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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DoubleDam21 said:
Don’t like how it’s worded as “a statement”. Expecting a cancellation or something of sorts but here’s to hoping not.
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The situation is pretty weird, when news broke out that Playasia cancelling preorder, PQUBES quietly removed OLZ from their domain. To this day, it hasn't come back yet.

I never preorder from Playasia so I dom't know if they use random date as placeholder, but OLZ English PAL version now has an expected ship date June 30th on Playasia.

Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk
 
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I'm not crazy about fighters but Blade Strangers looks like pure fanservice.

And I can't give up on Omega Labyrinth until the fat lady sings. I have to keep hope alive.
 
keyblader1985 said:
I'm not crazy about fighters but Blade Strangers looks like pure fanservice.

And I can't give up on Omega Labyrinth until the fat lady sings. I have to keep hope alive.
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If the complexity of fighters turns you off, then Blade Strangers is a good opportunity to try and get into the genre. It has very simplified inputs, and if I recall correctly, they're similar to Smash Bros, where you can hold a direction and press a button to perform a special attack.

 
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AugustAPC said:
If the complexity of fighters turns you off, then Blade Strangers is a good opportunity to try and get into the genre. It has very simplified inputs, and I recall correctly, they're similar to Smash Bros, where you can hold a direction and press a button to perform a special attack.
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In a sense, its similar to Phantom Breaker with the smash-style special moves too, but both PB and Blade Strangers are different games.

 
I hate that Steam disables previews in search during sales. The new line of PlayStation Hits begins releasing this week as well, so I went ahead and included those. It's another week of mostly ports and re-releases, but there are a couple new games that might be worthwhile in there to a couple people. I'm hoping Rainbow Skies is less boring than Rainbow Moon was personally.

Other stuff that released without warning last week or I overlooked it (Assume PC unless otherwise noted):
- N/A

Weekly Releases (June 24th - June 30th)

Lumines Remastered
- Platform(s): PS4, Switch, XB1, PC
- Genre: Puzzle
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A

Rainbow Skies
- Platform(s): PS4, PS3, Vita
- Genre: SRPG
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Same dev who made Rainbow Moon. Cross-Buy & Cross-Save.

Slime-san: Superslime Edition
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: Platformer / Precision & Speed
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Previously released on Xbox One. Contains all DLC to date.

Fighting EX Layer
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: Fighting
- Demo: N/A
- Online: Yes?
- Comments: Digital only.

Ikaruga
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: SHMUP
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Digital only.

The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (PS2 Classic)
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: Fighting
- Demo: N/A
- Online: ???
- Comments: Digital only. Contains KOF ’94, KOF ’95, KOF ’96, KOF ’97, and KOF ’98.

Bloodborne (PlayStation Hits)
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: Action RPG
- Comments: $20 'Greatest Hits' Re-release.

Metal Gear Solid V: The Definitive Experience (PlayStation Hits)
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: Third-Person Shooter / Stealth
- Comments: $20 'Greatest Hits' Re-release.

Street Fighter V (PlayStation Hits)
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: Fighting
- Comments: $20 'Greatest Hits' Re-release.

Yakuza 0 (PlayStation Hits)
- Platform(s): PS4
- Genre: Action / Brawler
- Comments: $20 'Greatest Hits' Re-release.

VA-11 Hall-A (Limited Run Games)
- Platform(s): Vita
- Genre: Visual Novel / Simulation / Cyberpunk
- Comments: LRG Physical Release.

2064: Read Only Memories (Limited Run Games)
- Platform(s): Vita
- Genre: Adventure / Cyberpunk
- Comments: LRG Physical Release.

Xenon Valkyrie+ (Limited Run Games)
- Platform(s): Vita
- Genre: Roguelike / Action Platformer / RPG
- Comments: LRG Physical Release.

Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk
- Platform(s): Vita
- Genre: Visual Novel / Otome
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Related to Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
- Platform(s): Switch, XB1, PC
- Genre: 3D Platformer
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Previously released on PS4

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle - Donkey Kong Adventure (DLC)
- Platform(s): Switch
- Genre: SRPG
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA (Day One Adventurer's Edition)
- Platform(s): Switch
- Genre: Action RPG
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Previously released on PS4 & PC.

Galak-Z: Variant S
- Platform(s): Switch
- Genre: Twin-Stick Shooter
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A

NieR: Automata - Become as Gods Edition
- Platform(s): XB1
- Genre: Action RPG
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Contains all DLC I believe?

Whip! Whip!
- Platform(s): PC
- Genre: Action / Arcade
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A

The Player RPG
- Platform(s): PC
- Genre: RPG
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: I don't think this is an RPGMaker game even though it looks close.

Maitetsu
- Platform(s): PC
- Genre: Visual Novel
- Demo: N/A
- Online: N/A
- Comments: Sekai Project published. It's about trains.

Past Releases
June 17th - June 23rd
June 10th - June 16th
June 3rd - June 9th
May 28th - June 2nd
May 20th - May 26th

 
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Oh yeah Fighting EX Layer, I was interested in that. I think I'll wait for a sale though, especially since it's digital only. 

Hopefully Rainbow Skies doesn't get as old as fast as Rainbow Moon did. I almost liked that game so if it's like that with a lot of improvements it could be good.

 
Fighting EX layer digital only is a bummer.  I would have bought it physically.  Used to play a ton of Street Fighter EX on PS1 way back in the day.

 
Just a heads up that Summer Games Done Quick started earlier today. It lasts until early morning next Sunday and will have plenty of older games, many of which are Japanese, being quickly beaten and thoroughly destroyed in bug/glitch abused ways.

Schedule Link

Stream Link

 
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I think I'll hold out for a sale or a physical (wishful thinking) for Fighting Layer. I loved SF EX3, though, so I definitely want to give their new game a proper go.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tab S using Tapatalk
 
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Soma_Cruz said:
Oh yeah Fighting EX Layer, I was interested in that. I think I'll wait for a sale though, especially since it's digital only.

Hopefully Rainbow Skies doesn't get as old as fast as Rainbow Moon did. I almost liked that game so if it's like that with a lot of improvements it could be good.
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Same feelings about Fighting EX Layer. I tried the demo and it didn't do a whole lot for me. Probably still pick it up when it gets cheap though.

Yeah, I tried to play Rainbow Moon twice and burned out long before finishing both times. Looks like they've added a good bit more variety for Rainbow Skies so I'm hopeful.

 
masksacrafice said:
Is Va11-Hall-A for vita LRG something that was already pre-orderable and is shipping out soon or is it going on pre-order soon?
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My LRG listings are for pre-orders opening that week. Sometimes I miss listing them on a weekly basis, so watching the LRG thread in the Game Deals section is usually best to keep up-to-date with LRG pre-orders.

Here's their pre-orders release calendar: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=limitedrungames.com_eu1vj3l8os8v78579kernp6c8g%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FNew_York%20%20%20

 
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Olengie said:
Expect this to be part of the EastAsiaSoft lineup
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As was pointed out an English version was denied by the platform holder aka Sony. That means it can't be released in English on PS4 or Vita. PQube even confirmed this on Twitter.

Well, there's always PC. Hopefully they go that route so anyone who wanted the game in English can at least get it on that.

EDIT: Should clarify that it's probably a Sony America and/or Sony Europe issue.

 
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Any company wanting to publish the game will have to start from square one. The translation by DistantValhalla is owned by Pqube and would either have to be purchased from them or another translator would have to be hired to perform the same work (probably cheaper.) If going the Asia English route they would also need D3 Publisher's permission to publish in R3, especially since there was already an Asia release by them. Assuming that can all be worked out, the company is then stuck with a second printing of a niche game that's probably $10 on the used market in their home countries. 

 
Yep, NA/AUS/EU versions are pretty much impossible it seems like. Asia already has a Chinese version, so chances of an Asia version with English in it is rather slim but not impossible. The best chance to those who want to play it would be to pray that PQube, Ghostlight or someone makes a PC port of it and releases it there. Whether it makes it to Steam is another issue entirely however.

It's not a game I'd touch with a ten foot pole, but it sucks for PQube who already translated it and those who were looking to actually play it.

 
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BMXJouster said:
As was pointed out an English version was denied by the platform holder aka Sony. That means it can't be released in English on PS4 or Vita. PQube even confirmed this on Twitter.

Well, there's always PC. Hopefully they go that route so anyone who wanted the game in English can at least get it on that.

EDIT: Should clarify that it's probably a Sony America and/or Sony Europe issue.
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Denied by Sony US ad Sony EU. But not by Sony Asia, where EastAsiaSoft publishes their games.

 
Draekon said:
The best chance to those who want to play it would be to pray that PQube, Ghostlight or someone makes a PC port of it and releases it there. Whether it makes it to Steam is another issue entirely however.
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Not sure if you've been following Steam news, but after that incident where some VN games were threatened to be pulled Valve put out a press release basically saying that from now on they're going to allow all games onto their platform as long as they're not illegal or trolling. Seeing as this game was already rated MA by the ESRB and PEGI-18 in Europe I don't see why it'd get denied on Steam.

Even the publisher responding to someone asking about a possible Steam version with "Never say never?" so it would make sense for them to try that route.

 
Kaiser499 said:
It's not that simple, Sony isn’t allowing the game with an English translation to release period.
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*An English Translation in the West on Sony Consoles. But not for an English Translation in the East by Sony Asia.

Although at this point, it is dead. Darn western sensibilities.

Anyway. PC can still happen so PQube can at least recoup some of their costs for paying for the Ratings.

 
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Olengie said:
Although at this point, it is dead. Darn western sensibilities.

Anyway. PC can still happen so PQube can at least recoup some of their costs for paying for the Ratings.
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I'm hoping they go the PC route at the very least.

I had heard of this game, but didn't really follow it and even if I still had my PS4 I wasn't going to go out of my way to buy it. If they put it on PC, though, I may end up getting a copy to support the developer/publisher since they got screwed over by Sony.

 
BMXJouster said:
I'm hoping they go the PC route at the very least.

I had heard of this game, but didn't really follow it and even if I still had my PS4 I wasn't going to go out of my way to buy it. If they put it on PC, though, I may end up getting a copy to support the developer/publisher since they got screwed over by Sony.
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Yeah, it really sucks that PQube paid for Ratings only to get denied a console release. As stated by Limited Run Games, Digital/Physical Ratings don't come cheap.

 
BMXJouster said:
Not sure if you've been following Steam news, but after that incident where some VN games were threatened to be pulled Valve put out a press release basically saying that from now on they're going to allow all games onto their platform as long as they're not illegal or trolling. Seeing as this game was already rated MA by the ESRB and PEGI-18 in Europe I don't see why it'd get denied on Steam.

Even the publisher responding to someone asking about a possible Steam version with "Never say never?" so it would make sense for them to try that route.
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I have, but I still feel it can go either way. There's no reason why they wouldn't try if a PC release was to happen. Since ESRB did rate it an M, it stands a fair chance of it being there and staying there. However while Valve do get the final say, there are other forces such as Paypal that can influence decisions if they ever jumped in.

 
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Draekon said:
However while Valve do get the final say, there are other forces such as Paypal that can influence decisions if they ever jumped in.
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I doubt it. In Valve's press release they specifically denied the rumors that their initial takedown notices were influenced by their payment processors. And as was said, since it was already rated M by the ESRB I don't see PayPal even trying to force Valve to pull the game.

 
 
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According PQUBE Senior Product Manager, they are definitely weighing the 2 options to recoup their investment (doesn't sounds like they would go with both routes). While they are leaning toward PC port option at the moment, they are open to hearing what the people want.
58c6e63f24607b52eed9505f90b4b899.jpg


Sent from my SM-N950U1 using Tapatalk
 
Agreed. PC is an option, but I much prefer to play it on console.

Hoping PQube makes an arrangement to either add an English patch to the Asia and/or Japanese versions, or release it as an Exclusive with EastAsiaSoft and Play-Asia.

Edit: Found the following in Play-Asia’s Twitter feed.
1fe6ff86564784013e497d95d4f8c347.png
 
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Well, them supposedly weighing options is good to hear, but I'll believe it once I see it. From a business standpoint, this should be the choice each time, as they have invested time, funds and effort at this point, so why not try to get something out to interested consumers?

It's great that the PC is at least an option at this point, but I'm NEVER a buyer for PC, so it's console or bust for me, and hopefully a proper done survey would show that's their best option for most. I've stated many times over the last few years that I don't know why ALL games aren't dual languages at this point, as there's not much benefit to go through proper channels for a game like this, when "shit" happens more often than not.

So long as Asian specific releases are still happening for games like this, just put in an English option and call it a day.

 
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