Localizations, Please! Spring 2017 Edition

Localizations, Please is a series of articles that practically begs publishers to get their games that are trapped in one section of the world (usually Japan) and get them localized for Western gamers. Many games that have been listed on prior editions of Localizations, Please have actually gotten releases in the West, though I'm not so naive to think it was these articles that did that. Still, maybe featuring such desired games on this segment will continue the good fortune!

After you've read the five latest games that I'd like to see localized, mention which you want to reach the West or your portion of the world!

Past installments:

Localizations, Please!
Localizations, Please! Cinco de Mayo Edition
Localizations, Please! Coming in Like a Beggar, Coming Out Like a Lamb Edition
Localizations, Please! Midsummer Day's Dreams Edition
Localizations, Please! New Year, New Begging Edition
Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition
Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition Part 2
Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition Part 3
Localizations, Please! Pre-E3DS 2015 Edition
Localizations, Please! Tokyo Game Show 2014 Edition

Gundam Versus (PS4)

Since Gundam Versus: Full Boost, the Gundam Versus series of games have been developed by Namco-Bandai itself instead of being farmed out to another developer, in this case, Byking. While a great deal of Gundam Versus games have been either stuck in arcades or never localized at all, the newest PlayStation 4 iteration of Gundam Versus looks to be dynamite in every sense of the word. It offers an immensely stable frame-rate, lovely brand-new user interface, solid visuals, and arena-style battles that are explosive, featuring Gundams and mobile suits taking each other on from a variety of series and films. Here's hoping Namco-Bandai brings Gundam Versus' latest offering to the West as this game looks fantastic not just for Gundam fans but for those searching for a fast-paced action fighter.

Seiken Densetsu Collection (NS)

The Seiken Densetsu Collection features three games in one Nintendo Switch cartridge: Final Fantasy Adventure or as it's known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden (as seen on the Game Boy), the Super Nintendo classic Secret of Mana (Seiken Densetsu 2 in Japan), and the Japanese exclusive Seiken Densetsu 3. The games come with the convenient feature of being able to save anywhere in the games instead of at predetermined points, and there is even a music player to hear the trio of titles' music from the Nintendo Switch's home screen. The developer currently asks that if want this collection to reach the Western world that we should ask Square Enix. Let's show the publisher that we're very interested, gang!

Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology (3DS)

The original Radiant Historia released on the Nintendo DS in Japan in 2010 and later in North America the following year. Europe never got a localized version, which is already reason enough to see the Nintendo 3DS re-release, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology get localized not just for North America but for Europe this time around. The original game had players moving through time, from the past to the present and back again, as well as through parallel universes to change the course of events throughout the game. All the while combat featured grid and turn-based battles. The cherry on top was a Yoko Shimomura-scored soundtrack that was divine in every sense of the word. Here's hoping that Perfect Chronology doesn't stay in Japan and gets localized for both those of us who have already had the pleasure of playing the Nintendo DS original and those who haven't.

The Alliance Alive (3DS)

The Alliance Alive is from the team behind The Legend of Legacy which was a polarizing game to say the least. With The Alliance Alive, the developers are set out to create a game with the following features: a good balance of story and gameplay, a world where even something as basic as walking around is enjoyable, nine protagonists so players will find at least one that they really resonate with, and a game that goes against genre trends and hearkens back to old school RPG sensibilities, such as a world map. Currently, no localization announcement for The Alliance Alive has been made as the game has a Japanese release in late June.

Minna de Wai Wai! Spelunker (NS)

Minna de Wai Wai! Spelunker is based off of 2015's Spelunker World, a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita title. The new Nintendo Switch iteration of the series removes the free-to-play elements of that release and focuses primarily on local and online multiplayer with up to four friends/family members/total strangers diving into 2D caverns, performing various platforming feats while trying to overcome the numerous enemies that await inside. It would make sense for Minna de Wai Wai! Spelunker to get localized even if just in digital form because the original Spelunker World already is in English. The accessible and fun-looking gameplay for multiple players seems like it would be a real hit at parties or even if you're just playing alone. I'll keep everyone up to date on whether this colorful spelunking adventure gets announced for release on our side of the world.

Localizations, Please! Midsummer Day's Dreams Edition

With the advent of digital marketplaces on consoles and handhelds, gamers in the west have seen more games that might have been stuck in Japan decades earlier see release on this side of the Pacific.

The Localizations, Please series of articles continues with a new edition featuring five more games that are currently only available or planned to be available in Japan. These games are ones that many gamers wish would reach our side of the world.

After you've perused and seen my arguments for why these upcoming five games should be localized, feel free to name other yet-to-be-localized games that you'd love to see brought to the west.

Dragon's Dogma Online (PS4, PS3, PC)

Released in 2015 in Japan, Dragon's Dogma Online has been a free-to-play game with cross play for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of the game. A new land known as Lestaria is where up to four players can join a party and quest throughout the land, doing battle with enemies both small and large. If you'd rather go it solo, three AI pawns can join your cause to help out. It's essentially all of the goodness of the offline Dragon's Dogma games with a larger world that is planned to get expansions. With the interest that gamers had toward past Dragon's Dogma titles, it seems like this free-to-play online iteration of the series would do well if only Capcom decides to release it for the west.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (PS4, Vita)

The latest chapter in the long-running Ys series is set to release later this year in Japan. The title, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita title that for the first time in series history features a dual protagonist system. Obviously, Adol Christin returns, but a new female character acts as the other protagonist. Otherwise, Lacrimosa of Dana plays similarly to Ys Seven and Memories of Celceta, offering a three party system where players can switch between characters on the fly as opposed to Oath of Felghana and Ys Origins' more platforming-focused combat. No word yet of localization has been heard, but it seems more to be a matter of when rather than if. Hopefully, westerners like us get to officially see Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana get a localization announcement in the coming months.

Great Detective Pikachu (3DS)

Danny Devito as the voice of Pikachu or not, it would be a grand pleasure to have Nintendo release Great Detective Pikachu over here on this side of the earth. The Creatures-developed game released on the Nintendo 3DS eShop earlier this year in Japan after a three-year development period. Great Detective Pikachu itself is an adventure game with players assuming the role of young boy Tim Goodman who teams up with Detective Pikachu in order to investigate, examine, and solve a number of peculiar mysteries. This is done through examination of various scenes, the discovery of clues, and interviewing both people and Pokemon. The numerous spin-offs of the Pokemon series are usually pretty stellar, and the creativity behind Great Detective Pikachu makes it an exciting prospect for release in the west. Hopefully Nintendo pulls through on this.

Digimon World: Next Order (Vita)

With the release of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth earlier this year, Digimon is back in the minds of gamers. What better way to continue the series's momentum than with releasing another recent Digimon game from Japan to the west? That's exactly what the PlayStation Vita exclusive Digimon World: Next Order is. No doubt that a retail release wouldn't be the smartest to do, so like Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, the latest in the Digimon World series could see a digital-only launch, as Vita owners are very much a dedicated bunch and still buy games. Regarding the actual gameplay, Digimon World: Next Order plays similarly to past games in the series, though this time a second Digimon partner is available, changing things up considerably. Here's hoping that Cyber Sleuth did well enough to have Namco Bandai consider localizing Digimon World: New Order for the west.

Coven and the Labyrinth of Refrain (Vita)

The dungeon crawler is quite the niche genre in gaming. At the same time, it has found a home of dedicated handheld systems like the Nintendo 3DS and the PlayStation Vita. Coven and the Labyrinth of Refrain is a game that released last month in Japan on the latter, offering detailed dungeons to travel through with clever traps to carefully avoid. The use of dolls to equip to party members in the game's dungeons is a major part of the gameplay, allowing for all five party member slots to equip eight dolls each. This adds up to 40 players in battle. With the popularity of anime-styled games with niche genres on the PlayStation Vita in the west, it's with heavy hopes that NIS America picks up Coven and the Labyrinth of Refrain and brings it over to our side of the world.

Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition Part 3

This month is dedicated to the Nintendo 3DS. This is the third May in a row where the 3DS has gotten the most attention on SuperPhillip Central. While the majority of content will be in review form, there are some special editorials and articles dedicated to Nintendo's stereoscopic system on the way.

One such article was posted on Tuesday, another edition of the Most Overlooked Nintendo 3DS Games. Today we're going to be focusing on the Nintendo 3DS again, but instead of games already released, we'll be checking out those Nintendo 3DS games that are currently stuck in Japan. Localizations, Please is back for its third Nintendo 3DS-focused edition!

It's pretty gratifying that the majority of games featured in past Localizations, Please editions have actually come over to the West, or have at least been announced to be coming to the West. To get a refresher or crash course on such games, please check out past installments of Localizations, Please.

Localizations, Please!
Localizations, Please! Cinco de Mayo Edition
Localizations, Please! Coming in Like a Beggar, Coming Out Like a Lamb Edition
Localizations, Please! New Year, New Begging Edition
Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition
Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition Part 2
Localizations, Please! Pre-E3DS 2015 Edition
Localizations, Please! Tokyo Game Show 2014 Edition

Dragon Ball: Fusions

Not too much is known of Dragon Ball: Fusions compared to the other games on this Nintendo 3DS edition's list. However, the main element of the story is that you play as the hero, and you have the ability to travel to a world which is devised up of many locales and time periods from the Dragon Ball franchise. Essentially, any character can be met thanks to this world. Thus, with a special ring, you can fuse with other characters, or have other characters fuse with one another, creating traditional fusions like Gogeta, or brand-new, more ridiculous ones like Karoly, a fusion between Goku and Broly. The visuals from released scans look super impressive, and the art style and design is less realistic and more cartoony, a style I really appreciate. Dragon Ball games generally get localized, so I'm hopeful along with a whole legion of Dragon Ball fans that Fusions will be localized for the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.

Etrian Odyssey V

Enter a land called Arcadia, filled to the brim with swordplay and magic, in Etrian Odyssey V. Well, at least enter it once a localization announcement and Western release have both happened. With Etrian Odyssey V it's more of a question of when than if a localization announcement by Atlus will come. Still, it doesn't mean I can't list this game on Localizations, Please anyway! With four races, 10 classes, an abundance of character customization options, and the same enjoyable dungeon-crawling gameplay the series is known for and does superbly, Etrian Odyssey V looks to be an incredible and worthy sequel to the long-running series that debuted on the Nintendo DS. The Japanese release for the game is early August, so here's hoping a localization announcement isn't too far after... or maybe even before. Nah, I'm getting greedy!

Puzzle & Dragons X

The Puzzle & Dragons series first appeared on the Nintendo 3DS a year ago with a twofer package: one featuring an all-new story with new characters and the other featuring the Super Mario Mushroom Kingdom cast. Puzzle & Dragons X is the next in the series hitting the Nintendo 3DS, offering the similar yet addicting match-3 puzzle battles the series is well known for, as well as an authentic RPG style story mode where players will not only level up their monsters but also the hero of the game. Packed with an impressive 500+ monster roster, Puzzle & Dragons X is shaping up to be one fantastic puzzle-battle adventure that I would love to see get a Western release. Hop on it, Nintendo and GungHo Online Entertainment!

Culdcept Revolt

The Culdcept series is an action-packed board game featuring cards as the main gameplay element. The upcoming ten-year anniversary release of the series, Culdcept Revolt for the Nintendo 3DS was announced back in November, and this week it received a release period: this July. This new installment of the franchise features greater accessibility for new players, faster play, over 400 cards with half of those being new, and plenty of other goodness. Many here in the West would love to see the game released on this side of the world, especially after watching Nintendo's 20+ minute Direct featuring lots of footage from the game.

Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack

While Azure Striker Gunvolt has already released in the West and its sequel featuring two protagonists is set to launch over on this side of the Pacific as well, the actual physical release that combines the two games on one game cartridge has yet to be announced for the West. As someone who is a major proponent of physical releases (gotta have something tangible for the shelf, after all!), the idea of having both games on one card is highly appealing. I can only imagine how many other collectors of Nintendo 3DS games feel the same way. Plus, it's always nice to free up some space on the ol' SD card. Regardless, not only would a Western release of the Striker Pack be worthwhile, but it'd also be sought after by collectors like myself. Here's hoping Japan doesn't hog the physical version of both Azure Striker Gunvolt games for itself!

Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition Part 2

The first of December is here, and to bring in the new month is Localizations, Please, a segment on SuperPhillip Central where we take a look at games that I'd like to see brought over to the West as soon as possible. This edition is a special one that once again delves into the unlocalized Nintendo 3DS titles that Westerners like me are still waiting for an announcement that they're coming over. 

While posting this articles have no bearing on whether a game is localized or not, it's quite gratifying to have most of the titles from past Localizations, Please segments announced for localizations and released in the West. Don't believe me? Check out the past editions with games that had localization announcements:

Localizations, Please!
Localizations, Please! Cinco de Mayo Edition
Localizations, Please! Coming in Like a Beggar, Coming Out Like a Lamb Edition
Localizations, Please! New Year, New Begging Edition
Localizations, Please! Nintendo 3DS Edition
Localizations, Please! Pre-E3DS 2015 Edition
Localizations, Please! Tokyo Game Show 2014 Edition

...Now, on to the begging for localization announcements!

Monster Hunter X (3DS)

The first game on this Nintendo 3DS-centric list is from a mega hit of a franchise in Japan that has slowly been taking over a strong niche in the West. It was announced today that the title sold over 1.5 millions units its first two days released. If that doesn't send signals to Capcom to get this title, Monster Hunter X, out to the West, then I don't know what will. Monster Hunter X is more action-intensive than past games, focusing on flashy moves and fast combat. This is in comparison to the slower, more plodding pace of the original games. Here's hoping that if Capcom decides to bring over X to the West we won't have to wait for the Monster Hunter X Ultimate version of the game, if such a thing ever exists, of course.

Disney Magical World 2 (3DS)

If you enjoy the Animal Crossing series and love life simulation games, then you may have already played Disney Magical World 2's predecessor also on the Nintendo 3DS. The game had players living in a Disney kingdom, running a cafe, doing chores for fellow characters, building furniture and clothing, gathering ingredients, and even entering fantasy Disney worlds for some good old fashioned dungeon crawling. The original game was a great success in Japan, and its sequel recently released early last month. Disney Magical World 2 sees a return to the gameplay foundations laid by the original, offering new worlds to explore and new characters to meet, such as the casts of Pinocchio, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and a more modern favorite of many Disney fans, Frozen. It seems like a perfect fit for the West, a game that continues to spark nostalgic memories for Disney fans young and old. 

Picross 3D 2 (3DS)

The first Picross 3D on the Nintendo DS took the winning Picross formula and gave it a 3D upgrade, having players spin the camera around, poking cubes to create a 3D object according to the numbers on each side of the shape. It seemed a sequel would be obvious to do for the Nintendo 3DS, and while it took a few years into the system's life to get one, we finally have one... at least in Japan. Combining the traditional gameplay of Picross with 3D shapes, Picross 3D 2 is a game that I'd love to see cross over the Pacific. With Pokemon Picross in Nintendo of America and Europe's focus currently, with the game releasing as free-to-start this Thursday, it's my hope that after the dust has settled on that game, Nintendo turns its focus on releasing Picross 3D 2 to the West.

Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus (3DS)

Packed to the brim with 100 musical and rhythm-based mini-games, Rhythm Tengoku is better known to the West as the Rhythm Heaven series. This best of version features 30 brand new mini-games as well as 70 mini-games from the previous three Rhythm Tengoku games, Rhythm Tengoku (Japan only), Rhythm Heaven (Nintendo DS), and Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii). Utilizing two control methods for players to choose from, a stylus-exclusive one or a button-focused one, Rhythm Tengoku: The Best Plus awaits a localization from Nintendo. It was disappointing that one wasn't announced for localization during the latest Nintendo Direct that occurred last month, but patience is a virtue. Thus, we shouldn't mind waiting. I mean, after all, Dragon Quest fans like myself had to wait over two years just to get word of the 3DS remake of Dragon Quest VII reaching the West!

Style Savvy 3 (3DS)

This final game on this Nintendo 3DS focused edition of Localizations, Please is unlike most that SuperPhillip Central has had in the past. Not only is the game already available in Japan, but it's also able to be purchased in PAL territories like Europe and Oceania, though the title is known as New Style Boutique 2 instead of North America's Style Savvy moniker. Regardless, you might scoff at the idea of a fashion simulator, but the previous 3DS release, Style Savvy: Trendsetters saw a lot of play time on my 3DS. It was addicting, had loads of customization options, and was just all around a well put together game. The third game in the series has yet to be announced for North American release, and it seems like it'd be silly to not have it release in every territory, especially as the English translation is already done obviously. The Style Savvy fans in North America (there are dozens of us. DOZENS!) wait eagerly for some kind of word from Nintendo of America on this title.

Localizations, Please! Pre-E3DS 2015 Edition

With E3 2015 coming down the pipeline in about a month's time, I wanted to bring back a favorite segment of mine, "Localizations, Please!" to talk about five yet-to-be-announced-for-localization titles that I'd love to see reach our sunny side of the earth. Hopefully these actually come out unlike the games in this article from Friday.

For no special reason whatsoever besides by (mis)fortune, all five of this edition's games come from the Nintendo 3DS library (well, that and this month is a special Nintendo 3DS game review month). I've been getting pretty lucky with posting games I want to see localized and getting announcements later on down the road. Let's see if that continues with this set of five games.

Monster Hunter Stories (3DS)

We don't know too much about this first game, besides it being an RPG spin-off, having an adorable art style, and it being in development for a good while now. Okay, well, maybe that is plenty that we know about Monster Hunter Stories, but like a spoiled brat, I must have even more to know about! The Monster Hunter series has seen much improved sales success over the past few years, so it seems natural for this spin-off to hit the West for something more than the Japanese audience to enjoy. I guess us Westerners will just have to cross our fingers (or if you want some forced Monster Hunter reference by me) and our Jaggi claws.

Bravely Second (3DS)

The first Bravely Default was localized as part of a marketing deal by Nintendo and Square Enix. "Apparently, Square Enix can't release most of its Nintendo 3DS games without Nintendo's help," Phil said in a sarcastic and very bitter tone. Regardless, despite the game's notorious near-end design issues, it was met with overly nice critical and fair commercial success. Could a possible localization announcement come from either Nintendo's Digital Event showing or Square Enix's E3 press conference this year?

Dragon Quest VIII (3DS)

Just announced last week, Dragon Quest VIII is a port of the PlayStation 2 classic with all-new Nintendo 3DS-exclusive features. The game has seen a version on smart devices, but here's hoping that the Nintendo 3DS game handles and plays a lot better than that one. I haven't given up hope that Dragon Quest VII's remake will finally come stateside and in other parts of the world, so I have hope that some kind of localization announcement will be made for this next Dragon Quest game to hit Nintendo's auto-stereoscopic wonder.

Theatrhythm Dragon Quest (3DS)

As a big fan of the Theatrhythm Final Fantasy games, I'm up for the Dragon Quest version to get localized. Not only will it allow me a nice entry point into the mainline games, but I get to enjoy the series' stellar music while I play along, finding new classics to put on my iPod in the process. It helps that the base game of Theatrhythm is mighty addictive. Sure, it helps to know the music so you can tap, slide, and hold the touch screen in time with the notes, but I'll survive. Well, that's IF the darned game actually winds up on this side of the world, that is.

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden (3DS)

Dragon Ball Z has once again seen a resurgence in popularity over the past few years, what, with the release of two new movies and an all-new sequel series announced. In fact, Dragon Ball Xenoverse is making quite a lot of video game players happy across the world. It would be the perfect time for Namco Bandai to cash in with its Nintendo 3DS Dragon Ball Z fighting game, Extreme Butoden, and give its overseas fans even more entertainment with cast members like Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, Gohan, Krillin, and more.

Localizations, Please! Tokyo Game Show 2014 Edition

Welcome to Localizations, Please! This reoccurring segment on SuperPhillip Central takes games that, as far as I know (I do as much research as I can muster, but I'm definitely imperfect), have not been confirmed to be coming out in my neck of the woods, North America. If this were baseball, I'd have a good batting average regarding how many games I request for that end up getting localized. Let's hope the same is true, so the games on this special Tokyo Game Show 2014 edition don't stay stuck in Japan!

Dragon Quest Heroes (PS4, PS3)

At Sony's pre-TGS conference, Dragon Quest Heroes was saved for last. It really was awesome to see a Dragon Quest game, of any type, mind you, coming to a PlayStation platform after all of these years. However, Dragon Quest Heroes is not meant to be a mainline game. It doesn't have turn-based battles or anything like that. Instead, it's noted more and emphasized as an action game first and foremost. The game is under development by Omega Force, a development team within Tecmo-Koei who has a history of Musou games under its collective belt. The most recent of which is Nintendo's own Hyrule Warriors.

Dragon Quest Heroes has a nebulous release time of simply 2015 for both the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 3. Not only am I personally eager to learn more about this game, but I am eager to learn of localization for the West, such as North America, Europe, and Australia.

Final Fantasy Explorers (3DS)

Well, this title is very familiar... Oh, yeah, I just posted the Tokyo Game Show trailer for it earlier this evening! All coyness aside, Final Fantasy Explorers takes the series into cooperative multiplayer action against monsters and creatures that should be easily identifiable to anyone who calls themselves a fan of the franchise. Take over the role of one of many job classes, battle with friends, and defeat beasts both big and small in this Monster Hunter-influenced game. Impressions from TGS say that Final Fantasy Explorers is most similar to Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles than anything else seen in the series before. This makes Phil a happy boy, and you can probably imagine what would make me even happier-- a localization announcement!

The Great Ace Attorney (3DS)

With a premise that is as intriguing as the series's commonly mysterious court cases, The Great Ace Attorney is a game in the Ace Attorney franchise that takes the series's chronology into the end of the 19th century, decidedly much earlier than fans were expecting! The Great Ace Attorney centers around an ancestor of the usual protagonist for the series, Phoenix Wright. Not only that but Phoenix's ancestor comes across the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes and even teams up to solve a climactic case. The Great Ace Attorney will thrown in all of the improvements and additions to the series that Dual Destinies debuted, making this one Ace Attorney game that I cannot afford to miss out on!

Fatal Frame V: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden (Wii U)

While The Great Ace Attorney is all but a lock for localization, Fatal Frame V: The Black Haired Shrine Maiden for the Wii U isn't at all. Now, some might surmise that with the release of Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir in the West that Nintendo is interested in getting the Fatal Frame franchise outside of Japan. Then one could argue that since the Wii U is desperate for any type of game right now, a localization of Fatal Frame V would be a smart bet. That said, ever since Nintendo started bankrolling installments, the main games have yet to see a release outside of Japan. From the Nico Nico presentation of the game in mid-July, Fatal Frame V looks to a mightily scary game that would be a terrific addition to the Wii U's lineup and overall library.

PoPoLoCrois Bokujou Monogatari (3DS)

If PoPoLoCrois sounds any bit familiar to you, it's probably because the series has been around for a quite awhile, most recently having a PSP entry. Already from has been shown, the series's aesthetic has been transported over to the 3DS splendidly! PoPoLoCrois Bokujou Monogatari will have traditional command-based RPG action, an enhanced presentation, and a marvelous world to explore. This game has XSeed Games localization written all over it, and I would definitely enjoy the chance to try it out. Maybe next summer if the Japan release comes out soon?

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There you have it-- five choices for games that I would love to see localized. What about you, dear reader? Which titles with no localization announcement for your location would you like to see/hear/read/etc.? Give me a holler in the comments section!