Must have 'Japan only' PS1/PS2 games. HELP!!

[craptest]

Please. I need help here.

Ive had my PAL PS2 for a few years and last week I finally caved in and bought a japanese PS2. Einhander was the catalyst.

Searching play-asia for games I quickly discovered that Ive got NFI in regards to 'must have' Japan only PS1 / PS2 titles.

Id appreciate some help. Especially in the area of

- PS2 Shooters
- Fighting games (are those SNK compilations worth a look. Bleach? Naruto?)
- everything else
- Sega ages volumes that dont suck
- Simple 2000 series
- whether that PS1 'Gatchaman' game is worth buying


(Oh and Im buying Devil May Cry again so I dont have to but up with my shoddy PAL version any longer).

Thanks

[Big Seany]

PS2 wise Sega Ages Decathlete, Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box and (if you understand Japanese) Dragon Force are all great. The Taito Memories sets piss on the PAL territory versions and are well worth getting. The Garou Densetsu Battle Archive Vol 2 is awesome, as is the Garou: Mark Of The Wolves conversion, which is the tits. KOF XI is awesome too, but out in PAL land soon. The Gunvari (Point Blank) plus Time Crisis triple pack is also fantakka.

On the PS1, you want Harmful Park, Soukyougurentai (if you don't have a Saturn that is), Tenchi Wu Kurau 2, Vampire, Real Bout Special Dominated Mind, Soul Edge and US wise make sure you get Elemental Gearbolt and The Divide: Enemies Within, also the US conversion of Simple Series: The Volfied (aka Qix Neo) is very good and very cheap.

[VR46]

I personally enjoyed most of the Densha-De-Go PS2 games, not to everyone's taste, but you should try one.

[craptest]

Sengoku Basara 1 & 2 - were they released in the west under a different name? Are they any good?

[Big Seany]

Yeah you are talking about Devil Kings, as the series is known in the west. So-so Capcom title, bit of DMC, bit of Dynasty Warriors, not brilliant but so-so. Same character design bloke as DMC, may float your boat but yer better off with Onimusha and DMC, tbh

[Ostrog]

Before anyone else mentions it, I'll just jump in and say if you're interested in any of the Simple 2000 games, then you need The Chikyuu Boueigun 2. That is all.
If you're after any mech games,(that's why I bought my Asian PS2 in the first place) then I'd recommend Another Century's Episode 2, Gigantic Drive and Tetsujin 28. I've not played the Sengoku Basara games, but I believe the first one was released over here as Devil Kings. I've never seen it in any of the shops here though.
Didn't know there was a Gatchaman game. I've heard of something called Tatsunoko Fight which has Gatchaman characters along with some others like Tekkaman and Hurricane Polymer, but I don't know if that's any good either.

[Swallow]

What about the PC Engine remakes? Any good?

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Must have Jap PS2 games eh?

J League Winning Eleven 10 - PISSES on ANY other version of WE/PES.
I'd recommend the SNK 'Online Collection' series - KoF Orochi, FF battle Archives & AoF collection all kick ass.
Pawafuru Puroyakyu 8 is the best baseball title ever made.
Initial D Special Stage is a prety decent racer while not being too demanding.
So many Simple 2000 games to mention, but Oneechan Puru & Chikyuu Boueigun 2 are worth checking out along with Pirate: Plenty of Skulls, Zombie VS Ambulance & All Star Fighting Festival.

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

What about the PC Engine remakes? Any good?

You mean the 'Oretachi Game Centre' games?

Only played the Dodgeball & Contra ones and they pretty much kick ass. No idea about the others though.

[Soundwave]

Shooters you must own for the PS2 would be...

Mushihimesama
Ibara (Although I dont own this I'm going on general opinion)
Gradius V
Dodonpachi Do something something
Shikigami No Shiro 2
Psyvariar 2 (Same with this my copy is on it's way but most people seem to think it rarks the hizouse)
Espgaluda

Fighters I'd heartily recommend

Garou: MOTW
Guilty Gear XX Midnight Carnival
Street Figher 3
Darkstalkers Collection
Street Figher Zero Collection

Those are the only one's I have any experience of.

One other MAJOR purchase for your PS2 though is an arcade stick...anything I've mentioned there sucks monkey bum when played with a pad.

Out of everything I've ever bought for my PS2 the best use of my money was for Eva-01's Hori SCII stick, it's imporved my shooter technique no end, my Fighter technique still sucks though but I've been so used to a pad for the last 17 years or so it will take some time to re adjust but it's well worth it.

I will also echo the coments regarding EDF 2 (The Chikyuu Boueigun 2) that game is an absolute blast, it plays just like all the best B movies you've ever seen & is sooo much fun it's actually stopped me playing Lost Planet because I want to see what the next monster will be.

I'd also like to here more about thea Gatchaman game if it does exist...I love Gatchaman & a game based on it would be great...even if it does suck

Neil

[MonkeyJuggleDX]

Mushihimesama
Dodonpachi Do something something
Espgaluda

Probably the only 3 shooters there I'd recommend. Definitely get Espgaluda first out of that lot. It's a truly beautiful game and harder than a virgin being straddled by Jordan.

[Soundwave]

Probably the only 3 shooters there I'd recommend. Definitely get Espgaluda first out of that lot. It's a truly beautiful game and harder than a virgin being straddled by Jordan.

I'm with Super here, Espgaluda is easily the best shooter I have ever played, it's gorgeous to look at, absolutley manic in parts & the score system is sublime.
NEVER have I had the one more go feeling as much as I have with this game, Neither has the "c" word been used so much when a playing any game

It is hard as nails but so rewarding.

Neil

[prinsecharles]

ummm

ps2
dodonpachi dai-ou-jou
espgaluda
mushimesama
gigawing generations (only if your a gigawing fan.the conversion is very poo !)

ps1
donpachi
dodonpachi
zanac x zanac
harmful park
panzer bandit
strider 1 +2
raiden dx

[eastyy]

ps2
psyvariar 2
espgaluda
ibara
Mushihimesama

two future releases that possible will be japanese only Garou Densetsu Battle Archive Vol 2(Fatal Fury) (i liked vol1 but to behonest i think just for real bout 2 it will be worth it)
and of course the fist of the north star game

[J0e Musashi]

You guys play nothing but shooters or something?