The Japanese VC Thread

[SKTTR]

11.09.07 JP-VC: 4 new excusive games

Famicom

NEW 燃えろ!!プロ野球
Bases Loaded (Jaleco) 1987-2007
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_mp/index.html
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ygofWR2A3ZA
A classic baseball game.
Release in the west: Likely. Not announced yet.

Mega Drive

NEW チェルノブ
Chelnov / Atomic Runner (Sega, Paon) 16.10.92
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_chelnov/
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7K2B1w3X3DQ
A fast paced fun Gun' n Run by the makers of DK Bongo Blast.
Release in the west: Likely. Not announced yet.

PC Engine

NEW ガイフレーム
Gaiframe (Hudson, NCS/extreme) 1990
http://vc-pce.com/jpn/j/title/gaiframe.html
Looks like a very good simulation game. Unfortunately Japan only.
Release in the west: As of now, unlikely.

NEW 沙羅曼蛇
Salamander (Konami) 1986, 1991
http://vc-pce.com/jpn/j/title/salamander.html
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SJehQsM16OI
Shmup classic!
Release in the west: Likely.

[ICEknight]

Originally Posted by SKTTRBRUISE

NEW チェルノブ
Chelnov / Atomic Runner (Sega, Paon) 16.10.92
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_chelnov/
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7K2B1w3X3DQ
A fast paced fun Gun' n Run by the makers of DK Bongo Blast.

Nope, it wasn't made by them. Paon just bought the rights when Data East went bankrupt.

[Drake]

Yeah, PAON didn't even exist before DK King of Swing.

[SKTTR]

Data East's intellectual properties were acquired in February 2004 by G-Mode, a Japanese mobile game content provider.

When the company Data East went bankrupt, PAON bought the rights to some of their games. They are now gradually releasing these on the Wii's Virtual Console.

So, the old games of Data East are now shared by the new companies G-mode and Paon.

Sorry about that. I thought, they just changed their name.

[SKTTR]

18.09.07 JP-VC: 3 new games

PC Engine

NEW Detana!! Twinbee (Konami) 1985, 1992
http://vc-pce.com/jpn/j/title/detana_twinbee.html
A good shoot'em up from the Twinbee series.
Release in the west: Likely. Not announced yet.

Neo Geo

NEW Fatal Fury -King of Fighters- (SNK, D4)
The first Neo Geo game on VC. A fighting game! What did you think?
Release in the west: Likely.

Mega Drive

Released in US Super Thunder Blade (Sega) 29.10.1988
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_thunderblade/
A mix of Space Harrier and a regular top view shmup.
Release in EU: October.



20.09.07 JP-VC: 2 new games

Nintendo 64

NEW Sin & Punishment (Nintendo/Treasure) 2000-2007
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_tb/index.html
A great fast paced action shooter by Treasure.
Release in the west: Announced for 28.09 in EU.

Super Famicom

Released in US Super Metroid (Nintendo) 1994-2007
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_sme/index.html
One of the best games ever! Classic!!!
Release in EU: October.

[SKTTR]

25.09.07 JP-VC: 3 new games

Famicom

NEW The Tower of Druaga (Namco) 1984, 1985
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_dru/index.html
A classic maze game. Made an cameo appearance in Baten Kaitos for Gamecube.
Release in the west: Not announced.

Super Famicom

Released in US Gradius III (Konami) 1985, 1990
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_gr3/index.html
Another classic shmup in it's third round.
Release in EU: 28.09.07.

Mega Drive

Released in US Landstalker (Sega) 30.10.1992
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_landstalker/
A great isometric RPG/Adventure from Sega.
Release in EU: 05.10.07 is very likely.

[SKTTR]

28.09.07 JP-VC: 2 new games

Neo Geo
NEW Magician Lord (Alpha) 1990
Release in the west: Likely. Not announced yet.

Neo Geo
NEW World Heroes (Alpha) 1992
Release in the west: Likely.


02.10.07 JP-VC: 2 new games

Famicom
NEW Esper Dream (Konami) 1986 1990
Release in the west: Not rated yet.

Mega Drive
Released in US Bare Knuckle III aka Streets of Rage III (Sega) 1994
Release in EU: October.

[SKTTR]

...............

[SKTTR]

Japanese VC Tuesday 09.10.07

4 new Games.

The fourth Neo Geo game is available: The first of the Art of Fighting series.
http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/event/...e/index_j.html
Release in the west: Very likely very soon.

Then they've got another Treasure pearl for the Mega Drive. The 2D-Action Gun'n'Run Alien Soldier. According to Wikipedia, the game was only released in JP and EU.
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_aliensoldier/
Release in the west: Not announced yet but a EU release is likely in a future Sega week.

Hudson releases Power Golf for the PC Engine.
http://vc-pce.com/jpn/j/title/p_golf.html
Release in the west: Has never seen a release outside of Japan but in terms of Turbografx VC games, it could have a chance of being released in the west. Not announced yet.

The last game is the 1985 Famicom horizontal shooter by Compile, ZANAC.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_znc/index.html
Release in the west: Not announced yet.

[KeeperBvK]

Zanac is sweet. I hope we'll get that as well as some more Compile shooters.

[SKTTR]

...........

[SKTTR]

Japanese VC Tuesday 16.10.07

5 new games.

NEO GEO: The fifth Neo Geo game is available. The first of the Samurai Shodown series known as Samurai Spirits in Japan.
http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/event/...e/index_j.html
Release in the west: Very likely.

MEGA DRIVE: A quite different Sonic game for the Mega Drive. Sonic 3D Blast.
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_3dblast/
Release in the west: Not announced yet but a EU release is likely in a future Sega week.

PC ENGINE: Hudson releases the classic RPG YS Book I&II for the PC Engine.
http://vc-pce.com/jpn/j/title/ys.html
Release in the west: Not announced.

SUPER FAMICOM: The long announced Cybernator game called Assault Suits VALKEN has been released.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_vk/index.html
Release in the west: Very likely.

FAMICOM: The last game is the 1988 adventure game by Nintendo, Famicom Detective Club.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_fct/index.html
Release in the west: Unlikely.

[KeeperBvK]

Wow, now that's what I call a great VC day: five games, five systems, truly different games and also great stuff. Can't wait for Cybernator.

[Tull]

JP have a nice thing going there.

[The shoemaker]

Whats famicom?

[Atlantis1982]

Originally Posted by The shoemaker

Whats famicom?

Egh? Kidding right...

If not, its the Japanese version of the NES. Try to guess what the Super Famicon is?

[The shoemaker]

Yeah Ok that's what I thought. I was just wondering because maybe Japan had other systems I've never played.

[SKTTR]

Japanese VC Tuesday 23.10.07

5 new games.

NEO GEO: The sixth Neo Geo game is available. The platform/action-adventure Raguy.
http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/event/...x_raguy_j.html
Release in the west: To be honest, I really don't know.

MEGA DRIVE: The sequel to the already released strategy/RPG Dyna Bros. (in Japan): Dyna Bros. 2 by CRI.
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_dyna2/
Release in the west: Unfortunately it has never seen the light outside Japan, so chances are slim.

PC ENGINE: The weird Japanese naked-musclemen-shmup Cho Aniki by Masaya.
http://vc-pce.com/jpn/j/title/sp_aniki.html
Release in the west: Unlikely/Not announced.

SUPER FAMICOM: Rareware's excellent Donkey Kong Country 2 finally arrives in Japan.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_sdk2/index.html
Release in the west: It's already released in every territory.

FAMICOM: Technos anticipated retro classic street brawl adventure River City Ransom.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_dtn/index.html
Release in the west: Likely.

[Atlantis1982]

Oh gosh, I'd laugh if Cho Aniki did got released in the States for the VC. I wouldn't touch it, but I laugh. xD

[SKTTR]

Japanese VC Tuesday 30.10.07

3 new games.

MEGA DRIVE: Another 2D robot action game from the Assault Suits-series - Assault Suits LEYNOS by NCS.
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_leynos/
Release in the west: A release is likely. It's US title is Target Earth.

FAMICOM: Square releases his first own and original VC game Hanjuku Hero.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_hj/index.html
Release in the west: Unfortunately not very likely.

NINTENDO 64: Nintendo's Yoshi's Story finally also comes to Japan.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_ys/index.html
Release in the west: It has already been released in US and EU.

[Tull]

Originally Posted by SKTTRBRUISE

Square releases his first own and original VC game

Sweet, many ppl should start getting excited now right?

[KeeperBvK]

Originally Posted by tull

Sweet, many ppl should start getting excited now right?

Why? Square-Enix had already released Actraiser, so now there's just a new game from the Square-side of the company, but no change in their VC-policies in my eyes. Now we've got two S-E games on the VC, but still nothing that leads me to thinking we could get any S-E RPGs or Action-Adventures like Secret of Mana. They'll be giving us all sorts of action games and stuff, so we might get stuff like Worldrunner 3D or Rad Racers...wow...

[SKTTR]

If you ask me, Square-Enix is one of the most anticipated companies on VC.
They have a gigantic library of first class RPG's (and of course I already sucked up ActRaiser).
The Wii isn't a year old yet and I always expected the great Square and Enix games to come out within the third to fifth year of the Wiis lifespan because..
if you and I were Nintendo, we would save some of the biggest rockets for the rainy days, too.

Until then we have to live with some really good RPGs from other companies.

And really, there's nothing wrong with the likes of Paper Mario, the Shining series, Landstalker and Breath of Fire II.

At least you know there's a brand new Final Fantasy - Crystal Chronicles: The Young King and The Promised Land coming in early 2008 for 1.500 Wii Points.


On to something else..
I'm not really sure: Is the JP Genpei Toumaden = US Samurai-Ghost?
If it's the same game, I would want to get it off the JP ONLY list.

[Drake]

No, Samurai Ghost is the sequel.

[SKTTR]

...............

[SKTTR]

Japanese VC Tuesday 06.11.07

4 new games.

NEO GEO: All the best characters from all the Neo Geo beat'em ups inside the cult fighter King of Fighters '94.
http://game.snkplaymore.co.jp/event/...e/index_j.html
Release in the west: Coming soon.

MEGA DRIVE: The third installment of the Ecco series - Ecco Jr. is now available.
http://vc.sega.jp/vc_eccojr/
Release in the west: Likely in November/December.

FAMICOM: Konamis very first game in the Mystical Ninja series Ganbare Goemon is out now.
http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_ggk/index.html
Release in the west: No US/EU version, so it's not that likely.

PC ENGINE: Another classic platform/RPG from the Wonderboy series hits the VC: The Dynastic Hero.
http://vc-pce.com/jpn/j/title/dynastic_hero.html
Release in the west: Not announced.

[SKTTR]

5 new games in Japan this week, two of them we already got:

Balloon Fight (NES) by Nintendo and Dragon Spirit (TG) by Namco.

Three new ones:

Baseball Stars 2 (NG) by SNK. Actually a fun arcade baseball game.

Gradius II (TG) - The JP already got the NES version of Konami's classic (we're still waiting for) and now the JP get the enhanced Turbografx version as well.

Light Crusader (MD) - Probably keeping the best to finish it off: Once again Treasure strikes with a rare gem. They love the VC... but it seems to be really different than anything else they did: an isometric action adventure. I think I'm gonna try it.

[Atlantis1982]

Really am surprised so many Neo Geo games are coming out, that is good news. I thought SNK was going to limit them one game a month from that IGN article in April.

[SKTTR]

5 new games in Japan next Tuesday.

Hudson's Nuts & Milk. A quick retro laddergame/platformer for the NES.

A real Capcom classic is the NES version of Ghosts'n Goblins. This is the version I have played as a kid. Fine, now we have three different versions of this, at least in Japan, so hopefully there's now place for Demon's Crest and the Gargoyle's Quest games.

Sega releases their Eternal Champions on MD. Imagine Street Fighter in a sci-fi/fantasy version with vampyres, lizards, magicians and big breasted babes.

The Turbografx gets the highly acclaimed and very good simulation game A-Train III by Artdink. It was rated "best simulation game" in 1992.

And Neo Geo fans get Top Hunter by SNK, an action packed sidescroller that is best played in 2 player co-op mode.

[SKTTR]

4 new games in Japan this Tuesday.

NES : King's Knight - A shmup with a twist in a fantasy medieval setting by Squaresoft.

MD: Langrisser - A tactical battle fantasy game, quite different from Fire Emblem and Shining Force.

TG: Legend of the River King - A popular fishing game by the creators of Harvest Moon.

SNES: Panel de Pon - We know this as Tetris Attack and Puzzle League. One of the excellent Nintendo puzzle games.

[Froman]

I bet Flicky for Genesis is going to pop up on Japan's December list.

[Atlantis1982]

I do wonder when that said list is coming out; I can't wait.

[SKTTR]

Apropos Flicky.

I suppose Sonic 3D Flickies' Island (EU) is the same game as Sonic 3D Blast (US) yeah?!

[antster1983]

Yes that's correct

[Pit 42]

Originally Posted by Froman

I bet Flicky for Genesis is going to pop up on Japan's December list.

Now THAT would be the biggest waste of 800 points yet.

[Drake]

Originally Posted by Atlantis1982

I do wonder when that said list is coming out; I can't wait.

Last Friday of the month, as always.

[Angelic Lapras King]

Should be noted that Tetris Attack was not sold at retail in Japan but rather on the Satellaview service. Interesting...

[SKTTR]

4 NEW GAMES


1. Gate of Thunder - We already have this shmup for some time. It was our first Turbografx-CD game and now the Japanese people can have it as well.

2. Pokémon Snap - Our tenth N64 game made by Jack & Beans, a game studio by HAL, comes with additional Wii support. You will be able to put photographs on your Wii message board. Has a US release on the 10th december and should be released around the same time in the EU.

3. River City Ransom 2 - Unfortunately this NES game is JP ONLY and we still have to wait for the first one.

4. Rolling Thunder 2 - After garbage like Xevious, Splatterhouse, Dragon Spirit, Samurai-Ghost and a few bad aged retro classics (Pac-Man and Galaga) Namco's still releasing their worst games: http://vc.sega.jp/vc_rthunder2/ on Mega Drive. At least it looks like it could be fun in co-op. Should be available in the coming SEGA weeks. 7th december in EU maybe?!

[ICEknight]

Originally Posted by SKTTR

4. Rolling Thunder 2 - After garbage like Xevious, Splatterhouse, Dragon Spirit, Samurai-Ghost and a few bad aged retro classics (Pac-Man and Galaga) Namco's still releasing their worst games: http://vc.sega.jp/vc_rthunder2/ on Mega Drive. At least it looks like it could be fun in co-op. Should be available in the coming SEGA weeks. 7th december in EU maybe?!

Rolling Thunder 2 rules. =P

[SKTTR]

4 new games today in Japan.


2 known NES games: Super Mario Bros. 3 by Nintendo
and LunarBall (aka Lunar Pool) by Pony Inc./D4 Enterprise.
Both of them released over here.

1 brandnew MEGA DRIVE puzzle game by Sega: Columns III
1 brandnew TURBOGRAFX shmup by Irem: Image Fight II