Inazuma Eleven

Inazuma Eleven for Nintendo DS is Level-5's football role-playing game, originally released in Japan in 2008 and later localized for Europe. It is the original entry in the series, before its later DS sequels and Nintendo 3DS games.

The story follows Mark Evans, Raimon Junior High's enthusiastic captain and goalkeeper. With the school's understrength football club close to being disbanded, Mark sets out to find committed players and turn Raimon into a team capable of competing for the Football Frontier trophy. The arrival of gifted striker Axel Blaze gives the club new hope, while rivals such as Royal Academy stand in its way.

Away from the pitch, the adventure plays as a top-down RPG. Players explore Raimon and other locations, speak with characters, follow story events, and search for potential teammates. A large roster of recruits lets the squad grow beyond its initial lineup.

Matches are played in real time with the Nintendo DS Touch Screen and stylus. Players direct movement and passes by drawing routes and selecting destinations, while the rest of the team reacts around the field. When a player meets an opponent or faces the goal, play shifts to a decision between ordinary actions and dramatic special techniques.

The role-playing systems shape the football side throughout the campaign. Players gain levels, improve their abilities, learn or share techniques, and can be arranged in different positions and formations. Recruiting and developing a balanced team becomes as important as handling the ball during a match.

The DS release also includes wireless multiplayer features for playing with friends and sharing teams or individual players. Its mix of school-football story, character collection, training, and touch-controlled matches establishes the format expanded by the games that followed.