Miitopia | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Developer(s) | Nintendo EPD [lower-alpha 1] |
Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
Director(s) | Yuichiro Ito |
Producer(s) | Kouichi Kawamoto |
Designer(s) |
|
Programmer(s) | Takaomi Ueno |
Artist(s) | Kyohei Seki |
Composer(s) |
|
Platform(s) | Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo Switch |
Release | Nintendo 3DS
|
Genre(s) | Action-adventure, role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Miitopia [lower-alpha 2] is a 2016 role-playing video game by Nintendo originally released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan in 2016 and worldwide in 2017, with a remastered version released for the Nintendo Switch in May 21, 2021. The game features customizable Mii characters in a turn-based battle system and follows the story of a group of heroes battling the Dark Lord, who is stealing the faces of Miitopia's inhabitants. The game received mixed reviews, with critics praising its creative life simulation elements and humor while criticizing its combat system and repetitiveness.
Miitopia is a role-playing video game with life simulation elements. Playable characters are created with Mii avatars and have certain personality traits which influence their role in combat. [1] Each party member has one of several standard character classes or "jobs" such as warriors and mages; as the game progresses, more classes become available. [1] Like Tomodachi Life , the relationships between Miis outside of combat affect the game: for example, Miis not getting along with one another can make combat more difficult. [1] Miitopia supports the ability to import Miis and their trait settings from Tomodachi Life, as well as from players' friend lists. The game supports Nintendo's line of Amiibo figures, which allow players to use unique cosmetics on their Miis. [1]
The Nintendo Switch remaster introduces a new makeup and wig feature which allows players to further customize their in-game characters, including options not available on the console's Mii Maker application. The Switch remaster also adds a horse that can help in combat, outings that let characters gain relationship experience points, and the Tower of Despair, a secret final dungeon unlocked after the Tower of Dread.
The game begins with the main protagonist, a Mii of the player's choice, arriving in Greenhorne Town. Soon, the Dark Lord, who can steal faces from Miis and use them to control peaceful creatures and turn them into monsters, attacks the town. The hero chooses a character class and is sent on a journey to stop the Dark Lord. Along the way, the player creates more companions, meets the Great Sage, and reaches Greenhorne's castle, where the quest continues after the Dark Lord steals the faces of the King and the Princess. The team then enters the kingdom of Neksdor, but the Dark Lord attacks, stealing the hero's companions and rendering them without a class. After the guardian gives the hero new powers, they journey through Neksdor, meeting three new companions and the Genie of the Lamp. The team continues on to the Realm of the Fey, where the Dark Lord attacks, stealing the hero's companions and their character class again and prompting the guardian to provide a new group of character classes. The hero is tasked with saving the three Fab Fairies of the Realm, who show the team the way to the Dark Lord's castle in Karkaton. However, before they can open the door, the Dark Lord steals their faces. After retrieving their faces, the Fab Fairies open the door to Karkaton; when the team arrives there, the Dark Lord attacks again, stealing the hero's new companions but not their powers. The hero is tasked with saving their friends with help from the Great Sage.
The team fights and defeats the Dark Lord, and afterwards, it is revealed that that it was a common Mii who a wisp known as the Dark Curse possessed. The Dark Curse attempts to possess the hero, but the Great Sage intervenes and is possessed instead, becoming the Darker Lord. The team tracks down the Darker Lord through the lands of Powdered Peaks, Peculia, and Nimbus before reaching the Darker Lord's Domain in The Sky Scraper, fighting previous bosses along the way. After reaching the top of The Sky Scraper, the heroes go to the Otherworld for the final showdown with the Darker Lord; although it evolves into the Darkest Lord, it is ultimately defeated. Afterwards, the Great Sage is freed and traps the Dark Curse, then explains its history to the hero. It was once a ordinary Mii who was rejected because they had a boring face; they decided to get rid of their face, and over time became a soul of hatred, malice and evil, which became the Dark Curse. The hero is given the choice to either destroy the Dark Curse or provide them with a new face and body. If the hero provides the Dark Curse with a new life, the Great Sage takes them on their travels to have them atone for their mistakes. If the hero decides to destroy the Dark Curse, they use their divine power to destroy it. Regardless of the outcome, they are praised for saving Miitopia.
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | (3DS) 67/100 [2] (NS) 71/100 [3] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Destructoid | 7/10 [4] |
Famitsu | 31/40 [5] |
Game Informer | 7.5/10 [6] |
GameRevolution | 2.5/5 [7] |
GameSpot | 5/10 [8] |
Nintendo Life | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Nintendo World Report | 6/10 [10] |
Pocket Gamer | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Polygon | 8/10 [12] |
RPGamer | 3.5/5 [13] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
USgamer | 2.5/5 [15] |
Miitopia received mixed or average reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [2] Famitsu awarded both versions a score of 31/40. [5]
Many critics have drawn comparisons between Miitopia and Tomodachi Life [6] [8] [7] [12] due to the two involving Miis and having similar mechanics, despite having different premises. Jeff Cork of Game Informer described Miitopia as a hybrid between Tomodachi Life and an old-school RPG, allowing for a "simple but effective" player experience. [6] While Jonathan Leack from GameRevolution draws a similar comparison between Miitopia and Tomodachi Life, his opinion of the former was less favorable, noting that the interactions between characters in Miitopia were "let down by uninteresting writing", and were less humorous compared to Tomodachi Life. [7]
He also criticized the lack of player involvement, describing how the lack of player choice in exploring areas made him feel like the game was on autopilot most of the time. [7] Similarly, Heidi Kemps of GameSpot felt that Miitopia was a "slow slog you mostly watch rather than play", [8] and Jon Mundy of Pocket Gamer also discussed the lack of challenge and player input. [11] Allegra Frank of Polygon had similar feelings, saying that the game often let the Miis "do their thing", but found that this was often enough to entertain her. She highlighted that the uninvolved segments of the game were balanced out by its overall dynamic nature, saying that the game periodically shaking up the cast, map, and combat occurred often enough to keep her engaged. [12]
Despite the combat being an essential part of the game, it was not universally praised. Leack criticized the unchallenging combat in earlier parts of the game, [7] while Frank criticized the high frequency of battles causing repetitive gameplay. [12] They found that the auto-battle mechanic mitigated, but did not completely solve, this issue. Also criticized was the fact that all party members except for the play Mii were controlled by AI. Kemps and Frank both noted that lack of player control over the party's actions could lead to frustrating gameplay. [8] [12] Despite this, Frank praised the creative "hidden intricacies" of the battle system, due to characters' jobs and personality traits affecting their combat style. [12]
Most critics cited creativity to be Miitopia's greatest asset; Cork, Kemps, Leack, and Frank agreed that the creative spin on a more traditional RPG concept was ultimately its main highlight. [6] [8] [7] [12]
By February 2017, the 3DS version had sold over 168,000 copies in Japan. [16]
During its first week in the UK, the Switch port sold 36% more copies at launch than the 3DS version, debuting at #2 behind Resident Evil Village . [17] In Japan, the Switch port launched at #2 behind Rune Factory 5 with 72,725 physical copies sold, three times the sales of the 3DS version. [18] By its second week of release, the Miitopia Switch port surpassed competition to take the #1 weekly sales spot in Japan, with 34,451 physical copies sold. [19] According to Media Create, the Switch port debuted at #1 in South Korea. [20]
The Nintendo Switch version has sold 1.79 million copies as of November 2023. [21]
Two music tracks from Miitopia, "Boss Battle" and "Boss: The Darkest Lord", were featured in the crossover fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate . [22] A Nintendo Switch port of the game, developed by Grezzo, was released on May 21, 2021. [23] [24] [25]
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a role-playing video game developed by Level-5 and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2. It was released in Japan in 2004, in North America in 2005, and in PAL regions in 2006. It is the eighth installment of the Dragon Quest series and it is the first English version of a Dragon Quest game to drop the Dragon Warrior title. A version of the game for Android and iOS was released in Japan in December 2013, and worldwide in May 2014.
WayForward Technologies, Inc. is an American independent video game developer and publisher based in Valencia, California. Founded in March 1990 by technology entrepreneur Voldi Way, WayForward started by developing games for consoles such as the Super NES and Sega Genesis, as well as TV games and PC educational software. In 1997, they relaunched their video games arm, placing the company as a contractor for publishers and working on a variety of licensed assets.
The Mysterious Murasame Castle is a 1986 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo and Human Entertainment and published by Nintendo. It was originally released for the Family Computer Disk System in Japan as the second original game for the platform. The Mysterious Murasame Castle was later released worldwide on the Virtual Console in 2014 and for the Nintendo Switch Online service in 2023.
A Mii is a customizable avatar used on several Nintendo video game consoles and mobile apps. The name Mii is a portmanteau of "Wii" and "me", referring to them typically being avatars of the players. Miis were first introduced on the Wii console in 2006 and later appeared on the DS, 3DS, the Wii U, the Switch, and various apps for smart devices such as Miitomo. Miis can be created using different body, facial and clothing features, and can then be used as characters within games on the consoles, either as an avatar of a specific player or in some games portrayed as characters with their own personalities. Miis can be shared and transferred between consoles, either manually or automatically with other users over the internet and local wireless communications.
Grezzo Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer. It was founded in December 2006. Koichi Ishii, known for his work on the Mana series of games by Square Enix, was hired as CEO and president of the company in April 2007. The company's name comes from the Italian expression "diamante grezzo", meaning 'a diamond in the rough'.
Tomodachi Collection,, is a social simulation video game for the Nintendo DS, released exclusively in Japan on June 18, 2009. A sequel, Tomodachi Life, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan on April 18, 2013, and in North America and Europe on June 6, 2014.
The Nintendo 3DS is a foldable handheld game console produced by Nintendo. The console was announced in March 2010 and unveiled at E3 2010 as the successor to the Nintendo DS. The system features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS video games. As an eighth-generation console, its primary competitor was Sony's PlayStation Vita.
Heroes of Ruin is an action role-playing game developed by n-Space and published by Square Enix for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released on June 15, 2012, in Europe and July 17 in North America. Square Enix London Studios worked with n-Space for the development.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a platform game developed by WayForward Technologies for the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U. It is the third game in the Shantae series, following Shantae: Risky's Revenge, and the first to be developed for a home console. It was released in North America on the 3DS eShop on October 23, 2014 and on the Wii U eShop on December 25, 2014, and in PAL regions on both platforms on February 5, 2015. The game was later ported to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Fire TV, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna. The game follows the adventures of the eponymous half-genie Shantae as she once again has to save Sequin Land from a new foe, the Pirate Master, with help from her nemesis Risky Boots.
Hyrule Warriors is a hack and slash video game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo, mixing settings and characters from Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda with the gameplay of Koei's Dynasty Warriors series. Hyrule Warriors was released in Japan in August 2014, and worldwide the following month. It became one of the best-selling games on the Wii U. An updated port, Hyrule Warriors Legends, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan in January 2016 and worldwide in March of the same year. A second enhanced port, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2018. A successor, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, was released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in November 2020.
Tomodachi Life, known in Japan as Tomodachi Collection: New Life, is a social simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS, which is the sequel to the Japan-exclusive Nintendo DS title Tomodachi Collection. The game follows the day-to-day interactions of Mii characters, referred to as "islanders", as they build relationships, solve problems, and interact with the player.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D is a 2015 action-adventure game developed by Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. The game is a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, which was originally released for the Nintendo 64 home console in 2000. The game was released worldwide in February 2015, coinciding with the North American and European releases of the New Nintendo 3DS, to positive reviews, with particular praise for its fast-paced gameplay, enhanced graphics, and quality of life changes.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is a 2015 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo EPD and Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The second original Nintendo 3DS entry in The Legend of Zelda series after A Link Between Worlds, this game is the third installment in the franchise to prominently feature a multiplayer campaign after Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures, albeit this time with only three players as opposed to four, wireless and online connectivity as opposed to the prior games' use of link cables, and a stronger emphasis on cooperation rather than competition.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a role-playing video game by Square Enix. The eleventh entry in the long-running Dragon Quest video game series, it was released in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 4 in July 2017 and worldwide for the PlayStation 4 and Windows in September 2018. An enhanced version, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition, was released for Nintendo Switch by Nintendo in September 2019; for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in December 2020; and for Stadia in March 2021. Taking place in a world called Erdrea, the game follows the hero's quest to save the world from an impending darkness. Throughout the game, he explores challenges related to his prophesied Luminary identity as he endures persecution from those who demonize him.
Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games is a 2016 crossover sports and party game in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series, released for the Nintendo 3DS in February 2016 in Japan, March 2016 in North America, and in April 2016 for Europe and Australia, and for the Wii U worldwide in June 2016. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee, as are the other games in the series. It was developed by Sega, with assistance from Arzest and Spike Chunsoft, and published by Nintendo. It is the fifth title in the Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games series. The game is a collection of Olympic sports themed mini-games featuring characters from the Mario series and the Sonic the Hedgehog series.
Shantae is a series of platform video games developed by WayForward. The eponymous heroine of the series, a half-genie, was created by Erin Bozon, while the games for this character were created by her husband Matt Bozon. The series consists of five games: Shantae (2002), Shantae: Risky's Revenge (2010), Shantae and the Pirate's Curse (2014), Shantae: Half-Genie Hero (2016) and Shantae and the Seven Sirens (2019). A sixth title, Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, is in development and scheduled for release in 2025.
Ever Oasis is an action-adventure role-playing video game developed by Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. Revealed at E3 2016, the game was released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2017 and in Japan the following month. It was directed and produced by Koichi Ishii, the creator of the Chocobo and Moogle as well as the Mana series at Square Enix.
Fire Emblem Warriors is a hack and slash action role-playing game developed by Omega Force and Team Ninja, and published by Koei Tecmo in Japan and Nintendo internationally for the Nintendo Switch and New Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan in September 2017, and worldwide the following month. The game is a collaboration between Koei Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors franchise and Nintendo and Intelligent Systems's Fire Emblem series.
The Alliance Alive is a role-playing video game developed by Cattle Call for the Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan by FuRyu in 2017, and was released worldwide by Atlus USA in 2018. The story follows a group of characters as they mount a rebellion against a race of Daemons that have ruled over humans since blotting out the sun a millennium before. Gameplay follows many traditions of the Japanese role-playing genre, including turn-based battles and navigation using a world map.