For years, Western fans of the Inazuma Eleven franchise have faced a frustrating reality: while the anime thrived internationally, the video game releases were inconsistent. We received the first three DS games (renamed and slightly altered), but the sequels and definitive editions? Locked behind a language barrier.
on the Nintendo 3DS . While individual English patches exist for the original DS versions of these games, the 3DS compilation remains a Japanese-exclusive title. Inazuma Eleven 1-2-3 Endou Mamoru Densetsu English Patch
: Offers over 2,200 scoutable characters and 350 different special moves (hissatsu) to use. Pros & Cons Pros Cons For years, Western fans of the Inazuma Eleven
While this collection is highly sought after because it bundles all six original games with upgraded graphics and 3D support, it remains a Japan-exclusive Current Options for English Play on the Nintendo 3DS
The absence of an official English version comes down to timing and licensing. By late 2012, Nintendo of America and Europe were shifting focus to the Nintendo 3DS's new titles. Re-translating three massive JRPGs—each with hundreds of characters, special moves (Hissatsu Techniques), and story scenes—would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Moreover, the Inazuma Eleven anime had finished its original run in the West, and sales for Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks! were middling.
The original DS versions of Inazuma Eleven 1, 2, and 3 were officially localized in Europe. These are fully playable in English and are compatible with most DS and 3DS hardware.