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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I played FFVI on SNES, PS1, GBA and a little bit of the (Asian) NS release of FFVI Pixel Remaster and I dunno if I'd say Pixel Remaster is the best version. Most of the updates on the Pixel Remaster good but some of the visual changes feel uneven (like some spell effects look way nicer/out of place vs everything else) and some of the QoL changes good (auto-dash) but some are debatable (more restore points). But it's clear SE actually put effort and care into it, vs some of the past efforts (PS1 had to deal with loading times, GBA version I think had some glitches?). Whatever the case, it's way better than the horrendous mobile version.

blueweltall said:
I preferred Phantasy Star IV over Final Fantasy VI. Come at me
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Between my brother and I, we never had our main gaming platform as Sega outside of the Dreamcast for a short bit (between the PS1/N64 and PS2/GC/XB) and while I can't say I feel like missed out on that much, there are some Saturn and Dreamcast cast games I wanted to go back to and actually picked up when I had a steady stream of income. Phantasy Star IV is one I don't have (also don't have a Genesis) but it's prob the one Sega platform game that I want to play the most but haven't yet...
 
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Souffrir said:
I’ve already watched all of AustinSV’s Final Fantasy content, and I’m questioning now whether we watched the same videos. For my part, speaking as somebody who’s played most of the versions of all six of these, there is no argument possible—SquareEnix has never released anything close to a clear “best” version of any of the first six Final Fantasy games. I have my favorites, certainly, but there are too many unique downsides to every release, including the Pixel Remaster versions—and even the originals—, for any of them to stand above the rest, at least without fan patches and/or mods. I’m not saying that the Pixel Remasters are the worst versions of any of these games, but the notion that they’re somehow the best? I do find that laughable. It’s aggravating just how many new ways Square keeps finding to flub their remakes of these games.
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Many ideas of best. They're the most accessible and affordable; I'd say that's a strong contender.

Best is relative, as you said. So you shouldn't laugh at someone's opinion who thinks they're the best. It's not like there's a stand out definitive title per your own acknowledgement.

People are allowed to play favorites. Just don't be a jerk about it.
 
Ff4 psp is mostly easy till the ridiculous final boss. For that reason and a few other minor changes I prefer the original version still. I didn't feel like grinding 10-20 levels to hit the lowest level requirement for beating it.
 
TheKbob said:
And they're both relative. So yea, what you think is the best may be someone else's worst.
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I think you might mean subjective, based on context? And if that’s the case, I disagree, quality is objective. I’ll grant that how we try to define anything objectively is in itself subjective, as human beings we can’t escape subjectivity, but that doesn’t mean we can’t strive for objectivity. I don’t expect my subjective favorites and attempted objective assessments of what is “best” to necessarily line up.
 
Souffrir said:
I think you might mean subjective, based on context?
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Best is always a relative assessment because it's a comparison based upon the assessor's/assessed values.

Best for you may not be best for me, quite simply. And I think the semantics argument has gone on long enough. You can disagree, just don't be needlessly rude to folks about it. This ain't twitter.
 
You guys are arguing about schematics here but I dunno, I don't see anyone being rude or being a jerk...? Someone posted these were the best version of the, someone else posted a gif of a lady laughing because they thought it was funny. Move on.


Not sure how much this'll mean to anyone, but the VA who did Misty/Jesse died, pretty young. I watched that show religiously for the first few seasons. At the time, had no idea it would become as big as it is and it was the first video game based show I had seen (Mario and Zelda came out before we immgrated to the US so missed those). I dunno why, but this kinda hit hard for me.
comicbook.com

Rachael Lillis, the Voice of Pokemon's Misty and Jessie, Dies at 46

Rachael Lillis was known best for voicing Misty and Jessie in the Pokemon anime dub.
comicbook.com comicbook.com
 
shadowysea07 said:
Ff4 psp is mostly easy till the ridiculous final boss. For that reason and a few other minor changes I prefer the original version still. I didn't feel like grinding 10-20 levels to hit the lowest level requirement for beating it.
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It is funny the GBA version of FFIV was so bugged that you often get extra turns with ATB fill up immediately. Probably the only reason I made it though some of the tougher battles.
 
I've played FF4 SNES so many times and also the randomizer (excellent!) that I can speedrun the original well for a casual speed run. FF4 isn't very long.
 
I was going to write "The best version / compilation of Final Fantasy games (to own)," but I knew that some of you would struggle with that. I guess the disclaimer didn't work either.

Props to the 1-2 people who stated they are going to buy FF Pixel Remaster. They get it. Best version of the games which you can buy today. There, I said it. One of the best games I've played this year; now on physical after they initially released it as digital only. I'm excited to be picking up a new PS4 copy, in addition to having been already playing them on Switch.

An awesome announcement of the year. Which Bluewelltall reposted here and then it seemed like almost no one cared. pretty sad imo. Props to SE when they do good business, and when they continue to choose NOT to go down the Activision or EA route. It's sad how Rebirth didn't sell better this year, and its weird how so many people identify as huge FF fans when they're really not. Customers keep sending the (monetary) signal that they prefer digital licenses, F2P models and carved standard edition experiences, fewer rights and less ownership. While falsely claiming that they support these types of releases.

It's wild that SE doesn't stop making this stuff considering how poorly so many of these recent JRPGs have sold. It looks like they'll probably stop making many of these games pretty soon. (The AA, Octopath, Trinagle Strategy, Diofeld, Star Ocean types which all went to clearance bc no one is supporting). We've had a little Golden Period here and yet the market doesn't care. They either have to go the former Atlus nice day1 physical edition route, or they'll prolly just revert to full-digital instead. Not many of us are spending money.

Next time fans can whine about the $600 Crystal Collection or low effort digital-only cash grab.
 
I'm playing the original Secret of Mana on the Collection of Mana right now, finally, and it's been a lot of fun. I haven't played this game in close to 30 years and don't remember any of it. Didn't spend much time playing Mana back in the day. only beat it once. Prolly a little over halfway through it right now.

I remember Secret of Evermore and E.V.O Search for Eden being two of my favorite games back on SNES console days. A couple of different friends used to come sleep over, we'd rent one, and stay up all night leveling up and grinding skillups. Secret of Evermore was awesome, in that Souls-ish, inaccessible way. Petty hard to traverse or progress at times, and it's very opaque. but the progression felt very rewarding. I'm not sure how many people played it. It feels like Evermore barely even exists anymore. This stuff plays so well on the Switch, in bite sizes, before bedtime.
 
The main issue with Secret of Mana other than it's pretty simple story/characters is the grinding of magic levels. I'm also not as crazy for the hitboxes last time I played (lot of invincibility frames and some attacks just don't hit right with animations). I'm also not a big fan of the charging system for attacks, but that's mainly after your stuff is so upgraded. It's a pretty flawed game to me, but still solid enough. I haven't played in quite a while though...probably 10 years. I remember my biggest flaw with Secret of Evermore was the weird magic system with magic having to use items to cast them. I actually thought the story was pretty solid.
 
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I don't remember too many issues with Mana, except the hitboxes being wonky. I never beat Evermore (rental, only got to the first or second boss) or Illusion of Gaia (also rental, I remember getting to some super long tunnel or something before we had to return it).

Any of you guys ever play Terranigma? It was never released here, I played it on an emulator- it was prob my favorite non-mainstream SNES-era RPG.

EDIT* Also I recently tried EVO and wow, that game was WAY ahead of it's time. I unfortunately don't own it but that's prob my next big splurge purchase.
 
Secret of Mana was a great experience for me since I played most of it co-op. Secret of Evermore on the other hand bored me as a kid.
 
62t said:
Secret of Mana was a great experience for me since I played most of it co-op. Secret of Evermore on the other hand bored me as a kid.
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It was really tough. and very defeating.

but tips 'n tricks magazines and inserts or whatever you could find sometimes got you through the hard parts. Tho most of it required pure determination, trial & error, or many retries. The bazaar trading subsection area was unreal. Evermore did so many things in an opaque game that I'd never experienced before. Just throws you into this world and you had to figure everything out. Followed by three "no-going-back" sections and you're forced to the finish line. and like another poster said. E.V.O. was way ahead of its time in some respects.
 
Comedy Fire GIF by Prime Video UK

Bruh, I barely check this site for over a week because life hit my ass and this is what I return to lol

I pre-ordered the FF Pixel Remaster collection, despite caving a while back and getting V and VI digitally. I may or may not keep the pre-order, since I really want the other 4 games but don't know if I want to pay $75. I've sort of softened my stance on physical over digital because I like saving money and I've been purging some of my video game collection anyway to make room in the house.
 
I still don't understand why they didn't take advantage of cs2 having zero locations in it to remake that using the cs assets to not only asset flip but technically have gotten a new game (for western) out of it.
 
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shadowysea07 said:
I still don't understand why they didn't take advantage of cs2 having zero locations in it to remake that using the cs assets to not only asset flip but technically have gotten a new game (for western) out of it.
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The only shared location in CSII is the geofront. They did rebuild Crossbell city starting in CSIII and kept expanding it in IV and Reverie (residential and downtown sectors excluded).

The TiTS remaster will be a lot like what we're getting with Oath in Felghana.
 
TheKbob said:
The real issue is why there isn't even an HD port of LoH:TiTS for modern consoles. I would figure that would print money. They could use the PC versions and essentially get away with it.
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Maybe there's some licensing issue? It does seem odd esp since the PS4/5 and X1/XS are basically PCs...
 
Vinny said:
Maybe there's some licensing issue? It does seem odd esp since the PS4/5 and X1/XS are basically PCs...
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At least one licensing issue will be the additional VA work present in the Evo vita releases. Similar issues weren't deal breakers for nisa, but it will be xseed dealing with it this time around.
 
Little bit of visual novels news recently.

First of all Frontwing released Revue Starlight El Dorado. This is kind of for the fans of that series and I believe is about singing and theatrical performances. I like the graphics and would only likely get this on a heavier sale or if I watched the anime.

Steam
Switch
VNDB (NSFW)

Liminal Border Part 3 is coming out from Shiravune and is another part in that series. I haven't played them, but the art is nice. Expect an 18+ patch when it's out later likely in 2024.

Steam
VNDB (NSFW)

Dreamlike Love with Seira is coming out August 24th, 2024 and will likely have an 18+ patch when it releases. It's also available to pre-order on JAST USA.

Steam
JAST USA (NSFW)

JAST USA will also be releasing Houkago⇒Education! ~Sensei to Hajimeru Miwaku no Lesson~ in the future from Escu:de. This stars a main character in an all boys school. There are female teachers that students lust over, and our character needs remedial classes in order to graduate. I'm sure hijinks will ensue.

VNDB (NSFW)

Katawa Shoujo will be on Steam August 15th, 2024 for those who want it there. If you haven't played this visual novel before it's about characters with different disabilities. I liked this when I played it quite a while back and it has decent characters and storytelling for a free visual novel.

Steam
 
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Nothing- said:
Props to the 1-2 people who stated they are going to buy FF Pixel Remaster. They get it. Best version of the games which you can buy today.
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You can buy FFIII 3D and FFIV 3D very easily today, both of which are “arguably” better than the versions in the Pixel Remasters.

For my part, I feel zero need to purchase the Pixel Remasters because I own at least one version of each of the games in that collection that I can easily play on devices I regularly use, and that I would consider preferable over the PR versions. FFI and II on mobile and as PSOne Classics; FFIII 3D on mobile; FFIV as a PSOne Classic and 3D on mobile; FFV and VI as PSOne Classics. Better still, since I own several versions of all of these other than III (just have the 3D remake there), I feel quite comfortable using modded ROMs of older versions of the games that enhance the experience well beyond what any vanilla release offers, whether by improving the translations, adding bugfixes for bugs that have been ignored by Squenix for thirty+ years, or tweaking blatant balance issues, and those are easily accessible on pretty nearly every device I regularly use. Obviously that route isn’t for everyone, but it’s pretty clear to me why not everyone would jump at the chance to spend $75 on middling versions of 30 year old games that have been ported to everything under the sun.
 
Gamestop exclusive Visions of Mana Steelbook, but with in store pickup only WTF Gamestop. This is true especially since it only has ship to home for me. Really Gamestop sucks so badly most of the time.
Visions%20of%20Mana%20Pre%20Order%20Bonus.webp

Link
 
Souffrir said:
For my part, I feel zero need to purchase the Pixel Remasters because I own at least one version of each of the games in that collection that I can easily play on devices I regularly use,
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This is part of my dilemma... except I don't regularly use the consoles I have the games on (all of the PSN versions). But then, if I really wanted to play... I could do that. All that said, I do like some of the QOL features like disabling random encounters, auto battling, and so on. So it might push me more to play (and replay) through these with the switch collection.

Initially the price threw me, but it sold out so problem solved. Then there was the asia version and now it's cheap enough I could just go that route and at least there's a chance I'd play these versions. Though really, I could just go NES/SNES roms and patches for the JP versions and play them on the SNES classic, pc, or emulate them a number of other ways and that would at least give me save states which is the main QOL thing I appreciate as I don't have the patience any more for retracing my entire last 30 min or more due to an unforseen death.

Still, going to just sit on the fence a little longer... but I am really tempted. I'm more into the older FF's than anything newer. Even FF VII isn't that much my cup o tea.
 
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On the subject of unsatisfying Squenix compilations, I would have bought the frigging Collection of Mana if it weren’t a damn Switch exclusive. Seiken Densetsu 3 was and is my favorite game of the 4th generation, and I say this as a Genesis guy. But no, if you don’t have a Switch, you only get access to the mediocre 3D remake.

And would it have killed Square to throw in the Sword of Mana and Adventure of Mana versions of Seiken Densetsu 1?
 
I loved Sword of Mana; phenomenal game. Only thing I didn't like was all the missable content; as a completionist it bugged me having to keep track so I don't miss anything.
 
Lots of caveats and YMMV for a tiny discount, but:
Target Circle 10% 'just for you' coupon appeared this week for me. They have the Pixel Remaster listed now, so you could combine them for 10% off of that. Nintendo Switch games are excluded, but it would work for the PS4 version.
 
Pheria said:
Lots of caveats and YMMV for a tiny discount, but:
Target Circle 10% 'just for you' coupon appeared this week for me. They have the Pixel Remaster listed now, so you could combine them for 10% off of that. Nintendo Switch games are excluded, but it would work for the PS4 version.
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Thanks! Just did this
 
Pheria said:
Lots of caveats and YMMV for a tiny discount, but:
Target Circle 10% 'just for you' coupon appeared this week for me. They have the Pixel Remaster listed now, so you could combine them for 10% off of that. Nintendo Switch games are excluded, but it would work for the PS4 version.
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I don't have that offer, but I do have an offer for $5 off of a $30 beauty purchase. I'm gonna look fabulous...
1724025027624.png
 
I am going to complain about my last order at playasia. I ordered 2 in stock games and 2 preorders together on 6/26. The 2 preorders have already released on 8/8. My order is still delayed because of one of the in stock games I ordered. My estimated shipping date has already changed 3 times. A couple years ago playasia changed their policy and said they would reserve games for you if you ordered in stock and pre orders together. I don't think that is true. It's been over 50 days and an in stock game is still not reserved for my order. The game is question is Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE Japan PS5, if you look at the stock status for that game it says 1 week, so it might ship in 1 week for new orders, but I have been waiting over 50 days. Doesn't make sense. I have emailed them twice, but the response just sounds automated and not helpful. I would just remove that game from my order, but I got it on sale for $17. I guess I have to keep waiting. It does seem to prove they don't always reserve games for you after you order them.
 
scorponok said:
I am going to complain about my last order at playasia. I ordered 2 in stock games and 2 preorders together on 6/26. The 2 preorders have already released on 8/8. My order is still delayed because of one of the in stock games I ordered. My estimated shipping date has already changed 3 times. A couple years ago playasia changed their policy and said they would reserve games for you if you ordered in stock and pre orders together. I don't think that is true. It's been over 50 days and an in stock game is still not reserved for my order. The game is question is Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE Japan PS5, if you look at the stock status for that game it says 1 week, so it might ship in 1 week for new orders, but I have been waiting over 50 days. Doesn't make sense. I have emailed them twice, but the response just sounds automated and not helpful. I would just remove that game from my order, but I got it on sale for $17. I guess I have to keep waiting. It does seem to prove they don't always reserve games for you after you order them.
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As long as it's not PA.png, they don't have it. 1 week could mean 1 week or never. I still have a 3 for $100 order pending almost a month because "they're waiting for stock to arrive but have no estimated time of arrival yet".

It feels more like they charged you money for something they don't have, and trying to buy one cheaper somewhere. Shady practice for sure.
 
62t said:
www.gematsu.com

Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International announced for PS5, PS4, and Switch

Red Art Games, in cooperation with Square Enix, has announced Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered International, a new edition of Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Remastered with English, French,…
www.gematsu.com www.gematsu.com

Physical version of Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song coming from Red art Games
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I hate that... larger companies like Sega and Konami are outsourcing physical games to LRG... and now it seems like SE has joined the fray. I never ordered from Red Art Games but honestly, given the sheer number of "limited" print game companies, I'd rather take the risk with LRG since they're at least predictable.
 
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I've been getting the Asian-English releases which are good enough for the Saga games. Still haven't gotten the newest and I'm glad Romancing Saga 2 remake is coming out ESRB.
 
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VGP has a 'special edition' of Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International that's the same price as the regular, comes with a keychain and reversible cover. Free shipping too:

PS5
videogamesplus.ca

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International [Special Edition] - Playstation 5 (PRE-ORDER) (FREE SHIPPING) (VGP EXCLUSIVE)

RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 31, 2025 (PLACEHOLDER) SPECIAL EDITION IS LIMITED TO 500 COPIES AND EXCLUSIVE TO VIDEOGAMESPLUS.CA SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES: GAME WITH REVERSIBLE COVER MANUAL PVC KEYCHAIN The gods created man and man created stories. The primordial creator Marda brought forth the land of...
videogamesplus.ca videogamesplus.ca
Switch
videogamesplus.ca

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International [Special Edition] - Nintendo Switch (PRE-ORDER) (FREE SHIPPING) (VGP EXCLUSIVE)

RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 31, 2025 (PLACEHOLDER) SPECIAL EDITION IS LIMITED TO 500 COPIES AND EXCLUSIVE TO VIDEOGAMESPLUS.CA SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES: GAME WITH REVERSIBLE COVER MANUAL PVC KEYCHAIN The gods created man and man created stories. The primordial creator Marda brought forth the land of...
videogamesplus.ca videogamesplus.ca

Unrelated to that:
Best Buy has a Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale on Switch games (Plus members only). Works on pre-orders, and digital games too:

x.com

x.com x.com
 
scorponok said:
I am going to complain about my last order at playasia. I ordered 2 in stock games and 2 preorders together on 6/26. The 2 preorders have already released on 8/8. My order is still delayed because of one of the in stock games I ordered. My estimated shipping date has already changed 3 times. A couple years ago playasia changed their policy and said they would reserve games for you if you ordered in stock and pre orders together. I don't think that is true. It's been over 50 days and an in stock game is still not reserved for my order. The game is question is Yohane the Parhelion: BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE Japan PS5, if you look at the stock status for that game it says 1 week, so it might ship in 1 week for new orders, but I have been waiting over 50 days. Doesn't make sense. I have emailed them twice, but the response just sounds automated and not helpful. I would just remove that game from my order, but I got it on sale for $17. I guess I have to keep waiting. It does seem to prove they don't always reserve games for you after you order them.
Click to expand...
Don't ever mix preorder items and in stock items at Play Asia. As you mentioned they claimed they changed their policy, but in my experience it was not true. If you use Discord, PA has their own server which does offer some customer service help.
 
Pheria said:
VGP has a 'special edition' of Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International that's the same price as the regular, comes with a keychain and reversible cover. Free shipping too:

PS5
videogamesplus.ca

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International [Special Edition] - Playstation 5 (PRE-ORDER) (FREE SHIPPING) (VGP EXCLUSIVE)

RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 31, 2025 (PLACEHOLDER) SPECIAL EDITION IS LIMITED TO 500 COPIES AND EXCLUSIVE TO VIDEOGAMESPLUS.CA SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES: GAME WITH REVERSIBLE COVER MANUAL PVC KEYCHAIN The gods created man and man created stories. The primordial creator Marda brought forth the land of...
videogamesplus.ca videogamesplus.ca
Switch
videogamesplus.ca

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International [Special Edition] - Nintendo Switch (PRE-ORDER) (FREE SHIPPING) (VGP EXCLUSIVE)

RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 31, 2025 (PLACEHOLDER) SPECIAL EDITION IS LIMITED TO 500 COPIES AND EXCLUSIVE TO VIDEOGAMESPLUS.CA SPECIAL EDITION INCLUDES: GAME WITH REVERSIBLE COVER MANUAL PVC KEYCHAIN The gods created man and man created stories. The primordial creator Marda brought forth the land of...
videogamesplus.ca videogamesplus.ca

Unrelated to that:
Best Buy has a Buy 2 Get 1 Free sale on Switch games (Plus members only). Works on pre-orders, and digital games too:

x.com

x.com x.com
Click to expand...

Oof.... doesn't ship until March 2025. That's basically LRG levels of wait times... but I guess it's not like there's a cut-off for pre-order so could just wait it out.
 
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