Level-5 (company)


Level-5 Inc. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka. The company was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from the now defunct Riverhillsoft. Early in its history, the company enjoyed a close relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment, with many of its games then funded by and produced in conjunction with them. Starting in 2007, the company started self-publishing its games in Japan, while Nintendo took over publishing on their systems internationally. The company is best known for their Dark Cloud, Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Ni no Kuni, Yo-kai Watch, and Snack World franchises, among others.

History

Level-5 was established in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino and his development team at Riverhillsoft, following the release of OverBlood 2. Since Hino did not originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment, who would allow him to develop for their upcoming PlayStation 2 under the condition that he set up his own company. The name, "Level-5", was a reference to Japanese school report cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being created, the company had eleven employees.
Level-5's first full-scale production was the action role-playing game Dark Cloud, developed under contract by Sony Computer Entertainment. Intended to be a launch game for the Japanese release of the PlayStation 2, it was delayed before the console's launch in March 2000 to allow further development, eventually being released in Japan in December 2000, and worldwide in 2001. Work immediately began on a sequel titled Dark Chronicle. While not as successful as the first game, Dark Chronicle still gained critical acclaim and sold over half a million units worldwide.
Midway through 2002, the company had a substantial boost in recognition as it began development on three high-profile games:
In just four years, Level-5 went from small startup studio to one of the premier RPG developers in Japan, and have since enjoyed immense critical and commercial success. In early 2007, the company released its first fully self-funded and self-published game in Japan, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, which has since enjoyed incredible commercial success, shipping more than 840,000 copies to retail, and has officially transitioned Level-5 into both a developer and publisher of interactive video game entertainment in Japan.
Yasumi Matsuno, director of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the Ogre Battle series, briefly joined Level-5 in June 2011, who left the company after completing work on Crimson Shroud for the Nintendo 3DS. By the early 2010s, Level-5 was one of the ten largest video game companies in Japan, holding a market share of 3.2%. In October 2015, Level-5 founded a spin-off company in Santa Monica, in cooperation with Dentsu, called Level-5 abby. Its purpose is to develop multimedia entertainment for Western demographics.

Roid service

In 2009, Level-5 launched its Roid service, a mobile phone application that serves as a content delivery platform for mobile games. It is only compatible with NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet service in Japan. Users pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive games and social game functions. The platform debuted with six games: Sloan and McHale's Mystery Story, Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Mirror of Death Remix, Chara Jo P, Yuuenchi wo Tsukurō Revolution, Treasure Island, and Elf the Dragon. The first three were developed by Level-5, while the last three were developed by outside companies.

List of games

All games were developed and/or published by Level-5 unless otherwise noted
GamePlatformInitial release date
Dark CloudPlayStation 2
Dark ChroniclePlayStation 2
Dragon Quest VIIIPlayStation 2
Rogue GalaxyPlayStation 2
Jeanne d'ArcPlayStation Portable
Professor Layton and the Curious VillageNintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Curious VillageAndroid
Professor Layton and the Diabolical BoxNintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Diabolical BoxAndroid
Inazuma ElevenNintendo DS
Inazuma ElevenNintendo 3DS
Professor Layton and the Unwound FutureNintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Unwound FutureAndroid
White Knight ChroniclesPlayStation 3
Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing TalesNintendo DS
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #1 and #2Nintendo DS
Dragon Quest IXNintendo DS
Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales 2Nintendo DS
Inazuma Eleven 2Nintendo DS
Inazuma Eleven 2Nintendo 3DS
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #3 and #4Nintendo DS
Professor Layton and the Last SpecterNintendo DS
Inazuma Eleven 3Nintendo DS
Inazuma Eleven 3Nintendo 3DS
White Knight Chronicles IIPlayStation 3
'Nintendo DS
'Mobile phone
Professor Layton and the Miracle MaskNintendo 3DS
Danball SenkiPlayStation Portable
Inazuma Eleven StrikersWii
'PlayStation 3
Little Battlers eXperience BoostPlayStation Portable
Inazuma Eleven GONintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 XtremeWii
Girls RPG: CinderellifeNintendo 3DS
'Mobile phone
Guild01Nintendo 3DS
Little Battlers eXperienceNintendo 3DS
Time TravelersNintendo 3DS
Time TravelersPlayStation Portable
Time TravelersPlayStation Vita
'Android
'iOS
Little Battlers eXperience WPlayStation Portable
Little Battlers eXperience WPlayStation Vita
Professor Layton and the Phantom ThievesAndroid
Professor Layton and the Phantom ThievesiOS
'Nintendo 3DS
'Nintendo 3DS
Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013Wii
Fantasy LifeNintendo 3DS
Professor Layton and the Azran LegacyNintendo 3DS
Liberation MaideniOS
Guild02Nintendo 3DS
Earth Devastating B-Grade Girlfriend Z: Space WariOS
Earth Devastating B-Grade Girlfriend Z: Space WarAndroid
Yo-kai WatchNintendo 3DS
'Nintendo 3DS
Fantasy Life Link!Nintendo 3DS
'Nintendo 3DS
'Nintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch 2Nintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch BlastersNintendo 3DS
'Android
'iOS
'Wii U
Yo-kai SangokushiNintendo 3DS
Yo-kai Watch 3Nintendo 3DS
'Android
'iOS
Layton's Mystery JourneyAndroid
Layton's Mystery JourneyiOS
Layton's Mystery JourneyNintendo 3DS
'Nintendo 3DS
Otome YushaAndroid
Otome YushaiOS
Yo-kai Watch Blasters 2Nintendo 3DS
'Android
'iOS
'Microsoft Windows
'PlayStation 4
'Nintendo Switch
'Android
'iOS
Yo-kai Watch WorldAndroid
Yo-kai Watch WorldiOS
Fantasy Life OnlineAndroid
Fantasy Life OnlineiOS
Yo-kai Watch 4Nintendo SwitchJune 20, 2019
Yo-kai Watch 4PlayStation 4December 5, 2019
Yo-kai Academy YNintendo SwitchQ2 2020
Yo-kai Academy YPlayStation 4Q2 2020
'Android2020
'iOS2020
'Android2021
'iOS2021
'Nintendo Switch2021
'PlayStation 42021
Megaton MusashiAndroid
Megaton MusashiiOS
Megaton MusashiNintendo Switch
Megaton MusashiPlayStation 4
UshiroNintendo Switch
True Fantasy Live OnlineXboxCanceled