Favorite Dear ~Jyunpaku no Yogensha~

While not a direct story sequel, ~Jyunpaku no Yogensha~ is the next game in the Favorite Dear series that was discussed last time we spoke. The game continues with the hybrid RPG/dating simulation gameplay, but this time allows players to choose between a male or female angel as they raise and train the Braves and Faeries that defend the realm.

As with any RPG, a great deal of reading will be required to enjoy the story. Surprisingly enough, a lot of the menus and character stats are actually displayed in English. The battle system is relatively straightforward, and players shouldn’t have too much difficulty unleashing their attacks.

Motto Trump Shiyouyo!

Motto Trump Shiyouyo! is the sequel to the previously released Trump Shiyouyo!, but this time around there are even motto (more) games! These include the following: Daifugo, Shichinarabe, Seven Bridge, Dobon, Page One, Shinkeisuijyaku, Poker, Blackjack, Napoleon, Klondike, Free Cell, and Speed.

Once again, these games are relatively text-light, and players shouldn’t have too much difficulty finding the rules online. If you feel lucky, it’s time to put your skills to the test against a bevy of sassy cartoon animals!

Zero Kara no Mahjong ~Mahjong Youchien Tamago-gumi 2~

The sequel to Zero Kara no Mahjong ~Mahjong Youchien Tamago-gumi~ (see above), this game has players facing colorful cartoon characters in no-holds-barred Mahjong! The lessons that help ease players into the game are still around, but this time they go even further to help teach players proper Mahjong manners that can be applied in real-life situations.

Like last time, if you can’t read Japanese, I suggest you seek out Mahjong tutorials online so you can beat the pants off your challengers!

Sentimental Graffiti

This classic dating simulation was first released in the late nineties. It was popular enough to spawn various sequels, an anime series, and even a radio drama! The story revolves around a protagonist who was constantly moving about during his childhood, so he never had time to form deeper relationships with those around him. He receives a much unexpected letter from a mysterious paramour which simply states, “I want to see you.” He’s got it narrowed down to one of the 12 special women he met in his younger days, and it’s up to the player to decide how this tale ends…

Players control our hero by making use of his incredibly tight schedule. You’ve only got so much time to spend with these ladies, so you have to make it count! Carefully plan out each day by studying your calendar and preparing potentially romantic encounters with the 12 candidates. If you get it right, you might just figure out where that mysterious letter came from…

The game is very text heavy, but there’s a lot of great art and charming event scenes to enjoy. If you are a fan of visual novels, this is one you won’t want to pass up.

First Queen IV

First Queen is a classic RTS/RPG franchise that first introduced the “Gocha-kyara” (tons of characters) battle system. Players control several units by issuing turn based orders then watching the attacks unfold in real time. While the game starts with just a handful of units, your army will grow as your foes bend the knee or you seek out additional recruits via side missions. The ultimate goal is of course to unite (conquer) the entire area and ultimately bring peace to the land. Remember, when you play the game First Queen IV, you win or you die.

While the story contains a lot of Japanese text, the battle controls are pretty straightforward, and you should have little trouble conquering the world with your merry band!

Trump Shiyouyo! Fukkoku-ban

This classic card game pits players against a cast of cute, colorful animals in a bevy of classic card games including: Shichi-narabe (a variation of Sevens), Daifugou (Grand Millionaire), Page One, Dobon, Seven Bridge, Speed, Baba-nuki (Old Maid), Poker, Blackjack, and Shinkei-suijyaku (Concentration).

The game is light on text, and the only time you really need to be able to read Japanese is when you want to tweak the rules of the individual games. With a few quick Google searches, a player can easily find the rules to these classic card games as well as how they would be written in Japanese. Once in game, everything is fairly simple to understand.

Oz no Mahoutsukai ~Another World~ RungRung

This whimsical take on The Wizard of Oz features some incredibly nostalgic-looking, fully voiced CG cutscenes, lovely music, and about the cutest portrayal of the Tin Man I have ever seen! The classic tale of the little girl from Kansas who rode a tornado to infamy has been adapted to an almost absurd degree – with various musicals, movies, and video games. This particular adaptation is oozing with a quirky charm that’s sure to warm your heart.

Players take on the role of Dorothy as she (and her little dog too!) travels about the Land of Oz performing various tasks and collecting magical items. Her goal is to help out her new friends, and of course get back home (after all, there’s no place like home).

This game is fairly text-heavy, but its cuteness is universal!

Mahjong Uranai Fortuna ~Tsuki no Megami Tachi~

Affect’s Mahjong Uranai Fortuna ~Tsuki no Megami Tachi~ provides a rather delightful twist to the time-honored classic Chinese game, Mahjong. Players choose 3 of the 6 fortune-telling beauties to compete against in this ancient poker-like, tile-based game of luck and strategy. As you defeat opponents, you can unlock special event photos that can later be viewed at the image gallery.

Luckily for you, these ladies don’t just play a mean game of Mahjong. Whenever you wish, you can enter “Fortune-telling Mode” and have a nice little horoscope prepared. Be warned, once you see your future, it can’t be unseen!

The fortune-telling will of course require significant Japanese knowledge to understand, but the classic game of Mahjong can easily be learned over the internet. Finally, the image gallery needs no translation.

Favorite Dear ~Enkan no Monogatari~

Japanese RPGs are common enough, and the dating simulation/virtual novel genre is no stranger to the west. It is, however, quite rare to see the two genres so delightfully melded into a beautiful, character-driven gaming experience. For the first time (officially), the Favorite Dear series hits the US with its third installment – don’t worry, the stories aren’t exactly sequential, so you won’t have missed anything important.

Players must control their team of warriors in battle against various monsters as they bring peace to the land, but off the battlefield, the main objective is to promote and maintain harmony in the group by visiting with allies. Once you select your date and location, you are treated to an event scene where you need to make the right choices to keep everyone happy. People who like you tend to fight harder, right?! Before you head back to the battlefield, make sure you outfit your soldiers with the best equipment possible so you can smash your foes to bits!

Favorite Dear ~Enkan no Monogatari~ has a combination of anime event graphics and isometric, sprite-based battle sequences. Like any RPG, it’s very text heavy, so make sure to bring your Berlitz Japanese/English dictionary with you when you want to take Tia out for a walk about town!

ZANAC × ZANAC

Zanac is a classic shoot ‘em up that was originally released on the MSX and later ported to the NES. It was later tweaked, revamped, and made ever-more-awesome in its sequel, Zanac Neo. ZANAC x ZANAC contains three different versions of the original Zanac, as well as Zanac Neo in one neat little package.

While rail-shooters and bullet hell games are nothing new, Zanac represents a level of polish and style worthy of being considered a true classic. Its appeal lies in its use of eight different sub weapons and a main shot that can be charged up for some serious damage! Enemies will assault you from all angles, and you will have to keep your wits about you as you strategically dodge and blast your way to victory.

In terms of accessibility, ZANAC x ZANAC is easily the most playable game on today’s list. With virtually no Japanese reading skill required, you can get a very fulfilling (and incredibly challenging) shoot’em up experience!

MAKERUNA MAKENDO2

Originally released on the Super Famicom, this 2D fighter was given new life and revamped graphics in its PlayStation iteration. This quirky fighter is filled to the brim with wacky, charming fun.

With character archetypes ranging from magical schoolgirls to zombie comedians, it’s hard to ignore this game’s unique style. Each character has his/her own set of super moves (utilized in the familiar down forward punch [DFP] style) and crazy backstory. Unlike most fighting games, you can also make use of magic through your MP (Makenki Power). These spells can make you stronger, weaken opponents, or even heal you in a pinch!

Not much Japanese is required to play, but you will miss out on the event text and may need some assistance navigating menus. Once you’re all set up though, beastly punches and kicks are NEVER lost in translation!

VEHICLE CAVALIER

This crazy vehicular combat game takes place in a dystopian future where conflict is decided in the only logical way possible: MECHA COMBAT.

Customize your giant robot fighting suit and go toe to toe against the toughest foes in the land while you complete a series of missions. All eight characters have a unique story to explore, but that’s only if you can survive! Earn some cash as you crush your enemies, then head back to the garage to transform your mech into the mightiest machine in town.

There is a ton of customization involved in loading out your mech, and with 300 weapons to choose from, your options are virtually unlimited. The combat is accessible, but for non-Japanese speakers, Google Translate will definitely come in handy while navigating the menus.

LUP★SALAD

This adorable match-3 puzzle game is loaded with brain-busting puzzle goodness. To clear a stage, you must move your disturbingly cute hero, Salad, as she attempts to remove all colored cubes by matching up three in a row.

The game’s challenge stems from the hero’s very limited movement capabilities. Players are able to push blocks and fall from any height, but climbing back up is a different story. Salad can climb up a single block and jump the space of a single block. If two blocks are stacked on top of each other, she can push the lower one, but the block on top will ultimately fall – resulting in crushing defeat.

No Japanese is needed to push the blocks around, but there is a great deal of event text between chapters. You might not be able to fully experience the story, but you will certainly be able to enjoy two hundred levels of challenging puzzles without having to master Japanese.

ART CAMION SUGOROKUDEN

If you are unfamiliar with the Japanese subculture of Dekotora (or Art Trucks), you are certainly in for a treat. While America was rockin’ out to the one-hit wonder trucker song “Convoy,” over in Japan trucks were being overhauled with garish and awesome accessories and designs. The more ridiculous your truck looks, the cooler you are! It’s kind of like the custom car scene here in the States!

Art Camion Sugorokuden captures the decorated truck phenomenon with classic board game style. With a roll of the dice, you cruise all over Japan to pick up and deliver packages. Each delivery will earn you points, which you can spend to trick out your gigantic ride. When you aren’t hard at work, you can take your special lady out for a little ride, but watch out for your rivals because they will stop at nothing to see you fail!

The game is relatively text heavy, and without some handy translation (or a bilingual friend with whom you can enjoy the game’s multiplayer mode) you are in for a bumpy ride. If you can muscle your way through menus and event text, you will be truckin’ it up with the best of them. Just remember – the crazier your truck looks, the better you are doing!

FINGER★FLASHING

If you have never heard of “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” “Janken,” or “Roshambo,” then I’ve got no idea how to introduce this next game. That being said, Finger Flashing is a challenging and addictive take on a centuries-old classic.

You play as the hero Poi (or her friend Cikke) who is on her way to an important wizardly exam. Her plans to graduate on time seem thwarted when a herd of monsters invade the town and block her path to success. The only way to fix this mess is to destroy all invaders with the almighty power of the Rock-Paper-Scissors School of Magic.

Players march down an ever-moving path as monsters approach from the top of the screen. Each monster will be decked out in the regalia of rock, paper, or scissors, and to defeat them, you have to blast them with their opposing hand. As easy as this sounds, it gets pretty tricky and complicated as monsters begin attacking in groups.

Luckily, you can take them out by matching up chains of the classic Rock-Paper-Scissors formula. If you see monsters of the scissor and rock variety walking down the road side by side, you can combo them by shooting paper at the rock. This will set off a chain that makes the rock monster destroy his scissors-wielding friend. If you had just shot a rock at the scissors monster, it would have been destroyed, but it would have left the rock monster barreling down on you. Combos are the key to your survival once you face up against bigger and bigger monster groups.

While you may get a little tripped up in the bare-bones menus, the only thing you will miss out on in this game is the brief story event text that pops up when you aren’t puzzle-fighting.