All three versions of this game were included in an updated re-release compilation titled Inazuma Eleven 1-2-3: Endo Mamoru's Legend for the Nintendo 3DS, released on December 27, 2012 in Japan. They were later released separately in Europe both digitally and physically, as Lightning Bolt (originally Spark) and Bomb Blast (originally Bomber) in Europe on September 27, 2013. The release of the third version, as Team Ogre Attacks!, followed on February 13, 2014.[1][2][3]
A manga based on the game began serialization in CoroCoro Comic, while an anime TV season based on the game, produced by OLM, started airing on February 3, 2010.
Plot
Now that Raimon have beaten Alius Academy and saved the world, a new challenge awaits for soccer players known from all over Japan, the Football Frontier International. Eventually, the team representing Japan in the competition is picked and are known as Inazuma National.
They now have to win the Asia preliminaries to compete in the actual worldwide tournament, facing teams from England, America, Italy and more. Throughout there adventure in the FFI, they also come across angels and devils that they have to defeat, otherwise the Demon King will be revived after its 1000-year sleep.
There also seems to be a new villain trying to gain something, Zoolan Rice, who is using soccer as a tool to take over the world; and wanting to create a war.
Inazuma National has to go through other struggles such as having an unknown coach known as the 'cursed coach', Axel Blaze having the struggle of staying in Inazuma National as his father wants him to go to Germany to become a doctor, and more.
Development
At Japan Expo 2013, producer Akihiro Hino confirmed that the Spark and Bomber versions would be released for Nintendo 3DS in Europe on September 27, 2013. The third version (renamed Team Ogre Attacks!) was also announced during the Nintendo Direct on November 13, 2013, and was released on February 13, 2014.
All three versions of the game had toppled the Media Create's list during the first sales week, selling over half a million copies.[11]
Thomas Whitehead of Nintendo Life have praised its impressive design level but added that there is not enough of gameplay value to justify an upgrade.[9]
Notes
^Japanese: イナズマイレブン3 世界への挑戦!!, Hepburn: Inazuma Irebun 3: Sekai e no Chousen, lit. "Inazuma Eleven 3: Challenge to the World"