, giant demons and a suitably epic plot. That game is Evoland, and after long last it’s available to buy from today.
RocketNews24 was fortunate enough to receive a review copy of the game late last week. Having poured over the original promotional video for so long, it was with high expectations that we sat down with the full game for an extended session of hacking, slashing and critical dissecting. The finished article, we’re happy to say, is absolutely spellbinding.
While it’s true that a number of the world’s best-selling action RPGs – including those that this new video game emulates – hail from Japan, we have to admit that we’re taking the unusual step of reporting on non-Asia specific news with this article; the reason being that it’s simply it’s too awesome not to share.
What you’re about to witness is a short promotional video for Evoland, a new game from Boreaux-based Shiro Games that’s just a few weeks away from release. But this is no ordinary video game. Imagine playing a game that quite literally evolves as you progress; its graphics, sound and gameplay mechanics gradually changing from those of the early 80s to the multi-million dollar standards set by this generation’s sprawling action RPGs.
Taking its cues from industry greats like The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, Evoland allows players to experience first-hand both the growth of the genre and the technological advancements that the video game industry has made over the past three decades, meaning that the game you finish will be almost unrecognizably different to that which you originally began.










Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Akita Kanto Festival, one of Japan’s most spectacular summer festivals, gets an anime twist this year
Starbucks Japan to open Shinkansen platform stores at Kyoto and Nagoya stations
Aichi city throws year-long 20th birthday bash for giant beckoning cat statue, Hello Kitty invited
Final Fantasy plushie shoulder bags are fuzzy and functional [Photos]
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japan’s largest online flea market reminds users that selling used school swimsuits is prohibited
Toyota Museum’s international retro vehicle parade returns to Aichi this autumn
U.S. government reportedly planning to close Nagoya consulate
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Final Fantasy plushie shoulder bags are fuzzy and functional [Photos]
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japan’s largest online flea market reminds users that selling used school swimsuits is prohibited
Toyota Museum’s international retro vehicle parade returns to Aichi this autumn
U.S. government reportedly planning to close Nagoya consulate
7-Eleven Japan rethinks convenience store sandwiches with a wild new choc-mint variety
Yoshinoya gets into fancy fish, but is the cheap beef king reaching too far? [Taste test]
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport airlines announce stricter luggage check-in deadline for domestic flights
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Coco’s Japan is very confident in their chilled ramen, but should they be? [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
Is covering your entire upper body with cooling strips enough to fend off Japan’s summer heat?
Japan’s favorite popsicles add multilingual packaging to better connect with foreign tourists
Resident Evil’s terrifying Licker becomes a bag in Japan that wants to feed you