Japanese Niche Games Deals & Discussion Thread 4.0

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shivan128

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Welcome to the Japanese niche games deals and discussion thread!  Feel free to talk about local and import Japanese games here.  Our goal is to maintain a thread dedicated to active deals on niche games including RPGs, Visual Novels (VN), Shoot'em ups (Shmups), Musou, etc.  Also maintained are pre-orders for standard, limited and collector's edition games with key release dates provided.

I've wikified the thread to make it more friendly and open to others that can actively update with important information. You can find the wiki post directly below this one.

NOTE:  Please, leave the censorship discussion away from this thread.  It's common for japanese games to have questionable content outside of the country.  We want to keep discussions to the game itself and not about cultural/societal tolerance.

A message from Thorbahn:

Our CAG Japanese Niche Games Thread also has a community on PS4, where you can interact and game with other members of the thread.

Our moderators are: Draekon, Las_Hole, and Waffleswanton

You can basically friend any of our members, or any moderator, and you will be able to request to join the community under "Communities friends are in" tab, and a mod will approve your request.

You can also leave your PSN ID in the thread, saying you want to join, and we can invite you directly as well.

As always, have fun and enjoy your stay!

 
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nitrosmob said:
Loop8 impressions on PS5 (PS4 version) after about 4-5 hours.
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Thanks for taking one for the team and posting your feedback here.

I played some garbage games over the weekend (some games I got free during a promotion thing and the Princess Peach demo)... and it felt like a complete waste of my time when I could be playing something I legit want to play. Still, it allowed me to delete some of the backlog. Loop 8, I'm going to just put it out of my mind at any price. Thanks again.
 
When I'm wishing in my mind I was playing Monark (I didn't hate the demo and did get it when it went cheap) I know it's probably not a game for me. I feel even praising the graphics is a bit much as characters are fuzzy and animate strangely.
 
Another DRM Free Indiegala 18+ bundle. This one has a good mix of yuri games and my favorite type of games (the simulation ones...Love on Leave is one). I don't believe Love on Leave is 18+. $5.99 now.

Kiss Academy Bundle

A Maiden Astrologer Divines the Future
Black Academy
Hot"Sento Girls"and love
Love on Leave
Mokoko X (Deluxe)
Secret Kiss is Sweet and Tender
 
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ININ is having an Amazon sale with a number of Japanese games included:

:ps5: PS5 Games

Jitsu Squad $17.99
Puzzle Bobble 3D Vacation Odyssey $17.99
Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef $17.99

:ps4:PS4 Games

Wonder Boy - Asha In Monster World $19.99
Dariusburst: Another Chronicle Ex+ $19.99
Cotton Reboot! $19.99
Cotton Fantasy $19.99
Jitsu Squad $14.99
Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef $14.99
Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle +Hell – Deluxe Edition $14.99
Star Renegades $14.99
Space Invaders Forever $14.99
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends - The Baron Is Back! $29.99
RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection $29.99
G-Darius HD $17.99
Turrican Flashback $19.99


:switch:Nintendo Switch

Dariusburst: Another Chronicle Ex+ $19.99
80 Days & Overboard! $19.99
Jitsu Squad $17.99
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! $29.99
Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle +Hell – Deluxe Edition $17.99
RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection $29.99
Taito Milestones 2 $29.99
Bud Spencer & Terence Hill - Slaps and Beans 2 $24.99
Wonder Boy Collection $19.99
Space Invaders Forever Special Edition $27.99
Root Double -Before Crime After Days- Xtend Edition $21.99
Star Renegades $17.99
Boulder Dash Ultimate Collection $17.99
WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] The Story of Eirudy $24.99
Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef $17.99
Taito Milestones Collection $24.99
G-Darius HD $24.99
Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef $17.99
Turrican Flashback $24.99
 
started playing atelier escha to logy after dropping banner of the maid (aka banner of the yogis some call it) It's weird after having 4 other entries under my belt (ayesha rorona plus ryza 1 and meruru)
 
Masterkyo24 said:

The Legend of Nayuta (S) $35 at Bestbuy. OOP item​

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Was going to post the same thing... went through my dekudeals shortcut to see what had dropped overnight and this ended up being an instant purchase:

Switch: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/the-le...rails-nintendo-switch/6481220.p?skuId=6481220
PS4: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/the-le...-trails-playstation-4/6481231.p?skuId=6481231

Looks like the switch version is selling out fairly fast as there was no option for store pickup... but thankfully shipping was still there. Not that I'm doing store pickup with the nearest store an hour away... but that's usually a sign of how quickly something is going.

Well, before I even got this posted... I looked back and the switch version shows not available. Glad I locked in my order before looking through the other sales they have going.
 
I got my PS4 copy of Nayuta during the GameStop clearance recently.

Just a reminder, if there's demand for it, VGP will likely reprint it, so don't FOMO if you miss it.
 
TheKbob said:
I got my PS4 copy of Nayuta during the GameStop clearance recently.

Just a reminder, if there's demand for it, VGP will likely reprint it, so don't FOMO if you miss it.
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Same, but I got the Switch release for $25 during that clearance. Still a good price for those that missed it before though.
 
Iirc nayuta is one of those spinoff things so I don't have any interest in it really. I still haven't played the last asset flip Tokyo xanadu+. That one plummeted in price so I ended up getting the psn ps4 version iirc for 4$ or something.
 
The problem with Nayuta is that there's way too many cutscenes for a rather mediocre story. The gameplay is very fun, the music is boppin', and the graphics/art direction are very fair for their time. But, the story is so bland, and it shoves so much of it in your face, mistakenly believing the player will care so much about it that he/she won't mind allowing the game to grind to a halt for it. I got the NISA collector's edition at launch and enjoyed it enough, but I'll probably keep an eye on the secondhand prices in the future, in case I want to make my money back on it. As gospelman said, if you're looking for a Falcom-style ARPG, just play one of the Ys games (Origin, Felghana, or VIII, in particular).
 
I've been meaning to get to Zwei II actually, thanks for the reminder. Maybe that's a good title to play on steam deck in between finishing Rebirth (almost done) and Daybreak release.

I would still say Nayuta good overall, just not on Trails standards. The plot and cutscenes were 'just ok' to me. I was/am mostly interested in piecing together how the undisclosed nature of Nayuta 's world relates to Trails' Zemuria. Fun but challenging to craft theories and eschew spoilers until further games are localized.
 
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What drew me to Nayuta (even though I had opted to stop buying Legend of Heroes games after CS4) is:
  • I tend to prefer action rpg's these days (though I can't seem to get into the Ys series)
  • this is a standalone experience and not part 1 of 4 or something or where I need to know a bunch going in
  • completion time for the story is said to be under 20 hours and around 40 if you try to do everything
  • I'm not put off by this being a psp game brought to modern consoles... I love that era of gaming (now someone give me some Kenka Bancho Badass Rumble and it's sequels in a collection).
For myself, this is really ticks some boxes. I do love big games... but if it's big it better be Xenoblade Chronicles or Dragon Quest in quality to get me for 80 to 200 hours.
 
ar4757 said:
Is Trails Nayuta gameplay kind of like Rune Factory’s combat? Been curious about trying it
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There are definitely similarities, both featuring simple button mash fun. There are less weapon choices in Nayuta (only 2) but they are also more complex with different combos, unlockable skills, etc. Magic attacks also feel similar. More side scrolling level exploration in Nayuta, where RF3-4 feel more like top-down dungeon grinding.
 
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BrandonBlank said:
Zwei Ilvard Insurrection is also really good and i feel goes unnoticed
Sad to hear nayuta isnt as good, I assumed it was turn-based up until today
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the asset flip games use Ys lite gameplay over a trails skin/structure from what I understand. That's the other reason why I don't get them. As said if I wanted a Ys game I'd go play one (laughs at my Ys backlog which rivals my trails).
 
nightc1 said:
What drew me to Nayuta (even though I had opted to stop buying Legend of Heroes games after CS4) is:
  • I tend to prefer action rpg's these days (though I can't seem to get into the Ys series)
  • this is a standalone experience and not part 1 of 4 or something or where I need to know a bunch going in
  • completion time for the story is said to be under 20 hours and around 40 if you try to do everything
  • I'm not put off by this being a psp game brought to modern consoles... I love that era of gaming (now someone give me some Kenka Bancho Badass Rumble and it's sequels in a collection).
For myself, this is really ticks some boxes. I do love big games... but if it's big it better be Xenoblade Chronicles or Dragon Quest in quality to get me for 80 to 200 hours.
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What Ys have you tried if you don't mind me asking? As each set uses different types of action systems. There's the bump ones, the party ones that are top down, then the full 3d party ones for 8 and 9 that have platforming and weapon types.. With the ones with platforming in-between those 2. No idea on the current ones as I haven't played any since 8 came out.

I prefer celceta as it gives less is more with the party system.
 
shadowysea07 said:
the asset flip games use Ys lite gameplay over a trails skin/structure from what I understand. That's the other reason why I don't get them. As said if I wanted a Ys game I'd go play one (laughs at my Ys backlog which rivals my trails).
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Falcom's recent games that can be fairly described as asset flips are Trails in the Sky the 3rd and Trails into Reverie. Nayuta and Tokyo Xanadu eX are spinoffs with fresh assets excluding the occasional Mishy sighting and TX's arcade fishing mini game.
 
gospelman said:
There are definitely similarities, both featuring simple button mash fun. There are less weapon choices in Nayuta (only 2) but they are also more complex with different combos, unlockable skills, etc. Magic attacks also feel similar. More side scrolling level exploration in Nayuta, where RF3-4 feel more like top-down dungeon grinding.
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Thanks, I think I’ll give it a try then!

In other news, was able to find the last copy of Xenoblade 3 for $30 at Walmart
 
The Quintessential Quintuplets games are also on PSN and Switch. Always good to have choices. They're also available individually, but just get both ;). The launch discount is until May 30th.

PSN
Switch
 
MagicCarpet said:
Is this game, Dragon Quest Monsters, worth $40? I tried the demo and the performance and graphics were awful
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I thought the demo played fine for a demo... and my oldest son (24) beat the whole game without a complaint. I only played it docked. I just went and asked him and he said handheld it had issues in the overworld where it wasn't smooth but it played better docked and that's what he did for the whole game. Again, he beat it. But he also had recently played through the GBC Monsters games. So he was more into it for the gameplay. That said, he mostly plays games on pc at stupid high framerates so him playing through the whole game without complaint tells me it's not too bad.
 
I have only played DQM: The Dark Prince on my Switch Lite and while the performance does chug along at times, I have still enjoyed the game for the most part.

That said I have actually stopped playing it since I've been playing the Switch version of Eiyuden Chronicle Hundred Heroes since the physical release came out on Friday. The Switch version of this game also has its performance issues (slow frame rate at times) but I am enjoying the hell out of it. It really does scratch that modern Suikoden itch.
 
Mattiful-Joe said:
Will probably pick up Loop8 -- I know it got unfavorable reviews but $17 is a good price to check it out myself.
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If You Say So Wow GIF by Identity
 
I've had Loop8 for a while. Who knows when I will get to it though. The game was originally delayed for further quality improvements. By the sounds of the reviews, they didn't do that, or maybe it was even worse! It still looks cool, hopefully I can get some enjoyment out of it.
 
So I just watched a gameplay video ... and uhhh, let's just say there is some weird-a$$ incest in this thing. Wtf. I think I'm skipping it.
 
If you decide to get Loop8 use a guide 100% of the time. It's a waste of time to play it, but you may as well waste less time. I'm still very pissed I got a bad end which cut back around 10-15 minutes of my previous time, which already had me speed running stats for characters since what they had to say was boring and not that interesting.
 
nightc1 said:
I thought the demo played fine for a demo... and my oldest son (24) beat the whole game without a complaint. I only played it docked. I just went and asked him and he said handheld it had issues in the overworld where it wasn't smooth but it played better docked and that's what he did for the whole game. Again, he beat it. But he also had recently played through the GBC Monsters games. So he was more into it for the gameplay. That said, he mostly plays games on pc at stupid high framerates so him playing through the whole game without complaint tells me it's not too bad.
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I read up some articles and apparently it’s been patched, I’ll probably end up picking it up if it goes lower in price.
 
I actually played more games this weekend. Mostly testing demos to see if I liked things. I won't detail everything, just the highlights.

Triangle Strategy (Demo), I thought was ok but probably not worth it for me right now... I'd probably be tempted if it were $20.

Sea of Stars (Demo), now that grabbed me right at the start. I like how the demo jumps ahead and it's not just the opening of the game. It gave a good sense of what is available in the game and I like the variety in the battle mechanics. Felt a little Super Mario RPG with the timing mechanic to attack/defend. I love how the battles just kind of start in the regular environment without any jump to another screen. Am I right to think this might be well worth snagging a copy sooner rather than later? $40 seems fair ($44 after tax, I should get free shipping) and reviews all look great. I normally do not care for very linear rpgs, but there's so dang much charm here. The battle system was great, the overall world is beautiful, and characters were often hilarious. Not very cag of me, but I may just go ahead and grab a copy. I've already got one sitting in my cart on bestbuy.com.

Star Ocean First Departure R (switch). For some reason I thought it was turn based but those first battles pretty much play themselves since the NPC's can act independently. So going outside and not knowing how to save (since you can't save in the opening town), I got my ass handed to me in hilarious fashion. So about 15 min or so wasted because I looked at everything and talked to everyone. Figured it out really quick that it was action based battles & where to save (thanks google) and ended up going through the entire opening (nearly an hour) of the game and progressed on to the first big shock for the main characters about the universe. Loved just about everything once the battle mechanics clicked. Super happy now I grabbed this when it was cheap ($6.29?) and also feel extra smart and lucky for getting that $20 copy of Second Story R at Walmart. Of course now I'm going to have to consider rounding out the collection. But not before actually finishing this game, I don't want to get ahead of myself.

MagicCarpet said:
I read up some articles and apparently it’s been patched, I’ll probably end up picking it up if it goes lower in price.
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DQ:M is being liquidated at Walmart for $30.00. A solid deal, though probably harder to find now as most stores have already done the drops. Still, worth checking if it's convenient. I have seen it in the wild at that price in one store and empty spots for it in other stores at that price. Same for DQ Treasures.
 
Playasia has Tsukihime A Piece of Blue Glass Moon Standard Switch / PS4 Asian English up for preorder for $53.99. That's a good option if you don't want to pay $80 for the limited edition US version.
 
nightc1 said:
Star Ocean First Departure R (switch). For some reason I thought it was turn based but those first battles pretty much play themselves since the NPC's can act independently. So going outside and not knowing how to save (since you can't save in the opening town), I got my ass handed to me in hilarious fashion. So about 15 min or so wasted because I looked at everything and talked to everyone. Figured it out really quick that it was action based battles & where to save (thanks google) and ended up going through the entire opening (nearly an hour) of the game and progressed on to the first big shock for the main characters about the universe. Loved just about everything once the battle mechanics clicked. Super happy now I grabbed this when it was cheap ($6.29?) and also feel extra smart and lucky for getting that $20 copy of Second Story R at Walmart. Of course now I'm going to have to consider rounding out the collection. But not before actually finishing this game, I don't want to get ahead of myself.
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Oh, I was looking at that one to play next myself! I've been in a bit of a rut for the past week after platinuming Stellar Blade and Subnautica: Below Zero and just can't seem to find a game to play next. Of course, it also doesn't help that the summer heat has slammed Florida a month early this year, my AC was on the fritz for a few days, and as a New Yorker, I tolerate extreme heat so poorly, I can pass out from it. So yeah, it's been hard for me to concentrate lol. I really want to try out Second Story R, but I know you should play First Departure R, well, first, so obviously I plan to do that. How's the battle system? Did it click quickly for you or is it complicated? I heard the game can be grindy and I know you only played for an hour, but does it seem like it'll get obnoxious?

I was also considering getting to FFVII Rebirth finally, a game that's been praised to the moon on this site, but I'm just not sure if I'm in the mood for a giant JRPG right now. For those who've played it, I heard the game grinds to a halt due to unavoidable minigames, that asshole Chadley never shutting up, and lots of forced slow-walk segments (which I fucking hate). But, I do love me a Ubisoft-style map marker open world and after Stellar Blade, I want more action. So I guess I'm wondering if that'd be a good choice for someone like me, who's in the mood for exploring, questing, and battling, but not so much for those annoying JRPG time-wasting segments that derail the plot/adventure.
 
super1upqueen said:
forced slow-walk segments
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Oof, this is probably my #1 complaint. The game has way too many unnecessary restrictions as a whole, and the unavoidable throttling of my character movement absolutely triggers me. The game also forces a set party way too often. This is compounded by the fact that they managed to roll out a worse materia loadout menu than the original game. Switching things around is so much of a chore that I'm regularly taking long breaks.

I would say that the first two explorable areas will probably give you most of what you're looking for. The game is clearly pieced together by a several large teams and consequently pretty inconsistent in quality. The team that produced ch.11's design should be fired. There's a lot of positive things to enjoy, though.

One small example.. After the Event Square sequence, I am left dreaming of the possibility of FFIX's Tantalus stage scenes remade in a similar way.
 
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