Even several generations later, thePlayStation 3is still remembered fondly for its vast library. After the success of the PlayStation 2, fans were expecting great things from Sony, and it seems they delivered. Frombeloved role-playing gamestobrilliant fighting games, the console seemed to have something for everyone. Many of these games are still as relevant today as they were when they first came out.
Though there are already plenty of games on the PlayStation 3, its library expands even further for those willing to look beyond games localized to the US. Unfortunately, one of the biggest issues people may face when attempting this is the language barrier. Some games never left Japan for a number of reasons, and remain obscure outside their country of origin.
5Super Robot Wars OG Saga: Masō Kishin F – Coffin of the End (2014)
Tactical Robot Combat
Super Robot Warsis a long-running series of tactical role-playing games — a genre that hasremained popular to this day. The franchise focuses on, as the name might suggest, fighting wars with robots. Few of these games were released outside of Japan, and they remain niche for those outside of the target audience.
The games have a fairly complex timeline.Coffin of the Endconcludes the plot of the Maso Kishin arc, which spanned three previous games. This may have been a confusing game for fans of tactical games who picked it up without playing the rest of the series, but the gameplay was simple to understand. None of the games in this arc were released outside America, and there is no word on if they will ever receive an official translation — at this point, it seems unlikely. Still, it remains an interesting game forfans of giant robots.
4Mist of Chaos (2007)
Mysterious Strategy Role-playing
Mist of Chaos, otherwise known asMisuto obu Kaosu,is a strategy role-playing game in the Generation of Chaos series (known as Shinten Makai in Japan). Though belonging to a series, the game is a standalone and can be played with no prior knowledge of the other games' plots and characters, meaning new players can easily jump in. The games revolve around complex strategy mechanics, with occasional resource management mechanics and dramatic storylines.
Despite being fairly unknown in America, theChaosgames were occasionally localized, with a handful being released outside of Japan. They received negative reviews, which led to the games remaining Japanese-only.Mist of Chaosreceived little attention even in Japan, and has been mostly forgotten by all but the most hardcore strategy role-playing fans. It is unlikely the game will ever come to America. Interestingly, it was distributed in Korea after its initial release in Japan.
3Hajime no Ippo (2014)
Boxing With A Story
Hajime no Ippois a boxing game based on the manga of the same name - it was made primarily for pre-existing fans of the series, but the game’s simple nature meant that it was easy for anyone to pick up and play, especially for those who enjoya good boxing game. The game featured a story told through cutscenes in the style of the manga, something that would have appealed to fans who were playing just to learn more about their favorite characters.
The game remained fairly obscure, though it received good reviews and was enjoyed by fans ofHajime no Ippo.The series has received several video game adaptations across several different genres. However, due to the manga’s lack of popularity outside of Japan, only one of these was ever released in America.
2Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan! (2008)
A Historical Yakuza Spinoff
Ryu ga Gotoku Kenzan, occasionally known simply asYakuza Kenzan, is a spin-off of the popularYakuzaseries that takes place in the past, following the life of the real historical figure Miyamoto Musashi. It built off the mechanics of the previousYakuzagames, focusing simultaneously on action and story while adding a unique spin that made it an interesting experiment. The series later went on to do several other historical spin-offs.
Due to only being released in Japan, the game never gained as much fame in America as themain games in theseries. However, it received high praise from critics who played it, with its unique setting being a selling point. It’s unlikely that the game will ever be made available in the United States, though some fans hope for a remake one day due to other Yakuza spin-offs, such asLike A Dragon: Ishin,being remade and rereleased.
1.hack//Versus (2012)
A Blu-Ray Fighting Game
Though the.hackseries is more known for its role-playing elements, .hack//Versusis a fast-paced fighting game. It was accessible through the Blu-ray disc containing.hack//The Movie,an animated film spinoff of the.hackseries. Players may choose one of several.hackcharacters to play, with familiar faces returning from throughout the series.
Though it may not bethe best spin-off of all time, .hack//Versususes its mechanics to further enrich the story and characters from the.hackuniverse, using a different genre to explore aspects that may not have been possible in the game’s usual role-playing format. Though the game never left Japan, its status as a spin-off means that it has gained a fair following from fans around the world, and many hope that it will one day be translated and brought to America.
