Obscure Japanese games that deserve an English release?

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Red XIII

Straw Hat Pirate
As you probably know, there are many Japanese games that never make it over here, and whilst many of them will most likely never come to our attention, among them are a more than a few gems that might be fun to play or be worth checking out just for curiosity's sake. So, like the anime and manga licensing wishlists, this is the place to say which games you'd like to see an official English-language release for, even if there's zero chance of that ever happening.

Personally, I'd like to see the following games:

Tokyo Mew Mew: A fairly standard RPG but worth it just to be able to play as the Mew Mews (including the new Mew Mew, Ringo Akai).

Bahamut Lagoon: Haven't played it myself, but I've heard many good things about it.

And for completion's sake, I wouldn't mind seeing some of the games associated with my favourite anime and game series, like the Tenchi and Eva games, Suikogaiden 1+2 and even Chocobo Stallion.
 
I would love to see an English release of Evangelion 2 for the PS2. I don't know what the hell i'm doing and can't even beat the first angel. :cry:
 
Bloody hell, where to begin.... this could take a while. Here are a few that come immediately to mind:

Seiken Densetsu III - The sequel to Secret of Mana (Seiken Densetsu II) had more of everything; better graphics, better sound, and a great branching story that was different depending on the party you picked. This really is one that should have made a GBA port.

Super Robot Wars - just about every giant robot you can think of has made its way into one of these games. They play like a strategy RPG, with Gundam and Eva and Mazinger and more all teaming up to fight various villans from the different series. We'll never see it though, because of licensing difficulties.

Front Mission - This SNES TRPG had a good story and a really cool battle system, with a ton of mech customisation options. The thrid one was out for the PS1, so anyone that's played that will know what to expect. Another one that could have made the transition to GBA quite painlessly.

Mojib Ribbon - Vib Ribbon was a great game, but it's commercial failure meant that this sequel would never be given the same chance.

Star Ocean - RPG best described as Final Fantasy meets Star Trek. One of the most cinematic opening sequences ever to grace the SNES.

There's also a metric ton of shooters, fighters and other random curios that I'd love to see given an English release, but will never happen. More often that not there is a good reason behind it, but what annoys me is when the US gets games and we don't, despite how successful they prove to be.

More often than not anime-licensed games tend to be poor imitations of other, successful games (much like games based on movies) but there are a few exceptions to the rule.
 
Not the original SNES one. SO: The Second Story came out on the PS1, and SO: Till the End of Time came out on PS2 about a year ago. There was also a GBC game, Blue Sphere, but I don't think that made it out of Japan either.
 
I own a few Japanese games and I'd like them, of course to get released in good ol' English!

Tokimeki Memorial - The first Love-sim game made by Konami and has spawned off 3 sequels and a spin off called Girl's side. There are no type of games quite like this - and I know I wouldn't be the only one 'sad' enough to buy them! :D

Sakura Taisen - Mix S-RPG with Love-Sim combined with great anime cut scenes and you get Sakura Taisen! I think it's been sort of annouced that it will get released in the US - I wouldn't hold my breath on it.

NamcoXCapcom - Pronouced 'Namco Cross Capcom' although it's always 'times' to me - is a S-RPG in the vein of Super Robot Taisen. It's got KOS-MOS, it has Chun-Li.. what more could you want?? :wink:

Growlanser IV - I wish that Working Designs or Atlus would release this in English - Growlanser Generations was excellent (Growlanser 2 & 3) and I keep hearing that this one is even better! I want it now darn it!

Persona 2: Innocent Sin - Not to be confused with Eternal Punishment that has already been released in the US. I doubt they are ever going to translate this PS1 RPG prequel to Eternal Punishment because it has Nazi themes in it apparently. But I will be playing it soon so we'll see if I can get through the Japanese! :wink:

Star Ocean, Bahamut Lagoon and Seiken Densetsu 3 can all be played on an emulator with an English applied patch *cough*. But I know that they should have released these great games in the first place!

Some anime games could do well if they co-insided with the release of the anime on DVD at the same time - like Mai-Hime for example!

Too many games are unreleased to us English reading folk - and then the games get even more filtered from the US schedule! :?
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Honda Cb125
 
I'd also love to see a release of the Super Robot Wars games and SDF Macross for the PS2, VFX 1 & 2 for the PS1 and the Berserk Chapter of the Millinuinm Falcon game for the PS2 looks really cool too
 
neptune2venus said:
Tokimeki Memorial - The first Love-sim game made by Konami and has spawned off 3 sequels and a spin off called Girl's side. There are no type of games quite like this - and I know I wouldn't be the only one 'sad' enough to buy them! :D
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I have to agree with that! I have quite a few Tokimeki games, but since my source of a Japanese playstation 2 went away, I can't play them anymore (I also have a PC and Japanese Sega Saturn version that I can't play!). I'd love to see a version I could play over here, but with the original voices, as the only reason I looked into TM is Taiki's seiyuu is the main "posh" guy from TM (can't remember his name and Taiki is one of the Three Lights from Sailor Moon Stars!).
I did try to get a Japanese Playstation 2 of my own, but it went for over £300 :cry:
 
For all the obscure titles i've ever played (Bahamut Lagoon / Seiken Densetsu III), I now officially do not care that they never made it here. Why?

Lock up your daughters and nail down your personal pocessions: Katamari is coming
 
Miaka-chan said:
I have to agree with that! I have quite a few Tokimeki games, but since my source of a Japanese playstation 2 went away, I can't play them anymore
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My 'modified' PS2 decided to pop it's clogs, so I never got a chance to get all of my bishounens in Tokimeki Memorial: Girl's Side. :(
I think the person who you are meaning is Rei Injuin from the original Tokimeki Memorial.. they boy who was well, more than what meets the eye! :wink:
Yes I agree, it is a great little game and deserves more recognition!

kupoartist said:
Lock up your daughters and nail down your personal pocessions: Katamari is coming
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Technically Katamari Damacy has already been released outside of Japan - I have the game for my US PS2. It is original, but fun and frustration mix together quite easily. I tend to play my imported RPGs more :) Although We All Love Katamari might actually be better when it finally gets released in Europe.
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Zx14 Vs Hayabusa
 
I always wanted to get the original Katamari Damacy but memories of the frustrating ball rolling levels in some of the later Crash Bandicoot games did make me wonder exactly how much I'd enjoy it. Still, if I can ever make myself divert money away from precious anime I might look into the sequel when it comes out (or more specifically, when it ends up half-price at play.com ;) )
 
I'd like to see some dating/romance sims over these shores, so I can finnaly see what the big hype is for them...
 
MattDark said:
I'd like to see some dating/romance sims over these shores, so I can finnaly see what the big hype is for them...
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So would I, actually. If properly marketed, they could open up a whole new demographic of female gamers. Those of us brought up on shooty-shooty-bang-bang games will find them boring as hell, but they'd offer an alternative for those uninterested in the current crop of games.

Freya said:
i would like to see the Air games, sakura taisen and tramua centre
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Trauma Centre is another one I'd like to get my hands on. It may actually be getting a US release at some point, but a PAL version seems like a distant hope right now.
 
The new Katamari game, yay! Being released in Europe...well, that's great, considering it will sell all of ten copies. Hopefully it'll do well.

Newtype USA this month has run a feature of some "crazy!!!" Japanese games, featuring:

Nintendogs, which still hasn't got be interested but looks cute
Electroplankton, which looks wierd
Okami, looks interesting and beautiful, i'll probably get it
Odama, play Japanese history on a pinball machine, knocking down armies with your ball.
The aftermentioned Trauma Center and We Love Katamari, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, a court sim where you gather evidence and battle in the courtroom.

All of those will be definatly released in the US at least.
 
Trauma Centre and Phoenix Wright Are definetly on my list of DS games to buy, I think PW is actually up for pre-order on play.com!
 
I'd like to see the following releasies (keeping the japanese Seiyuu's of course)

Super robot wars - Tactics game with Eva - a perfect mix.
Every single Evangelion game - needs no explanation
NamcoXcapcom - TRPG, with 2d fighter-type battles.
 
Jump superstars should get a release I want to team up Luffy, Yoh and Goku lol

Also I would like to see Battledome D.O.N (Dragonball z, One piece and Naruto) game to be released over here seeing that the animes being used have been released over here. Plus it would be cool to see Sanji fight Goku, or Chopper fighting Sasuke lol
 
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