Ready to broaden my gaming experiences

OneBadMutha

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Sep 12, 2013
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After many years of only playing Western games, I’ve decided to broaden my gaming portfolio. Outside of the Soulsbourne games, I haven’t played many Japanese games since the PSX. I enjoyed some of Segas early OG Xbox support but haven’t touched Japanese RPGs the past 2 decades. I haven’t played a turn based RPG since KOTOR. My favorite Japanese games since then felt like Western games (Ninja Gaiden, Dark Souls and Bloodbourne).

I got a weird bug to play something Japanese. Nioh looks like a game I’d enjoy but it looks too safe and I still need to beat Bloodbourne. Need something a little more quirky.

Never played a Monster Hunter, Nier or Persona game. Anyone have a similar gaming background that found themselves hooked on those games? Last night I kept going back and forth between Persona or Nier. Which is your must play experience?
 
Nier seems like the safest bet from a gameplay perspective since you enjoyed Ninja Gaiden

Persona is probably too Japanese for you. You would probably be better off with one of the FF remastered games.
 
Yakuza 0 would be my recommendation. At first glance it looks like a Japanese GTA, but that's not it at all. It alternates between a serious, sometimes melodramatic, main story about Japanese crime families and a bunch of silly, ridiculous side-quests. It is really one of a kind, and a good exemplar of Japanese weirdness. It is a brawler, but it doesn't demand that you memorize combos and get your timing just right.

The only downside is the visuals -- the underlying game was built on the PS3, and it shows; however, it was rebuilt using the new engine, and the character models and other things are significantly improved.

I really enjoyed it. Made me laugh a lot, occasionally tear up, and glad we have Japanese games.

More here:
http://unionvgf.com/index.php?threads/yakuza-0.143965/

Nier: Automata gets a lot of praise, too. I haven't played that, though, so I can't offer an opinion. I know there is plenty of weirdness to it, though. If you're looking for a Japanese game that brings something different to the table, it would probably be a good choice.

I agree with Yankee that you should avoid Persona 5. Way too talky and repetitive. Creative visuals, but the gameplay loop gets old.
 
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I admit that Persona is a curiosity thing with me. Some people are enfatuated with the game...especially in the gaming media. Are most Persona fans anime fans? I don’t like anime but admit the art style of Persona in pics looks cool.
 
Well, I was pretty much anti Japanese style games. Having played The Last Guardian and Nier this past year, I have had a complete change of heart.
 
I'm usually very put off by the weirdness of Japanese titles, but Nioh, Nier, Lost Oddysey, and The Last Guardian are all amazing.

If you like a touching story DO NOT let the clunky controls of the Last Guardian get in your way. Its one of my favorite games of the last few years.

I'll never be able to play a game like Persona or the new Final Fantasy, those are just waaayyy too much for me. But all of the above games are highly recommended
 
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I admit that Persona is a curiosity thing with me. Some people are enfatuated with the game...especially in the gaming media. Are most Persona fans anime fans? I don’t like anime but admit the art style of Persona in pics looks cool.

There may be an overlap with anime fans, yeah. Persona definitely has a very devoted fanbase. It has a very cool visual style, no doubt; that's what attracted me. I spent 40 hours with it before I eventually got too bored and irritated to continue.

Note that it's all turn-based fighting. Unless you really enjoy that style of combat, beware. The enemies repeat. So, it's lots of turn-based fighting against enemies that repeat, in one interior environment after another.

There is also tons of dialog. I like dialog, but the dialog here drove me nuts, because it was so constant and never-ending. It's one conversation after another, one text message after another, one meeting after another. It reminded me of a game for people who like being on their phones or Facebook all day. I'm not like that, and the constant chatter and texting got really annoying after a while. I would say to myself, "Shut up already. I'm begging you, stop talking and texting me." The fact that they were all teenagers in high school didn't help much.

I'm making it sound worse than it was, but I want you to know about the downsides, if you decide to try it. I stuck with it for 40 hours before I gave up, so there were good things about it, too (e.g., visuals, some of the dialog and characters are fun, some 'mature' themes). I think it's a very niche type game that would appeal to only a certain type of person. I don't really perceive you as that type of person, but who knows, I don't know you all that well.
 
There may be an overlap with anime fans, yeah. Persona definitely has a very devoted fanbase. It has a very cool visual style, no doubt; that's what attracted me. I spent 40 hours with it before I eventually got too bored and irritated to continue.

Note that it's all turn-based fighting. Unless you really enjoy that style of combat, beware. The enemies repeat. So, it's lots of turn-based fighting against enemies that repeat, in one interior environment after another.

There is also tons of dialog. I like dialog, but the dialog here drove me nuts, because it was so constant and never-ending. It's one conversation after another, one text message after another, one meeting after another. It reminded me of a game for people who like being on their phones or Facebook all day. I'm not like that, and the constant chatter and texting got really annoying after a while. I would say to myself, "Shut up already. I'm begging you, stop talking and texting me." The fact that they were all teenagers in high school didn't help much.

I'm making it sound worse than it was, but I want you to know about the downsides, if you decide to try it. I stuck with it for 40 hours before I gave up, so there were good things about it, too (e.g., visuals, some of the dialog and characters are fun, some 'mature' themes). I think it's a very niche type game that would appeal to only a certain type of person. I don't really perceive you as that type of person, but who knows, I don't know you all that well.
There are some here that discount games immediately if they have a "cartoony" look. Well Persona IS exactly that, and based on reviews and sales, it's doing amazing. If they release a demo, I would try it. But then again, I have never like turn based fighting, ever. So I doubt it will be my cup of tea.
 
After many years of only playing Western games, I’ve decided to broaden my gaming portfolio. Outside of the Soulsbourne games, I haven’t played many Japanese games since the PSX. I enjoyed some of Segas early OG Xbox support but haven’t touched Japanese RPGs the past 2 decades. I haven’t played a turn based RPG since KOTOR. My favorite Japanese games since then felt like Western games (Ninja Gaiden, Dark Souls and Bloodbourne).

I got a weird bug to play something Japanese. Nioh looks like a game I’d enjoy but it looks too safe and I still need to beat Bloodbourne. Need something a little more quirky.

Never played a Monster Hunter, Nier or Persona game. Anyone have a similar gaming background that found themselves hooked on those games? Last night I kept going back and forth between Persona or Nier. Which is your must play experience?
Nioh
 

NiOh is a great game but he's looking for or something weird and crazy.

If you are into fighting games Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 is a quality fighter. Some characters are weird but it's a fun and addictive game. The gameplay is also deep and rewarding.

I've seen a tone of people who didn't like anime get into Persona 5. It touches on real life issues and other content you wouldn't expect. It might be right up your alley just because It's something different. There's no doubt anime fans are most the audience.
 
I'm disappointed by the lack of Dad Dating sim suggestions, first brought to our attention by bellybama.
Dream Daddy, the daddiest the of all the daddy fetish games, with a daddy for every dad-centric flavour.

I like the silver fox.
 
Also, I haven't played it myself, but Gravity Rush seems kinda rad from the clips I've seen.

Good suggestion; I'd forgotten about that. Gravity Rush Remastered* is a simple, fun, and charming little game with a cool traversal mechanic (flying, basically). It has an innocent quality that you won't find in Western games, and it is unabashedly Japanese in its style. Be aware that it's an upgraded Vita title, though, so visuals are not cutting edge. The sequel, Gravity Rush 2, has better visuals but far worse gameplay, imo. GR Remastered is the better pick. It's available for cheap.

Ni No Kuni 2 is coming out in the next couple months. That would be another one to keep an eye on.

*by Bluepoint, the master of remasters
 
Another game series with characters at completely ludicrous off-the-charts power levels and attacks. Kind of nice eye candy animations with cell chading.

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

I think there is a related game to called Road to Boruto.

 
I'm kind of in the same boat. I'm new to PS4 and not sure what Japanese game to really try out. My big constraint is that I really don't do well with hard games (so something like Nioh scares me away). I respect games where the difficulty is part of it, but that will just turn me off typically. Any suggestions? I've always felt like I've not played enough PS4 exclusives outside of Uncharted and Gran Tourismo.
 
I'm kind of in the same boat. I'm new to PS4 and not sure what Japanese game to really try out. My big constraint is that I really don't do well with hard games (so something like Nioh scares me away). I respect games where the difficulty is part of it, but that will just turn me off typically. Any suggestions? I've always felt like I've not played enough PS4 exclusives outside of Uncharted and Gran Tourismo.

If you didn't play a lot of PS2/3 stuff there are lots remasters that would be worth it. Nioh is good but Bloodborne would always be a better bet.
 
Guide: Upcoming PS4 Japanese Games in 2018

The last couple of years have been fantastic for Japanese games on PlayStation 4. The Land of the Rising Sun has knocked it out of the park in recent times, but from where we're sitting, 2018 could turn out to be the best period of all. The next 12 months are set to host a load of highly anticipated Japanese titles that span a bunch of different genres, so we've put together this guide on everything that's looking especially promising.

http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2018/01/guide_upcoming_ps4_japanese_games_in_2018


 
I just realized I owned Bloodborne and never played it. lol I will try that.

Anytime I fire up my PS4 I get sucked into Gran Tourismo, Destiny or something PSVR for some reason.
 
Anytime I fire up my PS4 I get sucked into Gran Tourismo
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You've come to the right place. There's no broader gaming library on a platform than the one available on PS4. Enjoy the ride.