These are English friendly and not expensive:
I would disagree. Vasteel or Nectaris, English friendly?
Spriggan, Macross 2036, and Download 2, not expensive? Macross isn't quite as bad as it used to be, but still.
Also, several of those games have American versions and you really have no reason to want the Japanese version just to play it.
Over the years in this forum, many Japanese-fearing players, who would never attempt to try a Japanese language RPG, have dove into Neo Nectaris and had no problems playing it. It has less language than SFII'. What brief descriptions the units have don't help, you have to actually try units to see how they work. Fewer people have played through the equally playable PCE Vasteel (
or even the Turbo version), since the Turbo version is believed to be pricey by many. Which answers your last comment: if the PCE version is cheaper and language isn't a factor, then you have no reason to want the
English version just to play it.
Example:
Vasteel PCE complete = one penny
Vasteel Turbo cardboard sleeve only = $37
I would think that the concept of buying cheap PCE versions of Turbo games would be obvious to someone so price sensitive.
If you know how to shop for PCE games you can get those games for these prices:
Spriggan: <$40, Macross 2036: <$30, and Download 2: <$25
If those are what you'd consider "expensive", then I guess that your personal definition is "not-dirt-cheap". Super Darius II also isn't nearly as expensive as it used to be, but what does that matter now that it is affordable?