Best Nintendo DS RPGs That Never Came To America

Summary

The Nintendo DS is known for its great RPG titles, including some that were never localized into English regions.
European regions received some RPG titles on the DS that never made it to North America.
The DS is home to unique RPGs like Metal Max 2 Reloaded and Tales of the Tempest that are worth exploring.

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the vibrant world of video games, I can confidently say that the Nintendo DS was a treasure trove for RPG fans like myself. Growing up in Japan, I had the privilege of experiencing some truly unique and exceptional titles that never made it beyond our shores.

The list you’ve provided is a testament to the creativity and innovation that flowed from Japanese developers during the DS era. Games like “Tales of the Tempest,” “Xenosaga 1 + 2,” and “Metal Max 2 Reloaded” were not just games, but immersive experiences that transported me to far-off lands, post-apocalyptic wastelands, and epic space operas.

It’s a bit of a running joke among us gaming enthusiasts that the best games always seem to stay in Japan, but it’s hard not to feel a pang of regret when I think about the countless hours of entertainment I missed out on due to regional differences. Still, I remain hopeful that one day, some kind soul might decide to translate these gems into English so we can all enjoy them together.

Until then, I’ll keep my fingers crossed and dream of a future where I can revisit the lost worlds of the Nintendo DS RPGs that never made it out of Japan. And maybe, just maybe, one day I’ll find a way to convince my Japanese friends to share their passwords for those unofficial fan patches!

The DS is frequently recognized as one of the top-selling portable devices ever produced, second only to the PS2 among all versions, excluding the 3DS. Consequently, it was logical for game publishers and developers to create games tailored for the DS due to its widespread popularity.

Among the numerous genres available on portable devices, there was an abundance of excellent Role-Playing Games (RPGs), such as “The World Ends With You”, “Radiant Historia”, and “Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Sky”. These games are indeed top-notch, but unfortunately, many other RPGs remain confined to Japan because they have not been translated into English-speaking regions. A few did receive English translations, but only for Europe. Here are some of the best options to consider.

6. Bomberman 2

Not The Second Game In The Slightest

Developer: Hudson Soft
Publisher: Hudson Soft Producer
EU: February 13, 2009
Platform: DS

The Bomberman series occasionally integrates RPG aspects and produces spinoffs, one such example being the strategic game known as Bomberman Wars. However, the name might be misleading since “Bomberman 2” doesn’t refer to a remake but rather a title that was released in Europe instead of North America after its initial release in Japan. In this game, players embark on brief, top-down missions aimed at accomplishing objectives in hopes of acquiring loot. During these missions, Bomberman can be outfitted with new equipment and his abilities can be improved through leveling up. Essentially, it’s a dungeon crawler with an emphasis on explosions that is ideal for brief, portable gaming sessions.

5. Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland

A Dusty Dungeon Crawler

Developer: Vanpool
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: September 14, 2007 (EU)
Platform: DS

I’ve recently discovered “Freshly-Picked Tingle’s Rosy Rupeeland,” a game that features the beloved character Tingle from the “The Legend of Zelda” series. This title, which initially graced the screens of Japanese and European gamers, unfortunately never made it to North America. In this adventure, I find myself in the role of Tingle, who is on a mission to amass rupees as swiftly as possible to please a divine entity.

Engaging in conflict with adversaries will generate a cloud of dust, and players can use the DS’s stylus to aid Tingle in his victories. Additionally, players can recruit companions to accompany Tingle through dungeons, thereby enhancing his defenses. To describe this game as ‘strange’ would be an understatement; however, it is certainly worth investigating for any Zelda enthusiast intrigued by something unusual.

4. Inazuma Eleven

Missing The Goal

As someone who grew up in a part of North America where soccer isn’t exactly the most popular sport, I can understand why Japan and Europe might have been prioritized for the release of “Inazuma Eleven,” a soccer role-playing game developed by Level-5. However, as a passionate gamer, I found it quite frustrating to learn that there was a significant gap between the initial Japanese release in 2008 and the European version in 2011, which left North America out of the loop for a considerable period.

Fortunately, we did eventually get our hands on the game through a remake for the 3DS in 2014, but it was disappointing to miss out on both “Inazuma Eleven 2” and “Inazuma Eleven 3,” which are highly-regarded RPG/sports games within the series. These titles were never made available in North America, which is a loss for us soccer enthusiasts who enjoy a good blend of role-playing and sports gaming.

3. Metal Max 2 Reloaded

Fallout On The Go

Developers: Crea-Tech, Data East
Publisher: Kadokawa Games
Released: December 8, 2011
Platform: DS

The game titled “Metal Max 2 Reloaded” is a remake of the original SNES game that was exclusively released in Japan. Although the DS version and the original were never made available outside Japan, dedicated fans have translated the DS remake, enabling English readers to enjoy it. Similarly, “Metal Max 3” was an original DS game that followed a similar fate. These Role-Playing Games (RPGs) are turn-based and set in a post-apocalyptic environment. Players can engage in combat as humans or they have the option to enter various tanks and other vehicles for larger battles. Compared to the “Fallout” series, these games possess a less aggressive tone, but they still serve as valuable contributions to the dystopian genre.

2. Tales Of The Tempest

The DS’ First Mainline Entry

Developers: Dimps, Namco Tales Studio
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Released: October 26, 2006
Platform: DS

The initial game in the “Tales” series for the DS, titled “Tales of the Tempest“, debuted in 2006 exclusively in Japan. This was followed by two additional mainline DS games in the series. “Tales of Innocence” was also a DS game that was later remade for the PS Vita, but both versions were only available in Japan. Interestingly, “Tales of Hearts” came out in two separate DS versions, much like how Pokemon games are often released as two different games, and these versions never left Japan either.

Nevertheless, the PS Vita remake of Tales of Hearts found its way to North America and Europe, providing a favorable conclusion to the extensive collection of Tales of games. For those intrigued by Tales of the Tempest and Tales of Innocence, it’s worth exploring their DS versions as they feature unofficial fan patches.

1. Xenosaga 1 + 2

Condensing An Epic

Developers: Monolith Soft, Tom Create
Publisher: Namco
Released: March 30, 2006
Platform: DS

The games Xenosaga 1 and 2 have been remade for the Nintendo DS as turn-based role-playing games, a spin-off from their original PlayStation 2 versions. While the story remains the same, it is more concise due to the technical limitations of the DS that prevent long cutscenes like those in the PS2. Originally exclusive to Japan, these remakes have not been released beyond the Japanese market or system despite the entire Xenosaga series being distributed internationally.

Fans have created custom menus, but the full story hasn’t been translated into English yet. Meanwhile, there are other unique games from this series in Japan as well, so it’s possible that Bandai Namco and Monolith Soft might collaborate someday to release a comprehensive collection for dedicated fans.

2024-12-29 06:22