Gamescom 2011

Wii Last Story, Pandora's Tower hitting Europe in 2012

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

With Xenoblade Chronicles' launch imminent, Nintendo of Europe confirms new releases for Japanese RPGs; Nintendo of America mum on all three titles.

On Friday, Nintendo will launch Xenoblade Chronicles in Europe for the Wii. The console maker confirmed that it has still more Japanese role-playing games lined up for European gamers, as Nintendo today announced that it will localize The Last Story and Pandora's Tower for the region in 2012.

The Last Story will finally be told in Europe. The US? Not so much.

The Last Story will finally be told in Europe. The US? Not so much.

Those three games in particular have been the target of a fan campaign dubbed "Operation Rainfall." The group has been attempting to persuade Nintendo to release Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story, and Pandora's Tower worldwide but has thus far met with success only in Europe.

In June, the group organized a push to preorder Xenoblade (under the name Monado: Beginning of the World) on Amazon.com. The effort propelled the game to the top of Amazon's best-seller charts and caught the attention of Nintendo of America. However, the North American arm of the Wii maker soon deflated hopes, confirming that there were no plans at the time to bring any of the games to the US.

As of press time, a Nintendo of America representative had not readdressed the matter.

Brendan Sinclair
By Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor

Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.

74 Comments

  • hitman047m4

    Posted Apr 28, 2012 5:56 am GMT

    I have been playing Xenoblade since it came out in Canada, and I am extremely impressed by it, and definitely it is worth the time and money, and I am not big into RPGs/JRPGs.

    Xenoblade, like other games, adds more of a statement that game developers should at least stop making excuses of how the Wii is a failed console, and totally concentrate on making a good/awesome/perfect product, instead of focusing on mere visual and HD graphics. Yes, HD graphics and powerful specs is not everything that will make games and consoles successful.

    Hopefully, The Last Story and Pandora's Tower will be as good (or better) as Xenoblade.

  • Soleride

    Posted Apr 9, 2012 1:17 pm GMT

    YAY thank god that Europe is getting these first hate always being the last ones for releases although the irony is that Europe has been found to be the biggest gaming consumers overall lol

  • kyacat

    Posted Apr 9, 2012 10:21 am GMT

    NOA they need to release the three titles here in US shores so will get more gamers in to play xenoblade chronicles,pandora tower and last story com on nintendo please bring three titel here for america rpg fans who are wanting to play these games on our Wii

  • sultros

    Posted Dec 30, 2011 5:17 pm GMT

    Screw them, Hack your WII to play PAL games and import it. It is their loss and since they wont listen, send them the big FU and go homebrew.

  • Icy_Angel

    Posted Oct 23, 2011 10:35 am GMT

    With the success of Xenoblade (and many other JRPG's) in any country it can be bought, there is no logical reason not to release an US version (unless you want your console to die in that market, which is not logical).

    The US market is huge, because it will also expand to the rest of America.. really Nintendo i don't get it... just give us a reason to understand, or give us the game.

  • Hellavation

    Posted Sep 18, 2011 5:39 am GMT

    @Wolflink001 And Nintendo wonders why they can't sell video games? When you deny the fans what they want you get lack luster sells and discontent! 80 million consoles sold but you can't sell to as little as 20% precent of that market base wow!!

  • Wolflink001

    Posted Aug 31, 2011 9:48 am GMT

    I don't get it Nintendo. Games like Last Story would boost sells for the Wii. But you denie us the games we need so much. So, after Skyward Sword what next Nintendo? The Wii's funeral? I'll just go back to playing my Gamecube then...

  • WitteKraai

    Posted Aug 30, 2011 6:39 pm GMT

    The whole career of the Wii has been met with disappointment by me, this is just another such tale. Replay your PS2 games and forget the Wii.

  • RabidBurp

    Posted Aug 24, 2011 7:25 am GMT

    If the online multiplayer portions of the game remain in tact for its North American release, I will buy it before it even has a chance to rest upon the shelf it was placed.

  • starduke

    Posted Aug 21, 2011 5:20 pm GMT

    It doesn't make any sense that NOA wouldn't release Xenoblade and those other games in the USA, esp after so many, thousands of people, said they wanted those game here. If they don't localize it here, it proves that NOA are idiots. They also would lose a long time fan. I certainly wouldn't be getting a new sub to Nintendo Power.

  • RPG_Fan_I_Am

    Posted Aug 21, 2011 11:08 am GMT

    What gets me is they still have no plans on releasing Xenoblade here(NA), YET they have plans to release Xenoblade II here..... I WANNA PLAY THESE GAMES... it seriously sucks..... PS... GS fail on the picture caption lol. "told in Europe" haha. The s and t aren't even next to each other.

  • BeanoFatardo

    Posted Aug 21, 2011 10:20 am GMT

    who cares if it doesn't come out in america? if it comes out in europe it will still be in english. so just get a japanese wii or converter, the game, you are good to go! i'm just happy this baby is going to be translated!!!

  • metalkitten

    Posted Aug 21, 2011 8:37 am GMT

    i just ordered the game (xenoblade) from uk since its sold out in all stores i know in my country already
    i do like that europe finally get stuff since we are always the ones missing out - but i see no reason for not releasing it in na too
    if they refuse to put out some games in some regions - atleast dont sell consoles with region looks
    the ds was brilliant in that way and i could get all i wanted from usa and japan, wii and 3ds really shouldnt be region locked

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Aug 21, 2011 6:57 am GMT

    I bought Xenoblade Chronicles yesterday. Only played an hour or so, but I'm impressed so far. I'll pre-order Last Story and Pandoras Tower once sites make them available.

  • deathgeordie

    Posted Aug 20, 2011 6:27 am GMT

    As a EU gamer, I'm so happy that Nintendo Europe did us good for possibly the first time in history. Saying that though, I still want to see the games coming out in the US, there's no reason not to release them there.

    So far Xenoblade has been selling really well, with many retailers running out of copies of the game. If this demand keeps up, it'll show NoA to rethink their plans about bringing this great game to the US and hopefully it'll get them to rethink about the other two titles too.

    Anyone wanting to import the game, I think I know a retailer that'll ship to the US but you'll need to PM me for the info as it would be advertising. I wish you luck with Operation Rainfall.

  • Bathius

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 10:37 pm GMT

    They must make it. Do they want to make money or what? Three good looking game that Wii players really want to play. Please Nintendo do something for the gamers, not for yourself!

  • cameio

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 7:15 am GMT

    If they don't release these three games for NA i will not buy any new console from Nintendo anymore :/

  • loshiscka

    Posted Aug 19, 2011 4:51 am GMT

    we did it !!! YES !!

  • clqtte

    Posted Aug 18, 2011 7:23 pm GMT

    They will come NOA soon....