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| Top 25 Games That Haven't Come To America; 09.16.07 | |
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| Topic Started: Sep 16 2007, 09:16 PM (128 Views) | |
| Winged VoX | Sep 16 2007, 09:16 PM Post #1 |
The Natural Playboy
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Top 25 Games That Haven't Come To America As great as the strides the US has made in the console gaming industry, the fact remains that many of the biggest players have Japan (and some, Europe) as the primary focus. Many of these companies create titles that have little to no chance of seeing a stateside release, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, the game requires too many resources to translate. Other times, the content is based off licenses that are unfamiliar to us 'mericans. And every once in a while, fate likes to kick us in the crotch by denying a select few, ready-for-US titles because the company's just too lazy to press new discs. While we're graced every so often with a rare gem from Japan years after an original release in the form of compilations (see Final Fantasy II, III, and V), there are still many games that we're likely to never see stateside. Here's the The Top 25 Games that Won't Come to America! 25- Suikoden I and II (PSP) While US audiences can technically play these two classic RPGs getting ahold of them is pretty difficult, with the second one fetching over $100 on eBay. Konami re-released both Suikoden I and II on a single UMD in Japan recently with some slight upgrades. Unfortunately, the title sold only slightly better than a case of STD-infected syringes, so plans to port the cheap and convenient two-for-one deal to the US have all but disappeared. 24- Cho Aniki Seinaru Protein Densetsu (PS2) Posted Image Bizarre Japanese premise? Check. Extreme levels of sexuality? Check. Great gameplay? Okay... by all accounts, this game isn't very good, but it bears mentioning that a space-shooter featuring scantily-clad men as ships flying across a land soaked with "Holy Protein" would pique interest anywhere. Having recently gained attention due to its controversial content, there's no better time for the US to get a dose of Holy Protein. This is the kind of game you want to whip out to showcase how crazy Japanese games can get. 23- Psyvariar 2: The Will to Fabricate (Sega Dreamcast) Vertical shooters are a hard sell to most American gamers, which means we miss out on quite a lot of amazing games like this classic shooter. Unlike most shmups, which make your ship more brittle than grandma's knees, Psyvariar 2 encourages you to risk near-death with an almost-indestructible ship. Released for multiple consoles in 2004, Psyvariar 2 even warranted a Dreamcast release, which speaks volumes of its quality. 22- Shining Force III Scenarios 2&3 (Sega Saturn) Why the screwballs behind this addictive and fun strategy RPG only released the first scenario in the US is up there with trying to figure out how to hog tie a contortionist. If you want to find out how the whole things ends up you'll have to scour the net for fan translations. 21 Densha de Go! Shinkansen EX: Sanyou Shinkansen Hen (Nintendo Wii) Posted Image Conducting trains may not be the cat's meow in the States, but in Japan gamers can strap on their engineers hats and control a commuter train. This bundle comes with a cumbersome controller that really makes transporting passengers, uh... fun? While conducting a train may not be the most exciting of tasks, some US gamers may find enjoyment out of the many Japanese job sims on the market. With the interactivity of the Wii Remote, there may be no better time than now. 20-Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mysterious Dungeon (Playstation 2) Posted Image If you just couldn't get your fill of Yangus, the thief in Dragon Quest VIII, then you'll be shedding more tears than the beer this fatso can consume. The game takes place in his younger years and has players marching through randomly generated dungeons with turn based battles. Since there's not much interest behind normal Yangus in the US, we're guessing this game isn't high atop Square-Enix's "to translate" list. Besides, there's plenty more Dragon Quest we need to see stateside (see later entries). 19- Rent a Hero No. 1 (Sega Dreamcast) Posted Image One of Sega's more interesting characters has still not set foot on American shores. Tackling the tired superhero game genre, Rent a Hero No. 1 presented an humorously odd premise of a local hero-for-hire who aids his local community. Presented as a more lighthearted adventure like Shenmue, the US was twice cursed with this title. First, the title was passed over for release during the Sega Dreamcast era. Things were looking up for gamers when the Rent a Hero No. 1 was translated and prepped for a US release on the Xbox. Unfortunately, the distribution fell through, and this Hero didn't get to save the day stateside. 18- Shin Megami Tensei if... (SNES) The Shin Megami Tensei series started on the Super Famicom as a first person action RPG. This is the third installment in the series. The story focuses around the main character's high school being sucked into h*ll... ah the memories of High School. The nearest you'll get to seeing this is in the first Persona game where the female lead makes a cameo. With the PS2 iteration of Persona starting to make some waves in the marketplace, the time may be right for these older high school/h*ll-themed titles to make a mark in the US via remakes. 17- Dokidoki Majo Shinpan (Nintendo DS) Posted Image Think the Salem witch trials were one of the cooler points in history? Dokidoki is that game that lets you examine girls from head to toe to find out if they are a witch. If the DS stylus and touch screen weren't made for molesting virtual girls, then I don't know what they were made for. Unfortunately, there's a panty-ful of reasons this game won't come out here. There's the ambiguous age of the characters you're fondling, the cute style that belies the dirty exterior, and the fact that sexual games are about as rare in the US as sexual gamers... need we go on? 16- Evil Twin (Dreamcast) This game was developed by the French and never saw this side of the Atlantic. While it's possibly Tim Shaffer didn't see this game before he developed Psychonauts, the resemblance is striking. As the lone European entrant on this list, Evil Twin makes the cut because it adheres to what makes European games great. Pure, old school gameplay and unique plot and character design make Evil Twin a tantalizing platform treat. A tantalizing platform treat that probably would have sold two dozen copies in America. 15- Takeshi's Challenge (NES) Posted Image Back in the NES days, it's pretty likely Takeshi's Challenge would have been poorly received stateside. The primarily child-based demographic for the system in the US probably wouldn't have cottoned to the torture-based gameplay, which included holding down a button for four hours straight or attacking the final boss 20,000 times. Bearing the name of a famous Japanese comedian who proclaimed his hate for videogames, a game like this could potentially find an audience in today's more mature gaming audiences--particularly those into torture. Also, now that games are being more accepted as an art form (shut it, Ebert), the bizarre post-modernism at play in Takeshi's Challenge has more of a chance to be appreciated. Even if we have no idea who the h*ll this Takeshi guy is. 14- Neon Genesis Evangelion 2 (Playstation 2) As one of the most popular anime franchises in the US--I think it's been released as at least three separate DVD sets by now--it's pretty surprising that none of the eight games based off of Neon Genesis Evangelion have come to the US. While each of the games have appeal, the one we're clamoring the most for is Neon Genesis Evangelion 2, which uses an action turn-based strategy system to recount the most memorable battles during the show. While there are a few 2.5D Evagelion fighting games that get you into the action a bit faster, the ability to explore Tokyo-3, talk with its citizens, and engage in strategic battles with the angels makes NGE2 the most alluring of the bunch. 13- Mario and Wario (SNES) Posted Image Before the company hit it big with the Pokemon franchise, Game Freak created a truly unique adventure-puzzler that never got a shot in the states. Released on the Super Famicom, Mario and Wario was produced entirely in English and used the SNES mouse peripheral. Given the still-peaking popularity of all things Mario, and the mouse-like capabilities of the Wii Remote, Mario and Wario should book a trip to the Wii's Virtual Console. You know US fans will foot the bill. 12- Oneechambara Vortex (Xbox 360) Posted Image Those who love the game play of Devil May Cry, but can't stand the whiny metro-sexual lead Dante will water over this game. Think the same badass hack and slash intensity of DMC, but the lead is a bikini-clad, katana-wielding, ninja-cowgirl name Aya. This game is filled with more hordes of zombies and blood than you can shake a maxi-pad at. It's likely that this potent mix of sex and blood proved too much for publisher D3 to handle, as the threat of the three-headed censorship Hydra known as Jack-Hillary-Arnold probably scared the company off. 11- Daigasso! Band Brothers (DS) Before the US went crazy over Guitar Hero, there was a fine music sim for the DS called Daigasso! Band Brothers that allowed fans of the portable to play some pretty sweet tunes. The game was planned for a US release--Nintendo went as far as to rename the game "Jam with the Band" for the states--but this title's world tour has been indefinitely cancelled. 10- Guitar Freaks & Drummania (PS2) Before Rock Band was even a glint in the eye of gamers, Japanese rhythm game fans had this gem to rock out on. While US gamers got to play the game in the arcade, Konami brought the fun home with guitar and drum peripherals years before Guitar Hero had its first showing. In the home versions, players could compete co-op style or head-to-head on the drums and guitar. Ah, the originality of American gaming. Like so many Japanese music titles that didn't catch on in the states (read: every non DDR title), the lack of US-friendly tunes made the series a tough sell outside of the arcades. 9- Dragon Quest V (SNES, PS2) Posted Image This is one of those twice-bitten import nightmares that especially haunt US gamers. Released during a lean period for RPGs in the US (even a few Final Fantasies didn't get a release during the era), Dragon Quest V introduced a lot of key concepts that would shape RPGs for years to come, including random creature reqruitement, a la Pokemon. You would have thought that the game's PS2 update would have warranted a release, since the RPG landscape had grown by leaps and bounds during the time between iterations. Unfortunately, Square-Enix decided not to roll the dice and give the game a proper tranlation. Word is that yet another remake is in the works, this time for the DS. Third times a charm, right? 8- Segagaga (Dreamcast) Posted Image Published near the end of the Dreamcast's lifecycle, Segagaga has the distinction of having one of the most bizarre premises for an RPG, ever. Set in the future, where Sega's marketshare has reached critically low levels, Segagaga tasks you with saving the company. Featuring plenty of Sega in-jokes and game-culture humor, Segagaga could be the Webster's dictionary definition of "Japanese niche title". 7- Jump Superstars (DS) Everyone loves Super Smash Bros., but seriously, where's the portable version? As if the US DS audience isn't already bereft of good fighting games, they will probably never get to see this insane brawler that is as close to a DS version of Nintendo's popular fighter as we've ever seen. With a roster that includes characters from Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Yu-Gi-Oh, Jump Superstars would likely be a licensing mess in the US. 6- Vib-Ribbon (PS1) Posted Image The world's first, last, and best rhythm-platformer, Vib-Ribbon had you controlling a rabbit whose stages are determined by your music collection. Once the game had loaded to the PS1's RAM, you could drop in any of your CDs and the stages would use the songs to generate unique stages. Translated for European release, Vib-Ribbon didn't come to the US because we're not allowed to have anything unique or interesting. With plenty of PS1 games gaining new life thanks to PSP remakes and PS3 downloads, we wouldn't cut Vib-Ribbon just yet. 5- Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Earth (N64) If there was a game that was made for importers, it's Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Earth. It's an easily-accessible 3D rail-shooter (think Panzer Dragoon) with English voice acting! Unfortunately, this gorgeous, addictive shooter came out a bit too late in the N64's lifespan, so the game never got the international acclaim it was so worthy of. 4- Mother 3 (GBA) Posted Image The US can't seem to catch a break with the Earthbound series (called Mother in Japan). The first game was all but translated before Nintendo cancelled it, while the much-beloved sequel--the only one released in the US--suffered from disappointing sales numbers. The latest iteration in the series was beset with major delays before coming out exclusively in Japan on the GBA (also home to a Japan-only compilation cart of the first two games). Between the fan translation projects, and the hard-work of Earthbound activists, Mother 3 is continually gaining a following and you better believe that Nintendo's paying attention. Word is that Earthbound's eventual Virtual Console debut will dictate whether Mother 3 gets a shot in the US. Get your wallets ready, gamers! 3-BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets (SNES) This Zelda game takes place after A Link to the Past and was only released for the Super Famicom attachment called the Broadcast Satellaview, which allowed you to download games to your system via a satellite. Due to the unique technology, LoZ: AST featured a speaking narrator and NPC's, which we're still waiting for in current Zelda titles. We understand that the unique nature of the Satellaview restricted the game's possibilty of a US port, but missing out on this game and getting crap like the CD-I titles puts the "BS" in BS The Legend of Zelda. 2- Tobal 2 (PS1) Posted Image Tobal No. 1 was a fine fighting game that proved Square was capable great games in genres other than adventure and RPG. While the game boasted smooth animation and a quest mode that still stands among the best in the genre, the low-detail character models looked atrocious in print. Nevertheless, gamers that did get to try the unique fighter (most disregarded it as "The free game that came with the Final Fantasy VII demo") got to play one the PlayStation's best fighting games. The sequel remedied almost every single minute problem from the first by drastically improving the character models, deepening the quest mode to standalone quality, and growing the roster to epic proportions. For some reason, the game was deemed unworthy of a US release. Dream Factory, the game's developer, then went on to sully its reputation with a string of failed fighters including Ehrgeiz, The Bouncer, and UFC Tapout, culminating in a failed partnership with Microsoft to make Kakuto Chojin, an awful Xbox fighter that ended up being recalled over censorship issues. 1- Radiant Silvergun (Saturn) Posted Image There's a reason this game sells for upwards of $150 on eBay. One of the greatest space shooters of all time, released only in Japan, Radiant Silvergun is a rare gem that never got a chance to shine stateside. With an amazing ammunition system that keeps you from scrambling for power ups, graphics that push the Saturn to its limits, and a superb musical score that puts other shooters to shame, Radiant Silvergun should have been a shoe-in for a US release. Unfortunately, Radiant Silvergun came out in late 1998 as Sega was moving its attention away from the Saturn in favor of the then-upcoming Dreamcast, and the game is still an unknown entity among US gamers. Hopefully Treasure might see fit to capitalize on the cult following this game has accrued in the US and release it sometime. (credits - Games.net) |
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| Angel | Sep 16 2007, 09:43 PM Post #2 |
C_Beyond ((chunsa oppa))
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oooh...theres some interesting ones i'd like to play up there ^_^ |
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| Yo-Tai-Keizuke | Sep 17 2007, 03:28 AM Post #3 |
H.O.T's Wu Jiok
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The only game that i kinda always wished i could play from that list is Tobal. No. 2. Thing is Square Enix announced there will be a sequel but it'll be MOBILE... F*** U Square Enix. lol As for Tobal. No.1... a quest mode that stands among the best in the genre? LOL Who crapped that BS!? The only reason people played that game was cause of the FF VII demo and it sure was okay but it showed that Squaresoft can't make fighting games, not the other way around. |
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"though the ocean is big...but it can wave and do a lot of tricks." -Val- Xbox Live Gamertag   credits: Thanks to Jess (Shouling) Caliente like a volcano But beautifully bright as the sun She's my angel sistah Her name is lady Madison Yo-Tai-Keizuke Ukaji A.K.A (Also Known As) Edwin Express Love: (Kuai Ti Ai Qin) Hurry now Don't wait for time to pass you by Find a way to keep the sparks, alive alive Hurry now Don't let that someone pass you by Make the passion esscalate | |
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| BaByLuLu | Sep 17 2007, 04:29 AM Post #4 |
Super Member
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so i still dont get what number 24 is about hahaha but i wanna play number 17 and 12. LMAO someone shud explain to me wtf is number 24 about. i dont see anything controversial about a big fat transgender looking thing in a maids outfit LMAO |
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| Winged VoX | Sep 17 2007, 10:37 AM Post #5 |
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The Natural Playboy
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The "Holy Protein." |
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"Just Like Coffee That Has Cooled..." - Blog Spot | |
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| BaByLuLu | Sep 17 2007, 06:53 PM Post #6 |
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Super Member
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^oooohhh um you mean that "stuff" that comes out of a guys you know what? ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh haaha now i feel slow. thanks for explaining hahahas |
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| Angus Mac | Sep 17 2007, 08:23 PM Post #7 |
Resident Watchdog
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What happened to that game with our favorite OBJECTION! characters? Has that crossed over? |
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| Winged VoX | Sep 17 2007, 09:26 PM Post #8 |
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The Natural Playboy
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The first 2 Gyakuten Saiban games have been ported to DS and released in America as the Phoenix Wright games. The third one will be released in the US in October (I just beat my import of it this past Saturday). The fourth one is the first real DS version of the game (first 3 were originally on the GBA). When that is released in the US (whenever that is) it will be called Apollo Justice due to the new lead character. It is a joyous series. Helps if you like reading and maybe those crime drama shows, although I like neither of those. I still enjoyed the game for the characters and great stories it told. |
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"Just Like Coffee That Has Cooled..." - Blog Spot | |
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