Japan-only PS2 RPGs

[kyouki]

Hey folks,

I'm wondering if there are any excellent PS2 RPGs that have not been released outside of Japan. I'm looking mainly for RPGs that offer some interesting new gameplay features (for me) or a really great story (for my wife). It helps if the game offers both interesting gameplay and a great story. ;D

[YourAverageJoe]

Tales of Destiny 2 and Tales of Rebirth are Japan only, and Tales of Symphonia got a PS2 version that's jap only.

[kyouki]

Thanks, not a fan of the Tales... games though (should have specified that in my first post. ;_;).

[Discoalucard]

Yeah off the top of my head, other than the Tales games mentioned above (interesting action-based battle system but every one of them has a retarded plot), most of the good stuff has been translated and released in English. There are a few SRPGs that have never left Japan, like Front Mission 5 (excellent game) and Summon Night (though that is more of a cutesy, Tactics Ogre-lite.)

[YourAverageJoe]

Well, I haven't tried those myself, but from what I've heard each game has a different and interresting take on the LMBS.

[kyouki]

Have any of you guys had any experience with the Atelier games? I am probably going to order Atelier Violet. It's apparently like a business sim crossed with an RPG.

P.S. I was playing Secret of Mana today and thinking, "hey what's the latest on that new PS2 Mana game?" Well was I shocked to find out it was released in Japan to abysmal reviews, dropping down to the 3500 yen price in a matter of weeks!! Apparently it is more like Children of Mana (dumb dungeon crawler) than any other game in the series.

[ninjarygar]

The article on Namco X Capcom on this site really made me want to play that game. But you're probably looking for something a little more serious.

[YourAverageJoe]

I think some stuff from both tri-Ace and tri-Crescendo got left without a localisations, and you can always count on those for innovative RPGs.

[kyouki]

ninjarygar said:

The article on Namco X Capcom on this site really made me want to play that game. But you're probably looking for something a little more serious.

Not necessarily, but I've already got Super Robot Wars MX, so that's enough SRPG for me.

[Discoalucard]

The only Tri Ace stuff that hasn't come out here was the original Star Ocean on the SFC and Blue Sphere for the SFC. I'm not entirely sure what Tri Crescendo is...are they actually a game studio? I remember seeing them credited at the beginning of something (Baten Kaitos maybe?)

I've never played any of the other Atelier games that weren't Iris but I've heard they're more sim-like than actual RPG. I've been meaning to at least try Atelier Marie but I'm worried the amount of Japanese required will be beyond my ability. Not that that's stopped me from trying before...

Oh, you said PS2, but the BIG RPG everyone complains about that never got localized is Mother 3 for the GBA.

[YourAverageJoe]

tri-Crescendo developed Baten Kaitos and Baten Kaitos Origins, and are working on Eternal Sonata.

Wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri-Crescendo

[wyrdwad]

Two words for you: ABARENBOU PRINCESS.

Amazing game. If you've ever played Sakura Taisen, it's kind of like that (adventure/sim + RPG), but dare I say, the battles in Abarenbou Princess are significantly better, more strategic, and much more cinematic.

And the story and characters are absolutely hilarious. I still think the sorcerer boy Phil has the coolest special power ever: the power OF SUGGESTION. He can make any enemy believe pretty much anything. At one point, he makes a group of guards believe that they've been shot and killed, allowing your party entrance to the dungeon area unabated. (: And the way he uses his power is really goofy... he plays "games" with his enemies, which he gives ridiculous names to. Like, for the "you've been shot" scheme, he tells the guards he's going to play a game with them, in which every time he says BANG, they've been shot... and he calls it the "BANG BANG GAME", in English. And this is shortly after his first use of his power, which was the even MORE ridiculously-named "DONG DONG GAME". (:

And while the music is overall quite mediocre, the opening theme is a song called "Flapper" by the J-punk band Shaka Labbits, and is quite possibly one of the greatest opening themes to an RPG *ever*... even if the lyrics are pretty much unintelligible. (:

-Tom

[sideshow]

Also Tengai Makyou II and Tengai Makyou III Namida got a release for the PS2. I unfortunetly have never played these games but really wanted to despite there probably never going to reach US soil. I really love the music of the series. There is a huge Tengai Makyou article on this site if your interested.

[Discoalucard]

Abarenbou Princess? Interesting, I'm not familiar with it at all. I did a quick Google search and all I found were that people like to cosplay as it because of the gothic lolita thing.

I see there's a DS version too. Know anything about that? This could be interesting article fodder.

Also, two Namco games popped into my head - Seven and Venus & Braves. Both are really interesting strategy games, ALMOST similar in theory to Ogre Battle but not really. I got them like two years ago and meant to write something on them but never did.

[wyrdwad]

I just recently purchased Tengai Makyou III: Namida for PS2, and I have to say, I'm disappointed. Everything about the game feels... awkward. I don't like it one bit, and probably will not continue playing through it.

I also purchased Tengai Makyou: The Apocalypse IV for PSP, however, and that game seems bloody awesome. Soon as I'm done with Ys Origin, I'm focusing my attention on that, to be sure.

Although Gurumin's English version, and Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner's as well, will also be out by then, so I have no idea what I'm ACTUALLY going to be playing next...

-Tom