You know, considering the fact that Japan has so many awesome games that they refuse to give to the world is honestly starting to bother me. I mean, there are just so many wonderful games made in Japan, and while we are lucky to get a nice handful of them, some of them are still not in America, some of them never coming for all of eternity. So, today, I want to share with you more games from Japan that definitely need to make it to America. Now, I am not including my rule for games I have played. In fact, I have neither played some of these games. Hell, some of them I’ve only heard of recently. With that said, let us start the list
#10: Boku no Natsuyasumi 3
Here is a game that is simply just doing almost nothing, really. The game has you play as a young boy who visits his aunt and uncle’s farm. So, what do you do in this game. Practically nothing. And I am not even joking, you do almost nothing at all. The entire game consists of the kid just messing around, and having fun on the farm during summer break, like any kid his age would. He goes around catching bugs, swimming, and later in the game, begins to jump rope (What an achievement). This game isn’t meant to be one of those “Sit down for hours and hours and hours” kind of games, where you play as long as possible because it is so addicting. No, this game is a lot like Animal Crossing. You pick it up, you play for a good one hour, and then set it down before returning the next day. This game gives players a feeling of nostalgia, when they were a kid. I am sure everyone did all this stuff when they were little, and this game lets you bring back those memories, which I think is a really nice touch.
#9: Segagaga
Man, is this game silly as hell. Segagaga is an RPG made by Sega, where it follows you, the player, as you are to control the gaming company, Segagaga (Obviously Sega), as you do your best to try and stop the company DOGMA (Possibly Sony) from dominating the video game market. Throughout the game, you witness this insane parody of a game as you do your best to have the Dreamcast beat DOGMA’s PS2 (Oh, if only Sega looked ahead into the future at the dripping wet game sponge that is the PS2, they would know they were screwed from the start), while battling all of the famous Sega characters in the building, like Alex Kidd, and Sonic the Hedgehog. This is just one big fat joke and I love the idea. Sadly, this game came out when the Dreamcast was dying out, and no one was buying it, so Sega didn’t even bother to ship the game to America, knowing it would be a lost cause. However, there are people who have been trying to find this game as of late, creating a sort of cult following for the game. And good, we need more insane parody games like this.
#8: Sin and Punishment
“Hey, wait a minute. This game was released on Wii Virtual Console”. Well, too little, too late. It should have came out on the N64. The game follows Achi, a member of a group of Savior Group (A well thought out name, don’t you think), as she leads the group to defend earth from monsters that attack Japan, a group of ruffians called ruffians (Again, rela creative) and a science group called Armed Volunteers (Okay, that’s better). The game is a 3D rail-shooter, like the one you would see at all of those arcades, or a local Buffalo Wild Wings, only this game was insane. Stuff was always flying at your damn face at fast speed, ready to hit you, and it was just so much fun shooting and getting a direct hit. The game is really insane, and multiplayer is also pretty crazy. Again, this game did come out on Nintendo Virtual Console, so, who knows. Maybe we can get more Japanese games on Virtual Console. I hear Mother 3 got a release on Wii U… in Japan only- GODDAMN IT!
#7: Final Fantasy: Type-0
Hey, remember when Square Enix took away Final Fantasy III (Now known as VI) and gave us Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, considered one of the worst Final Fantasy games ever…. well, they did it again with this one. Type-0 is a spin-off, and, like all Final Fantasy games, has A LOT of story. All you need to know is that it takes place in a land with four nations, with a huge war occurring between them. Pretty understandable that way, if you ask me. Unlike most Final Fantasy games, this game is an Action RPG, so you have much more mobility in this game, and a lot more action. Kinda like Secret of Mana, only far better. But, sadly, just like Square Enix of the past, they kept this spin off from us and never released it to America. But, it’s fine… we can still always have Final Fantasy XIII-2, and Lightning Returns…… Ugh. And yes, I am aware that this game did get an HD release, but, hey, they gave us a goddamn sequel to the most bland game in the series. The damage is already done.
#6: Freshly Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland
Wait, what? I actually want to play a game about a small, fat manchild who dresses as a fairy and takes money from children… Yes. Yes, I do. The game follows Tingle, who is told by a man named Uncle Rupee, who actually has a head shaped like a Rupee, that there is a place known as Rupee land, where Tingle’s wishes could come true. All he would have to do is collect thousands of rupees to get it. Kinda sounds like EA when you think about it. The entire game, actually, is kinda like any other Zelda game. In fact, it kinda looks like Minish Cap in a way. The only difference, (Obviously) is that Tingle is the main character, and not Link, or even Zelda. It’s quite a funny game. Also, there is a fairy in this game, and she looks like something that you would find on DeviantArt…. If that isn’t an instant seller, I just don’t know what is
#5: E.X Troopers
Finally, a game from the modern age of gaming, kinda. E.X Troopers is a game made for the PS3, and the… 3DS…. Two completely different game consoles? Well, it’s Japan, so I won’t question it. Anyway, Anyway, this is meant to be a spin-off of Lost Planet, and it really shows it… Even though I’ve never played Lost Planet in my life. The game is a four player online co-op game with manga cutscenes, so naturally, it caught my attention instantly. The whole game is filled with adventure, school students with guns, and giant robots, making the game as over the top and awesome as possible and-- GOOD GOD, I WANT IT! I mean, hey, if Nintendo is able to release both Dragon Quest VII and VIII, then they can release E.X. Troopers too… PLEASE, LET THIS HAPPEN, NINTENDO!
#4: Super Robot Wars OG
You all know that I love watching two giant robots, bigger than the entire city, beat the everliving crap outta each other. So naturally, Japan made a game about the whole thing. The game is takes place in the future, when Earth has discovered strange technology known as Extra-Over Technology. Now the aliens want it back, and the only way to fight them off is the government using giant robots, while trying to avoid a civil war. And let me tell you, the game is…. Not what I was expecting. Just like Capcom X Namco, I was expecting a huge fighting game. And just like Capcom X Namco, it wasn’t a fighting game, but rather, a tactical RPG like Fire Emblem or Advanced War. Oh well, the game still looks incredibly fun. I mean, it was on Gameboy, which was the same console for previously mentioned Fire Emblem and Advanced War, so who knows, it could be just as fun a game as those two. I can only hope.
#3: Jump Super Stars
So FINALLY, after having god knows how many Japan only Jump fighting games, America finally gets one known as J Stars Victory VS. As fun as all that is, what about the original, and possibly one that many have considered the best (Or at least, the two only Japanese people I know who consider it the best), Jump Super Stars. This is a game that has EVERYTHING in it. It has Dragonball, Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, a bunch of shows no one remember or even characters, even Death Note. FREAKING DEATH NOTE! This is also a game that has online play, a mode that every single fighting game needs, no matter what. If freaking LEGO Battles could have online mode, so can any other game. This is easily a game made for any kind of anime fan, and for good reason. It has everything. I don’t see J Stars Victory VS having any Death Note (And no, I will not get over this little fact)
#2: Secret of Mana 2
That’s right, it’s a sequel to Secret of Mana, an RPG that I constantly hate on for it’s completely cliched and unoriginal story, dull characters, and a extremely underwhelming when compared to Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger. However, after hearing about it’s sequel… I honestly can’t hate on something I haven’t tried. This actually sounds really good. Unlike most RPG’s, this game gives you the option to choose between six different characters, each one of them with their own story. It’s kinda like Live A Live, only instead of playing all of their stories at once, you only get to play through one character's story at a time. Each one has their own villain, their own motives, their own personality, and each choice you make ends up changing the final boss at the end of the game, not once making each playthrough of the game seem similar. It would have been one of the best RPGs out there, maybe even dominating Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy. Shame it never got a world-wide release, though. I would have actually loved to see Secret of Mana have some actual effort put into it
#1: Homeland
Homeland is a very interesting kind of game. It is another RPG (If you couldn’t guess by now, I kinda like this genre) that is also co-op. As if I didn’t want to buy this game already. In this game, you are able to make your own character by using questions (Kinda like Pokemon) And fight using characters called Mascots, who are able to fight with multiple Mascots and can hold hands in order to combine their states, giving you dozens of ways to experiment with the abilities. You are also able to talk to the characters, and I don’t mean a simply “Choose a sentence” kinda thing like in Persona. I mean you get to type, word for freaking word, what you want. That is just incredibly awesome. And not to mention, the game will change from just doing the smallest of things. You simply walk to the right, and there, you just changed a major part of the story, and the ending as well. And this game has quite a few endings, so trust me when I say you will be playing this game a whole lot of times just to see what they have to offer. And you can even play ONLINE MODE! Really! Online Mode!? On a Gamecube? This is the kinda stuff that blows your damn mind in every way possible. Homeland is a game that sounds like a revolutionary step forward in the gaming genre, and yet it only came out in Japan…. Well, looks like I’m going to eBay and taking up Japanese lessons.
Well, there you have it. Did you enjoy the list? Tell me what you thought of it. With that said, I will see you all next time.
#10: Boku no Natsuyasumi 3
Here is a game that is simply just doing almost nothing, really. The game has you play as a young boy who visits his aunt and uncle’s farm. So, what do you do in this game. Practically nothing. And I am not even joking, you do almost nothing at all. The entire game consists of the kid just messing around, and having fun on the farm during summer break, like any kid his age would. He goes around catching bugs, swimming, and later in the game, begins to jump rope (What an achievement). This game isn’t meant to be one of those “Sit down for hours and hours and hours” kind of games, where you play as long as possible because it is so addicting. No, this game is a lot like Animal Crossing. You pick it up, you play for a good one hour, and then set it down before returning the next day. This game gives players a feeling of nostalgia, when they were a kid. I am sure everyone did all this stuff when they were little, and this game lets you bring back those memories, which I think is a really nice touch.
#9: Segagaga
Man, is this game silly as hell. Segagaga is an RPG made by Sega, where it follows you, the player, as you are to control the gaming company, Segagaga (Obviously Sega), as you do your best to try and stop the company DOGMA (Possibly Sony) from dominating the video game market. Throughout the game, you witness this insane parody of a game as you do your best to have the Dreamcast beat DOGMA’s PS2 (Oh, if only Sega looked ahead into the future at the dripping wet game sponge that is the PS2, they would know they were screwed from the start), while battling all of the famous Sega characters in the building, like Alex Kidd, and Sonic the Hedgehog. This is just one big fat joke and I love the idea. Sadly, this game came out when the Dreamcast was dying out, and no one was buying it, so Sega didn’t even bother to ship the game to America, knowing it would be a lost cause. However, there are people who have been trying to find this game as of late, creating a sort of cult following for the game. And good, we need more insane parody games like this.
#8: Sin and Punishment
“Hey, wait a minute. This game was released on Wii Virtual Console”. Well, too little, too late. It should have came out on the N64. The game follows Achi, a member of a group of Savior Group (A well thought out name, don’t you think), as she leads the group to defend earth from monsters that attack Japan, a group of ruffians called ruffians (Again, rela creative) and a science group called Armed Volunteers (Okay, that’s better). The game is a 3D rail-shooter, like the one you would see at all of those arcades, or a local Buffalo Wild Wings, only this game was insane. Stuff was always flying at your damn face at fast speed, ready to hit you, and it was just so much fun shooting and getting a direct hit. The game is really insane, and multiplayer is also pretty crazy. Again, this game did come out on Nintendo Virtual Console, so, who knows. Maybe we can get more Japanese games on Virtual Console. I hear Mother 3 got a release on Wii U… in Japan only- GODDAMN IT!
#7: Final Fantasy: Type-0
Hey, remember when Square Enix took away Final Fantasy III (Now known as VI) and gave us Final Fantasy: Mystic Quest, considered one of the worst Final Fantasy games ever…. well, they did it again with this one. Type-0 is a spin-off, and, like all Final Fantasy games, has A LOT of story. All you need to know is that it takes place in a land with four nations, with a huge war occurring between them. Pretty understandable that way, if you ask me. Unlike most Final Fantasy games, this game is an Action RPG, so you have much more mobility in this game, and a lot more action. Kinda like Secret of Mana, only far better. But, sadly, just like Square Enix of the past, they kept this spin off from us and never released it to America. But, it’s fine… we can still always have Final Fantasy XIII-2, and Lightning Returns…… Ugh. And yes, I am aware that this game did get an HD release, but, hey, they gave us a goddamn sequel to the most bland game in the series. The damage is already done.
#6: Freshly Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland
Wait, what? I actually want to play a game about a small, fat manchild who dresses as a fairy and takes money from children… Yes. Yes, I do. The game follows Tingle, who is told by a man named Uncle Rupee, who actually has a head shaped like a Rupee, that there is a place known as Rupee land, where Tingle’s wishes could come true. All he would have to do is collect thousands of rupees to get it. Kinda sounds like EA when you think about it. The entire game, actually, is kinda like any other Zelda game. In fact, it kinda looks like Minish Cap in a way. The only difference, (Obviously) is that Tingle is the main character, and not Link, or even Zelda. It’s quite a funny game. Also, there is a fairy in this game, and she looks like something that you would find on DeviantArt…. If that isn’t an instant seller, I just don’t know what is
#5: E.X Troopers
Finally, a game from the modern age of gaming, kinda. E.X Troopers is a game made for the PS3, and the… 3DS…. Two completely different game consoles? Well, it’s Japan, so I won’t question it. Anyway, Anyway, this is meant to be a spin-off of Lost Planet, and it really shows it… Even though I’ve never played Lost Planet in my life. The game is a four player online co-op game with manga cutscenes, so naturally, it caught my attention instantly. The whole game is filled with adventure, school students with guns, and giant robots, making the game as over the top and awesome as possible and-- GOOD GOD, I WANT IT! I mean, hey, if Nintendo is able to release both Dragon Quest VII and VIII, then they can release E.X. Troopers too… PLEASE, LET THIS HAPPEN, NINTENDO!
#4: Super Robot Wars OG
You all know that I love watching two giant robots, bigger than the entire city, beat the everliving crap outta each other. So naturally, Japan made a game about the whole thing. The game is takes place in the future, when Earth has discovered strange technology known as Extra-Over Technology. Now the aliens want it back, and the only way to fight them off is the government using giant robots, while trying to avoid a civil war. And let me tell you, the game is…. Not what I was expecting. Just like Capcom X Namco, I was expecting a huge fighting game. And just like Capcom X Namco, it wasn’t a fighting game, but rather, a tactical RPG like Fire Emblem or Advanced War. Oh well, the game still looks incredibly fun. I mean, it was on Gameboy, which was the same console for previously mentioned Fire Emblem and Advanced War, so who knows, it could be just as fun a game as those two. I can only hope.
#3: Jump Super Stars
So FINALLY, after having god knows how many Japan only Jump fighting games, America finally gets one known as J Stars Victory VS. As fun as all that is, what about the original, and possibly one that many have considered the best (Or at least, the two only Japanese people I know who consider it the best), Jump Super Stars. This is a game that has EVERYTHING in it. It has Dragonball, Naruto, Bleach, One Piece, a bunch of shows no one remember or even characters, even Death Note. FREAKING DEATH NOTE! This is also a game that has online play, a mode that every single fighting game needs, no matter what. If freaking LEGO Battles could have online mode, so can any other game. This is easily a game made for any kind of anime fan, and for good reason. It has everything. I don’t see J Stars Victory VS having any Death Note (And no, I will not get over this little fact)
#2: Secret of Mana 2
That’s right, it’s a sequel to Secret of Mana, an RPG that I constantly hate on for it’s completely cliched and unoriginal story, dull characters, and a extremely underwhelming when compared to Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger. However, after hearing about it’s sequel… I honestly can’t hate on something I haven’t tried. This actually sounds really good. Unlike most RPG’s, this game gives you the option to choose between six different characters, each one of them with their own story. It’s kinda like Live A Live, only instead of playing all of their stories at once, you only get to play through one character's story at a time. Each one has their own villain, their own motives, their own personality, and each choice you make ends up changing the final boss at the end of the game, not once making each playthrough of the game seem similar. It would have been one of the best RPGs out there, maybe even dominating Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy. Shame it never got a world-wide release, though. I would have actually loved to see Secret of Mana have some actual effort put into it
#1: Homeland
Homeland is a very interesting kind of game. It is another RPG (If you couldn’t guess by now, I kinda like this genre) that is also co-op. As if I didn’t want to buy this game already. In this game, you are able to make your own character by using questions (Kinda like Pokemon) And fight using characters called Mascots, who are able to fight with multiple Mascots and can hold hands in order to combine their states, giving you dozens of ways to experiment with the abilities. You are also able to talk to the characters, and I don’t mean a simply “Choose a sentence” kinda thing like in Persona. I mean you get to type, word for freaking word, what you want. That is just incredibly awesome. And not to mention, the game will change from just doing the smallest of things. You simply walk to the right, and there, you just changed a major part of the story, and the ending as well. And this game has quite a few endings, so trust me when I say you will be playing this game a whole lot of times just to see what they have to offer. And you can even play ONLINE MODE! Really! Online Mode!? On a Gamecube? This is the kinda stuff that blows your damn mind in every way possible. Homeland is a game that sounds like a revolutionary step forward in the gaming genre, and yet it only came out in Japan…. Well, looks like I’m going to eBay and taking up Japanese lessons.
Well, there you have it. Did you enjoy the list? Tell me what you thought of it. With that said, I will see you all next time.