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Visa denied: The best games unreleased in the US
Think you've played them all? Check out these ten gaming gems that never made it stateside.
Visa denied: The best games unreleased in the US
© Hitokiri, http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitokiri/3057928079/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Video gaming is a global market worth billions - but while North America is the largest region in terms of pure dollar revenue, that doesn't mean it gets all the best titles. Over the past few decades there have been many amazing games that saw release elsewhere, only to be refused a green card.
We may have landed the PlayStation 4 before Japanese fans - they won’t see the next-gen console until February - but as you’re about to see, more often than not we’re the ones left hanging. Here are ten of the most significant omissions that American gamers have either had to import or simply do without.
Terranigma (SNES)
An action RPG in the same tradition as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Terranigma launched towards the end of the Super Nintendo's lifespan and as a result boasts some amazing visuals, a huge world to explore and great music. Like Enix's previous SNES titles Actraiser and Illusion of Gaia, the theme of creation runs through Terranigma, a conscious effort by the developers to provide something different to the usual destruction seen in other games of the period. Enix's US arm had closed by the time the game launched, which means that American players missed out - thankfully for Europeans at least, Nintendo decided to handle publishing duties there, so a translation exists.
Jump Ultimate Stars (DS)
A fighting game based on the biggest Japanese "manga" comics - including Dragon Ball, Bleach, One Piece, Fist of the North Star and Yu-Gi-Oh - Jump Ultimate Stars (and its prequel, Jump Super Stars) remained Japan-only thanks to the almost impossible task of properly licensing all of the different series in the US. It's a shame, because the combat-heavy action - which imitates the panels of a comic book page - is engaging and enjoyable. You'll struggle to find a better 2D brawler on the DS. Thankfully the region-free nature of the console means you can import the game should you really want to experience it.
Segagaga (Dreamcast)
Sega's Dreamcast console didn't perform as well as expected in the west, and as a result it's hardly surprising that many of its best games never made it out of Japan. Segagaga is one of the most striking examples, and is beloved by fans thanks to its subject matter - it's basically a roleplaying game (RPG) where you're expected to run Sega's day-to-day operations and fight against its evil rival DOGMA, which is supposed to represent Sony. If you're a Sega fan then this will be your dream game as it features tributes to many of the company's legendary titles, as well as parodies of other game genres. Because it arrived so late in the lifespan of the Dreamcast, a western localisation was never on the cards; consequently this remains a highly sought-after retro gem.
Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (DS)
Although this rhythm action game was loosely released in the west as Elite Beat Agents, it lacked the same infectious Japanese soundtrack and featured an entirely different storyline. As a result, some of the charm of the original game was lost and that's why Ouendan is still so highly rated by western import enthusiasts. Despite the language barrier, the game’s perfectly playable. Sadly, the 2007 sequel also remained a Japanese exclusive.
Vib-Ribbon (PlayStation)
Created by Masaya Matsuura - the brains behind PlayStation classic PaRappa the Rapper - this low-fi music game creates platforming landscapes out of songs. It's unique in that it allows you to load up your own CD and generate fantastical vector-based landscapes to negotiate. A release in Europe ensured that the rabbit-like Vibri gained a following outside of Japan, but an American launch sadly never came to pass.
Sin and Punishment (N64)
One of the N64's most graphically demanding releases, the ominously-named Sin and Punishment is an on-rails blaster with a devilish level of challenge and incredible replayability. By the time it hit the market, Nintendo's console was badly lagging behind the Sony PlayStation and as a result many of its later releases didn't make it out of Japan. That's the fate that befell Sin and Punishment, although the game would eventually see release on the Wii Virtual Console, and a fully blown sequel - Sin and Punishment: Star Successor - would hit the same system in 2009.
Seiken Densetsu 3 (SNES)
Secret of Mana is regarded by many as one of the finest 16-bit RPGs ever created, combining superb visuals with deep gameplay and some excellent music. In Japan, it was known as Seiken Densetsu 2, and its direct sequel managed to improve on what went before in practically every respect. Introducing a real-time calendar mechanic, more playable characters and a revised combat system, Seiken Densetsu 3 is considered to be solid-gold SNES classic - which makes the lack of an official English localisation all the more frustrating.
Captain Rainbow (Wii)
Placing you in the role of a faded superhero who wants nothing more than to become famous again, Captain Rainbow is a charming and often amusing adventure title which features cameo appearances from a raft of minor Nintendo stars, including Little Mac from Punch Out!! and even Birdo from Super Mario Bros. 2. A European release was rumored at one point, but never happened - hardly a surprise when you consider that the game sold dismally in Japan. Regardless of its dire commercial performance, this is one of the Wii's most exciting Japanese gems.
Harmful Park (PlayStation)
Some games seem so well suited to western tastes that the lack of a release in this part of the world is genuinely baffling, while others are so unbelievably weird that it's abundantly clear why they never left Japan. Harmful Park definitely falls into the latter camp - this is one seriously strange 2D shooter, featuring dog helicopters, robotic apes and demonic pumpkins, all of which are trying to invade an amusement park. The only thing that stands in their way is two sisters on a flying bike bristling with food-related weapons, because obviously.
Deep Fear (Saturn)
Sega's answer to Resident Evil, Deep Fear takes place in an underwater research station filled with undead mutants. The game boasts an incredibly tense atmosphere thanks to the double danger of being killed by zombies and running out of oxygen, and incorporates some features that even Resident Evil had failed to master at the time, such as the ability to move while aiming your weapon. The last Saturn game to be released in Europe, Deep Fear never had a chance of making it stateside, as by 1998 Sega had all but given up on the console here.
