During Limited Run Games' E3 conference, it was revealed that the company would be entering the world of physical Nintendo 3DS releases for the first time.
The first game (or should we say 'games) coming to Limited Run's 3DS line-up is Atooi Collection, which sees five of the Texas-based studio's games arrive on one cartridge. Those games are as follows:
We can't decide whether the prospect of having all five of those games on one cart is what's selling the idea to us, or whether it's this beautifully charming box art. It's gorgeous.
Limited Run's show also revealed a small boatload of Switch releases and the announcement of a retro Star Wars partnership.
Excited for any of these releases? Will you be grabbing the Atooi Collection when pre-orders eventually go live? Let us know below.
Comments 30
This is one I absolutely want, I just hope that it's open pre-order, but I doubt it due to the position the 3DS is in, it might be finite stock.
I liked Mutant Mudds and Bomb Monkey, and I wanted to play Chicken Wiggle and Xeodrifter.
could this be my last physical 3ds purchase?
I already have all these games, but I definitely want this as a collector's item. Hopefully there's a Switch version down the line, too!
Pedantic I know, but this is really 4 games, not 5. Still, happy to see 3DS get some deserving focus.
I already have two copies of Super Rare's physical release of Mutant Mudds, which I have completed, and also the download versions on 3DS and Wii U (the first game was never released on Wii U in Australia as it was originally released pre-IARC).
If this is a region-free cartridge, I wouldn't mind quadruple dipping, though I have no interest in the other games. Why was Dementium not included?!
@Pazuzu666 : The Mutant Mudds games were originally released separately. Super Challenge is a sequel in the spirit of the original Japanese Super Mario Bros. 2 (same engine, mostly same enemies/graphics, with tougher levels) and it was released a few years after the original.
I'm guessing this won't be region free, thus locking a lot of non USA/CAN customers out... Who the hell region locks a portable console ffs.
@Silly_G
When Renegade Kid dissolved, it split into two companies, Atooi and Infitizmo.
Atooi owns the 2D games, with the 3D games like Dementium and Moon Chronicles going to Infitizmo apparently.
@Silly_G And why was Dementium 2 remaster never released as they promised they would? Can 3DS cartridges even be made region free? If not, I'm kind of happy, that means I can simply ignore this release, without feeling the urge to buy it anyway.
@RupeeClock : I was aware of the split, but I wasn't sure who still owned Dementium. I suppose I was wrong in assuming that Jools W still owned the rights.
@Shambo : At this point, I'd rather they just port the Dementium games to Switch. I still haven't played the second game as the retail version skipped Australia (despite receiving a classification).
As for region-free cartridges, the only ones that I am aware of are the Louvre cartridges (which were available in various languages) and are exclusive to said museum. They are also available for download from the eShop. The museum may still have some cartridges left, but they are out of print otherwise.
Region-Lock is the greatest downside on the 3DS. That's why I also have a US and Japanese 3DS. No wonder Nintendo sold so many 3DS. 🤪
So what region is this being released? I'm guessing US as Limited Run is a US company, and to be fair I have been unable to get the My Nintendo gold coins from some of their switch games
I imagine this release will probably be region locked to the US, since LRG is a US based publisher, as is Atooi a US developer.
The Axiom Verge physical release was also US region locked.
These days though 3DS region locks are trivial to those who care enough. It wouldn't stop me from playing the game if I secure a copy.
I picked up the Super Rare Games physical version of Mutant Mudds Collection thinking this is my only chance to get it on a cart. However, I hesitated getting Xeodrifter on Switch because I wanted the 3DS version with the 3D effects. Even with a minute chance that it could still be released some day as a physical item too. With this announcement, my wish has been granted and my purchase is all but guaranteed. I love Limited Run Games!
@Silly_G As DS is region free, I imported Dementium 2. Much better than the first, but somehow a little less... "Charming", if that word can even be used in this context. Years later I found out there apparently was a European version of it, I just NEVER saw in in ANY store. The first one I saw only twice, one of which was casually sitting on the shelf of a miltimedia store, where I also found Moon for DS, and I bought both instantly. The other was used.
Gorgeous box art? Seriously? It's fine, but calling it gorgeous is really far-fetched.
I usually like Limited Run's releases, but this collection seems pretty pointless to me. It feels like they thought "We can't stand Persona Q2 being the last physical 3DS game, let's release something quick and easy after that".
Sorry for beeing so negative, but this really isn't the final release the 3DS deserves in my opinion.
@Timsworld2
LRG is a small US based publisher that can only do a few thousand units per run, and they have to accommodate whatever restrictions a platform might have in place.
If the 3DS is region locked, it's out of their hands.
Actually, all of LRG's releases have been US region, it's just that the PS4 and Switch have the luxury of being region free.
Also if this is a "collage of stock artwork" I don't recognise any of it from Atooi's history. I'm pretty sure it's an original illustration for this 3DS collection release.
@Timsworld2
Any decision to include or forgo region locking is a business decision, Nintendo would've done it during the 3DS for the interest of their business partners, but would've not done it for the Switch if they later found it to be detrimental to their business.
That's all it is really. They can't go back on it for the 3DS now.
The lack of region lock has been a boon for the Switch.
This is perfect as I have never played any of these haha. Woo!
Well I already own all of these titles on the Switch but having a hardcopy is always preferred to me so I'll probably buy this. I'm just hoping it's not going to be $50 or something silly.
I'm still hoping we get a european release for Moon Chronicles, doesn't seem likely now though sadly.
@Timsworld2 not possible, console makers have a rule that you as a company are only allowed to produce games for the region you're in, LRG is US only so they are not allowed to produce non US copies of games.
Louvre 3ds cartridge proved region free 3ds games are possible, but Nintendo does not allow that for 3ds games, even while technically 100% possible.
Good I can skip this one. These games are mediocre at best. Way to scrap the bottom of the barrel limited run.
I need this! I hope there's more 3DS carts coming from LR.
@Shambo @Silly_G Yes, Infinitzo (founder, Gregg Hargrove, who worked alongside Jools at Renegade Kid) acquired the rights to the 3D games. They never officially released anything and were quiet on social media, but supposedly they were working on a project until Gregg suddenly passed away. There's been no word on what has happened to the properties and Jools has also been quiet.
However, a 3rd party publisher and developer did remake D2 into HD on Steam. I don't know if that's the remaster Gregg and Jools were making (it released prior to the split).
@waluigifan1 I can say that for a lot of the games LRG and Super Rare have produced, but my opinion is mine only, as is yours. They cater to the indie scene and thus, devs with games that aren't 10/10 or even 8/10 will flock to these publishers in an effort to help shine light on their "not so popular, but still clearly have an audience" games.
Last I checked, many (if not all) of LRG's and Super Rare's releases have sold out quickly and they even hold two different ordering windows to give everyone a chance to buy the games. Mutant Mudds Collection included.
As for the physical release of the Atooi collection, I'll likely get it despite owning them all. Gotta have that game box (and cart)!
@Timsworld2
There are usually business-minded reasons why you only want your content tailored for a specific market to be available in that market.
This practice is far from dead with the likes of streaming services restricting some or all content on a per-country basis.
Nintendo and Sony and their stakeholders definitely adapted to customer preferences and their purchase habits by opening up region free on their systems this generation.
@Timsworld2 about LRG or Louvre?
In case of LRG, they said that a couple of times on Discord, Twitvh streams and so on how it works.
Didn't Jools complain about poor sales on 3ds with the launch of Chicken Wiggle? Now he's releasing another 3ds game? Good luck I guess. Never really been a fan of his games tbh.
Woo, indie developer selling games that will easily fail to reach 1 million lifetime sales of a system with a supposed 77 million users, what great success to sell to 0.01% of users!
I want it! looks great
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