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While American Sega CD owners were forced-fed FMV titles of all kinds Japanese gamers basked in great titles like Arcus 1-2-3. Telenet served up what was perhaps one of the best RPG sets of the era, a collection of three dungeon crawlers of impressive size and scope. Even with the language barrier, this is one adventure you simply cannot afford to miss.
Many Japanese games are accessible to westerners, but accessibility doesn’t always equate to being worthwhile. Crayon Shin Chan is an example of a game left in Japan for good reason, as it doesn’t appeal to non-Japanese audiences and wouldn’t really be worth playing if it did.
Wrestling games tend to be popular, and one would expect that a game featuring only female wrestlers would be a great thing. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with Cutie Suzuki no Ringside Angel, which suffers from bland gameplay and presentation. There’s a reason this one was left in Japan, folks…
Sega did a great job porting Data East’s arcade shooter, and Darwin 4081 is sure to offer a decidedly different take on space shooters for those who think they’ve seen it all. This Japan-only import sports some solid gameplay and an interesting weapons system, and while it’s not the best shmup around, it’s one that’s worth checking out.
Namco has done a competent job of capturing the charm and story of the famous anime, but the gameplay is hurt by the focus on story. It’s hard to have a great RPG without all the elements that make the genre what it is. Still, Nadia makes for a relaxing adventure without all the trappings of your typical RPG. If you’re looking for a different spin on a gaming standard, this one might be worth looking into.