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The greatest games that never made it to the West
CygnusZ
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
n the past, nearly all decent console games came from Japan. Of those games released
in Japan, many were released in the United States. Fewer made it all the way
to Europe and Australia. In this thread we talk about some of the absolutely AWESOME
Japanese games that you wish you could play, if only not for the language barrier.
I'll introduce three fantastic adventure games that never made it to the United States.
Kamaitachi no Yoru (Night of the Wind-Weasal)
Platforms: SNES, PS and GBA
This is perhaps the definitive suspense game of the entire adventure game genre in
Japan. This game was so popular there was a radio and television drama based on it!
In this game you, Toru, are invited to a winter pension in Nagano. You go there
with your girlfriend Mari and enjoy a pleasurable evening. That is, until somebody makes
an unpleaseant discovery. One of the guests to the pension has been cut up and stuffed
into a bag. It's up to you to figure out who did this heinous deed!
This game features multiple endings, though I think pretty much everybody is going to
end up getting the worst ending on their first playthrough. This game is SCARY. Just look
at this ad for the Playstation remake of this game.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=8hcTsjay2D0
Translation
Boy: Grandpa, are you scared of anything?
Grandpa: When you're my age you're not afraid of anything.
Boy: Then let's play this. (holds up Kamaitachi no Yoru)
Grandpa: No.
Machi: Crossroad of Destiny
Platforms: Playstation, Sega Saturn, Playstation Portable
Machi is the sequel to Kamaitachi no Yoru. Unlike the previous game in the series, this
game actually encompases multiple genres. You see, there's no one protagonist, but rather
seven. The game itself takes place over a 5 day period in the Shibuya ward of Japan. All
characters spend their time in Shibuya, and you're able to switch perspective to any
character you want at any time. Make all the characters interact "correctly", and you'll
be able to move the story forward.
Each character has a different genre. For example, the fat girl's story is a romantic comedy while the writer has a horror story. Upon completing the game there are two hidden stories as well.
Here's the opening to the game:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn7M5kOUQnM
Cross Detective Story
Platforms: Playstation, Sega Saturn
Ken's mother died right after he was born.
His father died when he was 11, in a traffic accident.
Despite this hard life, Ken grew up to be a strong person. One day, when visiting his father's grave, he tells his father that he's not going to college. Instead, he's going to become a detective just like his father was. "Your father's death was no accident", says a mysterious from behind him. So begins Cross Detective Story.
The game is divided into 7 cases. Except for two of the cases, the gameplay is a by-the-book adventure game. Sometimes you'll be called on to answer a simple riddle, but it's usually not a big deal. What is amazing about the game is anime-inspired production. It looks and sounds as fantastic as Policenauts. The script is genuinely funny and the cases are interesting. The way the cases fall into place is much more satisfying than the sometimes cartoon logic of Phoenix Wright. Actually, the logic is sometimes so sound that at times the game can be a little frightening. After all, most of the cases involve grim murders committed in VERY clever ways.
Opening Movie:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=rfNpj3fTkLU
Ok, so tell me about which Japan only games you'd like to play or have played. Any genre, any type of game on any system is fine.
I just choose adventure because there are so few games in the genre released outside of Japan.
in Japan, many were released in the United States. Fewer made it all the way
to Europe and Australia. In this thread we talk about some of the absolutely AWESOME
Japanese games that you wish you could play, if only not for the language barrier.
I'll introduce three fantastic adventure games that never made it to the United States.
Kamaitachi no Yoru (Night of the Wind-Weasal)
Platforms: SNES, PS and GBA
This is perhaps the definitive suspense game of the entire adventure game genre in
Japan. This game was so popular there was a radio and television drama based on it!
In this game you, Toru, are invited to a winter pension in Nagano. You go there
with your girlfriend Mari and enjoy a pleasurable evening. That is, until somebody makes
an unpleaseant discovery. One of the guests to the pension has been cut up and stuffed
into a bag. It's up to you to figure out who did this heinous deed!
This game features multiple endings, though I think pretty much everybody is going to
end up getting the worst ending on their first playthrough. This game is SCARY. Just look
at this ad for the Playstation remake of this game.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=8hcTsjay2D0
Translation
Boy: Grandpa, are you scared of anything?
Grandpa: When you're my age you're not afraid of anything.
Boy: Then let's play this. (holds up Kamaitachi no Yoru)
Grandpa: No.
Machi: Crossroad of Destiny
Platforms: Playstation, Sega Saturn, Playstation Portable
Machi is the sequel to Kamaitachi no Yoru. Unlike the previous game in the series, this
game actually encompases multiple genres. You see, there's no one protagonist, but rather
seven. The game itself takes place over a 5 day period in the Shibuya ward of Japan. All
characters spend their time in Shibuya, and you're able to switch perspective to any
character you want at any time. Make all the characters interact "correctly", and you'll
be able to move the story forward.
Each character has a different genre. For example, the fat girl's story is a romantic comedy while the writer has a horror story. Upon completing the game there are two hidden stories as well.
Here's the opening to the game:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn7M5kOUQnM
Cross Detective Story
Platforms: Playstation, Sega Saturn
Ken's mother died right after he was born.
His father died when he was 11, in a traffic accident.
Despite this hard life, Ken grew up to be a strong person. One day, when visiting his father's grave, he tells his father that he's not going to college. Instead, he's going to become a detective just like his father was. "Your father's death was no accident", says a mysterious from behind him. So begins Cross Detective Story.
The game is divided into 7 cases. Except for two of the cases, the gameplay is a by-the-book adventure game. Sometimes you'll be called on to answer a simple riddle, but it's usually not a big deal. What is amazing about the game is anime-inspired production. It looks and sounds as fantastic as Policenauts. The script is genuinely funny and the cases are interesting. The way the cases fall into place is much more satisfying than the sometimes cartoon logic of Phoenix Wright. Actually, the logic is sometimes so sound that at times the game can be a little frightening. After all, most of the cases involve grim murders committed in VERY clever ways.
Opening Movie:
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=rfNpj3fTkLU
Ok, so tell me about which Japan only games you'd like to play or have played. Any genre, any type of game on any system is fine.
I just choose adventure because there are so few games in the genre released outside of Japan.
To be honest, I'm looking for a new game to play :P
CygnusZ on
0
Posts
I don't think there's enough lime for this.
3DS: 1607-3034-6970
I find it hilarious that the most American game ever made was never released in America.
I had to wiki that, but holy shit it sounds awesome.
The West: Amurika!
The East: Everything else
Look up videos on Youtube. It's pretty much the most amazingly American game never released in America.
RICHAAAAAAAAARDDDDDD!!!
Seriously though, go back and get the original on the GBA. It is pure joy pressed into cart form.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq8TJmAAbB4
The video does have sound, the last level just starts out with no sound effects to punctuate the bridge of the music.
More like Mother 1, am I right?
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
Tales of Destiny - Remake, Tales of Destiny: Director's Cut
Tales of Rebirth
2D Graphics and Tales. Namco, why do you hate us?
Pssh, I'd give back the entire Persona spinoff for SMT 1 and 2.
What are the rules regarding discussion of....obtaining... dreamcast games?
First six Fire Emblem games.
Tons of anime games that are actually good (Let's put in Naruto:GNT 4 and Super Robot Wars Alpha 3 as examples)
SD3
Bahamut Lagoon
Mother 3
Ouendan 1+2
Dragon Quest 5-6
Tales of half the goddamn series.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=04knfFaJmWY
And now the sequel for the DS is coming out in Japan on July 31th and we might be graced with a NA release this time.
The DS game is confirmed for a western release, but not the GBA one.
There is no fucking way Nintendo is going to release another GBA game, and there is really no reason to bring RT to the DS.
XoB: I'm just saying that the original RT belongs in this thread about the "greatest games that never made it to the West".
Shin Megami Tensei Nine (Xbox exclusive only in Japan? Really?)
Front Mission 5: Scars of War
Nine is terrible.
and EU release doesnt count
No Terranigma or Vib-Ribbon for us!
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire,
I don't know if many people know this but there's a demo disk that came out with one of the official XBOX magazines that had this as an unlock able demo. It is such an awesome game, I remember playing it for the the first time with a bunch of friends and we were blown away with how fucking hilarious it was. I mean your the president of the united states in a giant fucking mech blowing the shit out of stuff
Yes, I know both CT and FFT made it here eventually.