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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PlayAsia dropped the price for Ghost Trick on Switch from 59.99 to 29.99 USD for anyone looking for a copy or needing a price adjustment.
 
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Is it me or does Playasia deactivate coupons when they have these sales?  The box is not there at checkout on multiple devices each with a different web browser.  

 
Twilightsparkle said:
Is it me or does Playasia deactivate coupons when they have these sales? The box is not there at checkout on multiple devices each with a different web browser.
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I was interested in a couple of the figures but it looks like free shipping doesn't work with some of those even after you hit the $100 mark ($60 for shipping to the States is rough ...)

No knock to PlayAsia's service, though. It's a solid retailer with excellent CSRs. Costs rising stinks but that's out of their control.
 
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Mattiful-Joe said:
I was interested in a couple of the figures but it looks like free shipping doesn't work with some of those even after you hit the $100 mark ($60 for shipping to the States is rough ...)
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Yeah, the free shipping is size and weight restricted. It's listed in the finer print somewhere, but usually not called out in their banners/promos. BBTS and Sideshow usually run similar sales and ship from the US, so keep an eye out there if you're looking for something specific.

Twilightsparkle said:
Is it me or does Playasia deactivate coupons when they have these sales? The box is not there at checkout on multiple devices each with a different web browser.
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Coupons are typically deactivated when you've got sale items in your cart. Want to say that started around 2019 or so? There have been a few occasions where it's been glitchy and let you use both but those are the exception and not the norm.

 
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If you're looking for a standard edition copy of Atelier Ryza 3, Best Buy has a $10 gift card for preordering. (Digital Deluxe extras and digital preorder bonuses are not able to be purchased Ala Carte)

 
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For anyone on the fence, the import of Fatal Frame, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse for PS4 has English subs on the disc. Ordered mine from PlayAsia.
 
wow I'm surprised atelier ryza 2 copies are going for 75+ now. I guess they finally went out of print? and or demand shooting up since 3 releases in a few days. 

 
There was a Ryza anime announced too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly83UdDhv18

 
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Long delayed post of newer releases.

There are many visual novel sales right now on Steam and elsewhere. JAST USA has a Moe March sale and Denpasoft also has a sale on their websites. They last as long as the Steam sale I believe. I've played many of these so ask away if you have questions on some of them.

JAST USA Store (NSFW)

Denpasoft (NSFW)

JAST USA released a long awaited game Tokyo Necro from Nitro Origin. It has the mc taking missions to take down necromancers and their monsters. Lots of stuff happens with action and mystery. This has a 10% discount for about 16 more hours, so if you want the discount get it now. Supposed to be long and pretty high quality.

VNDB (NSFW)

Steam

Steam 18+ Patch (NSFW)

JAST USA Store (NSFW)

Denpasoft/Sekai project have 2 recent releases.

First is all is My Girlfriend’s Special Place from feng. This one has the mc being accused of being a molester from his childhood friend. In order to make amends he must become her butler. This is one route kinetic visual novel I believe. Pretty short too, but may be good for the people like cute stories. It has a 10% off price until March 23rd.

VNDB (NSFW)

Steam

18+ Steam Patch (NSFW)

Denpasoft (NSFW)

They also released Slobbish Dragon Princess 3 from Whirlpool. This is another short comedy romance game thing which is in a longer running series.

VNDB (NSFW)

Steam

18+ Steam Patch (NSFW)

Denpasoft (NSFW)

Shiravune is going to release Kunado Chronicles from Purple Software on April 6th, 2023. This is another longer visual novel about a world where metal attacks people and ruin civilization. People being to gain powers and one girl ends up defeating a major threat that has been going on for a 1000 years. The mc is an amnesiac found inside the beaten threat. It's a story about rebuilding after humanity was almost wiped away. I have a mixed history with Purple Software games, with Chronoclock probably being too simple overall in story, and Hapymaher having a really cool story with a very lame true ending to it all. Also I just didn't really enjoy the few routes I did of Amatsumi, but I've heard the true route is decent. I've heard this game also has a kind of lame true ending, but I'll probably still check it out. I will post the 18+ patch when it releases.

VNDB (NSFW)

Steam

A newer publisher PGN Games is releasing The Alchemist of Ars Magna from ninetail. The main character is an alchemist in school and it looks like a simulation RPG visual novel hybrid game and is supposedly very long. This one is supposedly coming out March 31st, 2023. It will likely have an 18+ patch. These games are always interesting, although I rarely play them, but likely will get this one if it's uncensored with the patch.

VNDB (NSFW)

Steam

Mangagamer are also releasing Lkyt. a Boy's Love game in a Japanese Fantasy World. These aren't my thing, but it looks high quality and doesn't look to require a Steam patch.

VNDB (NSFW)

Steam (NSFW)

 
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Has NISA stopped responding to emails or calls in general. It has been over a month since I contacted them for a damaged CE. Multiple emails & not a single reply

Not sure if I should go through PayPal 

 
They shipped my Ryza 3 LE but didn't put tracking on it. The USPS does show it is heading for me but that's all I know.

 
DanteWarrior said:
Has NISA stopped responding to emails or calls in general. It has been over a month since I contacted them for a damaged CE. Multiple emails & not a single reply

Not sure if I should go through PayPal
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They were very quick to respond through e-mail when I just had a question about an order.

 
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DanteWarrior said:
Has NISA stopped responding to emails or calls in general. It has been over a month since I contacted them for a damaged CE. Multiple emails & not a single reply

Not sure if I should go through PayPal
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Maybe an issue with your email address. I find I don’t get some emails in my gmail address that has a period in the characters. But if it’s gmail you can remove it and you will get emails anyway.

So my email is [email protected] that sometimes doesn’t get messages
I change it to [email protected] and things work fine.
 
bappt said:
They shipped my Ryza 3 LE but didn't put tracking on it. The USPS does show it is heading for me but that's all I know.
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Funny, I got a tracking number in the email but it doesn't work. USPS says it's not a valid tracking number.
 
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Covnam said:
Ryza 3 Summer Look DLC is free for about 2 weeks:

https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP4108-PPSA08520_00-ADDCOSTUME000004

https://www.nintendo.com/store/products/summer-look-costume-set-70050000039452-switch/
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Thanks for pointing this out. I plan to play, but not immediately - still haven't beaten 2 yet.

There are swimsuits too, but you have to pay up for those unfortunately ($21.99 for the whole set): https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP4108-PPSA08520_00-ADDCOSTUME000007

 
The Target Buy 1 Get 1 50% off (or buy 2, cancel one for ~25% off) sale is back this week, unfortunately maybe this is what they do now instead of Buy 2 Get 1 Free which was a better deal.

There are a lot of exclusions, especially for Switch games. Octopath Traveler II at $57.99, (or ~$44 after canceling one) and Dragon Quest Treasures at $39.99 (~$30) are okay. (Dragon Quest Treasures is also $35.99 digitally on the eShop atm)

Some preorders work, I placed one for Crymachina PS5 to decide later.

I'm not sure how they decide which versions of what are eligible. Grim Guardians (renamed to Gal Guardians, but not on Target yet) only have the PS4 version eligible, with PS5 and Switch not eligible.

Dragon Quest Treasures Switch: https://www.target.com/p/dragon-quest-treasures-nintendo-switch/-/A-87431812

Octopath Traveler II Switch (PS4 also available): https://www.target.com/p/octopath-traveler-ii-nintendo-switch/-/A-87657530

Crymachina PS5 (offer doesn't apply to Switch version): https://www.target.com/p/crymachina-deluxe-edition-playstation-5/-/A-88853535

 
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BoxPizzaBox said:
The Target Buy 1 Get 1 50% off (or buy 2, cancel one for ~25% off) sale is back this week, unfortunately maybe this is what they do now instead of Buy 2 Get 1 Free which was a better deal.

There are a lot of exclusions, especially for Switch games. Octopath Traveler II at $57.99, (or ~$44 after canceling one) and Dragon Quest Treasures at $39.99 (~$30) are okay. (Dragon Quest Treasures is also $35.99 digitally on the eShop atm)

Some preorders work, I placed one for Crymachina PS5 to decide later.

I'm not sure how they decide which versions of what are eligible. Grim Guardians (renamed to Gal Guardians, but not on Target yet) only have the PS4 version eligible, with PS5 and Switch not eligible.

Dragon Quest Treasures Switch: https://www.target.com/p/dragon-quest-treasures-nintendo-switch/-/A-87431812

Octopath Traveler II Switch (PS4 also available): https://www.target.com/p/octopath-traveler-ii-nintendo-switch/-/A-87657530

Crymachina PS5 (offer doesn't apply to Switch version): https://www.target.com/p/crymachina-deluxe-edition-playstation-5/-/A-88853535
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Picked up Stranger of Paradise last week for $20... and now i'm picking it up again for this sale to save $5.LOL

I have few dozen common/old games I want but Target doesn't have any of them... kinda nuts.

 
Vigilante said:
LIVE A LIVE coming to PS5, PS4, and PC on April 27

Hoping for a physical Asian version from Play-Asia, otherwise I'm waiting for a good discount.
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I played through this game on switch after playing the demo for a while. It's pretty creative but also very short (which at the time was appealing to me). I'm glad I played it on the switch, but for anyone that hasn't... just don't go in expecting long individual stories. It's very condensed, but it shines on how creative it is with each story.. the setting.. and and the overall ending. The battle system I found enjoyable and I'm pretty damned picky about this stuff.

On sale digital this would be well wroth it. I'm not sure if it's something I'll hold onto long term, though it ended up VERY memorable.

 
For the likely very few who were waiting for another ninetail RPG/VN (Venusblood fans pretty much), The Alchemist of Ars Magna is out. This is an RPG/VN longer game coming at the premium end of VN prices. I've heard it's not as good as those games, but it's pretty new and has an 18+ patch for the Steam version, and a 20% launch discount. I will likely get it, but not sure if I'll play immediately. If you don't want to deal with the patch, JAST is likely the way to go.

Steam

Steam 18+ NSFW Patch (on an itch.io page. You can also just get the game there)

JAST USA (18+ NSFW)

Denpasoft (18+ NSFW)

 
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nightc1 said:
I played through this game on switch after playing the demo for a while. It's pretty creative but also very short (which at the time was appealing to me). I'm glad I played it on the switch, but for anyone that hasn't... just don't go in expecting long individual stories. It's very condensed, but it shines on how creative it is with each story.. the setting.. and and the overall ending. The battle system I found enjoyable and I'm pretty damned picky about this stuff.

On sale digital this would be well wroth it. I'm not sure if it's something I'll hold onto long term, though it ended up VERY memorable.
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Glad to hear it's relatively short. RPGS really need to stop being 30+ hours long... it was like standard back in the PS1 days for RPGs to last 40 hours but these days, I don't have time for that shit. Only reason why I cannot commit to any of the Personas since I heard they're 70+ hours minimum.

 
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If I'm looking at something on PA, is there a way to tell if it's an Asian release with English packaging (as in, all the info text in the back of the case)? I can't tell by the pictures on some items. 

 
Vinny said:
If I'm looking at something on PA, is there a way to tell if it's an Asian release with English packaging (as in, all the info text in the back of the case)? I can't tell by the pictures on some items.
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Not that I'm aware of. Try searching for the game you want on ebay. May be someone there has photos of the back.
 
Vinny said:
If I'm looking at something on PA, is there a way to tell if it's an Asian release with English packaging (as in, all the info text in the back of the case)? I can't tell by the pictures on some items.
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Ratings board logos are probably the best indicator - if it's CERO, it Japanese and not SEA. Beyond that, packaging is kinda up in the air. Even if the images show English or Japanese on the cover sometimes they use placeholder images.

 
nightc1 said:
I played through this game on switch after playing the demo for a while. It's pretty creative but also very short (which at the time was appealing to me). I'm glad I played it on the switch, but for anyone that hasn't... just don't go in expecting long individual stories. It's very condensed, but it shines on how creative it is with each story.. the setting.. and and the overall ending. The battle system I found enjoyable and I'm pretty damned picky about this stuff.

On sale digital this would be well wroth it. I'm not sure if it's something I'll hold onto long term, though it ended up VERY memorable.
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I wouldn't call it "very short" it's like 25-30 hours to complete. Short compared to old school JRPG's sure. I mentioned it before but I was pretty underwhelmed by the game. Out of the 50 or so games I completed last year it was probably my least favorite of all of them.

 
Vinny said:
Glad to hear it's relatively short. RPGS really need to stop being 30+ hours long... it was like standard back in the PS1 days for RPGs to last 40 hours but these days, I don't have time for that shit. Only reason why I cannot commit to any of the Personas since I heard they're 70+ hours minimum.
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3 is closer to 56 for a regular playthrough. Less if you do fewer s links and sidequests since a lot of the bloat is tied to them.
 
The Questyen said:
I wouldn't call it "very short" it's like 25-30 hours to complete. Short compared to old school JRPG's sure. I mentioned it before but I was pretty underwhelmed by the game. Out of the 50 or so games I completed last year it was probably my least favorite of all of them.
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I finished maybe two games last year. It was a rough year but I’m hoping to get back to serious gaming in a few weeks after I’m done cleaning out my attic and reorganizing.

I checked my switch and it showed “25 hours or more”. Checked my save… 28h20min. That was me finishing all the core stories for each character and two overall endings. I grinded like old school on any that allowed it, explored every nook, did anything possible, and started over on the ninja story because I felt lost from where the demo left off. Then I played it a third time on the ninja story to make some different decisions. While there were more overall things I left on the table, I feel like 28 hours is pretty reasonable and quite short compared to other rpgs in this retail price range. Plus when you divide that out among each character it’s only a few hours to finish a characters core story.

I can see why it wouldn’t be for everyone. I based my purchase on the demo being fun. Some of what I loved, like the caveman, others didn’t. But it felt like a very unique experience for each character.. while maintaining some common elements in the fighting strategy. Super memorable experience. I’d highly suggest the demo to anyone curious… especially since progress carries over. I redownloaded the demo as I occasionally delete my play history… put just 1hr20min in.
 
finished chapter 1 of trails from zero (escape) 

probably the greatest crime committed in that chapter was I didn't get to pet the dog. 

trophy percentage says 52% so we are already close to half of players dropping out before the first chapter of the game. 12% drop from the prologue trophy. my guess is that the final percentage will hover under 20. 

 
Since when is it becoming impossible to pick up niche Japanese games on release date in stores? I used to preorder on Best Buy all the time and they'd be ready to pick up on release when the store opens at 10AM. Nowadays preorder is by shipping only, not just Best Buy but other retailers like GameStop, Target, WalMart etc. By shipping, I'd be lucky to have it delivered on release day—the retailers themselves can't guarantee it, maybe a day late or a week late, who knows. Amazon is especially notorious for this. I wonder if publishers have stopped supplying these stores, relying more on digital sales, but then again what's the point of preorders? Isn't to have the physical copy available where they're wanted?

 
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chibuki said:
Since when is it becoming impossible to pick up niche Japanese games on release date in stores? I used to preorder on Best Buy all the time and they'd be ready to pick up on release when the store opens at 10AM. Nowadays preorder is by shipping only, not just Best Buy but other retailers like GameStop, Target, WalMart etc. By shipping, I'd be lucky to have it delivered on release day—the retailers themselves can't guarantee it, maybe a day late or a week late, who knows. Amazon is especially notorious for this. I wonder if publishers have stopped supplying these stores, relying more on digital sales, but then again what's the point of preorders? Isn't to have the physical copy available where they're wanted?
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We're past peak "niche gamer" time. We're sliding back into the days of the PS2, where stores may or may not get a physical copy of stuff we want.

Digital is consuming the market; it's obvious that many publishers are not meeting demand when third parties have to order reprints and current gen games blow past their MSRP on the aftermarket within a year or two after release.

Which means we are getting relegated to online only, or worse, limited print releases (see even Square with FF Pixel Remasters...).

If you want to remain a physical game collector, you're likely going to be paying more and/or waiting longer for stuff. I see it only getting worse as time goes along. If I cannot get a game physically on Switch (or it runs like butt on Switch), I get it on Steam as my best hedge against becoming unplayable in the future.

I'm here wondering if I want to wait for a potential sale on GrimGrimoire remaster or buy it now...

 
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Yeah it's all kind of crappy now. Almost nothing ships by release date anymore. GameStop used to be the most reliable 6-10 years ago, the past few times I've ordered a niche game they just let it sit there never fulfilling it (not every time, but also more than once). I eventually have to call their support to cancel it weeks later. If I hadn't had these experiences, I'd be tempted to say order in person at GameStop might be your best bet but I avoid them.

I didn't know that you couldn't order online for store pickup anymore though, that is odd. Stores were really pushing that to avoid shipping things and get you in the store for a while.

More and more physical releases seem to be coming out later, and sometimes costing more. Kinda sucks.

From the consumer perspective, yeah the sell on pre-orders was always to guarantee a copy day one but publishers have turned it into a tool for estimated sales for a while now. You can preorder free to play digital only games now. lol

The one digital game I'm glad I preordered digitally is Duel Princess is though, and that's only because it was delisted and never returned (on Switch/Steam anyway, it is still available on PC via GOG and some others). Which is really a downside of digital only in the first place, so I wouldn't really consider that much of an advantage.

Best Buy seems to be the most reliable to be sure of getting a copy, for me, but it almost never arrives on release day.

 
shadowysea07 said:
finished chapter 1 of trails from zero (escape)

probably the greatest crime committed in that chapter was I didn't get to pet the dog.

trophy percentage says 52% so we are already close to half of players dropping out before the first chapter of the game. 12% drop from the prologue trophy. my guess is that the final percentage will hover under 20.
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What about those of us who bought it knowing full well it wouldn’t ever leave the box, because of too many other games to play? I won’t even be in the trophy percent
 
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