The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave

Last updated

The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave
The Denpa Men - They Came By Wave Logo.png
Developer(s) Genius Sonority
Publisher(s) Genius Sonority
Composer(s)
Platform(s) Nintendo 3DS
Release
  • JP: February 8, 2012
  • NA: September 27, 2012
  • PAL: December 6, 2012
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave [a] is a 2012 augmented reality role-playing video game developed and published by Genius Sonority for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released on the Nintendo eShop in Japan on February 8, 2012, in North America on September 27, 2012, and in Europe and Australia on December 6, 2012. [1] [2]

Contents

Gameplay

In The Denpa Men, the player captures Denpa Men to form a party to explore dungeons. [2] Using the Nintendo 3DS's camera, Denpa Men will appear in the player's surroundings when near a Wi-Fi signal or scanning a QR code. Denpa Men differ by name, color, appearance, and abilities. [3]

Combat is not random and follows the traditional role-playing formula with an auto-battle option. [4] [5] Other common role-playing elements that appear in the game are treasure chests, item shops, and non-player characters. [6]

If a dungeon is left with downed allies, every Denpa Man that was downed will leave the party. By purchasing offerings from the in-game shop, Denpa Men can be revived via the spirit shrine, albeit only if they were caught via the antenna tower.

Setting

The Denpa Men live on a small island which has a house, a shrine so that if Denpa Men die, players can retrieve them, a shop, and a tower that has an antenna on it that allows the player to catch Denpa Men called Antenna Tower. There is also a dock with a boat that takes players to many different islands in the game. Players can soon unlock a museum of Denpa Men, a PC for QR Code scanning, and an item shop.

Reception

The Denpa Men was given a rating of 7.5 on Metacritic. Reviewers praised the game for its quirkiness and difficulty. [7] [8] [9]

Sequels

A sequel named The Denpa Men 2: Beyond the Waves was released in Japan and in the West. The title features improved gameplay, more dungeons, and other additions. [10] A third game, The Denpa Men 3: The Rise of Digitoll, was released in Japan on August 7, 2013, in North America, Europe and Australia on May 8, 2014. [11] [12]

On July 2, 2014, it was announced that a spin-off title, Denpa Men's RPG FREE! (Japanese: 電波人間のRPG FREE!, Hepburn: Denpa Ningen no RPG FREE!) would be a free-to-play game. It was released on the Nintendo 3DS exclusively for Japan on July 23, 2014. [13] [14] Another spin-off title, New Denpa Men's RPG (Japanese: New 電波人間のRPG, Hepburn: New Denpa Ningen no RPG) was released as a Japan-exclusive mobile game in 2017, but shut down in May 2019. [15] [16]

Due to the closure of the Nintendo 3DS eShop on March 27, 2023, [17] the 3DS games, including the original trilogy and "FREE!" are no longer purchasable (as with the rest of the software available on the digital storefront), though it remains available to redownload if already owned before the closure along with software updates for some time.

In June 2024, an updated version based on Denpa Men's RPG FREE! and New Denpa Men's RPG titled The New Denpa Men (Japanese: New 電波人間のRPG FREE!, Hepburn: New Denpa Ningen no RPG FREE!) was announced and released worldwide for the Nintendo Switch on July 22, 2024. [18] [19]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: 電波人間のRPG, Hepburn: Denpa Ningen no RPG

Related Research Articles

<i>The Legend of Zelda</i> (video game) 1986 video game

The Legend of Zelda, originally released in Japan as The Hyrule Fantasy: Zelda no Densetsu, is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The first game of The Legend of Zelda series, it is set in the fantasy land of Hyrule and centers on an elf-like boy named Link, who aims to collect the eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom in order to rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon. The player controls Link from a top-down perspective and navigates throughout the overworld and dungeons, collecting weapons, defeating enemies and uncovering secrets along the way.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening</i> 1993 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in The Legend of Zelda series to be released on a handheld game console. Link's Awakening is one of the few Zelda games not to take place in the land of Hyrule, and it does not feature Princess Zelda, Ganon or the Triforce relic. Instead, the protagonist Link begins the game stranded on Koholint Island, a place guarded by a whale-like deity called the Wind Fish. Assuming the role of Link, the player fights monsters and solves puzzles while searching for eight musical instruments that will awaken the sleeping Wind Fish and allow him to escape from the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AlphaDream</span> Defunct Japanese video game development company

AlphaDream Corporation, Ltd. was a Japanese video game development company founded in 2000 by Tetsuo Mizuno and Chihiro Fujioka in Tokyo, Japan. In partnership with Nintendo, it produced software for the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch, including the Mario & Luigi series. The company's staff included former developers from Square, such as Yoshihiko Maekawa. On October 1, 2019, AlphaDream was shut down after filing for bankruptcy during the first stages of Mario & Luigi: Brothership's development.

Genius Sonority is a Japanese video game development studio, whose staff consists of programmers who have previously worked on the Dragon Quest series of video games.

<i>Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers</i> 1997 role-playing video game

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers is a 1997 role-playing video game developed by Atlus. The game is the second installment in the Devil Summoner series, itself a part of the larger Megami Tensei franchise. Originally published by Atlus for the Sega Saturn, it was later ported to the PlayStation in 1999 and Nintendo 3DS in 2012.

<i>Taiko no Tatsujin</i> Video game series

Taiko no Tatsujin is a Japanese video game series created by Namco. In the games, players simulate playing a taiko drum in time with music. The series has released games for the arcade and for console and mobile platforms including PlayStation 2, Advanced Pico Beena, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android and Japanese feature phones.

<i>Dragon Warrior Monsters 2</i> 2001 video game

Dragon Warrior Monsters 2, known in Japan as Dragon Quest Monsters 2, is a role-playing video game published by Enix for the Game Boy Color. It is the second Dragon Warrior Monsters game for the Game Boy Color and features two different versions of the same game, Cobi's Journey and Tara's Adventure. Both games were remade in 2002 for the PlayStation in a compilation game called Dragon Quest Monsters 1+2 and released only in Japan. The Nintendo 3DS version combined both games into one and was released only in Japan in 2014 with the title Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key. The 3DS version was later brought to iOS, Android on August 6, 2020, in Japan.

<i>Pokémon Mystery Dungeon</i> Video game series spin-off from the Pokémon series

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is a video game series spin-off from the main Pokémon series developed by Spike Chunsoft. The games feature the fictional creatures called Pokémon who have the ability to speak human language navigating through a randomly generated dungeon using turn-based moves, common to Mystery Dungeon games. As of March 2020, there have been eleven games across five platforms, as well as several manga adaptations and animated specials.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D</i> 2011 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is a 2011 action-adventure game developed by Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. A remake of the original 1998 Nintendo 64 game, it features updated graphics, quality of life changes, stereoscopic 3D effects, and mirrored versions of the rearranged dungeons from Ocarina of Time Master Quest. The game was released in June 2011, with digital release via the Nintendo eShop arriving in 2012.

<i>Beyond the Labyrinth</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Beyond the Labyrinth is a dungeon crawler role-playing video game developed by tri-Ace and published by Konami for the Nintendo 3DS handheld video game console. The game revolves around a group of players who have begun playing an online multiplayer game, only to find themselves thrust into a world completely different from theirs. They encounter a girl who has become trapped in this world's Labyrinth, and the two parties must work together to find a way out.

<i>Unchained Blades</i> 2011 video game

Unchained Blades, titled UnchainBlades ReXX in Japan, is a 2011 dungeon crawler role-playing video game developed by FuRyu and published by Xseed Games for the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Portable.

<i>Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity</i> 2012 video game

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity is a roguelike video game developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the ninth installment in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series.

<i>Etrian Odyssey IV</i> Video game for the Nintendo 3DS

Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan is a dungeon crawler role playing video game developed and published by Atlus for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the sequel to Etrian Odyssey III: The Drowned City and the first in the Etrian Odyssey series to be released on the Nintendo 3DS.

<i>Crimson Shroud</i> 2012 video game

Crimson Shroud is a role-playing video game developed and published by Level-5, with assistance from Nex Entertainment. It was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012 as apart of Level-5's Guild compilation series, with it being released separately on the Nintendo eShop.

<i>Ultimate Otaku Teacher</i> Japanese manga series

Ultimate Otaku Teacher, subtitled He Is an Ultimate Teacher, is a Japanese manga series, written and illustrated by Takeshi Azuma. It was serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from November 2011 to March 2017, with its chapters collected in 26 tankōbon volumes.

<i>Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon</i> 2015 video game

Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon is a roguelike video game in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. Like its predecessors, players control a human who has awoken as a Pokémon in a world filled entirely by Pokémon and must travel through dungeons, completing missions and battling enemies. The game was released in Japan on September 17, 2015; in North America on November 20, 2015; in Europe on February 19, 2016; and in Australia on February 20, 2016;

<i>Ever Oasis</i> 2017 video game

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.

References

  1. ↑ Burns, Michael (May 23, 2011). "The Denpa Men Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  2. 1 2 Mateo, Alex (July 22, 2024). "Denpa Ningen/The Denpa Men RPGs Get New Release for Switch on July 22". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  3. ↑ Hagues, Alana (February 22, 2024). "The Denpa Men Return In New Free-To-Play Switch Game". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  4. ↑ Fletcher, JC (October 2, 2012). "Portabliss: The Denpa Men (3DS eShop)". Joystiq . Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  5. ↑ Holmes, Jonathan (October 23, 2012). "Review: The 'Denpa' Men: They Came By Wave". Destructoid . Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  6. ↑ "About the Game". The Official Homepage of 'THE ”DENPA” MEN: They Came By Wave', a downloadable game for the Nintendo 3DS. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  7. ↑ Donlan, Christian (January 9, 2013). "The 'Denpa' Men: They Came by Wave review". Eurogamer . Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  8. ↑ Hsieh, Andrew (September 27, 2012). "The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave Review". Nintendojo. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  9. ↑ Reed, Philip J. (September 27, 2012). "Review: The Denpa Men: They Came By Wave (3DS eShop)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ Sahdev, Ishaan (October 25, 2012). "The Denpa Men Developer Interview: On Developing Novel Products". Siliconera . Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  11. ↑ Matulef, Jeffrey (April 24, 2014). "The "Denpa" Men 3: The Rise of Digitoll announced for the west". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  12. ↑ "The Denpa Men 3: Rise of Digitoll | RPGFan". www.rpgfan.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  13. ↑ McFerran, Damien (July 3, 2014). "The Denpa Men Are Going Free-To-Play In Japan". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  14. ↑ rawmeatcowboy (January 6, 2014). "Denpa Ningen no RPG FREE! announced for the Japanese 3DS eShop". GoNintendo. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  15. ↑ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 22, 2024). "Denpa Ningen/The Denpa Men RPGs Get New Smartphone Game in February". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  16. ↑ @NewDenpa (May 8, 2019). "【重要なお知らせ】「New 電波人間のRPG」はサービスを終了いたしました。 今までプレイ頂き、誠にありがとうございました。　#new電波" [[Important Notice] 'New Denpa Men RPG' has ended its service. Thank you very much for playing until now. #newdenpa] (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2024– via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "Wii U & Nintendo 3DS eShop Discontinuation". Nintendo Customer Support. February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  18. ↑ The New Denpa Men - Official Reveal Trailer | Nintendo Direct 2024. June 18, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024– via IGN.
  19. ↑ Reynolds, Ollie (July 22, 2024). "PSA: The New Denpa Men Is Available Now On The Switch eShop". Nintendo Life. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.