Do you guys know any other games that fit the bill? Preferebly pick-up-and-play games that need no real knowledge of the language, no RPGs or games that are way text-heavy.
Let's share recommendations!



Rakugaki Showtime! (PS1)

A Power Stone-esque battle game, developed by Treasure. It stars pretty hectic, but once you get the hang of it it's tons of fun. Up to 4 players.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI1yDsHPl3g


Sexy Parodius (PS1/Saturn/Arcade)

SHMUP from Konami, the last one of the Parodius series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yMgwnUdVts



Panzer Bandit (PS1)

Side-scrooling beat-em-up that borrows some things from Guardian Heroes (Saturn). I've yet to play this, but I heard it's pretty nice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLuxAzCdlKo



Pulseman (Genesis/Mega Drive)

Inventive platformer made by Game Freak, the people who later got well-known for making the Pokemon series.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOzshAZNSM8



Sin and Punishment (Nintendo 64)

Frantic run and gun/3rd person on-rails shooter made by Treasure. Tough to master, but extremely satisfying to do so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmxanWXvAgA



Rhythm Tengoku (Game Boy Advance)

AWESOME rhythm-based minigame compilation by the same team behind the WarioWare games. It's just pure, flat out fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0k45BRE4GM

What 'bout you guys?

What the hell, I just remembered a few more:


Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo) (PC-Engine)

One of the last classic-styled Castlevania games is also one of the best.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSJx2t2ij1k



Radiant Silvergun (Saturn/Arcade)

Magnificent SHMUP where you can use seven different weapons at any time, has a combo/level up system and a great soundtrack to boot. Have I already mentioned I'm a BIG Treasure fan?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csb5aYoMal8

I approve of this thread.

awesome games that never left Japan!



*Hasn't played Dracula X Chronicles*

Because I'm too lazy to provide links and pics, I'll just name a few of the ones that I know of:

Initial D: Street Stage
Initial D: Special Stage
Initial D: Extreme Stage
Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix
Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+
Fatal Frame IV (this one still pisses me off because it was that idiot president of Nintendo of AMERICA that didn't want it. Techmo was disappointed)

Beatmania IIDX
Pop'n Music
UBeat

Beatmania IIDX
Pop'n Music
UBeat

I actually have Beatmania IIDX Happy Sky for PS2. Haven't played it in forever. Now you got me in the mood to try again!

I actually have Beatmania IIDX Happy Sky for PS2. Haven't played it in forever. Now you got me in the mood to try again!

DO IT! I need to find my IIDX Red

GAH! No....I stayed away because I couldn't help but play it all the time....LOUDLY at that! The music on there is just....oh man...here we go again!

I thought "Sin and Punishment (Nintendo 64)" was released for the Wiiware?

^
it was.

and sin and punishment 2 will be released worldwide.

also, i hate this topic because it will make me realize there are awesome games that i will never play because they stayed in japan.
not knowing of the game will make me not want it.

Godzilla Kaijuu Daikessen


For Super Famicom. Just what you would expect from a tournament fighter of the time, featuring monsters from the Godzilla movies. Here's a small article about it:
http://www.giantbomb.com/godzilla-kaiju-daikessen/61-22895/

Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren's Greed/Ambition

From what I gather(I haven't been able to find screenshots, but admittedly, I haven't been looking too hard), it's a tactical game that allows you to play either the Zeons or Federation, and WIN the OYW for either side. You can follow the series as it played out(which results in a special Game Over, according to a walkthrough I read), or you can send Ramba Ral in to take out White Base with Doms! From what I've heard, you could have Gelgoogs before the Battle of Jaburo!

I remember Pulseman, btw. Actually got to play it when a friend of mine had the Sega Channel, and it was, I admit, cool as shit. Didn't realize the same guys behind Pokemon made it, though...

BANGAI-O (Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh) (Nintendo 64)

You control a 10-pixel tall mecha, and your objective is quite simple in paper: BLOW EVERYTHING TO THE SMITHEREENS. It remained as a japanese-only release for the N64, but was localized for the Dreamcast as "Bangai-O" (I'm not sure if it's exactly the same game) and received a sequel for the DS called Bangai-O Spirits.



Dracula X Chronicles

Neither did anyone else, unfortunately! D:
In fact, I discovered the game through this compilation. I liked it so much that I finished it in a PSP that wasn't even mine!


I thought "Sin and Punishment (Nintendo 64)" was released for the Wiiware?

It did got released for the Virtual Console USA, as well as Pulseman and (just recently) Rondo of Blood. I know, in practice it means the game HAS left Japan, but never in its original hardware... but I see no reason to be that literal about the meaning. Still, all those games are pretty fun and despite the DL services not a whole lot of people played them. :P

Eh, I was just saying....

I wanted to play Rakugaki Showtime, they've told me it's like the competition to Smash Bros. but it never had the publicity it needed.
Rondo Of Blood rocks, I have it right here, a light version, for the PC, everything set to play the game, it emulates automatically. If anyone wants it, send me a PM.

There was this one Rurouni Kenshin game for the PS2 that never left Japan (can't remember the entire name). I have a burned copy and it's cell-shaded. Looks pretty good and it's kind of a hack-n-slash if I remember correctly. The game itself seems like it's pretty good, but because I don't understand Japanese, I eventually got lost in the menus and gave up :(.

Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Sensen 0079:

FPS Gundam game set in the original series timeline....yeah, and it doesn't suck!


Espgalada:

One of the best shoot-em-ups of the last generation, oodles of fun.

Front_Mission_5:

An evolution of the series, in a good way, one of the best tactical games on the PS2.

Nights Into Dreams - PS2 Remake:

One of the best games SEGA has ever released, with better graphics...

Maken Shao - Demon Sword:

While released for Europe, PAL, this semi-decent game was never released to the NTSC-U region for some reason. I had to import the bastard!

Macross Ultimate Frontier:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_LCph-cDpj_w/SsXUsyFLs6I/AAAAAAAABiQ/7dVmhjVgDGQ/s400/PSP+Macross+Ultimate+Frontier+Cracked+Version+%28J PN%29.jpg
Even better than the first one, which IMO was the best mech game on the PSP.
I really wish the licensing issues surrounding Macross would get fix!

Ketsui Death Label:

Easily one, if not the, best shoot-em-up on the DS...



----------------------------
If you couldn't tell I love 'bullet hell' games.

Zero Gunner 2

Border Down


http://www.videogamecritic.net/images/dc/border_down_(import).jpg

Under Defeat

http://www.nin-nin-game.fr/images/Under%20Defeat%20(normal).jpg
http://www.chewingpixels.com/wp-content/images/Under-Defeat.gif

Wow, Maken Shao... first originally on Dreamcast as a first person standpoint then to PS2 as a third person standpoint.

- Shining Wind (2nd game of the Shining series, PS2), not really text heavy. I love Kureha.
- Pop N' Pop (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2afjZei7qU&feature=related) (PSX, puzzle), shoot balloons up to destroy sets of 3 same colored balloons before it falls on you (featuring a bunch of Taito characters from various games)
- OZ (Over Zenith), kinda difficult, mostly have to build up combos by playing volleyball with enemies with your teammates as you unleash special moves... music is done by Michuru Yamane (yeah the Castlevania person) o.O

I'm a huge fan of Summon Night series and Puyo Puyo series as well.

IDX, I think I know the game you're talking about. I vaguely remember seeing it being played in the game room of JAFAX(an anime/VG con near my hometown) some time ago. I classified it as a fighting game rather than a hack-n-slash though...meh, whatever.

I didn't realize Maken went to third-person when it was made for PS2...probably still would have preferred the FPS view, though...that was just too cool.

Bahamut Lagoon.

The ebb and flow of the Atlantic tides, the drift of the continents, the very position of the sun along its ecliptic. THESE are just a FEW of the things I control in my world! Is that clear?

Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 3 (PSP)

(I never knew this game came out in the JP in 2009.4.23... I love this game. If you don't know what this game is, it's the third game of the "Disaster Report" games.)

Disaster Report (Zettai Zetsumei Toshi)
Raw Danger (Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 2)
(Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 3)