Gaming Any 3DS games for learning Japanese?

[chocoboner]

hi there. I've been studying Japanese for a couple of years now (tho not very intensively, just courses), and since I recently got a 3DS I've been looking around to see if there are any games for studying the language. I did find a post on DS games but it's almost 6 years old. surely there must have been new releases since then.

anybody know anything that might be useful? it's really too bad it's region locked because I hear the new Animal Crossing has a furigana option, that would surely be helpful (maybe I'll get a Japanese one when I go there later this summer..)

 

[potato3334]

Many Japanese 3DS games have furigana, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, SMT IV, Cardfight Vanguard, Digimon Re:Coded, and I think that Tomodachi Mii game has it too

 

[chocoboner]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards getting an extra Japanese one myself. Depends on how much money I have when I'm there (planning on having a decent amount but since I'm a freelancer, you never know).

Anybody know any games that are specifically meant for English-speaking people to learn Japanese? Found a few here. Actually, I know the old DS wasn't region locked, does that mean I can run regular DS games from other regions on my otherwise region-locked 3DS?

 

[Katsumi San]

Yeah, I'm leaning towards getting an extra Japanese one myself. Depends on how much money I have when I'm there (planning on having a decent amount but since I'm a freelancer, you never know).

Anybody know any games that are specifically meant for English-speaking people to learn Japanese? Found a few here. Actually, I know the old DS wasn't region locked, does that mean I can run regular DS games from other regions on my otherwise region-locked 3DS?

Yes, it does not matter what region NDS game is, N3DS will play it.

 

[chocoboner]

Oh cool, that's good to know.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Oh cool, that's good to know.

Note though that DSi enhanced games are region locked.

 

[Eerpow]

Note though that DSi enhanced games are region locked.

Not necessarily, Pokémon BW isn't locked.
The list of region locked DSi enchanted games is very small and most are not worth getting.

 

[The Pi]

It's just DSi-only games that won't work.

DSi enhanced games will work on any system but only in DS mode.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

It's just DSi-only games that won't work.

DSi enhanced games will work on any system but only in DS mode.

You can run DSi enhanced games in DS mode without a flashcart? I thought that wasn't possible.

 

[chavosaur]

You can run DSi enhanced games in DS mode without a flashcart? I thought that wasn't possible.

Only dsi functions in the game don't work, but the games themselves will work.

 

[LoloLakitu]

Not necessarily, Pokémon BW isn't locked.
The list of region locked DSi enchanted games is very small and most are not worth getting.

My DSi can perform magic? How?

 

[Eerpow]

My DSi can perform magic? How?

US version is region free.

 

[chocoboner]

This may help you.

I had already gone through all top links on Google. they're only older resources that recommend only DS games, or posts that recommend the Japanese versions of normal games, not specific Japanese language learning applications or games. that's why I asked here.

 

[YamiHoshi.nl]

Don't listen to The Pi, DSi Enhanced Games still run in DSi Mode on a 3DS, and so far, only the non-Japanese Versions of Pokémon Black (2) and Pokémon White (2) are Region Free (yep, the Japanese ones are Region Locked).
I know there's a DS game, called "My Japanese Coach", as well as a DS Homebrew App, called "Project JDS", although the said Homebrew App only teaches you how to write Hiragana and Katakana, My Japanese Coach teaches you the entire fundamentals of Japanese.

Otherwise, you could try Livemocha, it's free, and filled with native speakers, who want to help you.

 

[chocoboner]

Thanks! Yeah, My Japanese Coach seems like a good starting point. Too bad there doesn't seem to be a 3DS native game, but it's no big deal. I'll also try Livemocha. I'm already on a few online systems, but testing out another can't hurt.

 

[Janthran]

Kanji Sonomama Rakubiki Jiten is somehow relevant to this thread, I know it.

 

[pokefloote]

My Japanese Coach is kind of inaccurate at times though. It's fine for basics but I would recommend using other sources along with it of course. And if something tells you something different from the game, take the other source over it, haha. (assuming it's well established/known)

 

[LoloLakitu]

US version is region free.

I, good sir, was making *ahem* a joke.

 

[BORTZ]

Thanks! Yeah, My Japanese Coach seems like a good starting point. Too bad there doesn't seem to be a 3DS native game, but it's no big deal. I'll also try Livemocha. I'm already on a few online systems, but testing out another can't hurt.

Be wary of the wrong pronunciations, as well as too much romaji... There are better ones, check the japanese thread, its down in the "tutorials" section, but im too lazy to link you to it right now lol. Theres a game you can search kanji by drawing them, pretty sweet if you ask me.