Now that 2015 is coming to a close, it is time to focus on what I have played this year, which has been very busy.
Since I got a job offer in late spring of this year, I had to find place to live that is near my job. As a result, I could not finish as many games I wanted. The games I completed this year are Choujigen Game Neptune Rebirth 2, Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica The Battle Pentagram, Atelier Shallie and Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon. It is not a lot since two of the games that were from 2014, which I covered in last year’s post and of course the games that I wanted to cover and eventually review, which are Yoru no Nai Kuni and Atelier Sophie got delayed until the later half of the year. I am currently playing the former now.
In short, it has been a rough year for playing the games I wanted to cover. In exchange of not being able to come up with a top five games I played this year, I may as well share my thoughts on the games I started playing this year.
What I completed this year
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica: The Battle Pentagram
Despite how popular Madoka is, this game never made it out Japan. While the prequel was a dungeon crawling game, the second game is a 3D action game where you fight can witches and such, which is fun to play with a good degree of difficulty. The story of course develops all the possible parings including the canon ones (Kyouko/Sayaka and Madoka/Homura). Perhaps my only complaint is the so and so graphics and the content mostly limited to the movies. Otherwise, I liked it a lot.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon
As mentioned in my final review, Gates of Infinity’s gameplay was lacking despite the improvements in the graphics. With this release, I felt that Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon fixes most of the flaws even though it took away some features like nicknaming Pokémon and recruiting multiple species. Otherwise, everything else was great, including the music and the story, which maintains the same feeling like in the previous games, just with more nightmare fuel along with antagonists pretending to be good guys.
What I started, but did not complete yet
Shinjijigen Game Neptune Rebirth 3 Century
I know that a localized release of Rebirth 3 came out and I only got to Chapter 3. So far, it basically feels like an enhanced port of Neptune Victory with all the DLC and additional features with the gameplay mostly being the same like the previous Rebirth games.
Yokai Watch 2 Shinuchi
Although Youkai Watch may not have the everlasting popularity compared to Pokémon, it’s a fun game that has a lot of innovative gameplay. Youkai Watch 2, which came out in Japan last year with the third version coming out in Spring. You basically go around town solving various oddities around town along with collecting, battling and befriending other Youkai. While I haven’t played the first game, the second game is enjoyable thus far and the story is easy to understand with occasional looking up words in the dictionary. Eventually, I will finish it, probably a bit after the 2nd games get localized.
Senran Kagura 2
While I did not get the latest Vita game that came out last March, I decide to take a plunge at the series. The game is what you would expect, it’s an 3D action side scrolling game with lots of fanservice. While I kind of suck at action games, it is an enjoyable game although the Vita versions are probably better since you can play characters from other academies.
Although I am close to finishing the first part of the game with Hibari being the last one I need to use before the story actually starts, like the other games, I got sidetracked with moving and such. As a result, it went to the wayside like the other games, although I will eventually finish it when the sequel is already released.
Hanayamata Yosakoi Live
After enjoying the anime, I found out that there is a game that is being made. As you would expect, it’s a visual novel rhythm game as the Yosakoi club prepares for the cultural festival that will happen in 10 days. While I do not want to spoil the story, but the game plays as a visual novel which you can make choices that affect the story. The only difference is that you can replay an entire day over again for each character. As for the rhythm gameplay, you press the button when the shape of the corresponding button fills up on-screen.
While the story and gameplay is enjoyable, it is expected that the amount of songs will be rather limited. I will share more about it once I finished the game since I am 70% done.
With that, this wraps up my thoughts about the games I finished and ones that I did not. Sure, 2015 was a mixed year when it comes to games for me at least, there are more games I plan on reviewing in the future. These include but not limited to is Miracle Girls Festival, Atelier Sophie, Atelier Shallie Plus, Kantai Collection Kai (as long it does not get delayed again) and Gochuumon game.
Aside from that, what Japanese games you played this year that you found enjoyable? Feel free to share any games that you look forward in 2016.
The best Japanese game for me this year has to be Xenoblade Chronicles X. It’s beautiful, a bit grindy, but all I’ve ever wanted for a JRPG. I think the last time I enjoyed any JRPG was like Ni No Kuni on PS3, and that one is getting a sequel soon, so awesome! Other than that, I played Persona 4 Dancing All Night which is pretty nice, despite having too much remixes. Miracle Girls Festival wasn’t bad either, but I kinda wish there is more songs for that game. Does Splatoon count as a Japanese game? If it does, then most of my time was spent on that game, wish kinda redefined the meaning of shooting games. I also spend like 500 hours on Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. So little time, wish I could play more.
I haven’t played any of the Xenoblade games (and I don’t own a Wii U since it’s my sister’s). One of these days, I’ll get a Wii U (and I kind of want to play Mario Maker) once I have the money. But yes, it seems that licensed rhythm seems to have limited selection of music as it seems. My copy of Miracle Girls Festival is still in the mail and won’t come until after Christmas, but I expect the gameplay will be mostly like Project Diva just like Persona 4 Dancing All Night.