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:
$70 is just OK enough for all that IMHO, but there is some variety there. I'm pretty much over my Lunar want now that I got a copy of the game haha.
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Yeah, if it had been a collectors edition before it released, I would have picked it up, but now that I have the game I'll have to give it some thought.
Here's an unboxing of the press kit this is based on for those who didn't see it before:
 
FF6-precon-complete-1.jpg


FF6 precon CE complete. Whose turn is it!
 
nitrosmob said:
$70 is just OK enough for all that IMHO, but there is some variety there. I'm pretty much over my Lunar want now that I got a copy of the game haha.
Click to expand...

Covnam said:
Yeah, if it had been a collectors edition before it released, I would have picked it up, but now that I have the game I'll have to give it some thought.
Here's an unboxing of the press kit this is based on for those who didn't see it before:
Click to expand...

Nuts to the both of yous- I'm gonna preorder it just so they know the next time they release something, they should do it right with a CE out the gate. Better they do it later than never... or worse, do what some companies do and make things super exclusive to one specific location or event.
 
Nothing- said:
FF6-precon-complete-1.jpg


FF6 precon CE complete. Whose turn is it!
Click to expand...

Very nice, I wish they just did a set with just the main characters. I opened my play bundle and got a regular Aerith and Fang (FF13) card, but it was cool going through all the character art.

I did treat myself to the individual character poster set that I just got in yesterday, they look amazing- too bad I don't have the space to hang them up. Not to mention I'm not sure that's even a good idea since they're foil/not sure if they'd survive long term hanging inside a frame.

I also happened upon a box of play boosters and 6 packs of the collectors boosters (the ones with 15 cards in them)... debating on opening them but not sure it'll be worth it for me since I'd probably keep maybe a few dozen of the cards but might end up giving away something super rare without realizing it.
 
Playasia sale a good way to get some Saga games too. The one I want is Saga Frontier 2 Remastered, which isn't there likely being too new. I think I own the rest of what I want from the sale.
 
For those interested in higher profile gacha games two came out for mobile devices and Steam also.

They are Persona5: The Phantom X and Umamusume: Pretty Derby. I haven't had a chance to try either, but I'm expecting usual gacha gating like time restraints, energy restraints, premium currency restraints, underdeveloped stories, and all the other stuff that comes with gacha games. I'll likely try them out, but it's more to keep people informed since both of these series have large fanbases.

I will do a separate post soon about visual novel announcements. There has been one major release and some announcements.
 
Two major releases are out that are/were popular visual novels.

ToHeart Remake came out from Shiravune. This has a demo if interested and also will be getting DLC (why was this not in the main release!) ToHeart - Extra Stories: Serio & Masashi focusing on two minor characters on July 3rd, 2025.

Steam
Steam DLC
VNDB (NSFW)

Summer Pockets REFLECTION BLUE is out from VISUAL ARTS/Key and is an updated version of Summer Pockets. It adds a new character, upgrades two minor characters to get their own route and some cousin route too I think. There are also some other updates. This is based on the Switch version and likely has some censoring of some images, but it's not an adult novel anyway. I played the original Summer Pockets liking the game enough, and I will be getting this one as well. If you bought the original on Steam, there is a discount for upgrading to this version (all games should do this IMHO). There is an anime currently ongoing that will be 26 episodes based on this game, and as most anime adapations go, it's better to play the game and then watch the anime afterwards, as they usually miss many details. There is a launch discount of 10% off.

Steam
VDNB (NSFW)

Marshmallow All the Way Home releases on July 8th, 2025 on Steam from Shiravune. This one is pretty cute and worth playing. It was previously stuck on a pretty lame website, so it's good it's being released elsewhere. As usual the 18+ patch will be available.

Steam
18+ Patch (NSFW)

Hentai Prison received a free update, featuring the Himeru Yamagishi Mini-Scenario. It can be found in the SCENARIOS menu under a "Route 6" tab after clearing other routes and is available in the the 1.02 18+ Patch.

Newest 18+ Patch Patch (NSFW)

Shiravune have announced a few games. The first two are Girls' Dorm -Managing an all-girls' dormitory- and the fan disk Girls' Dorm -Managing an all-girls' dormitory- After from AZARASHI SOFTWARE PLUS ONE. These seem like pretty simple guy managing as a girls' dorm visual novel. I'm sure hijinks will ensue. I like all these simple games, so this will be a purchase on release. I'm pretty sure these will have 18+ patches on release.

Steam
Steam Fan Disk
VNDB (NSFW)
VNDB Fan Disk (NSFW)

They also announced E School Life aka Home Sweet Homecoming from Hooksoft. This one is about a guy who was abroad for a few years for school and complains about it to his best friend. He is most sad since he is around guys all the time and wants to fall in love. His friend convinces his parents to bring him back where he will go to a normal school and hopefully get the love he has been wanting. Another simple looking fun visual novel that will be bought from me and likely will have an 18+ patch on release as well.

Steam
VNDB (NSFW)

Shiravune have also announced Liminal Border Part IV, the last part of that series as coming sometime. As usual it will have an 18+ patch on release.

Steam

Nekopara After, the next in that series finally came out, although Steam hasn't approved it yet (very likely stuck in approval hell). You will need to get it from Denpasoft (18+ release) or from Sekai Project and can use a free 18+ patch. There is a small sale on it currently.

Denpasoft (NSFW)
Sekai Project
Sekai Project 18+ Patch (NSFW)
 
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Fate grand order wise you never have the energy issue in that between energy refills when you level up and all the apples you get or can exchange for in the shop for free. They also run half or no energy events frequently.

I'm not good at getting draws in the gachas I've played besides fate where it gives me the banner in one draw with the free ticket because my luck stat is stupid high.
 
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Does anyone know if there's an 18+ patch in the works for Kiminozo Enhanced Edition? I really want to get the game especially while it's on sale, but it's just ridiculous that even the anime has more nudity and sexual content than this version.
 
keyblader1985 said:
Does anyone know if there's an 18+ patch in the works for Kiminozo Enhanced Edition? I really want to get the game especially while it's on sale, but it's just ridiculous that even the anime has more nudity and sexual content than this version.
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I don't think there is and there is a little bit more censoring with said Steam version. There is a translation using some AI and the Steam translation for the Latest Edition version of the game that came out earlier this month. Another patch is supposed to be coming later in 2025 from scratch for the Latest Edition as well.
 
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I'm pretty sure I saw that when it was up for preorder. Asian release.

videogamesplus.ca

Octopath Traveler + Octopath Traveler II Bundle (Asian Import : Multi-Language) (FREE SHIPPING)

Language English, JapaneseSubtitles English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, JapaneseCover English Octopath TravelerEight travelers. Eight adventures. Eight roles to play in a new world brought to life by Square Enix. Explore each traveler’s story and use their abilities in...
videogamesplus.ca videogamesplus.ca

... not sure this is niche enough, but over on BB (as well as Amazon) there's Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection for $24.99 .. and it's $24.88 in store at Walmart (also might be online for that).


Kind of tempting, though I don't replay these games enough and would probably be fine just setting up my retropi again with the 2 player arcade controller I built for classic arcade gaming.
 
Vinny said:
That's a cool set, would love to get one but no Costco membership... and Costco stuff seems very hit or miss.
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You can possibly order through door dash Uber eats and instacart without a membership. if you have those services in your area and they shop at those places.

I've ordered through a membership stores via those. Bjs specifically. Though I don't have any other membership stores besides a samsclub within 20 minutes of my area. Coincidentally they just added membership cards and such for door dash and instacart semi recently.
 
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I finally beat Fantasian... started this game in Jan and had fun in the first half but jesus, the 2nd half of this game was just grueling. I really wanted to give up so many damn times but kept going in hopes it would miraculously come all together at some point. But it didn't. Nerfing leveling but keeping the same volume of random encounters, ridiculously specific tactics needed for boss fights, and a wannabe "deep" second half. Ugh.

I don't get why the critic and user ratings on this game are so high.

3/10 - 1 point for the Dimension thing, 1 point for the world-settings/PS1-era vibes, and 1 point of being over.
 
Vinny said:
I finally beat Fantasian... started this game in Jan and had fun in the first half but jesus, the 2nd half of this game was just grueling. I really wanted to give up so many damn times but kept going in hopes it would miraculously come all together at some point. But it didn't. Nerfing leveling but keeping the same volume of random encounters, ridiculously specific tactics needed for boss fights, and a wannabe "deep" second half. Ugh.

I don't get why the critic and user ratings on this game are so high.

3/10 - 1 point for the Dimension thing, 1 point for the world-settings/PS1-era vibes, and 1 point of being over.
Click to expand...

I almost bought that. Your opinion scares me away. So many newer RPGs, I burn out halfway through and force myself to finish.
 
Vinny said:
I finally beat Fantasian... started this game in Jan and had fun in the first half but jesus, the 2nd half of this game was just grueling. I really wanted to give up so many damn times but kept going in hopes it would miraculously come all together at some point. But it didn't. Nerfing leveling but keeping the same volume of random encounters, ridiculously specific tactics needed for boss fights, and a wannabe "deep" second half. Ugh.

I don't get why the critic and user ratings on this game are so high.

3/10 - 1 point for the Dimension thing, 1 point for the world-settings/PS1-era vibes, and 1 point of being over.
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It was my favorite game of last year. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I am a bit confused about the progression complaints, though. You never have to grind in the game by design. You can get the gist of boss mechanics with the Analyze skill and playing a few rounds; they're puzzles, not stat checks. Random encounters can be mitigated with the Dimengeon. The game gives you all the tools and mechanics you need, really.
 
Just because I think they're a genre that skews on the long and slog side doesn't mean I don't play and enjoy them, not sure how that's contradictory but whatever go on thinking I am every single poster that posts everything you personally do not want to hear.
 
Tothoro said:
It was my favorite game of last year. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I am a bit confused about the progression complaints, though. You never have to grind in the game by design. You can get the gist of boss mechanics with the Analyze skill and playing a few rounds; they're puzzles, not stat checks. Random encounters can be mitigated with the Dimengeon. The game gives you all the tools and mechanics you need, really.
Click to expand...

On the random encounters part, I don't care if I get 90% less experience/can't but I'd expect there to be 90% fewer battles. The dimension thing doesn't negate the amount work, it just streamlines it slightly, you're still fighting all those enemies.

On the whole mechanics part, I agree except you can easily lack one specific item or move that makes a fight impossible. If it's a move, ok, you just have to re-do your skill tree but if it's an item that exists but you don't have, you're kind of screwed unless you use a guide. Annoying when you're basically not able to win. Some examples:
  1. Ez's story I think, where the only way win a boss fight was to use Vacuum to suck up all these exploding bombs into a corner so you can actually hit the boss
  2. Leo is the only fire element character (which is odd since every other element has 2 characters) so anything where you need fire attacks, you have to keep him alive.
  3. That stupid frog rabbit boss, can't remember the name, and it's shitty riddles
Overall on the mechanics though, I'll say at least one fight to me seemed pretty broken:
Yim
. I died at least a dozen times because of her stupid
exploding clone attack
, which no matter what tricks I tried, I always hit the wrong two and died. I only finally beat with her with one surviving character (with ~50 HP left) because her 4 moves were some status effect that I had the jewel to protect against it.

swordity said:
JRPGs are hard to finish because you are not 12 years old any more

Also they were slogs then too
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I still play older JRPGs to this day. I beat Nocturne, which I think is considered one of the harder JRPGs a few years ago on the PS2. I beat Lufia last fall and am going through Lufia II right. The slog with Fantasian isn't the JRPG part, it's the trial and error part.
 
Vinny said:
On the random encounters part, I don't care if I get 90% less experience/can't but I'd expect there to be 90% fewer battles. The dimension thing doesn't negate the amount work, it just streamlines it slightly, you're still fighting all those enemies.

On the whole mechanics part, I agree except you can easily lack one specific item or move that makes a fight impossible. If it's a move, ok, you just have to re-do your skill tree but if it's an item that exists but you don't have, you're kind of screwed unless you use a guide. Annoying when you're basically not able to win. Some examples:
  1. Ez's story I think, where the only way win a boss fight was to use Vacuum to suck up all these exploding bombs into a corner so you can actually hit the boss
  2. Leo is the only fire element character (which is odd since every other element has 2 characters) so anything where you need fire attacks, you have to keep him alive.
  3. That stupid frog rabbit boss, can't remember the name, and it's shitty riddles
Overall on the mechanics though, I'll say at least one fight to me seemed pretty broken:
Yim
. I died at least a dozen times because of her stupid
exploding clone attack
, which no matter what tricks I tried, I always hit the wrong two and died. I only finally beat with her with one surviving character (with ~50 HP left) because her 4 moves were some status effect that I had the jewel to protect against it.
Click to expand...
You don't have to fight enemies that you suck up into the Dimengeon. You can empty it out, it just costs gold (or whatever the currency is called). I think you unlock the ability to do that around the time you get Ez.

I do agree with you on the Vacuum fight. There simply was only one correct way to do that and if you didn't have the right ability you just lost. That was probably my single least favorite fight of the entire game because there really was no way for you to know that, and it's annoying to have to respec for that fight.

On the fire element, the answer is Ez. He can create grenades of any element. His attacks are weaker but there's coverage and backup coverage for everything but fire in the party so Ez is essentially your buffer plus secondary fire attacker.

The attack you mentioned at the end is essentially just the ball-in-a-cup shuffle. It's tricky fast, sure, but you can just taunt and guard with Zinikr and heal to prepare for the solution if you're concerned about getting it wrong.

I guess in fairness the game probably could've done a better job at telling you some of these things, but the tools are all there to play with, it's just a matter of experimentation. Most boss fights took me two tries and a few took more because you have to figure out the gimmicks. I did write a guide on it though, if anyone else is struggling feel free to check it out.
 
Tothoro said:
You don't have to fight enemies that you suck up into the Dimengeon. You can empty it out, it just costs gold (or whatever the currency is called). I think you unlock the ability to do that around the time you get Ez.

I do agree with you on the Vacuum fight. There simply was only one correct way to do that and if you didn't have the right ability you just lost. That was probably my single least favorite fight of the entire game because there really was no way for you to know that, and it's annoying to have to respec for that fight.

On the fire element, the answer is Ez. He can create grenades of any element. His attacks are weaker but there's coverage and backup coverage for everything but fire in the party so Ez is essentially your buffer plus secondary fire attacker.

The attack you mentioned at the end is essentially just the ball-in-a-cup shuffle. It's tricky fast, sure, but you can just taunt and guard with Zinikr and heal to prepare for the solution if you're concerned about getting it wrong.

I guess in fairness the game probably could've done a better job at telling you some of these things, but the tools are all there to play with, it's just a matter of experimentation. Most boss fights took me two tries and a few took more because you have to figure out the gimmicks. I did write a guide on it though, if anyone else is struggling feel free to check it out.
Click to expand...

On paying to clear the Dimension, I completely forgot about it until near the end since I think you first find out about it before they nerf experience and I actually like the battles in this game until about the "2nd half", but even then, it's just another level of tedium since even with the easy warping system (more so if you're between warp points).

Taunt trick never worked for me even though may swore by it. I did it right before she did that move multiple times with Ziniker and the nerve icon would show before the move but was gone as soon as she started doing the move. What did help was someone saying that the real one was one of the last two to move so it was a 50/50.

Ez's only real use was Quick All and Attack/Defense Up and in cases where you didn't also have a dedicated healer on the field, he had to heal. Otherwise his grenades really didn't help much after a certain point since they did a fixed amount of damage.

Had no idea you did guides on PSN Profiles... I do trophy runs every now and then and use those guides often, might have used one of yours without noticing.LOL
 
"beat Nocturne, which I think is considered one of the harder JRPGs a few years ago on the PS2."

If nothing else it's because it has at least one early infamous boss that's very over tuned for the point you fight it in the game. as well as the minimum level rec is 14 according to guides I've looked at after the fact. I fought it at lv 9. and only barely managed the win because I had the boss hit itself with my attack and magic reflected items.

However just a couple levels higher with the right mons you can much more easily handle the boss. Especially if you don't bring the bosses element as a weakness for your mons and or mc.

But yeah that boss is unfair and unbalanced.

There's a few other bumps i can see like one consecutive fights finishing with a boss.
 
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Anime-Expo is going on and there are visual novel announcements and quite a few from AKSYS as well. Denpasoft, if they announce anything, will be later on tonight which I will do a separate post for.

To start with Steam finally accepted NEKOPARA After on Steam. There is an 18+ patch for it as well. There is a 10% launch discount as well. A big win for some cat girl/maid lovers!

Steam
18+ Patch (NSFW)

Sekai Project announced that Rewrite Harvest Festa is coming out July 14th, 2025. There will also be a patch for Rewrite as well as this release to restore cut content (I know there was another unofficial patch doing this recently released I believe).

Steam
VDNB (NSFW)

A Maiden’s Serenade is almost done programming and going into QA soon and Wagamama High-Spec OC is going into programming.

There will be more NEKOPARA x Makeship! They're working with Makeship once again to bring you Maple & Cinnamon in plush form launching in July. I'll link as usual, and I own the other 4, so I will add more to my collection.....

A new Sunrider Tactics Legends is coming out and this will have some turn based naval battles.

For some new announcements they announced Widenyo, which is a widescreen version of Mamanyonyo featuring over 150 Alicesoft characters in a gameplay heavy strategy game.

VNDB (NSFW)

They also announced Onii-chan Continue! A brand new game from Panmimi Soft.

VNDB (NSFW)

Their last announcement is Nandomeka No Hajimemashite from Purple Software. This is brand new and is about a guy who graduated from a mediocre school and gets a mediocre job. He encounters a Demon named Laplace and is thrown 13 years into the past back in school. Maybe he can change his outcome. He also meets a girl of whom he doesn't remember being there before. I generally am disappointed by Purple Software VNs, but they usually try hard. I hope this one is a good one and I will get it when it releases February 2026.

VNDB (NSFW)

JAST USA had a few announcements. They are releasing SweetCanvas from GLOSS. This one has a guy transferring in from the rural countryside to the city. He thinks he will be late his first day being lost, but meets a girl who will change his stay forever. This one has monster girls and has very unique looking art.

Steam
VNDB (NSFW)

They are also releasing Winter Girl. I actually played the demo of this recently and remarked it having good voice acting, great art and a quirky story about aliens and such. I'm guessing it will be really fun to play when it releases.

Steam
VNDB (NSFW)

Last but not least they of course are releasing School Days Remastered. This is a pretty infamous visual novel that I own the physical of. It's interesting for sure and worth playing at least once. In the remastered version I hope some of the UI quirks especially with saving are made cleaner.

VNDB (NSFW)

JAST are also going to sell a Beatrice Fumofumo. It is up for pre-order. Mangagamer also have it on their website. This should ship January 2026.

HMarket
Mangagamer (NSFW)

Mangagamer have some announcements as well. They're releasing Pastel Chime 3 from Alicesoft. It is a fantasy adventure where the main focus is something called binds which are skills from other worlds. I don't know much about this, but I'll usually always play an Alicesoft game.

VNDB (NSFW)

They also announced Ooe the latest period psychological horror mystery from ADELTA, developers of Hashihime of the Old Book Town and UUUltraC. It is a classic closed-circle mystery set on a remote island in 1950s Japan. There is supposedly mystery, murderers and boys love. This one has gotten very high marks on VNDB, so color me interested.

VNDB (NSFW)

Lucky Dog 1 is coming soon to Steam and is another BL game. It will also go up for pre-order on Mangagamer.

AKSYS have a lot of announcements as well. To start with their already announced Otomate game Mistonia no Kibou releases on November 13 for Switch.

They have another Otomate game coming out Moeyo! Otome Doushi Spring 2026 for Switch. In this game a Daoist priestess in training lives in a martial arts kingdom and faces conflict and betrayal when the Tournament of Valor is interrupted. I like most of these games and the this one looks interesting.

VNDB (NSFW)

They also are releasing Mystery no Arukikata from the 7'scarlet and World End Syndrome creator in Spring 2026 for Switch. In this one your university club revisits an unsolved murder of a famous landscape artist thirty years later. I usually like mystery games, and this one is not an otome it seems like.

VNDB (NSFW)

They will also release Project Code M from the creators of Fata Morgana no Yakata. In this one you seek the truth behind a series of murders from the perspectives of both the killer and the investigator. It's in development so not much is known about it.


VNDB (NSFW)

They are releasing Tristia: Chronicles, which is a combination of Tristia: Legacy and Tristia: Restore for Switch.


Q is also coming out which is a combination of Q Remastered and Q2 Humanity. It is a puzzle game and looks fun.


One last announcement from them is a Metroidvania called The Good Old Days. Looks fun enough.


Many visual novels are on sale on Steam and JAST USA (NSFW). I've played quite a few so any questions I could answer about them.
 
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gospelman said:
There's a 10% promo in the woot app today.
Games page

Anyone recommend Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles for $9? I have no knowledge of the anime.
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Looks like Prime members only, luckily happen to have a cheap month sub. Pirate Yakuza CE at $70 is a no brainer, probably the first CE I wanted but passed on that I actually got on a deal in ages. Sucks Indy CE is there, paid retail for it.
 
HaloGX said:
Really? I thought the Pirate Yakuza CE was pretty weak.
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I guess a better way to have to said what I said would be: I wanted it but I didn't want to pay the MSRP price for it on the risk of missing out vs the reward of having it. So worked out for me end the end, but agree it's def a terrible CE for the original price and just ok for the current price.

Vs I wanted the Indy CE, didn't want to pay MSRP for it but also didn't want to risk missing it so I paid MSRP for it. Lost on that one.

EDIT* Indy CE is for Steam, nevermind, not the PS5 so whatever...
 
Yeah I hope woot shirts are decent. I decided to try a few since there are overlapping promotions.
1. $19 shirts are $6 in checkout when buying 4+
2. The free extra voucher spodey posted above
3. 10% off in app checkout.
So I bought a $10 game and 5 shirts for about $31
 
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