Feature: Stranded! The Top 25 Games that Haven't Come to America Subscribe to this RSS feed

We've picked the 24 best Japanese games (and one European game) that unjustly never made it to US shores.

As great as the strides the US has made in the console gaming industry, the fact remains that many of the biggest players have Japan (and some, Europe) as the primary focus. Many of these companies create titles that have little to no chance of seeing a stateside release, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, the game requires too many resources to translate. Other times, the content is based off licenses that are unfamiliar to us 'mericans. And every once in a while, fate likes to kick us in the crotch by denying a select few, ready-for-US titles because the company's just too lazy to press new discs.

While we're graced every so often with a rare gem from Japan years after an original release in the form of compilations (see Final Fantasy II, III, and V), there are still many games that we're likely to never see stateside. Here's the The Top 25 Games that Won't Come to America!

Table of Contents

Page 1....25-21
Page 2...20-16
Page 3....15-11
Page 4....10-6
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25- Suikoden I and II (PSP)

While US audiences can technically play these two classic RPGs getting ahold of them is pretty difficult, with the second one fetching over $100 on eBay. Konami re-released both Suikoden I and II on a single UMD in Japan recently with some slight upgrades. Unfortunately, the title sold only slightly better than a case of STD-infected syringes, so plans to port the cheap and convenient two-for-one deal to the US have all but disappeared.

24- Cho Aniki Seinaru Protein Densetsu (PS2)

Bizarre Japanese premise? Check. Extreme levels of sexuality? Check. Great gameplay? Okay... by all accounts, this game isn't very good, but it bears mentioning that a space-shooter featuring scantily-clad men as ships flying across a land soaked with "Holy Protein" would pique interest anywhere.

Having recently gained attention due to its controversial content, there's no better time for the US to get a dose of Holy Protein. This is the kind of game you want to whip out to showcase how crazy Japanese games can get.

23- Psyvariar 2: The Will to Fabricate (Sega Dreamcast)

Vertical shooters are a hard sell to most American gamers, which means we miss out on quite a lot of amazing games like this classic shooter. Unlike most shmups, which make your ship more brittle than grandma's knees, Psyvariar 2 encourages you to risk near-death with an almost-indestructible ship. Released for multiple consoles in 2004, Psyvariar 2 even warranted a Dreamcast release, which speaks volumes of its quality.

22- Shining Force III Scenarios 2&3 (Sega Saturn)

Why the screwballs behind this addictive and fun strategy RPG only released the first scenario in the US is up there with trying to figure out how to hog tie a contortionist. If you want to find out how the whole things ends up you'll have to scour the net for fan translations. '

21 Densha de Go! Shinkansen EX: Sanyou Shinkansen Hen (Nintendo Wii)

Conducting trains may not be the cat's meow in the States, but in Japan gamers can strap on their engineers hats and control a commuter train. This bundle comes with a cumbersome controller that really makes transporting passengers, uh... fun?

While conducting a train may not be the most exciting of tasks, some US gamers may find enjoyment out of the many Japanese job sims on the market. With the interactivity of the Wii Remote, there may be no better time than now.