RGN Feature Article:
Top 10 Rare PlayStation 3 Imports – PART TWO
5. Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 (2007)
[BCJS-30010 / Japan]
My Summer Vacation 3 is the translated title of this game very unique PS3 game. It’s actually the third game in a long running series that initially began life on the PS1 with a second installment finding a PS2 release. In Japan it has been so successful that the series has made it into it’s third incarnation on the PS3. Each game follows the working formula very closely mainly changing just the story and characters while the rest of the games remains essentially the same. That is not at all a bad thing as the game is a very unique, interesting and entertainment experience quite unlike any other game I’ve ever played. It follows an adventurous little boy called “Boku” (literally means “you” in Japanese) who is taken by train to visit his Uncle’s house during the Summer school holidays while his mother enters her final month of pregnancy. This must be a common cultural practice in Japan, it’s something that I have not heard of any other culture’s doing, but is repeated in each game. Boku spends a month away from his home at his Uncle’s which is a new environment for him. He spends his days exploring, talking with people, catching stag beetles and battling them, swimming, fishing, collecting insects and many other activities. It’s a really fun and relaxing style of game with lots to do and multiple endings depending on the choices you make. Unfortunately this one is completely in Japanese which makes it inaccessible for the average English speaking gamer. However there is patch on the internet that translates the 2nd game in the series into English which makes it playable for people not fluent in Japanese. This game is on the cheaper side compared to other imports in the list, starting from around $60 AU for a complete copy.
4. Railfan: Taiwan High Speed Rail (2007)
[BLJS-10012 / Japan] [BCAS-20073 / Asia]
Have you ever wondered to yourself why Japan seems to get all the good games? Well it’s because of games like this one that makes me wonder that. Obviously this type of game isn’t for everyone but I absolutely love simulation games, from the ubiquitous flight simulator to truck simulators, bus simulators, city and industry building simulators and almost any other kind of simulation you can think of are my kind of games. There is something about a simulation game, it provides you with a unique opportunity to be in control of something that you would otherwise not get the chance to experience in your entire life unless it’s your profession. To other people a train simulator might be as exciting as watching grass grow but to me and many others its a gateway to experience the world in the eyes of a train operator and be in control of a the heaviest land hauling vehicles that human civilization has to offer. This is where “Railfan: Taiwan High Speed Rail” comes in. A blessing to all train enthusiasts from those who enjoy building model trains to those who like train watching and comparing specifications of different types of real-life trains. This game puts you in the seat of the train driver of the Taiwan High Speed Rail and gives you a realistic experience of driving through the real life train line, collecting passengers at each stop before continuing the journey to the end of the line. As luck would have it this game doesn’t just have a Japanese version but it was also released in Asia and therefore has the option to experience this game in English. If you want to play this game in English then make sure you get the right version, you want the Asian release which will set you back at least $200 AUD. The Japanese version is a bit cheaper but it has no English option.
3. Railfan: Chicago Transit Authority Brown Line (2006 / 2007)
[BLJM-60013 / Japan] [BCAS-20007 / Asia] [BLKS-20010 / Korea]
This is the first game in the train simulation Railfan series which is why the title “Railfan” is featured prominently on the front cover and “Chicago Transit Authority Brown Line” is printed in small letters in the top right corner. This game is very similar to it’s sequel however in this one you are in control of the Chicago Transit Authority Brown Line train system as well as two other Japanese train lines: the JR East Chūō Main Line in Tokyo and the KER Keihan Main Line in Kyoto, Osaka. This game had three releases the Japanese, Asian and Korean versions. The Asian version is completely in Japanese apart from the operation sheet which is in Chinese / English. I am not sure about whether the Korean version has any English or not as I have not been able to find any images of the back cover or information as to whether it is in English. Until I get that information it’s safe to assume that this game is in Japanese only apart from the operation sheet contained in the Asian version which has some English. This game is sold starting at $80 AUD and upwards for a complete copy of the Japanese version.
2. Afrika / Hakuna Matata (2008)
[BCJS-30021 / Japan] [BCAS-20062 / Asia] [BCKS-10063 / Korea] [BLUS-30399 / North America]
Now as we are nearing the end of the list the accessibility to English speakers get’s a lot better starting with this game developed by Natsume. It’s called “Afrika” in North America and “Hakuna Matata” in the Asian version. If you have seen the Disney classic movie “The Lion King” then you will instantly know where the Asian version get’s it’s name from. The movie must be very well known in that region and possibly not so much in the USA since they decided to give it a different name in that region. As you might have guessed from the title the game does take place in Africa. Your player is a photographer for National Geographic (who were involved in publishing of this game) and your job is to take photos for clients of wild animals in the African savannah. It’s a completely different style of game, like many of the games on this list it has a more relaxed pace of gameplay compared to the fast and frantic pace of the action style games that gamers have gotten used to. It may even be a bit boring at times as all you do is photograph animals and the player interaction is quite limited. Still it’s a great game and a unique experience. The game has several English versions but is also in Japanese. Expect to pay about $100 AU and upwards for a complete copy of an English version. If you would like to add this game to your collection it is currently for sale in our webstore.
1. Aquanauts Holiday: Kakusareta Kiroku / Hidden Memories (2008)
[BCJS-30023 / Japan] [BCAS-20054 / Asia] [BCAS-20064 / Asia (eng+ chn)] [BCKS-10067 / Korea]
Here we are, we have finally reached the number 1 game on the list of top 10 imports for the PS3. I have saved the best for last as this really is the best game on the list considering everything for an English speaking gamer. This is probably the most enjoyable game since Boku no Natsuyasumi 3 is in Japanese, if it had English subtitles then that game would be #1 instead. However this really is an excellent game and is actually one that I’m playing through at the moment. Once again we are presented with an entirely different type of game than the usual fare we normally see. This game has a very relaxed pace to it as it is an exploration based game. Your character is a reporter who is investigating the disappearance of a researcher at a marine research facility on a tropical island. For some reason the marine base personnel give you access to their diving submersible called the Dolphin 2 which you take control of to explore the crystal blue waters surrounding the facility. You follow the cryptic clues left behind by the missing researcher and start to discover some very strange and unusual things. It soon becomes philosophical as you discover many mysteries and other anomalies beneath the tropical island’s waves. The game always remains exciting despite it’s relaxed pace of gameplay as you are always wondering what you are going to discover next. The game was developed by Artdink in 2008 with a number of versions being released. Make sure you get the correct version so that you can enjoy the game in English. This game is highly sought after by PS3 collectors so expect to pay a handsome sum to get your hands on a complete copy of any region.
