Bandai WonderSwan

[Gabbi]

I'm curious about this handheld, but it seems than the most games are rpg/adventures/strategy. Since this console never had a western edition, I suppose all games are in Japanese. So my question: there are action/arcade games for this handheld? Or games that are enjoyable without speaking Japanese? Can someone list them (at lest best ones) ?
Thank you.

[Ben-K]

I've got a wonderswan and it's a very pretty piece of kit. IIRC the PS1/GBA Final Fantasy games are pretty much straight ports of the wonderswan versions.

As for language barrier, it's a big issue.....if you don't speak japanese you're going to have problems with the RPGs, which do make up a fair amount of the catalogue.

There are however other games not so reliant on text. I very much enjoyed One Piece: Swan Colluseum and the port of Rainbow Islands is worth a look.

From other stuff I don't have, there's Guilty Gear Petit 1 and 2 (2's supposed to be better), Pocket Fighter, a nice version of tetris, beatmania (complete with turntable accessory),Gunpey (puzzler) and then there's Judgement Silversword if you can find it....

Oh, and I heard that the wonderswan version of Front Mission has english menus, and is perfectly playable, but I've not played it so don't quote me....

EDIT: Just to say, if you do end up getting one, get a SwanCrystal. They're only a few quid more and the screen's loads better than the Wonderswan Colour. I think the shape of them is a bit "sexier" as well.......

[ChrisF]

Don't forget Golden Axe too. That's easy regardless of the language.

I'm flogging my minty fresh Pearl Blue WS here : http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=34011

[anephric]

Seconded with the SwanCrystal recommendation: I keep meaning to get one to replace my Colour because the screen gives me throbbing nightmares.

GG Petit 2 roXx0rS, btw. It's incredibly cute.

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

I'm a 'swaner, and very lovely it is too.

i'm keeping a very beady eye out for Front Mission on my next trip to Nihion

[djtickle]

How do these work? to color games work on a crystal and viseaversa?

anyone got any videos of them working?

[anephric]

There are only normal (original) B+W Wonderswan games and Colour games - the Crystal just has an improved display... which it desperately needs.

Wonderswan Beatmania's kerazy, btw - it's sooooooooooo hard!

[michael]

Crazy Climber's a good game too, but also rock hard (seems to be a running theme in Swan games!). OH, and Daikamura (or however you say/spell it) aka Ghosts and Goblins is Teh Aces. Amazing and - you guessed it - bloody hard!

[Ben-K]

i'm keeping a very beady eye out for Front Mission on my next trip to Nihion

I keep seeing this on ebay, goes for about ?20ish. Always tempted to pick it up, but it's always hard to justify wonderswan games to the missus, who knows how bad I am at Japanese.......Anyone know if it's as katakanaphobe friendly as I think it is?