Opinions on Japan-Only Content

[Spellman]

This topic is addressing characters, stages and themes that originated from games that only appeared in Japan making their worldwide debut in Brawl.

Super Smash Bros. Melee may have had some Japan only content, but I think we have reason to believe that Brawl will have more, based on the variety we've had so far, and the completely obscure Gameboy title music that was shown off today. With Melee, they had the intent of bringing some of the franchises that never emigrated from Japan, using the Gameboy Advance which sported SNES style style graphics for old Fire Emblem games, and the Gamecube for new ones. The majority of Japan-only stuff was mostly restricted to the trophy section though, so it wasn't exactly intrusive in the sense that we had to see it all the time.

Like I say, with the completely obscure title like X being referenced, and maybe the most controversial character of them all, Lucas, there has been some debates. Now there's a few ways you could look at it. You could look at it as a learning experience, sometimes it's pretty neat to look up stuff you've never seen before, as Smash Bros. is becoming a Nintendo-And-Beyond encyclopedia for old games. And I know that plenty of people are pining for characters like Staffy to make an appearance. However, you could also use it as a reason to be P.O'd at all the games that we'll never get, and just the fact that it has no significance to us because we will probably haven't played those games and never will.

How do you feel about Japan only content in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl?

 

[Hmaal]

UNfair!! Make it equal for all!

 

[tirkaro]

It should be obvious that I'm a japan-only freak (me being a takamaru supporter and all)

I feel there should, and will, be more japan-only content. Smash representation shouldn't be solely restricted to worldwide releases. It could help and revive a character's franchise, and help them attain worldwide popularity(look what it did to fire emblem) and is cool for that "Whoah, ____ is cool, but WTF is s/he!?" factor for the uninformed.(although for me, an obscure game freak, I just like going "haha, I know a character that you don't know about!" in the uninformed one's faces). And a lot of the coolest and most unique characters are japan-only.

I feel that certain people dislike japan-only characters, since they tend to dislike the unknown, and only wish for well-known characters they know about. While I strongly disagree with them, I can see where they come from. But I believe smash xenophobia is a bit ridiculous, and I would love seeing characters I never knew about, so I can find out more information about them.

so, if you were able to understand that quickly slapped together paragraph, I feel like there should and will be more japan-only content. There are plenty of japan-exclusives that would make great and unique characters. and, to me, figuring out a bunch of obscure facts about games I never knew about was half the fun in melee.

 

[Mega-Ridley-Knight-Man]

Japan only characters... I say they are great. And tirkaro: Takamaru FTW!

But seriously Nintendo IS Japan. By the way if JK1 ever reads this thread, im all for Lucas!

 

[WaterToFire]

Super Smash Bros. Melee may have had some Japan only content, but I think we have reason to believe that Brawl will have more, based on the variety we've had so far, and the completely obscure Gameboy title music that was shown off today. With Melee, they had the intent of bringing some of the franchises that never emigrated from Japan, using the Gameboy Advance which sported SNES style style graphics for old Fire Emblem games, and the Gamecube for new ones. The majority of Japan-only stuff was mostly restricted to the trophy section though, so it wasn't exactly intrusive in the sense that we had to see it all the time.

Like I say, with the completely obscure title like X being referenced, and maybe the most controversial character of them all, Lucas, there has been some debates. Now there's a few ways you could look at it. You could look at it as a learning experience, sometimes it's pretty neat to look up stuff you've never seen before, as Smash Bros. is becoming a Nintendo-And-Beyond encyclopedia for old games. And I know that plenty of people are pining for characters like Staffy to make an appearance. However, you could also use it as a reason to be P.O'd at all the games that we'll never get, and just the fact that it has no significance to us because we will probably haven't played those games and never will.

How do you feel about Japan only content in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl?

I will be extremely pissed off if my copy of Brawl has less in it than some Japanese guy's. If it's limited to stickers/trophies I'll be all right, but I want all the characters, whether I've heard of them or not.

 

[tirkaro]

I will be extremely pissed off if my copy of Brawl has less in it than some Japanese guy's. If it's limited to stickers/trophies I'll be all right, but I want all the characters, whether I've heard of them or not.

thats not what he meant by japan-only content -.-

 

[Spellman]

I will be extremely pissed off if my copy of Brawl has less in it than some Japanese guy's. If it's limited to stickers/trophies I'll be all right, but I want all the characters, whether I've heard of them or not.

Oh, haha, that is true, I'd be kind of mad at any of the Japan-only characters made an appearance in the Japanese Brawl and not in the American Brawl.

thats not what he meant by japan-only content -.-

But you're right.

 

[Hmaal]

We know N is Japan but thats no reason to shun the rest of the outside world from exclusivity.

 

[bballstar23]

It should be obvious that I'm a japan-only freak (me being a takamaru supporter and all)

I feel there should, and will, be more japan-only content. Smash representation shouldn't be solely restricted to worldwide releases. It could help and revive a character's franchise, and help them attain worldwide popularity(look what it did to fire emblem) and is cool for that "Whoah, ____ is cool, but WTF is s/he!?" factor for the uninformed.(although for me, an obscure game freak, I just like going "haha, I know a character that you don't know about!" in the uninformed one's faces). And a lot of the coolest and most unique characters are japan-only.

I feel that certain people dislike japan-only characters, since they tend to dislike the unknown, and only wish for well-known characters they know about. While I strongly disagree with them, I can see where they come from. But I believe smash xenophobia is a bit ridiculous, and I would love seeing characters I never knew about, so I can find out more information about them.

so, if you were able to understand that quickly slapped together paragraph, I feel like there should and will be more japan-only content. There are plenty of japan-exclusives that would make great and unique characters. and, to me, figuring out a bunch of obscure facts about games I never knew about was half the fun in melee.

I really don't understand the problem people have with Japan-only characters. There may have been factors then that prevented for the creation or expansion of a game that don't apply now. If Nintendo sees a character such as Stafy or Takamaru become popular in Brawl here in America, they may decide to release new games here.

I will be extremely pissed off if my copy of Brawl has less in it than some Japanese guy's. If it's limited to stickers/trophies I'll be all right, but I want all the characters, whether I've heard of them or not.

I agree; I want to be able to play as all characters

 

[tirkaro]

We know N is Japan but thats no reason to shun the rest of the outside world from exclusivity.

but that's not what he meant. He meant content in brawl that comes from japan-only franchises, but it will still be released worldwide.
But yeah, it would suck greatly if nintendo tried to pull that. But luckily it wont happen, since we have lucas.

I really don't understand the problem people have with Japan-only characters. There may have been factors then that prevented for the creation or expansion of a game that don't apply now. If Nintendo sees a character such as Stafy or Takamaru become popular in Brawl here in America, they may decide to release new games here.

exactly.

 

[Spellman]

I don't mind Japan-only content. I don't get as excited over a Dojo update that has an untranslated Fire Emblem song as I do an update about Samus Aran, but it doesn't hurt the game for me.

The only issue I have is with Lucas. Earthbound being one of my favorite games, if not my very favorite, I am pretty mad about him being in this and not Ness. Now I know we've heard this again and again and we've all learned to get over it, but it still bugs me. It would be fine if they'd just release Mother 3 here (or Earthbound 2, I'd prefer it if they called it that), but it really feels like we're never going to get it. The Gameboy Advance is pretty much dead besides the odd CGI movie to game release, so we won't be able to see it on the console it was launched. I really doubt they'll rework a game with such questionable graphics for the DS (the same reason why the SNES Earthbound failed in America), and as for the WiiWare Channel... well it's the only place I can see it happening, but that would make it pretty low budget, and I doubt they'd take the time to localize an RPG that big just so a few people download it. I can't believe the guys at Starmen.net have to do it themselves. Earthbound better come out on the Virtual Console at least (and hopefully Earthbound Zero aswell; I'd pay the extra 100 points for the imported title.).

But I'm ranting too much about Earthbound now. Most content doesn't irk me, and I like the surprises generally. I remember being pretty excited when I unlocked Marth and Roy in Smash Bros. Melee, we were all like: "Woa, who the heck are these guys?" That was pretty sweet.

 

[Coselm]

The only reason Japan doesn't send all of their franchises to America is because they know we will just end up better at every game they make.

Just like America had the best melee players... hands down.

 

[S2]

I don't think Sakurai is going to have any problems dropping Japan-only characters and references.

If anything, Nintendo learned with Melee's release that Smash is a good testing ground for untranslated properties.

Fire Emblem came over simply because of Marth and Roy's popularity.

The thing is, that there are so many obscure characters anyways, that the average player probably won't know which characters were Japanese only or simply just old characters. When I say average, I mean pre-teens and younger as well as casual players. My friend and I brought a Cube and Melee to a youth group he works at and the kids there (big videogame players) didn't even recognize who Claptrap was in Jungle Japes.

At this point, stuff like simple DKC references and such aren't really recognizable to most people. Older gamers take for granted that kids who grew up past many of these games, don't actually know many of the references in Smash. I don't think it makes them like Smash any less, but the nostalgic factor of the series is clearly geared towards the older gamer and the hardcore Nintendo enthusiast.

The people who are hardcore enough about Nintendo to recognize the obscure characters that are already here are probably going to know what the Japanese -only stuff is anyways.

 

[Coselm]

I have been a Nintendo fan since my first video game system (SNES). Since then, I have been an avid fan of Donkey Kong, Star Fox, Mario, Pokemon (not after 3rd grade though lol), Zelda, and other, but I was never so hardcore that I looked up japan-only franchises. Melee was the first game to open my eyes to the fact that not all of Nintendo's games make it to America.

 

[i rise]

The only reason Japan doesn't send all of their franchises to America is because they know we will just end up better at every game they make.

Just like America had the best melee players... hands down.

although funny, obviously not true. a lot of the reason games don't make it over here is simply cause america is not ready for them and it wouldn't be profitable. nintendo learned that from earthbound. sure it's a great game and one of my favorite games of all time.. but it didn't sell well at all when it came out.

here's to hoping for them to release all 3 mother games on one DS cart.

edit: a good example of this is how super mario bros. 2 is not even a mario game in japan. to get sales in america they changed it to a mario themed game cause they knew it wouldn't sell well in it's original form.

 

[Stado]

This is what I've been thinking all along.

While Sakurai may very well make an attempt to consider the world stage in general when it comes to the inclusion of various contents, it doesn't seem likely (or at all possible) that he'd do this all that much, if at all. I mean, he's human; foremost, Sakurai's going to consider his own tastes and opinions, and then he's going to look into what it is that the Japanese market might want in Brawl. And guess what, Sakurai's Japanese. The rest of the world comes third, of Which North America probably takes up a good 80-90% of that. I don't think Sakurai (or Nintendo) considers the opinions of Europeans in the slightest, which is sad, but human. Poor Isaac...

 

[Devotion]

Yes, I love Japan only content. It makes the game more diverse and makes me wanna explore more Japan only series

 

[Erimir]

I think... they should put in Japan-only content, fine.

But they should also include at least some content that was never released in Japan, too. Show us that obscure American crap matters too!

 

[Cless]

Most obscure American stuff sucks.

The more stuff the better, no matter what country it comes from. Gives me more things to look up and play.

 

[Super Smash Master]

Takamaru, Demille, and Sukapon for Brawl! Claus too!

 

[RedKnight]

It sucks...

 

[Fanewgie]

My only problem with japan-only content is how Sakurai said he didn't want to put that much of it into Brawl. He pulled a Blizzard, doing something that he precisely said he wouldn't.

I hate Lucas with an extreme passion, but if his inclusion means a US release of Mother 3, I think it'll wind up being worth it. However I think that release seems pretty unlikely. Gameboy is a dying breed.

I would like to see some US-only content along side the japan-only content. But, oh wait, we don't have any! I think the closest thing we ever had to US-only content was Rare, and that's already out of the question. The only other thing I can immediately think of is the Elite Beat Agents and Earthworm Jim.

 

[DeuceBlade]

Its quite clear that Nintendo is pro-japan, I mean its even made clearer by the Donkey kong franchise.

 

[Cless]

I would like to see some US-only content along side the japan-only content. But, oh wait, we don't have any! I think the closest thing we ever had to US-only content was Rare, and that's already out of the question. The only other thing I can immediately think of is the Elite Beat Agents and Earthworm Jim.

EBA is the American version of Ouendan.

 

[Fanewgie]

EBA is the American version of Ouendan.

I know, that was my exact point. If the franchise is represented in Brawl (most likely as an AT), what are the chances of the American agents showing compared to the changes of the Japanese agents showing? Not very good, I bet.

 

[Arteen]

I would like to see some US-only content along side the japan-only content. But, oh wait, we don't have any! I think the closest thing we ever had to US-only content was Rare, and that's already out of the question. The only other thing I can immediately think of is the Elite Beat Agents and Earthworm Jim.

StarTropics.

 

[kashikomarimashita]

Im fine with Japan-only content as long as the remaining 3rd party character/s are known worldwide.

AS for US-only stuff. You would be surprised how many titles never make it to Japan. When I went back home last summer I couldnt believe all the Wii and Xbox360 games that were out in the States. It was like almost double the titles being sold in Japan (especially the Xbox titles). Of course the majority of the extra titles were sports and movie based games, but nonetheless they have yet to appear here.

 

[Spellman]

StarTropics.

Woah nelly, I loved that game, I didn't even realize it was made in America. Nice pick.

 

[Cless]

AS for US-only stuff. You would be surprised how many titles never make it to Japan. When I went back home last summer I couldnt believe all the Wii and Xbox360 games that were out in the States. It was like almost double the titles being sold in Japan (especially the Xbox titles). Of course the majority of the extra titles were sports and movie based games, but nonetheless they have yet to appear here.

I'd rather have some of those Japan only titles.

 

[ComradeCanada]

Another American gem is the Secret of Evermore.

 

[silver777]

I'd rather have some of those Japan only titles.

Me too, Stafy is the perfect pick, His series is still continuing, and he is considered the most popular Japan-only character, Brawl is the perfect place for him to shine.

If Japan only content will bring something like Fire Emblem to us, Then bring it!!

 

[Cless]

Eh, that was ok. I didn't like it as much as the Seiken Densetsu's.

 

[silver777]

Eh, that was ok. I didn't like it as much as the Seiken Densetsu's.

what's that?

 

[Cless]

Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, and Seiken Densetsu 3.

 

[kashikomarimashita]

I'd rather have some of those Japan only titles.

For the next gen consoles you are not missing much. Aside from some lame pachinko/ majong/ sports games most titles end up in the States after a delay at worst. However, the PS2 is a different story. There a gajillion titles that US gamers will never know of. A shame really.

 

[Cless]

Well, yeah. I was mainly talking about the PS2. I hate burnt games and importing is expensive.

 

[Luke Groundwalker]

All I have to say is thank god for Japan-only content or otherwise the game would be extremely dull.

and he is considered the most popular Japan-only character, Brawl is the perfect place for him to shine.

Since when?

The most popular Japan-only character is Takamaru when it comes to most-wanted characters in Brawl, with Skapon being right behind him (and this is not basing on the poll). Stafy is one of the most popular but not the most popular. Although I would say the top Japan-only characters that have the highest chance is Takamaru, DeMille, Stafy, and Skapon.

 

[NigmaNoname]

Yes, I love Japan only content. It makes the game more diverse and makes me wanna explore more Japan only series

I don't understand this kind of statement. Japan-only implies that American gamers WONT see the content in the firstplace, causing them to not even have the opportunity to want to explore the series they come from.

In my opinion Japan-Only content is stupid. Why restrict content? If you don't want to play the characters, don't. I'm 99% sure the majority of all Smash gamers would want MORE characters, regardless of what series they come from. It's not OUR fault as Americans Nintendo didn't release Fire Emblem in the States.

Restricting characters is stupid. After I saw Marth and Roy for the first time, they became my favorite characters even though I had never played any Fire Emblem games at all, and caused me to be interested in the series. If you just take those characters out, you're not only needlessly depriving thousands of gamers from perfectly great content, but also hindering them from having a great experience meeting characters they haven't been able to see before.

Anyone who says otherwise is probably just an elitist who wants to boast the fact they have a Japanese Wii system- speak Japanese or something.

 

[DraginHikari]

Originally Marth and Roy were going to be removed from the Non-Asian verisons of the game... I can't recall the reason why they changed their mind but most are glad they didn't.

 

[Drclaw411]

i dont support Takamaru because his name sounds anime-ish, and NAH-roo-TOE is from anime. So...yeah NAH-roo-TOE suxorz and minimize the Japan only crap.