For generations now, it seems as if Japan has been the unchallenged epicentre of gaming. The divide is less prominent now, but plenty of awesome games in Japan never seem to make it further abroad. For whatever reason, many of the most zany and brilliant Japanese titles don’t get a western localization, and it kills me inside. Here are ten games that really should get a release outside of Japan at some point.
The Fire Emblem back catalogue
With the 3DS soon to get a new Fire Emblem game, fans should be excited. That said, us westerners haven’t been given a lot of Fire Emblem love over the past few years, so a nice series recap would be nice. The first six Fire Emblem games never saw the light of day outside of Japan, (aside from the DS remake of the first game) and they would make a perfect addition to the 3DS eShop. It’s unlikely, but it would be nice if Nintendo threw us a bone here and there.
Policenauts
Everyone loves a good old fashioned Hideo Kojima adventure, so the fact that Policenauts never got a western release is a crime against gaming itself. Its equally excellent prequel, Snatcher, got a release worldwide on the ill fated Sega Mega CD yet, in spite of an announced Sega Saturn version for North America, we’ve never seen an official version of this cyberpunk classic outside of Japan.
Secret of Mana 2
It’s one of the most beloved RPGs on the SNES, yet the sequel never even got a chance to show us what it was made of. Whacky new IPs staying in the east is one thing, but considering the prequel was released worldwide to exceptional acclaim, the sequel’s absence seems like a cruel joke. HD remake anyone?
