So we’ve finally received a new entry in the Dissidia Final Fantasy series, Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, but what you may not have known is that it is actually a port of a Japan-only arcade game that was released in 2015. It was quite big in the country, with Sega, Namco and Taito-owned arcades dedicating a large amount of floor space just to that game alone. At the time of its release, fans in the West could only dream of what the game might be like to play. As the years went by, it seemed like there was no chance of the game getting released outside of Japan. Lo and behold, people across the world are now playing it on their PS4s from the comfort of their own homes. The fantasy became reality.
But we can never be fully satisfied knowing just how many great games remain thousands of miles away, locked behind the paywall of a plane ticket. Japanese arcades are bustling with unique experiences that are just downright fun to play, and we westerners deserve to play them too. So here are five Japanese arcade games that need to come West.
Taiko no Tatsujin
5 Japanese Arcade Games That Need to Come West
Forget Rock Band. Forget Donkey Konga. If you want the most enjoyable drumming game, then look no further than Taiko no Tatsujin. This has been one of Japan’s most popular rhythm arcade franchises for years, so popular in fact that you may see imported versions of the machine floating around other parts of the world. It’s a game where you have to bang a giant taiko drum to the beat. There’s only one lane, and only three colored notes which indicate if you have to hit the center of the drum, the rim, or if you have to mash. Its simplicity is probably why this game captures so many different demographics. That’s not to say it can’t get challenging, however – it most certainly can be on harder difficulties.
This game technically has received a localized version in the form of Taiko: Drum Master on PS2, but that was a very long time ago, and it was only one entry. Japan has seen over 20 Taiko no Tatsujin titles outside of arcades across the PS2, PSP, PS Vita, DS, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, and most recently, the PS4; there’s also a Switch game in the works. Is it so much to ask for just one new release to come to the West?
Check out this video if you want to see just how much fun you can have playing Taiko no Tatsujin, and then be sad that we don’t have it.
Lord of Vermilion
5 Japanese Arcade Games That Need to Come West
Do you remember Dinosaur King? It was an arcade game released in 2005 that doubled as a trading card game. Each time you inserted a credit token, the arcade cabinet would spit out a card that you could use with the game.
One of Japan’s most popular collectible card arcade games is Lord of Vermilion. If you like MOBAs, Magic: The Gathering, and Nobuo Uematsu, (and I’m sure there’s lots of people that like all three of these), then you’ll love Lord of Vermilion. Your cards become your units on the battlefield, and your objective is to push through your enemies’ defenses and break their arcane stones. The Lords of Vermilion mini-game in Final Fantasy XIV was actually a parody of this game. There have been a number of crossovers with Final Fantasy, Romancing Saga, King of Fighters, and Magic: The Gathering.
If they could find a way to bring Lord of Vermilion over to the West, even if it remains an arcade exclusive, it could be a huge hit in today’s gaming climate. Gacha systems are in so many games today, like Fire Emblem Heroes, the mobile Final Fantasy games, and all of the games on consoles that feature loot boxes. Plus, collectible card opening videos is a genre that is booming on YouTube right now. People love the dopamine rush that comes from the randomness of these systems; if you combine that with a genuinely good arcade game where the cards that you get are actually useful, why wouldn’t this game be a hit in the West?
Mario Kart Arcade GP VR
5 Japanese Arcade Games That Need to Come West
If you’ve ever had a go on one of the Mario Kart Arcade GP games, you know that they’re a blast to play, and are quite a varied experience from the console versions of Mario Kart. But if you want something that’s completely different, then you’ll want to take a trip down to VR Zone Shinjuku where you can experience Mario Kart in VR. You can drive around Peach’s castle next to some of your favorite Mario characters, avoiding piranha plants and throwing green shells. Who wouldn’t want to try it?
Unfortunately, not many people will get the opportunity to do so. Nintendo has already said that there aren’t any current plans to bring VR to the Switch, so we won’t see this on a console any time soon. Most Japanese people probably won’t even get the chance to play it, as Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is currently exclusive to VR Zone Shinjuku. Hopefully they’ll at least bring one or two of the machines outside of the country. It’s a shame that so many people will miss out on this unique experience.
Chunithm
5 Japanese Arcade Games That Need to Come West
Japanese arcades are absolutely full of rhythm games, and Chunithm is another fantastic one. It’s a mix of the word ‘tune’ and ‘rhythm.’ Get it? It’s a silly title, but it makes more sense than Theatrhythm, in any case.
The game is played with several touch panels that you have to touch and slide your finger across in time to the notes onscreen. It’s sort of like playing a piano, minus the tactile feedback of pressing the keys down. It’s much more complex than something like Taiko no Tatsujin, but when you get in the zone, it’s something else. Although it doesn’t quite play in the same way, I’d compare the sensation that you get from the visuals and audio to something like Rez.
This is probably a game that would play best on an arcade machine, but there’s definitely ways that they could port it to a handheld. The Switch, Vita, and mobile devices come to mind. The touch panel could be replicated at the bottom of the screen. Games like Voez, Deemo, and Superbeat Xonic work great on those systems, and Chunithm could fit right alongside those.
World Club Champion Football
5 Japanese Arcade Games That Need to Come West
Now this one needs to come to the West. World Club Champion Football is like Lord of Vermilion in that it is a collectible card game where the cards function as playable characters in the arcade game, but instead of fantasy characters, you collect real life football players.
Doesn’t that sound a tiny bit like FIFA’s very successful Ultimate Team mode? In FIFA Ultimate Team, you buy and open packs which give you players that you can add to your squad. It’s been around since FIFA 09 and has grown to be what is probably the most popular mode in the games. YouTube and Twitch are filled with FIFA Ultimate Team content – people love it. But it’s missing one vital component: tangible cards. Behold World Club Champion Football. It’s basically FIFA Ultimate Team but with real cards that you can collect. With the popularity of Ultimate Team and the rise in collectible card game popularity in the West, it’s a no-brainer.
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