For anyone discovering the franchise today, the original Inazuma Eleven for the DS is not just a relic; it is the foundational stone of a multi-billion-yen media franchise. This article is a deep dive into why the DS original remains a masterpiece of genre hybridization. At its core, Inazuma Eleven 1 DS follows the story of Mamoru Endou (Mark Evans in the English dub), a cheerful, optimistic goalkeeper and the captain of Raimon Middle School’s football club. The club is on the verge of disbanding; it has only seven members, no coach, and zero morale.
The marriage of JRPG progression mechanics (leveling up, learning moves, squad management) with arcade football is seamless. You will cheer when Endou catches a bullet shot with God Hand . You will rage when an opponent cheaply pokes the ball away. You will grind for hours just to see Gouenji upgrade Fire Tornado to Fire Rooster . inazuma eleven 1 ds
European and Australian players, however, got a pristine English translation (using British voice actors for the anime cutscenes, minus the battle voices). Consequently, the North American retro market treats the (European ROM or import cartridge) as a holy grail item. Post-Game Content: The Real Football Frontier Most players finish the main story (the Football Frontier tournament) in about 15-20 hours. But the veterans know that the game truly begins after the credits. For anyone discovering the franchise today, the original
The plot kicks off when a mysterious forward named Shuuya Gouenji (Axel Blaze) transfers to the school. Endou must recruit Gouenji and five other talented players to take on the ruthless, militaristic Royal Academy (Teikoku Gakuen), led by the prodigy Seijirou Kidou (Jude Sharp). The club is on the verge of disbanding;
When the Nintendo DS was in its prime, the console saw a flood of sports games. Most were simulations trying to replicate the realistic physics of real-world football (soccer). Then, in 2008 (Japan) and 2011 (Europe/Australia), something completely different arrived. Inazuma Eleven 1 DS exploded onto the scene, blending the tactical depth of a management sim with the over-the-top spectacle of a Shonen anime.