Gamertell

For hardcore gamers a rare, imported game could make their holiday extra special. The only problems are that there are tons of games out there and they can be pretty pricey. Also the key is to find a game which is easy to play even if the only Japanese you know is “Domo arigato Mr. Roboto.”

So, for this installment of Important Importables, I’ve put together a small compilation of Nintendo DS, PSP, Playstation 2, and Xbox 360 import games which are sure to delight any gamer. You’re probably wondering why there aren’t any Wii or PS3 games listed here though. The fact is that there really aren’t that many games for those two systems in Japan that aren’t already available here. If there is a game that isn’t available here yet, it will be in a few months. Its pointless to import something when waiting two or three months will yield the same game, only in English and probably $20 cheaper.

In an attempt to keep things fairly simple, I’ve picked three games for each system and are either really easy to get into or have walkthroughs available online. Each game is from a different genre, so you should be able to find at least one game on this list which will appeal to either you or a friend.

Remember, the Xbox 360 and PS2 are region-specific. If you want to play the games I’ve recommended for those systems, you need to have a Japanese system or risk modding your US model. DS and PSP games are region free though, so import away. That being said, on with the gift guide.

Nintendo DS

We’re going to start with the DS, not because its my favorite, but because I’m most familiar with these games. Jump Ultimate Stars, Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2 and Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It’s a Wonderful World are three great games to import as gifts.

Jump Ultimate Stars is a fantastic fighting game along the lines of Smash Brothers, only its portable and features 300 characters from 40 different Japanese mangas. It also features battles online over Nintendo’s WiFi Connection. You can typically find it online for about $49, but sometimes a site will have a sale and reduce the price to $39. A guide is necessary for determining what to unlock in the story mode, but Gamefaqs has a great one.

Ouendan 2 is the sequel to Ouendan, the game which Elite Beat Agents was based on. It features more of the music puzzle goodness that was found in both of the previous games. Like Jump Ultimate Stars, expect to pay around $49. No knowledge of Japanese is necessary to play.

Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It’s a Wonderful World is a fairly new RPG from Square-Enix which features a story set in Shibuya, Japan, and battles that cover both screens. It is a strange hybrid of rhythm game and RPG, but it works. Rumors are swirling involving a US release, but I’m recommending it anyways. It is text heavy, but there’s a guide at Gamefaqs so never fear. Due to the size of the game, it costs $59.

PSP

Our second import-friendly handheld also has quite a few importable games that are delightful, but I managed to narrow the list down a bit. The three best import game gifts for this system are DJ Max Portable 2, Bleach: Heat the Soul 3 and Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street.

DJ Max Portable 2 is the best known of the three. It is a music game where you press various combinations of buttons to play over 70 songs. The best part is that there’s an English language option, so everyone can enjoy it. Many of the songs are in English as well. There’s no reason not to get this game for a PSP owner. It can be found online for $49.

Bleach: Heat the Soul 3 is probably one of the best fighters for the PSP. It features 70 different characters and a variety of game modes. The best part is that it is a PSP the Best title, which means a huge price drop. You can pick this one up online for about $29, the same as a domestic game. Since its a fighting game, the language barrier isn’t really an issue.

Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street is my final PSP choice and is a great party game for Monopoly and Mario Party fiends. The game is all about buying properties and building shops on them to get a certain amount of money. You get to choose your favorite Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy character as your avatar as well. This game is kind of old, so it may take a week for the store to find it for you. Like DJ Max Portable, it’ll be around $49.

Playstation 2

The Playstation 2 is an importer’s dream, as it has tons of games which were only available in Japan. Of course you have to own a Japanese system, or void the warranty on your American one by modding it, to play the games. Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+, Bleach: Blade Battles 2nd and beatmania IIDX 13 DistorteD are my picks for the PS2 stocking stuffers this year.

Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ is one of those games where you wish they’d translate it and bring it overseas. Yes, it is essentially Kingdom Hearts II, but really, its better! This one has extra scenes, an English voice option and a PS2 version of the DS game Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Sadly it will never be released outside of Japan, but you can pick up a Japanese copy for $69. Yes, it can be text heavy, but there are guides so it isn’t an issue.

Bleach: Blade Battles 2nd, like the PSP game, is a fighting game featuring characters from the Bleach anime/manga. Like the PSP game (and the DS games) it is totally worth the money and is loads of fun. You don’t even need to know what the series is about to enjoy it. It’ll cost you about $64 . Don’t worry, language won’t be an issue.

My final PS2 choice is beatmania IIDX 13 DistorteD. Its a music/rhythm game similar to the PSP game DJ Max Portable, only without the English option. There are tons of songs and its pretty entertaining as well. Another plus is the only reading necessary is to sort through the menus. You can probably expect to pay around $64.

Xbox 360

I’m going to start off by admitting that I don’t own an Xbox 360, and I have no desire to. Nonetheless, a few of my friends do, and through them I’ve been educated about a selection of games. Hopefully The Idolm@ster, Operation Darkness or Oneechanbara vorteX will appeal to the import Xbox gamer on your list.

The Idolm@ster is both a music game and a simulation, and is probably the most well known Japanese Xbox 360 game. In it you create an idol and manage her, trying to make her famous for her singing and dancing in just a year. You can also chart your progress and compete with others over Xbox Live. Since this game is part of the Platinum Collection, you can find it online for $34. Yes, there is a lot of Japanese text here, but there are also guides online so it shouldn’t be too difficult to play.

Operation Darkness is an RPG for the Xbox 360, but don’t let that scare you away. There is an option to change all of the text to English, and there are even English subtitles for all of the cutscenes. The game is a fantasy, strategy game with a storyline thats a tad cliched, but still enjoyable and cute graphics. You can find it online for $64. Oneechanbara vorteX is a button-mashing hack and slash action game where you guide the heroines through oodles of zombies. I suppose a good way to describe it is an unholy mashup of Resident Evil, Devil May Cry and Soul Caliber. Since the whole point is to kill zombies, and kill them good, language isn’t really a problem. Its gruesome in a way, but in a good way. Like The Idolm@ster, this game is part of the Platinum collection and will set you back $34.

COMING NEXT WEEK: Next week I really will discuss the Must Import game for the Nintendo DS.

Also in case you missed it, last week’s column covered reliable websites that sell import games. If you’re looking for a place to pick up any of these titles, try checking there for a store that suits your needs.

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