BoneSnapDeez wrote:Good lord is there some rule that states that Japan-only PSX games must have terrible cover art?
There is, along with the rule that every Nintendo eShop game I download goes on sale within a month of my purchase.
I know...The Legend of the Dark Witch 2 came out yesterday...and as much as I enjoyed the original and as much as I want to support the developer, I think I will wait at least a month before picking it up.
BoneSnapDeez wrote:Good lord is there some rule that states that Japan-only PSX games must have terrible cover art?
There is, along with the rule that every Nintendo eShop game I download goes on sale within a month of my purchase.
I know...The Legend of the Dark Witch 2 came out yesterday...and as much as I enjoyed the original and as much as I want to support the developer, I think I will wait at least a month before picking it up.
I'm surprised FAST Racing Neo isn't on sale since I downloaded it last week.
BoneSnapDeez wrote:Good lord is there some rule that states that Japan-only PSX games must have terrible cover art?
Quite a turnaround from the NES and TG-16, eh? I mean, it used to be the US had a monopoly on horrible cover art.
I've noticed that with this generation, at least in my opinion, Japanese and often European cover art is a lot more interesting than what America gets for the same game.
This time in (generally) unknown Japanese PS1 import recommendations, I'm going with JRPGs and SRPGs. Granted you'll either need a walkthrough or be Bone to play these. But here's some for you stinkers all the same...
Brave Prove | 1998
For those of you who enjoy 2D action-RPGs this one's a kicker.
Description from TheIsoZone:
"Brave prove is a japanese action RPG in which you take the role of Ars, a warrior member of a legendary band of thieves that with the help of Shina (a young girl) will try to defeat the evil Chaos that is in his land. The game starts when Shina goes to the temple that is on the caves of the mountain that are to the right of the town where they live (that's the big first level of the game).
When the player arrives at the temple in the bottom of the mountain he finds Shina praying to the rock of the 2 elements, but soon a fire demon appears and to defeat it the player has to destroy the rock. When he do that a demon appears and stole Shina powers after that a fairy appears and they return to the town to cure Shina. After that they adventure to defeat the devil demon has just started.
In the game the player can use Elementals that can do two things: First they allow the player to use magic and second they give the player's sword special properties.
The gameplay is pure action (like in Alundra or The Legend of Thor) since the player have to defeat the enemies with his sword or with special attacks or items (like bombs), in some parts of the game to advance he will have to use bombs to break through walls or other things in his way.
Manufacturer's description:
Numerous actions to trigger a combo thing after another in real time command input actions to continuously pay out several simple commands. Hit attack combo is determined refreshing sense of fun. Technical skill and technique of attack together from flashy special attacks and invigoration of the charm of that unique skill to instantly annihilate the enemy are endless. Action-oriented action patterns alone provides 400 patterns of the hero RPG.
As drew a full-scale action adventure black member of the legendary band of thieves looking RPG on PS crystals appeared. Continue to exercise after another in real time by typing several actions to continuously go out with a simple command "action combo"adopted. Excellent taste a sense of exhilaration in the attack pattern of an infinite combination of flashy super special technique to annihilate the enemy at once.
Features:
Third person perspective.
2D graphics
Cartoon graphics
Medieval Fantasy theme.
BASIC CONTROLS:
Move character - D-Pad
Run - D-Pad Left or Right (Twice)
Attack - Circle Button
Use item - X Button
Menu - Square Button
Magic - Triangle Button
Select action item - L1 or R2 Button
If you played zelda then im sure you know how this game works. "
Screenshots:
- PoPoRoGue | 1998
This is a roguelike that takes place in the PoPoLoCrois universe. Charming graphics make it look inviting.
Screenshots:
- WakuPuyo Dungeon Ketteiban | 1998
This is a roguelike that takes place in the Puyo Puyo universe of all things. It was made by Compile so you know it's (probably) good!
Screenshots:
- Linda Cube Again AKA Linda³ | 1997
Linda Cubed is an esoteric horror JRPG. It is based around the adventures of a man and woman who attempt to capture creatures while an asteroid hurtles towards Earth.
Well if it isn't a Samurai Shodown JPRG! I don't know if it's good or not. That's for you to decide if you can read moonspeak. (Although I think there's a Neo Geo CD version of this that got a fan translation.)
Screenshots:
- T: Kara Hajimaru Monogatari | 1998
Some folks compare this one's gameplay to Zelda.
Description from TheIsoZone:
"T Kara Hajimaru Monogatari is an action adventure game developed by Jaleco in 1998, in the game the player takes the role of a young skater boy (which name is unknow since the player can put the name that he wants to) that one day he arrives at home and received in email in his computer to create a graffitti using these 4 words: Trap, trick, trip, truth.
As soon as he finished the graffiti he listened his mother shouting in the lower floor, so he run there and find that she's trapped in a vortex, he tried to save her but he fails, he tried to used his computer again and he also is send to another world, as soon as he awakes there a young girl appeared and with her help he will try to save his mother and return home.
The gameplay is about fighting different enemies that appears in the stage, activate platforms and switches to reach different places of the world, talking to characters, etc.
Manufacturer's description:
Features:
Third person perspective.
3D graphics
Cartoon graphics
Fanasy theme.
BASIC CONTROLS:
Move character: D-Pad or Left Analog Stick
Jump / Cancel action - X Button
Select action - Circle Button
Action - Square Button
Recover - Triangle Button
Use board - L2 Button
Camera select - L1 or R1 Button
Menu (Planet) - R2 Button
Item Select - Select button
Quit game - Select button (after pressing Start to pause)
Pause game - Start Button
MISC CODES:
Alternate main characters - Press Right, Left, Right, Down, Up, Up at the title screen. Change the number that appears on the upper left corner of the screen to play as different characters "
Screenshots:
- Power Dolls 2: Detachment of Limited Line Service | 1997
You might remember this series because the first game got a USA release for DOS. This is more of the same. Pretty ladies piloting mechs across the battlefield SRPG style.
Screenshots:
- Seirei Hata RayBlade | 2000
While we're talking PS1 mech SRPGs from Japan, can't forget this one.
Screenshots:
- Paro Wars | 1997
Speaking of SRPGs... did you know there was a Parodious themed SRPG? Yep. There is.
Screenshots:
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Well that ought to be enough Japanese import weirdness to last us till Monday.
There's still plenty of other Japanese only PS1 games I can tell you folks about. Which is fun for us importers I suppose. But I'm not sure if you guys like what I'm doing here or not. If you guys are getting tired of that, I can go back to randomly recommending one or two English games here and there.
BoneSnapDeez wrote:Have you played Tear Ring Saga?
Played it, no, have a copy, yes. The fan translation got to the point of being 99% done, so it's totally playable now for English-only audiences. And yeah, it's a straight up Fire Emblem game, to the point that Nintendo sued its creators.
Wow. I'm a dork! I own PoPoLo Rogue and didn't realize it was a Rogue-like. Whenever I get my debug station repaired I seriously need to try that out.
Also I posted this in my review thread already so excuse the shameless plug but Firestriker. A weird action game that mixes Breakout/Arkanoid block breaking with like Action/Adventure gameplay elements. It's mindlessly good fun for an afternoon or two.
Last edited by Daria on Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Check out my YouTube Channel DariaPlays for super nerdy video reviews on classic RPGs and Adventure titles. Bonus: I don't suck! Pinky-swear.
I know...The Legend of the Dark Witch 2 came out yesterday...and as much as I enjoyed the original and as much as I want to support the developer, I think I will wait at least a month before picking it up.
