Japanese Niche Games Deals & Discussion Thread 4.0

shivan128

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:
As a lover of visual novels and those simple life simulation games (usually doujin games) I hated Loop8 so much. The story was garbo as well as the lame RPG system (this shouldn't have been in the game and it should have been purely a life sim game or a visual novel). Also watch out for dead ends if you play it. Something in the game ended my playthrough and I just quit the game on the spot (I put about 6-7 hours into the game at this point). If the story was awesome and/or the characters I would say go for it with caveats, but I saw no useful character development. It was just a better looking (although much slower in animations/loading) life simulation game. I'm pretty much giving my game to Savers in my area soon when I donate a few things in a few weeks.
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The game ending I think is where the whole loop system comes in. If you don't solve the mystery of who gets killed within the 5 days, you reset the "loop" and start over. While this sounds terrible, the description of it sounded sort of similar to the DS game Time Hollow. Which I did enjoy Time Hollow.
 
Lol I actually saved the person and something else got me anyway. I was like WTF and I had no idea what I did wrong. The battle system is trash though, especially with levelling up being solely tied to social relationships, of which you have to accumulate EVERY social buff again when it loops. Also characters who like you a lot can still refuse to go fight things, so you have to try multiple times or maybe not at all. It pissed me off. It's a massive waste your time game.
 
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Woot has a 20% off coupon FRIDAY20

Games wise they are apparently excluded this go around.

smt 5 v steelbook launch edition is 31.99

Unicorn overlord is 24.99

Sandland 29.99

Tchia 24.99

Southpark snowday 9.99

Ace Attorney Apollo justice trilogy 29.99

Legend of legacy remaster deluxe edition 24.99-26.99

Unicorn overlord ce 54.99-69.99

Fate samurai remnant 29.99

Whisker waters 14.99
 
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Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince - Gamefly - $29.99 (used)

Video Games: Rent/Buy PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, 4kUHD, Blu-ray & MORE! Plus Consoles, Collectibles & Arcades Games | GameFly

GameFly, the #1 video game rental service. Rent and buy PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, 4k UHD, Blu-ray and more. Plus Consoles, Controllers, Accessories, Collectibles and Arcades.
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Solid deal. If I didn't already have a copy, I'd grab one easily at this price.
 

STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT coming in 2025.

Also SINce memories: Off The Starry Sky is out in English

store.steampowered.com

Save 10% on SINce Memories: Off The Starry Sky on Steam

Follow the story of Junya, lost in his own world but soft-hearted and ready to help those in need, his close friends try to keep him grounded following the tragic loss of his brother. Trying to move on from his grief, focusing on his studies and his work, he loses himself in trying to help others.
store.steampowered.com store.steampowered.com
 
its happening ron paul GIF
 
Actually the Wii U should be a pretty brilliant retro gaming machine, if soft modded. Should be able to play anything fifth gen and earlier except Saturn, 7th gen and earlier handhelds (though I’m not sure what state PSP emulation is in on it, or how well implemented DS touchscreen controls are in emulation), and it can play Wii and Gamecube games natively once modded. Plus you can do almost all of it handheld (even if not truly portably). I really wanted to pick one up cheap for that, but unfortunately I seem to have missed the boat on pricing there.
 
nitrosmob said:
I just want the Wind Waker HD ported over sometime. I never played that one other than on a kiosk way back when.
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Gosh I loved that game back in the day. Did a preorder at K-Mart of all places since it included a full guide as a preorder bonus. I bought the WiiU HD version as well but haven't made the time for it. Really I haven't made much time for the WiiU at all. I'd like to see it on Switch too.
 
nitrosmob said:
I just want the Wind Waker HD ported over sometime. I never played that one other than on a kiosk way back when.
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My buddy used to come over and play Wind Waker HD on Wii U every night while I raided on....something. I think it was Warhammer Online or Star Wars: the Old Republic. I'd be on the PC while hearing him play in the living room. So I watched him enough to never really get interested in the starting the game. I never got past the first hour.

Tho I don't think that is one, some old Zeldas are hard to go back to these days. I was so excited to play Skyward Sword on the Switch for the first time when it released.....and my goodness that game is not good. I get that it's a product of it's time, or whatever, and people were thirsty for a new Zelda game. But it is simply not a very good game by almost any objective measure. I was flabbergasted.

I will go back and play Wind Walker sometime. I think we all feel a port is coming.
 
nitrosmob said:
I just want the Wind Waker HD ported over sometime. I never played that one other than on a kiosk way back when.
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I really think Nintendo has that and Twilight Princess HD basically ready to go and is just waiting for the right time to release them, maybe as Switch 2 launch titles.

*psst* Nintendo, it's a trick question--anytime would be the right time to release those.
 
I think all mainline Zelda games are great except skyward sword. They did try something unique with the controls, and that’s fine, but the usual polish to the pacing, atmosphere and world exploration are just completely off. Wind Waker is unique with the boat exploration, may not like that, but everything else is possibly the best 3D traditional Zelda.
 
I guess it should be counted as a badge of honor that pretty much all the good Vita and Wii U games eventually found their way to other platforms. They may fall into obscurity for most people, but we know their true worth and what they contributed to the industry.
 
gmsick said:
Looks like they are fixing the ending too. 🔥
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Are they really? Outside of the grindy-ness of the game, I just recall how dumb the story was for that game but the ending was... something else.

I'm kind of surprised it took this long for this game to make it to the NS but not too shocking that it did eventually happen. And now, the Wii U and all its games will forever be remembered as the practice version of the Switch.
 
I thought the Wii U was a crazy good system at the time. I was so glad to be rid of the low resolution of the Wii. A shame that the market didn't feel the same way. I played XBC, but only made it to about ~30hrs.

No one saw the massive turn-around with success from the Switch coming back in 2017.
 
podunk320 said:
this is the last game that needs to be ported from the WiiU to the Switch and i dont think it will ever happen lol
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There are still several Wii U Nintendo exclusives - Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Paper Mario Color Splash, Game and Wario, and Nintendoland. The last two are almost assuredly never going to be ported, as they are literally built around the Wii U controller.

Ironically, Devil's Third is the easiest one to port over but I'm guessing Itagaki holds some rights to it. That, and it's hard to see why Nintendo would ever bother when it couldn't even care to release the Fatal Frame games on it's own this gen.
 
Vita tales of games are still on the vita only sadly. Don't know why since hearts r was technically localized so doing a port would only increase sales.
 
Vinny said:
Are they really? Outside of the grindy-ness of the game, I just recall how dumb the story was for that game but the ending was... something else.

I'm kind of surprised it took this long for this game to make it to the NS but not too shocking that it did eventually happen. And now, the Wii U and all its games will forever be remembered as the practice version of the Switch.
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Yeah from the trailer it looks like they are adding on and expanding on it. Those who know, know what scene I'm referring to in the trailer. "Something else" is a good description of the original finale. Lol! A new epilouge like they did in Xenoblade DE is the move to make. The thin story was a complete mess, but the world was so fun to explore. So many secrets too.
 
I just realized I really want CyberConnect2 to make a rail shooter a la Panzer Dragoon. You get the world designers of .hack//IMOQ on that with Chikayo Fukuda handling the score and the epic feeling of some of Asura’s Wrath’s best moments, holy crap.

Too bad it’d make so little money in today’s industry. Or are we due for a revival of A/B budget rail shooters?
 
For the 18+ folks Indiegala has the Love Tavern bundle (NSFW) for $4.99 with some DRM Free games. beat refle and Love on Leave are 17+ instead of 18+. I only have experience with beat refle, which is an alright rhythm massage game thing.

beat refle
Love Rhythm
Love Tavern
Love n Dream
Love n Dream: Virtual Happiness
Love on Leave
Re:DESTINY
 
Nothing- said:
SquareEnix makes cool shit, but then they're "okay $125 for the stuffed animal Tonberry." 👿
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I think they are stuck in Japan will pay crazy prices for swag mode. I’m planning a trip to Japan and the prices for a themed cafe are stupidly priced vs a regular restaurant and the food isn’t even good! Looks nice, tastes not great, But people go because they want to eat at the Pokemon or Kirby Cafe.
 
I went to Japan earlier this year, food was extremely cheap. We rarely spent more than $20 on a meal and our most expensive meal (at Tokyo DisneySea) still wasn't over $50. The cafes are overpriced, yes, but it's more about the experience at that point. And they're still cheaper than you'd expect between American prices being inflated and the exchange rate. We had some teas from the Pokemon Cafe offshoot in Sunshine City and they were about $5 each, and we had some incredible parfaits at the Square Enix cafe that were I think $8 or $9 each.

A lot of merch is reasonable too but there are also inexplicably acrylics that cost $20+ and the bigger/more unique items definitely get a bit extravagant.
 
There are some 1 week (only?) free dlc items for Ys X available.
nsw: 1 2
ps: 1 2

Sadly, I primarily play this series on steam. As usual you are required to purchase the full game before adding any dlc items on steam, including free dlc. Personally I haven't started or even bought Ys X yet because I'm still getting over the experience of playing Daybreak 1 earlier this year.
 
Not sure if it's a glitch or what, but CAG front page shows Bestbuy has a BOGO half on PS5 games... but I was just able to check out with FF Anniversary Collection PS4 and NS versions for $120 after taxes- wasn't sure what else to try to get/try it with. Not great, but $60 is better than $82 (MSRP after taxes for me).
 
gospelman said:
There are some 1 week (only?) free dlc items for Ys X available.
nsw: 1 2
ps: 1 2

Sadly, I primarily play this series on steam. As usual you are required to purchase the full game before adding any dlc items on steam, including free dlc. Personally I haven't started or even bought Ys X yet because I'm still getting over the experience of playing Daybreak 1 earlier this year.
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There's other launch day exclusive DLC that's only included in the deluxe and ultimate editions. For some reason it's not specified on the console store pages, but it is on steam, and according to people on Reddit the launch day DLC is included on console in the same way.

Sucks that the artbook is only in the ultimate edition which is $130. The good thing about the steam version is if you get a press/beta key from a grey market/reseller site.. it includes all of the DLC. I ended up doing that and essentially got the ultimate version for $50. Those keys are very limited so they frequently go in and out of stock fast, but I wasn't gonna pay $130 just for the exclusive artbook
 

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spoderman said:
There's other launch day exclusive DLC that's only included in the deluxe and ultimate editions.
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Yeah I decided not to bother linking the full Pikkard costume since it was behind the walls of deluxe or ultimate. A veritable tax on the animal fur.. enthusiasts.
 
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gospelman said:
Yeah I decided not to bother linking the full Pikkard costume since it was behind the walls of deluxe or ultimate. A veritable tax on the animal fur.. enthusiasts.
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The "costume and mana promo pack" is also exclusive to deluxe/ultimate, not sure if it's a launch day exclusive but it can't be bought separately for some reason, at least not on steam. That pikkard costume is.. something else lol.

I'm not a big fan of how they set up each edition. I like cosmetics and they put the attachment pack in the ultimate edition.. and it's $18 on its own. Ys IX had all cosmetics in the deluxe edition which was a far better deal and priced more reasonably imo
 
HaloGX said:
Interesting. I wonder why. I mean, publishing rights obviously, but seems like a short amount of time.
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I feel like it's got to be planned, in order to get some "FOMO sales".

I'd think that the best sales for something is when it's brand new/new release/in the news. But after a while, it's not mentioned anymore and it's not new anymore and sales dwindle. So what's a publisher to do? "Oh we have to pull this game because we lost the license to something or another." And boom! Game is back in the news AND you get people FOMO buying it.

I mean, normally we see physical game demand go up once we know it's OOP... I feel like it's somewhat similar when a digital game is getting pulled. We can talk about how digital has no value since you don't own it but that's clearly not stopping people from buying games/digital content.
 
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