Game to ship in 2 versions on July 28 after anime's premiere

The official YouTube channel for Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine began streaming a trailer on Saturday for Studio Pierrot's television anime adaptation of the Puzzle & Dragons X ("Pazudora Cross") Nintendo 3DS puzzle role-playing game. The trailer features the protagonist Ace and his partner Tamazō, as well as the protagonist's rival Lance and his partner Devi.

The anime will premiere on July 4 on TV Tokyo, and will air on Mondays at 6:25 p.m.

Coro Coro Comics also began streaming a gameplay video on Saturday that previews new features in the Puzzle & Dragons X game. The "Soul Armor" feature allows players to equip the protagonist with clothing imbued with the power of particular monsters. This allows players to use those monsters' leader skills and active skills in battle. Players can gather the materials required to obtain Soul Armor by defeating monsters in the game's "Capture Mode." The video also previews "Grand Boss" battles.

Coro Coro Comics previously streamed the game's opening movie animated by Studio Pierrot.

The Puzzle & Dragons X game is slated to ship in Japan on July 28 in two versions: "Kami no Shō" (God Chapter) and "Ryū no Shō" (Dragon Chapter). The game will feature a theme of "evolution" and will also feature cooperative play with friends in a cross battle. First editions of each of the game's two versions will include an Armor Drop and a touchpen.

The game also inspired a manga adaptation (pictured at right) by Momota Inoue ( Puzzle and Dragons Z ) that premiered in the magazine's May issue on Friday. Takara Tomy is also releasing "Armor Drop" and "D-Gear" toys for the franchise this summer.

Gung Ho Online Entertainment released the original Puzzle & Dragons game for mobile devices in Japan in February 2012. The game franchise series previously spawned the Puzzle & Dragons Z and Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Brothers Edition games for Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo released both Nintendo 3DS games in the West as a bundle last May.