Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories

	Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories
	(C) LEVEL-5
Developer(s):	Level-5
Publisher(s):	Level-5
Service(s):
Pre-installed:	F-01C, SH-01C, P-03C, N-03C
Genre(s):	Episodic RPG
Release dates:	9 December, 2010
Language(s):	Japanese
Series:	Ni no Kuni
Preserved?:	Preinstalled Ver. (Full Ver. requires SD data)
Website:	Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories official webpage (archive)

Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories (二ノ国ホットロイトストーリー) is an episodic role-playing video game developed and published by Level-5, released exclusively for i-mode devices in Japan on December 9, 2010. The game is a part of the broader Ni no Kuni series and serves as a prequel to Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn, which was launched on the same day for the Nintendo DS.

Synopsis[edit | edit source]

Hotroit Stories follows the adventures of Oliver and his childhood friend, Mark, in the industrial town of Hotroit. Inspired by their dream of building a custom car, the two boys venture to an abandoned factory in search of parts. Throughout their journey, they uncover secrets, face mechanical creatures, and encounter various challenges, including battles against familiar-like monsters.

Hotroit, known for its car manufacturing industry, is a town with a vibrant community, and the game gives players a sense of the world that Oliver comes from before the events of the other *Ni no Kuni* games.

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

Unlike the main Ni no Kuni games, Hotroit Stories does not feature the use of magic but instead relies on traditional command-based battle mechanics. Players control Oliver as they explore the town and surrounding areas, solving puzzles and fighting mechanical creatures.

The battle system introduces unique item-based strategies, such as using dry ice to create freezing attacks. The game also emphasizes exploration, with hidden items and secrets scattered across the industrial areas of Hotroit. Players can customize Oliver and Mark's gear as they find parts and unlock new areas.

The episodic nature of the game means that new chapters were planned to be released over time, though the entire series was only distributed through Japanese i-mode services.

Development[edit | edit source]

Hotroit Stories was developed by Level-5, known for its work on the Professor Layton series and other RPGs. The game was initially pre-installed on the F-01C^[1] mobile device and distributed through the ROID portal before later being moved to the Professor Layton Mobile portal alongside other mobile games from Level-5.

The development of Hotroit Stories allowed Level-5 to experiment with smaller, mobile-first games while maintaining their signature storytelling and RPG mechanics. The game's episodic structure and limited distribution contributed to its rarity and status as a lesser-known entry in the Ni no Kuni franchise.