Buying JAP Games, and not understanding them.

[007]

Is bloody great.

I've always bought and played US or PAL Game. And alot of the time you are held by the hand in the sense of showing you which way to go etc.

I was talking to ShimmyHill about this. And he said about how he enjoyed Mario 64 so much more, because you had to work out what to do, as you weren't told hardly at all what to do.

But there are drawbacks to this. Which is why i'm in two minds as to what to do.

+ Side
It's more of an adventure, you don't know where you are supposed to be going. Therefor, the game lasts longer. As there's plenty of Trial and Error.

- Side
Alot of the time you miss out on the story line, which can be a big thing with most games.

I've been playing JAP Luigis Mansion today for the first time. And it's a great game. Even though I miss out on the story line, and what things do etc. Its fun not understanding what i'm supposed to be doing. And just trying and working it out for myself.

Another thing.

Japanese Games. The box art is so much better. Take GC games for example. They look lush. Hence, why I collect them now.

What are your opinions on this? Sacrifice story for adventure and nice boxarts?

I'm going to be ordering MSG Twin Snakes. Which, of course is going to be very heavy plot wise. So, do you think it would be wise, to play the game through on a US version, understand it. And then wade my way through the JAP version after?

I've also found it's been nice to go back to games you've already played to death, and play the Japanese versions. It's nice in a way, becase everything feels new and fresh.

Kind of a rant, but I enjoyed typing it out.

[yashiro]

If the game is storyline based you will miss out on the point of the game when played in a language you don't understand. Yeah, you can still appreciate most aspects and if you're happy with that then fair enough.
Examples: Final Fantasy, Xenosaga, Zelda

If the game is light on storyline and veers more into the action arena there's no problem apart from the odd menu confusion.
Examples: Streetfighter, Virtua Fighter, Dodonpachi

My personal preference these days is to get most games from the US. Only buying choice Japanese titles that may not see a Western release.

[Ginza]

Which is why i'm in two minds as to what to do.

Bit late now isnt it after youv decided to collect jap games

[marcus]

I tend to buy only one region per console, and in most cases Ill buy the US releases of games. For me its a time issue, and I no longer have the willpower either to play a game on a trial and error basis. I also value games more with storyline now, and this is why I have hardly touched Siren as yet as I want to understand the story and concept.

That said, I only ever buy Japanese Dreamcast games, the majority of good ones are simple arcade games whereby language isnt a problem, and yes its sad to say it, but I adore the packaging too.

[Shimmyhill]

Ahhhh Marcus, ur getting old like me

I love Jap games, i love the boxart.

However im moving over too USA based stuff as i just dont have the time these days to figure stuff out.

Infact 007 the young whippersnapper has bought and traded some jap for usa games on the GC.

So i prefer Jap games but as im older and have less time im going usa.

I have a feeling that a few years down the road ill be buying the Jap versions again !!!

[Fragmaster]

Yeah, I can say the same for JSRF on the Xbox, my mate has a PAL one, plain boxart....

I admit that the Xbox JAP releases aren't as cute as the GC ones, but this JSRF JAP release, is all shiney box art and looks cool... lol

[Salsa Party Animal]

I mostly buy American games but I do buy Japanese games for PS2 and Gamecube especially Shoot em ups

On Gamecube for Japanese - I got Donkey Konga, 3 Shooters and Winning Eleven 6FE and on PS2 I got Rez, Ridge Racer V, Winning Eleven 7, Metal Slug 3.

Japanese games is also more expensive than American games. I like to know what I am doing in navigation and playing. If I can't read the menu it is not good.

[Robster]

In all honestly I buy jap games purely for the box art. I do buythe engilsh version first then hunt out a jap version just for my collection because I know what the game is about as I have played it in english prior.

For exclusive jap releases I will buy themas long as they are not too story heavy as I dont have a clue about japanese.

[Junko]

This is my dilema at the moment , my Japanese skills are zero

But Im still gagging to play Mojibribon , is there any point ? I know

at one time or another Im still going to end up buying it

[Sketcz]

Most of my Japanese games are Japan only games.
Though I will go for the JPN version over the US if theres great omake.

The special edition box set of MGS was great. Played that through nearly a year before it hit the UK, then picked up the UK version for cheap to get the storyline.

Unless its a stat heavy RPG, theres alot of innate joy to be had from just playing the game.

Sometimes it can also add to the gameplay. Make things more mysterious, hides the sometimes poor voice acting, and forces you to really explore and understand the game.
It also artificially makes the game seem more exotic. Some adventure games for example, suddenly feel so alien and strange, and can heighten the atmosphere.

Though the above posters are right, plot heavy games RPGs lose more than its worth. A friend bought JPN FF8, and never got past the first disc, since he said it became too boring.


Plus, box art is always nice, and booklets tend to be in color on high quality paper. Oh, and Japanese come out waaaay earlier, allowing you to get a taste and complete them, then when they get a local release and go cheap, you can pick them up for the plot.


On the flip side, some JPN games, like PDO actually have the full 100% english script already on the disc, meaning if you have a UK modded XBOX, the game will be 100% fully in English, plus youll get the nifty music cd as well, and the JPN version tends to be cheaper than the rest once theyre all out.


If you enjoy it, go for it, dont feel ashamed because you prefer the aesthetics, or like the fact that you have to work harder to complete it.
If someone gives you a funny look, its their loss.

[MikeF]

I have to admit that I prefer the Japanese box arts to the US or the PAL ones as as such tend to buy them over the US versions.

If the game is text heavy I will usually get the US version so that I can understand the story/plot but also pick up the Japanese version once the US version has been completed. Depending on how good the game is the US version will then either stay or be sold on.

Have to say that my Japanese reading skills are not the best but I am starting to learn more and more.

[Zed]

Sure I've found that even some action games can be spoilt if theres kanji everywhere, and thus making it too hard to work out weapon upgrades or so on. But mostly it seems fine importing jap action games. Yes you miss out on the story bits, but as said, if these are never going to be released, or after 1-2 years to a PAL region then importing is really the only way to experience them while their level of QA seems contempary.

I've bought some cut-price imports (like after the PAL versions been released) and they lose a lot of their potential freshness, as whatever was new and innovative has already been copied and spat out in a western game.

Next bunch of imports are due; Metal Slug 3, Bujingai and Chikyuu Boueigun on peoples recommendations here. These should all be fine, and after that i've "only" lined up a preorder for Armored Core 3: Nexus. Which actually has me a little worried from previous versions, as initial screenshots of Nexus seem to be much more kanji-heavy in the garage and so on and since its very Gran Turismo like in stat/part/upgrades this could really be a problem!

[Tonma]

Japanese all the way for me i'm afraid.

Given the fact that if you need to you can always buy the US version to play through and then sell later for only a small loss, it seems crazy to miss out on having the Japanese version with all the fantastic artwork and packaging for your collection.

[Saurian]

I very rarely buy USA versions but some are too good to pass up (Xenosaga and Disgaea being 2 very good translations) apart from the odd USA region game I only buy JPN versions. I prefer the packaging, production values, never have to worry about extra stuff being omitted, or if the game will be released at all and it's forced me to learn to read another set of characters which is a skill I love having!

[Geoff D]

I buy whichever is the cheapest & best version of a game; for example, a Jpn version of a text heavy RPG does not count as the best version for me, so I wouldn't buy it - I don't consider myself a collector, so all the trimmings are unimportant to me.

I just like playing games