When it comes to video game terminology, the region of "Asia" normally refers to various
countries in "Southeast Asia", such as Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia
and the Philippines.
This region is a very big and influential market for publishers.
However, the Southeast Asia region is also one of the most linguistically diverse regions
in the world.
There are many different languages as each country's main language of choice and this
naturally puts publishers in a difficult position when it comes to localisation.
Despite these regions being extremely linguistically diverse, though, proficiency in English is
generally very high and English is used as their common language in things like business.
This means publishers are able to release their games in English and still be able to
reach most of their audience, whilst saving a lot of money and other resources.
Today's video will be taking a look at some of these Asian English releases and, more
specifically, some of the games that have been released in English in Asia, yet weren't
released over in the West at all.
This means that the only way to obtain these games is through importing from sites like
Play-Asia, who specialise in providing games from all regions to the global market and
have done for over 15 years now.
But, with further ado, here are 10 Games That You Can Only Get In English In Asia!
And make sure to check out the link at the top of description if you're interested in
getting any of these games, as well as any other Asian English releases!
Number 10: Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Session!
(PlayStation 4) Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum Session! is the latest
in a long running series of rhythm games and is in fact the second game in the series to
get an English translation, with Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum Master for the PlayStation
2 being the first.
The series involves you playing a drum in time with music and the games feature music
from movies, anime, other video games, as well as a selection of original songs.
Drum Session introduces a new multiplayer feature in which you can upload and compete
against ghost data.
By scoring higher than another player's ghost data, you can increase your online rank.
The entirety of Drum Session can be played with a PlayStation controller, but it is also
possible to import an official drum controller, which players may prefer and is also more
authentic to the game's popular arcade releases.
Number 9: Girls und Panzer: Dream Tank Match (PlayStation 4)
Based on the popular anime of the same name, Girls und Panzer Dream Tank Match is centred
around the sport of Panzerfahren, which is an exclusively female sport involving battling
in WW2-era tanks.
The game’s story is directly tied in with the Girls und Panzer feature film, featuring
a recap of the movie's events while the characters comment on the events in visual novel style
cutscenes.
The game also contains an extra battle mode, which consists of missions directly inspired
from the anime and missions that are original to Dream Tank Match.
Then there's also the online multiplayer mode, in which you can participate in 5 on 5 tank
battles.
The gameplay is primarily objective based, with tasks ranging from destroying every enemy
tank to surviving for a set period of time and, whilst gameplay is quite arcadey, there
are also some more in-depth mechanics, such as how different tanks are affected depending
on where they get shot.
Number 8: Summer Lesson: Miyamoto Hikari (PlayStation VR)
Summer lesson is a VR simulation game in which the player's objective is to tutor a girl
for an upcoming exam and help her pass the test.
The player does this by selecting lessons that raise her stats with the hope that she’ll
pass the exam.
There is also the element of social interaction and just getting to know each other.
For example, you can select dialogue options in the middle of the lessons and answer questions
by either nodding yes or no using the VR headset.
One important thing to note is that there are currently also 2 other Summer Lesson games
in Japan, featuring different students to tutor.
Whilst not available in English yet, an Asian English version of these have been announced
to be coming sometime in 2018, in a double pack version containing both of the new games
as well as extra DLC.
Number 7: Gintama Rumble (PlayStation 4) Another game based on a popular anime franchise,
Gintama Rumble is an action game that plays much like the Dynasty Warrior series, and
often involves hacking your way through big groups of enemies, while trying to complete
various objectives on a large map.
The game follows the events of the anime and you are able to play as various characters
from the show, each with their own unique play style and combos.
There is also the silver orb mechanic in which you can equip a character with orbs that offer
a variety of effects.
Examples of effects include stat boosts, such as increased attack, and also active effects
like regenerating health.
Number 6: Super Robot Wars (PlayStation 4 & Vita)
Super Robot Wars is a mech-based RPG series that has had many games released over in its
home country of Japan, ever since the first game in 1991.
However, only a few of these would see an official Western release, with the last one
being nearly 10 years ago now.
Part of the reason for this is that the franchise is notable for being a big crossover between
lots of different anime, manga and video games and having all of these different universes
interacting with each other.
This means obtaining licenses to publish the games in other regions can be hard.
In recent years though, there seems to have been a big push to release the games in the
Asian region with English subtitles.
All recent games have had Asian English releases, first beginning with 2016's Super Robot Wars
OG: The Moon Dwellers and then 2017's Super Robot Wars V and finally, most recently, 2018's
Super Robot Wars X.
Super Robot Wars X has also been designed as standalone entry and was created with the
goal of being easily accessible to new players - making it a great choice for people new
to the series.
Number 5: Gundam (PlayStation 4 & Vita) Linking well with Super Robot Wars, is the
Gundam series, which is often a big part of Super Robot War's crossovers.
In recent years, there also seems to have been a big push to publish the Gundam games
in the Asian English market, including some games that you won't be able to find over
in the West.
This includes Gundam Breaker 3 for PS4 and Vita, which is an action game with a huge
focus on creating and customizing your own gundam, with their reportedly being over 10
billion different customization options.
There is also a feature called "parts break", where both enemies and your own gundam can
have individual parts break during combat, leaving these parts unable to be used for
a duration until they reattach.
Originally announced alongside Gundam Breaker 3, there is also SD Gundam G Generation Genesis.
Whilst Breaker 3 focuses heavily on the action, Generation Genesis is much more tactical and
plot-based.
The game is a turn based strategy RPG that retells pivotal events from the Gundam U.C
anime timeline.
Generation Genesis features 17 scenarios, each representing a different series in the
franchise and, as it starts way back from original 1979 anime series and then leads
up right to the modern entries, newcomers shouldn't feel overwhelmed.
Number 4: Bullet Girls Phantasia (PlayStation 4 & Vita)
The third game in the Bullet Girls series, but the first one to be released in English,
Bullet Girls Phantasia revolves around an all-girl "Ranger Club", which trains them
on using weapons and performing different types of military missions.
The game sees you face against hoards of enemies and you, alongside A.I controlled buddy characters,
must blast your way to victory using a wide variety of weaponry.
The series is also notable for having various forms of suggestive elements, such as its
clothing destruction feature.
This means that, as you take damage, more and more of your clothes will get destroyed.
This also increases the damage you take from further attacks.
There is also something called "Interrogation Training" where you are tasked with extracting
information from the characters by touching them.
Number 3: Full Metal Panic!
Fight!
Who Dares Wins (PlayStation 4) Not yet released, but scheduled to be releasing
in both Japan and Asia May 31st, this is the first video game to be created based on the
Full Metal Panic!
series.
The franchise is a classic, with it first being published as a light novel way back
in 1998 and then spawning a wealth of other media, including manga and anime.
The series fuses the military, robots and school life and the game retells the events
of the anime, including the brand new anime that just began in April.
Gameplay consists of strategy RPG battles and it is also being developed by the same
team behind the Super Robot Wars games.
Number 2: Kamen Rider: Climax Fighters (PlayStation 4)
Kamen Rider is a live action TV series made by the same creator as Super Sentai, the latter
going on to become adapted for Western markets and turning into Power Rangers, something
that most of you are likely to already be familiar with.
Unlike Super Sentai though, Kamen Rider would not see much success in Western markets.
Over in Japan on the other hand, Kamen Rider is a huge and iconic franchise and has naturally
spawned dozens of video games.
Apart from a few very rare exceptions, these haven't been released in English and this
made the announcement of 2017's Kamen Rider: Climax Fighters Asian English release a big
surprise for fans.
Climax Fighters is a fighting game set in 3D battle arenas and contains 28 different
characters to choose from.
Aside from the story mode, there's also online PVP and here you can play both 1V1, as well
as 2V2, against other players.
Number 1: Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 (PlayStation 4 & Vita)
And our last game for today is perhaps the most well known Asian English game so far.
Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 made headlines all the way up until its March 2016 release date,
over its lack of a Western release.
This attention led to Play-Asia smashing sales records for copies sold of a single title
from any region in the history of the company.
Much like the previous entries, the gameplay involves the Dead Or Alive heroines going
on vacation and taking some time to relax and soak in the sun.
There are a wide range of different mini games that you can participate in and these activities
can also earn you money for buying new costumes and other items.
In total, there are 9 different characters to play as and these were selected based on
a popularity contest between Japanese fans.
There's also something called "Owner Mode", where you become the owner of the island and
can date the girls and give them gifts.
Speaking about the reasoning behind the game not being released in the West, Sony's company
president, Shuhei Yoshida, explained: "It’s due to cultural differences.
The West has its own thinking about how to depict women in games media which is different
from Japan […] Speaking personally, if it is a representation acceptable to the general
people in Japan, I wouldn’t be concerned about it in Japan.
It’s a difficult problem."
There are many reasons why games may be released in English in Asia but not Western countries
and, just because a game's been translated, it doesn't mean that companies are always
able to release it in all regions.
There are a lot of legal and logistical aspects to releasing games in other regions.
For instance, like previously mentioned with the Super Robot Wars games, licensing is a
big reason some games don't get released.
Things like the Japanese voice acting, the music, any cross over promotions and more
- these elements can have licenses attached to their use that makes releasing them in
other regions either hard or impossible.
Some companies may be worried about certain games creating controversy due to cultural
differences.
Then there are examples where perhaps they feel that there wouldn't be enough support
overseas to justify a release.
With the rise in popularity of the Asian English market though, and the fact that all major
consoles are now region free, more and more games are becoming available that wouldn't
have previously.
This video only listed 10 games that you can only get in English in Asia, but if you check
out the Play-Asia link in the description, you'll be able to find many more, with new
games continuing to be released all of the time.
What do you think about this growing practise of releasing English games in the Asia market
and are you interested in picking up any Asian English games in the future?
Please let us know in the comments below and hit that subscribe button if you want to stay
up to date on future game releases.
Until next time, thank you for watching.