Muddling through Japanese RPGs

[Monster Bonce]

Hello, while I was waiting for my PCE I played the TG16 version of Neutopia on my Mac (emulator) and really loved it. What are the chances of being able to muddle through it (and other Japanese RPGs) on the PCE without a word of Japanese? Not good, I would guess...

J...

[runinruder]

It really depends on which ones you're interested in.  Some of them are quite easy to get through, while others can be murder.  At this point, there are FAQs available for many of the best traditional-style RPGs, and the action-RPGs typically aren't too difficult to get through.  I've played through tons of PCE RPGs and I don't know much Japanese.   

[sunteam_paul]

Xanadu II (CD) is great. It's varied enough to keep you interested if you can't follow the story, unlike some Japanese RPGs.

[termis]

gamefaqs.com should be good enough to get you through most RPGs...

Though I must say, knowing even a little bit helps (like being able to read item names, etc...)   Hey, do both!  Play a crude old school console-style RPG while learning how to read the Japanese script!   

http://lrnj.com/slimeforest.html

Don't kid yourself though, the above game won't teach you much, other than being able to read item names, and maybe things like North, East, South, West kanji that *might* be useful in an RPG.

[TR0N]

Gamefaq is your friend well for some jpn rpgs.

Some times there 'walk throughs are complete other times they are "missing"  some detail.

If you don't mind taking guess's on useing it's menu... and useing a walk through go for it.

Of corse the other option is learning japanese just keep in, mind this isn't some thing you learn over night.

[Monster Bonce]

I'm afraid that learning Japanese just isn't happening. I need to brush up my Irish and French before I tackle anything else.

Anyway, thank you all for the tips. Will check out GameFAQs.

One last question: how do these translated games that I keep reading about work? I'm assuming you buy the CD, download the translation and burn a CD-R with the original game files replaced by the translated ones. Or am I completely wrong?

J.

[termis]

One last question: how do these translated games that I keep reading about work? I'm assuming you buy the CD, download the translation and burn a CD-R with the original game files replaced by the translated ones. Or am I completely wrong?

J.

That's pretty much it.  Not too much to it.  You can just rip the whole game using Nightwolve's TurboRip, then apply the patch running a simple command.  A piece of cake...

-shameless plug below:
Or... I do have a couple games for sale right now where I'll just throw in the English patch in there with the original game so you don't even have to bother doing the above..
Ys IV
Xak III (along with part I/II that has no patch)

[Ninja Spirit]

Ah yes, I've made that feat quite a couple times. Played through Famicom Final Fantasy III, Super Famicom Final Fantasy V and Famicom Y's II.

However I easily spaz out on games such as Romancing SaGa 3, Megami Tensei and Tengai Makyo/Far East of Eden series since everything's in damn KANJI!

[Black Tiger]

Ah yes, I've made that feat quite a couple times. Played through Famicom Final Fantasy III, Super Famicom Final Fantasy V and Famicom Y's II.

However I easily spaz out on games such as Romancing SaGa 3, Megami Tensei and Tengai Makyo/Far East of Eden series since everything's in damn KANJI!

The PCE TM/FEOE's aren't so bad, since every item has an alternate katakana title in the Items screen and the games are fairly straightforward.

[termis]

Talking about Japanese RPGs, I recently finished Ys IV.  I'm gonna start another one, and I have the option of starting...

- Dragon Slayer 2 (I beat the US release of DS1, oh 10 years ago or so and can't remember any of the storyline...)
- Cosmic Fantasy series.  (Once again, I beat part 2, the only English release, but I have 1-4, so I'm thinking about starting on it...)
- Brandish
- Gulliver Boy
- Tengai Makyou I/II
- Xak I-III
- Burai I/II
- KO Sekai Beast Sansenshi

I've been hearing good things about the TM series from this forum, but haven't heard too much about the others.  Anyone play any of the others, and any general thoughts about it?

Phantasy Star II happens to be my all-time favorite RPG, so if that gives you the idea of my taste...  Any idea what I'd like from above?  I'm thinking about starting Beast Sansenshi....

[runinruder]

Talking about Japanese RPGs, I recently finished Ys IV.  I'm gonna start another one, and I have the option of starting...

- Dragon Slayer 2 (I beat the US release of DS1, oh 10 years ago or so and can't remember any of the storyline...)
- Cosmic Fantasy series.  (Once again, I beat part 2, the only English release, but I have 1-4, so I'm thinking about starting on it...)
- Brandish
- Gulliver Boy
- Tengai Makyou I/II
- Xak I-III
- Burai I/II
- KO Sekai Beast Sansenshi

I've been hearing good things about the TM series from this forum, but haven't heard too much about the others.  Anyone play any of the others, and any general thoughts about it?

Phantasy Star II happens to be my all-time favorite RPG, so if that gives you the idea of my taste...  Any idea what I'd like from above?  I'm thinking about starting Beast Sansenshi....

If Phantasy Star II is your favorite RPG, then you should buy Neo Metal Fantasy immediately.  It has large dungeons reminiscent of PSII's, and it's faster paced.  Plus it has HUGE bosses.

Cosmic Fantasy 3 is an excellent game that you should enjoy if you liked part 2.  The first one is also pretty good, but very simple and straightforward. 

Brandish is a brilliant dungeon crawler.  If you like stumbling around labyrinths for hours on end, finding stuff and solving puzzles, it'll be right up your alley. 

Burai 1 and 2 are HORRIBLE.  I mean, I play through EVERYTHING, yet I haven't been able to stomach more than a few minutes of those two yet. 

[Keranu]

- Xak I-III

There is a fully translated patch for Xak III and it's a pretty awesome game.

[Black Tiger]

Talking about Japanese RPGs, I recently finished Ys IV.  I'm gonna start another one, and I have the option of starting...

- Dragon Slayer 2 (I beat the US release of DS1, oh 10 years ago or so and can't remember any of the storyline...)
- Cosmic Fantasy series.  (Once again, I beat part 2, the only English release, but I have 1-4, so I'm thinking about starting on it...)
- Brandish
- Gulliver Boy
- Tengai Makyou I/II
- Xak I-III
- Burai I/II
- KO Sekai Beast Sansenshi

I've been hearing good things about the TM series from this forum, but haven't heard too much about the others.  Anyone play any of the others, and any general thoughts about it?

Phantasy Star II happens to be my all-time favorite RPG, so if that gives you the idea of my taste...  Any idea what I'd like from above?  I'm thinking about starting Beast Sansenshi....

Don't play Dragon Slayer II unless you're fluent in japanese. It's 90% Animal Crossing, with you walking across the world back and forth between people delivering messages and items.

Cosmic 3 is nice except for the ridiculous frequency of fights. Cosmic 4's seem pretty straightforward, but there are some difital comic scenes(just choose every option).

Gulliver Boy's one of my fav PCE RPG's, even though I got stuck halfway through it. Its goyt some very cool scenes.

Tengai Makyou I/Ziria is a good game, but if you're spoiled on traditionally impressive graphics, you may not have the patience for it. TMII is a great game and you shouldn't have trouble getting through it, but it's one of the longest RPG's ever. If you're interested in a TM game, you should play Kabukiden(best RPG ever) first and then if you're still up for it, play TMII then TM Ziria.

I really liked what I saw of Burai before getting stuck in the female's scenario(you play intro quests of each character before meeting up). Burai II looks like more of the same, but with even nicer graphics.

If it'll have any influence over what you play next, I've got walkthroughs up on GameFAQs for TM Ziria, TMII, TM Kabukiden, and one for about 2/3's of Cosmic 3.

If you don't go for Kaqbukiden right away, you should play Neo Metal Fantasy. It's one of the best PCE games and I also made a crude walkthrough for it(my first ever).

[termis]

Fantastic recommendations folks.  I gotta hunt down that Neo Metal Fantasy.  Pics look pretty damn good, too.

Ah, and I thought Kabuki-den was part one of TM.  As I saw the TM mark on it, I just assumed that was the first part, and TM2 was a sequel to that.  I guess what I'm really missing is the real part I of TM.  But I do have Kabuki-den with me.

I'll start on something soon -

[m1savage]

While I wouldn't play it before some of the others listed here, I made it through Dragon Slayer II fine and I'm definately not fluent in Japanese. Of course I'm easily amused so that could have something to do with it.