10 Classic Japanese GameCube Games ( That Never Got An American Release)
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10 Classic GameCube Games That Are Still Stuck In Japan
The Nintendo Gamecube had a ton of classic titles but some awesome games are Japanese only and never got an American release. Donkey Kong anyone? The GameCube is one of the most underappreciated consoles of all time. Admittedly, while it didn't sell well during its lifespan, the games are what gave it some extra leverage. Some of the best first-party titles hold upwards to, and among fans, they're some of their favorite games to date. But what about all the games that American consumers never got to play? What is the fate of those, and is there any way to properly play them? Let's check out 10 classic GameCube games that are still stuck in Japan. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY Ohenro-San
It made a lot of sense that Ohenro-San was released only in Japan. This peaceful simulation game takes you through the Shikoku region of Japan, stopping at various temples to offer prayers. This game was made with the Japanese population in mind. For the people who couldn't see these places easily, it was perfect and probably satisfying. It's a shame because for this game tracks your steps and wasn't used for anything else. Imagine if you could see how far you traveled with Olimar! Lupin The 3rd Lost Treasure By The Sea
Based on the anime film of the same name, Lupin the Third: Lost Treasure by the Sea released in Japan on July 31, 2003. The Lupin the Third franchise has been going on since the 70s, with almost every iteration getting attention from American anime companies. Even Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli worked on Lupin with the classic film The Castle of Cagliostro. From the gameplay, it looks like they simply took footage from the anime and overlaid it with one or two dialogue options. Strangely enough, the anime has a dub, so you're not really missing out on playing it. Hikaru No Go 3
Hikaru No Go 3 shares a similar fate with the gentleman thief. While all chapters are available in English and the anime has a dub, the video games didn't get as much attention. The popularity of this series in Japan is no joke: the manga sold 25 million copies. Basing it off the Japanese game of Go, they brought this series to the video game market. For fans of the series, you get to play as all your favorite characters and experience it in 3D. Well, that is if you were born in Japan. Luckily, Go is universal and anyone can learn. Zoids Vs III
At number 8, this robot battle game has titles spanning back to the Commodore 64. The Vs. Titles were released exclusively for the GameCube. Zoids Vs. III specifically offered the improvement of four-player split-screen battles. It's sort of like Godzilla: King of Monsters: fun for the whole family. Unfortunately, only some of these games are available in English. Vs. is not one of them. Unless you're willing to emulate, they're tough to get your hands on. The most recent title, Zoids Wild: King of Beasts, has no implication of coming to the states. If not understanding Japanese doesn't bother you, the is region free. Doshin the Giant
Have you ever wanted to play as a giant yellow creature playing the role of god? Smiling, lurching around? Doshin the Giant satisfies that wish. In the game, you can send seismic waves to make sure people stay happy, and this makes Doshin happy. If you want to make Doshin an evil tyrant, you can. He has the power, then, to destroy. It's a balanced give and take experience that leaves the decision to you--the player. The game received a PAL release, but nothing for us. It is stuck within the library of time as a relic of long ago. A benevolent god, Doshin is not. Homeland
Homeland is a large video game by GameCube standards. It is the only non-Phantasy Star Online title that uses online capabilities--and you can play with up to 36 players. While it can be played in single-player mode, strength in numbers is truly the name of the game. Despite Phantasy Star Online having servers in North America, Homeland did not. We'll never know what it's like, interacting with people from all walks of life, considering the servers shut down in 2007. Nintendo Puzzle Collection
There's not much to this game that would cause a fuss in the localization process. All the games included--Yoshi's Cookie, Panel de Pon (Tetris Attack overseas), and Dr. Mario 64--were all released in North America on earlier consoles. Some critics expressed this point clearly in their reviews. It just didn't make much sense. A demo at E3 2003 was the last thing seen before it disappeared. It's not as if these games can't be played at all, but a collection with updated music and graphics would have been a nice item for puzzle game fans. GiFTPiA
An interesting entry, GiFTPiA had a localization planned. The trailer played at E3 2003 with an Animal Crossing-esque camera angle and aesthetic. It had the minds of Kenshi Nishi and Keita Eto behind it, who may be best remembered for the critically acclaimed Chrono Trigger. So when the announcement came that it would not be released in America, a good number of people were confused. While we may never see the likes of this game, the company, Skip Ltd., went on to create Chibi-Robo, which did release for Kururin Squash
This amusing puzzle game is part of the larger Kururin series in which you must avoid the walls at all costs. The main character is cute giving off an illusion of easy difficulty, but the gameplay is a lot harder than it looks. The game garnered the status of Player's Choice and Greatest Hits with the respective PlayStation versions. The Helirin, a spinning device you control in the game, has made appearances in the Super Smash Bros. franchise. Other than that, the little bird has yet to find his footing here. Donkey Konga 3
And the most peculiar case of them all: Donkey Konga 3. Both Donkey Konga games are available in the U.S. albeit with different tracks. With our version, you have tracks from the likes of Smash Mouth, Devo, and R.E.M. In Japan, that's not the case. They have tracks from the openings of anime and from popular J-Pop groups. Only one year after the release of Donkey Konga 2 did Japan receive the third in 2005. Considering the one-year discrepancy between North American and Japanese releases, that gives us a whole year of music to choose from, such as the popular albums by Gorillaz or Arctic Monkeys. By 2005, however, the GameCube was past its prime. That status might have played a pivotal role in the decision not to bring this game overseas. The Donkey Konga bongos are still some of the most charming items from that era, and people still use them for