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Import Games that should have sailed overseas!
- SkyHighGam3r
- Mar 22, 2021
- 6 min read
Konbonwa! (Good Evening!) Have you ever thought of all the games that are made around the world? There's quite a lot of them. Even with as many as there are in the west, there's an entire catalog of games developed across the world that you may have never seen, or even heard of. This dear friend, is the world of import gaming, a ticket to a far away land where different franchises, lost entries, and even whole genres exist unbeknownst to the average gamer. While this world is one that's far too vast to cover in one newsletter, we wanted to spend this month focusing on some entries that we 'should' have seen in every corner of the world, be it because they are made by a western company, or are part of a beloved series, or were simply not localized in an effort to market a separate device/service. So pack your bags, grab that passport, turn off those mobile devices and put your trays in the upright position. It's time to head east!
Systems:Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis)
Year: 1991
Double Dragon is no stranger to western shores. In fact, it's one of the most popular beat 'em up franchises to this day. During the original trilogies' hay-day ports to the Nintendo NES were met with great critical success. However, the Genesis didn't quite receive the same treatment. While the 3rd game made its way to the system, the first only did so via an unlicensed release. So what about the 2nd game? Well for whatever reason this title's Sega outing was constrained to the eastern world.
Double Dragon 2 follows much the same formula as its predecessor. The big bad from the first game is back to take his revenge, and rather than just having some thugs punch the girlfriend in the gut and kidnap her (as in that iconic scene for the first game) this time he kicks it up a notch by having them flat out shoot her dead. Right off the bat, the game has a slightly darker tone, and the color palette itself reflects this in contrast to the bright original all the way through.
What makes this version's lack of localization even more frustrating is that the NES version is often considered sub-standard, even for an arcade port. Meanwhile, the Genesis version is viewed as close to arcade perfection, with little changes from the original. In fact, a few small areas of the game were expanded for the home release. This is an entry every fan of the dragons should check out.
Systems:Super Famicom (Super Nintendo)
Year: 1995
The 90's was a great time to be a Spider-Man fan because there were so many games featuring the wall-crawler that it is kind of hard to count them all. It seemed like no matter what console or handheld you had, there were multiple ways for you to spin a web (of any size) and catch some thieves (just like flies)... but LOOKOUT... here comes one you probably never played! Lethal Foes is loosely based on the short comic series of the same name and has you doing whatever a spider can to stop a myriad of enemies from the powerhouses like Venom and Carnage, to the little guys like Beetle, and Smythe. The entire game from sprites, to backgrounds, to dialogue is presented in a very comic book-esque style giving a feeling of authenticity to the graphics that few games would match. Given that Marvel is a western company, it's a bit odd that this never got localized. Still, while there is a fair bit of text in Japanese, the super-hero nature of the game makes gameplay rather straight-forward, so it remains import-friendly. However, just last year in 2016 a fan translation patch surfaced online. So, for you patch-savvy retro-gamers out there, you can experience this amazing fantasy in full English! EXCELSIOR!
Systems:Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis)
Year: 1994
In 1994 Sega launched an online-based service for the Genesis called "Sega Channel". Now, just let that sink in for a moment... an online service in 1994! Needless to say, this was a massive innovation at the time. It was also expensive, and not many people even had internet access. So, as a way to draw in more consumers to the idea, Sega opted to release a handful of games localized as exclusives for this service. So, while one technically could have played these games in the west, the odds aren't in their favor. Plus, you can't exactly jack into the service now, making the lack of a proper cartridge release all that much more strange in hindsight.
One of these games was the wonderful Pulseman. Created by Game Freak, the folks behind Pokemon, Pulseman is an action platformer that has you harnessing the power of electricity to make your way through each level and take out the boss. While the style of the game initially seems to take quite a cue from the Mega Man series, Pulseman etches out his own with his attacks and play style varying a great degree from the blue bomber. While not the only game doomed to this service worth playing, it certainly stands as one of the best.
Systems:Super Famicom (Super Nintendo)
Year: 1995
In the west, folks are rather familiar with the Bonk series. They received the first 3 entries on the TurboGrafx, and the 4th game, Super Bonk, on the Super Nintendo, as well as some portable versions for the Game Boy. More than that though, the first game was actually back-ported to the NES, which is ironically how most of the western gamers became familiar with Bonk. In 1995 though, Hudson unleashed their 5th entry in the series to fans, but sadly there was no official release in the west.
If you're not familiar with Bonk, the character was actually the mascot for the TurboGrafx system. While he never gained the popularity that his contemporaries Sonic and Mario received, his giant noggin' (with which he smashes his foes) and truly wacky levels became a signature, and he remains one of the top platform characters from the over-saturated genre of the 90's.
For those of us well versed in the adventures of little PC Genjin, you can expect more of the same gameplay you've come to love. There's an abundance of transformations to play with and he's a little agiler than before. Top it off with some improved sprites and new mechanics like the ability to run, you've got not only an excellent lost sequel that any import fan should love but arguably one of the best games in the series.
Systems:Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis)
Year: 1993
Another game that was localized as an exclusive on the Sega Channel service, Golden Axe 3 is a game that, due to its previous entries, already had a big following, which made its lack of physical release a sad affair. While it was eventually released in a number of Sega compilations on various platforms, a great number of fans of the series have still never played this entry!
Golden Axe is a bit like if Double Dragon was given a barbarian setting, rather than an urban one. That being said, the series is unique enough from its contemporaries, between riding giant freakish creatures, swinging giant weapons, and flashy magical attacks, to hold its own. Much like the series' previous entry, this game was built for the Genesis, rather than being a port of an arcade game. Different from its predecessor, however, this game includes a myriad of new attacks and improved AI injecting a bit of freshness into a series that was often regarded as going stale when the second entry had come around.
Systems:Sega Saturn
Year: 1997
Elevator Action is a name that has high recognition. Its original arcade showing was a smash hit back in 1983. So it was only a matter of time before a sequel was produced. In 1994 Elevator Action Returns hit the arcades, and it was a massive improvement on the original game. Where the original was presented in a cartoony style, its sequel took a more anime inspired look that matured the tone a bit. Eventually, in 1997 this game made its way to the Sega Saturn... but, you guessed it, only in the east.
Elevator Action Returns' Sega Saturn port, like many on the system, are considered 'arcade perfect'. This refers to the tendency for home-ports of arcade titles to have features, graphics, etc cut in order to fit them on the home systems of their time. It shows too, as the graphics and controls are all spot on during gameplay. Speaking of gameplay, you'll find yourself going through a number of levels with your chosen character picking up new gun types, setting enemies on fire with explosives, and cleverly using those elevators to dodge and surprise enemies. While not nearly a title that will have you investing 20+ hours into a single play through, its quick action and easy to play nature will have you coming back again and again for bursts of its lovely action.
The mountain of imported games that we feel should have migrated all over the world is almost incalculably large. There's a veritable treasure trove in this corner of gaming that waits for anyone brave enough to just give it a try. Luckily though, EmuParadise's large collection of imports symbolizes an all expenses paid game-cation to the land of the rising sun and you're all invited.
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