8 of Japan’s greatest games that need a reboot
I love games and I especially love older games that I played during my childhood. Like many Western kids in the ‘90s, Japan was synonymous with gaming and many of my favorites came from that distant land. Japan is no longer the powerhouse that it was, and many of her classic title have fallen by the wayside.
One thing I’ve learnt while dredging through my old games library is that some older games have a lot to teach this generation. And some of the best games, have been forgotten before their time.
So here it is, my list of the best Japanese games that need to be rebooted, and why they are so awesome.
Parasite Eve II
by Squaresoft on the PS1
Parasite Eve II is one of my all time favorite games, because after all this time, I still don’t know how to describe it.
It’s the perfect love-child of Resident Evil survival horror, and Squaresoft JRPG excellence. You take control of Aya, a psychic FBI agent who fights monsters, mutations, and zombies with an array of firearms and magic.
(See: 5 more great JRPGs for iOS and Android)
Like all Squaresoft (may it rest in peace) JRPGs, it has an excellent plot, wonderful characters, and a creepy sense of humor. You can still pick up Parasite Eve II on PSN for $5.99 and you totally should.
Dark Cloud
by Level 5 on the PS2
The basic premise of Dark Cloud is simple, the world threatened so the fairy king protects his nation by sealing everything inside orbs. He then does the “logical” thing and scatters these orbs into the most dangerous parts of the world.
It’s up to you and your group of adventurers to reclaim these orbs and rebuild the world above ground. To do this you need to venture into the game’s various procedurally generated dungeons and collect as many of these orbs as you can. Dark Cloud’s biggest draw comes from rebuilding the towns and villages as you please. It’s basically just a hint of the magic that made Minecraft so special, and boy is it fun. Unfortunately Level 5 have never announced plans to re-release Dark Cloud so there’s little chance of PSN release and even less chance of a HD version. You could always check out our emulator guide below, and see if that gives you any ideas.
(See: Gamer in Asia’s survival skills: the ultimate emulator guide)
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins
by Acquire for PS1
Tenchu: Stealth Assassins was my first foray into the world of stealth, so I will always remember it fondly. It also has the best grappling hook ever.
In Tenchu you took the role of either Ayume or Rikimaru, both members of the Azume Clan. It’s their job to bring justice to the corrupt and evil in 16th century Japan. They do this by skewering anyone who disagrees with them. It was a simpler time.
(See: Agent RX review: a sexy, sneaky, stealth adventure)
Putting all that aside Tenchu is an amazingly atmospheric and good looking game. It was also way ahead of its time in that it gave players a large area to explore, and many ways to complete a mission.
Tenchu is an absolute must for anyone who loves stealth games or ninjas. And who doesn’t love ninjas? Unfortunately all six Tenchu games are unavailable on modern consoles.
Golden Sun
by Camelot Software Planning for Nintendo DS
Golden Sun is one of the greatest JRPGs ever. Golden Sun has a rich plot that prioritizes the characters over the overarching narrative.
Though the game has a slow start, when the plot does go crazy, and it does, the player is invested in the characters they know so well. As well as having an awesome plot, the game has some of the best JRPG random encounters ever. The combat system is well balanced and the number of abilities you can do, learn, and combine is staggering.
But where the game truly comes to life is in the dungeons which need you to use your magical abilities to solve puzzles and progress. As someone who always found the fact that JRPG protagonists never use their magic outside battle frustrating, it was cool to use powers within in the world. It also gave Golden Sun a Legend of Zelda feel. And who doesn’t love the idea of a JRPG Zelda? You can pick up Golden Sun on the Nintendo eShop for $7.99. Bizarrely, it’s only available for Wii U, not the 3DS.
Vanquish
by Platinum Games for PS3 and Xbox 360
Why didn’t everyone play this game? Why wasn’t it the biggest action game of the last generation? These are the questions I ask myself as I weep that there will never be a Vanquish 2.
Vanquish is one of the most intense games I have ever played. You play as a man in a mech-suit that allows him to whiz around levels on robotic roller-skates. If that doesn’t sound great, you’re simultaneously blasting robots, whilst moving at eye melting speeds!
There’s a heavy focus on racking up a high score by chain-killing as many enemies as possible, and avoiding death. The pace of this game in unbelievably fast and it requires cat-like reactions to get the top scores. If you love action games, then go on PSN or Xbox Live and buy this game now, it’s only $19.99 and it is worth every penny.
Megaman
by Capcom for Nintendo Entertainment System
I want a Megaman reboot because I want to know what the hell is going on!
I missed the first Megaman all those years ago because I was only two months old when the game came out. I would love to play and complete Megaman but old-school games are just too stressful for me these days. And Megaman’s infamous difficulty level is more of a turn off than a challenge!
(See: Check out Mighty No. 9′s alpha gameplay video)
This is sad because everyone knows whoMegaman is. He’s a gaming icon! But for people like me who missed the first installments of the Megaman, we need a reboot, because I have neither the time nor the skills to master a 1980’s platformer.
But please, don’t let guy who rebooted Bionic Commando have anything to do with it.
On a cheerier note Mighty No.9 the kickstarted project by Japanese developer Comcept, is on its way and should fill that Megaman shaped hole in your heart.
Shenmue
by Sega for the Dreamcast
Come on Sega, people have been screaming for this for years now and you still haven’t come through. What do you want? Blood!? Hyperbole aside, Shenmue was the most loved game for the ill-fated Dreamcast, and the fact that Sega has left it forgotten is unforgivable. Shenmue is a classic martial arts tale of revenge, but featured so many unique features it’s impossible to list them all.
Shenmue was famous for it’s open world adventure, allowing players to do what they wanted outside the main narrative. You could play darts, have bar fights, or race motorcycles. Shenmue was the 3D open world game of its time and it paved the way for future titles like Grand Theft Auto III.
Fans have been crying out for the much loved series to be picked up again since the Shenmue II ended on its infamous cliff-hanger. As of yet, their prayers go unheard.
Viewtiful Joe
by Team Viewtiful for Gamecube and PS2
Few games have ever been so charming as Team Viewtiful’s Viewtiful Joe. Viewtiful Joe is the story of an everyman named Joe who after entering “Movieland” becomes the hero of his dreams. It’s a sweet story, filled with insane visuals and pop-culture references galore.
Viewtiful Joe is a love letter to Japan’s film industry and it’s a masterpiece because of that. It never takes itself too seriously, but it shows so much of what is great about Japan’s older low-budget film industry. Its cheesiness, its excesses, and its weirdness are portrayed lovingly for all to see. If you’re a fan of Japanese pop-culture or tongue-in-cheek humor then this is definitely a game you need to play.
(Image source: here, here, and here)
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