I need some help rounding out my SFC collection...

[nellwyn5]

Hello,

I'm leaving Japan in a couple of weeks, but before I go I want to get some quality titles for my Super Famicom. Problem is, my knowledge of SFC titles is kind of small. I'm looking for games that I would have a problem finding in America once I get back. BTW, I am not interested in sports, racing, or pachinko games. Thanks for the help.

[Ed Oscuro]

First off, you might want some RPGs:

On the Nintendo side, try looking for Fire Emblem games. There's a good number for this system, though they're likely hard to find. They say "Fire Emblem" in plain text on front.

On the Square side, get Bahamut Lagoon.

Shin Megami Tensei is another great game. Looks more than a little dated, but it's worth a buy.

All Japanese text ingame for those, but they're great games.

You might be interested in getting the following as well:

common titles:
Super Metroid, Zelda 3, Contra Spirits (i.e. Contra 3,) Akumajo Dracula (Super CV 4 in Japan, the cover artwork looks QUITE different...gotta picture if you want it) and Akumajo Dracula XX if you feel so inclined (slightly less common) whatever Donkey Kong Country titles you can find. Chohmakaimura (Super G'nG) and especially, ESPECIALLY Demon's Blazon (plain English text on this one's cover). That last one might not be too common, but this game...yeah, if you've played it on the SNES you know it's a real gem.

Shooters:
Parodius and...agh, I forgot.

[Kid Fenris]

Grab Front Mission if you can. It's an excellent Squaresoft/G-Craft strategy game with highly helpful English menus. Seiken Densetsu 3, Romancing Saga 2, Treasure Hunter G, Bahamut Lagoon, and Romancing Saga 3 are also nice selections from the Square stable, even if they're mostly in Japanese.

Tenchi Souzou is another one I'd suggest, since I consider it the best action/RPG ever released on the SFC/SNES. It's an amazing title that mixes some Actraiser-style world-building with quick combat. Released in Europe and Japan but not in America, it's the third chapter in a trilogy that also includes Soul Blazer and Illusion of Gaia.

Popful Mail is another great action/RPG, and it's different from the SegaCD version that we all know over here.

Fire Emblem's a fine strategy series, and a curiosity, being the only major Nintendo franchise that was never released in America. (There's hope for the GBA titles, though.)

Tales of Phantasia and Star Ocean are both gorgeous, involving RPGs that show just how much developers could do with Nintendo's 16-bit hardware. Even if you don't go for RPGs, these two are almost worth owning just as system showcases.

Then there's Emerald Dragon. It's a weaker version of the TurboCD/PC title, but it's still quite enjoyable and easy to get into.

Tengai Makyo Zero is a good buy if you want an RPG that avoids medieval fantasy stereotypes without being drab.

Dragon Warrior V and VI are also worth getting, provided you don't mind a lot of battles.

As for genres other than RPGs, check out Battle Tycoon if you dig fighters. It looks primitive, but it's fun, especially when you play around with the RPG-like Advance Mode.

For a solid shooter, see if you can track down Pop n' Twin Bee, considered by many to be the highlight of the Twin Bee line.

[nellwyn5]

Alright, now I got a list. I can read Japanese, so I'll check those out. They happen to be 3 of my favorite genres, too. If any one else has any good recommendations, I'd still like to hear them. My fiance and I are going to a really cool retro game store in Osaka (she wants FF4), so I'm going to try to pick up as many as I can.

[hydr0x]

you should really get every rpg you see, if u don't like it at all (though most of them are great) or have a double you can easily sell them for profit or trade them here (i am working on an sfc rpg collection ;)

besides the mentioned games i would pick up every strategy game, like the Super Robot Taisen games, especially lord of elemental, man best strategy game on sfc

oh and u should get Super Final Match Tennis and perhaps try to get some of the satellaview games if u can

[maxlords]

For rare stuff:

Fire Emblem Thracia 776 ....DYING for that!
Gundam Wing: Endless Duel
Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension
Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie
Tenchi Souzou (Terranigma)

I also highly recommend the Go Go Ackman games...those are some FUN platformers!

[LinkNZ]

I am also dying for a copy of Fire Emblem Thracia 776 so if you see that it would not only give you a rare/sought after game - but also a very good one at that. :)

[hydr0x]

oh and one game we all forgot:

Rendering Ranger R², the last time i saw it on german ebay it was selled for 205? which is about $240, if u find more than one copy of that game pls pm me ;)

what would also be nice: some info about Metal Slader Glory Director's Cut, i still don't know if this was available as cart or not, it was the last sfc game but it was released by NP and i don't know in which way they released it



btw: don't get terranigma just to play it, if you want it because it's kinda rare...ok, but if u only want it because it's fun to play get a european version, it's english (at least the uk release, there is also a german release and i think a spanish too)

[nellwyn5]

OK, I went out to a local used game store and got the following for SFC:

Dark Half
Bahamut Lagoon
Terranigma
Dragon Warrior V (no map, but they knocked off a 1000 yen and I got it for 900)
Dragon Warrior VI

Everything is complete (cept for DW 5). The place is small, but they know me so I got some good deals (Terranigma was 1000 yen complete). I'm going to go hunting again tomorrow in this other local place I know. I've seen some craziness there, making me hope they have some of the rarer ones.

[petewhitley]

The thing is, having lived in Japan myself, most of these SFC (or other) Japanese games we view as rare are rare in Japan as well. It is actually often easier to find them on our Ebay than in Japanese game stores, even vintage game stores (of which there are many in Japan).

[gamergary]

Yu Yu Hakusho games
Dragon Ball (z) games
I also highly recommend the Go Go Ackman games.

[Bighab]

I recommend:
EarthLight(Military Madness clone)
Earthlight Lunar Strike
Arcus Odyssey(they say its better than the Genesis version)
Mobile Suit Gundam:Away to the Newtype
Feda:Emblem of Justice(similar to Shining Force)
Great Strategy Expert 1&2

[hydr0x]

ouch how could i forget great strategy expert, oh but wait, i said grab all strategy games ;)

[DDCecil]

Here are a couple of good recommendations:

Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai Taisen Pazurudama - A Konami Puzzle game based on an anime series. It is safe to say that this is one of my most favorite puzzle games ever.

Hebereke no Gishii Puzzle ha Irimasenka - A fun board game based on the Uforia series.

Parodius Series - All 3 are great. I like Gokujyou Parodius (The 2nd one the best).

Goemon Series - Another of my favorite series.

I see you picked the following up, but if you didn't, I would have recommened them anyways:

Dragon Quest VI (Playing through it right now, and even though I don't know Japanese, I'm still having a blast).
Tenchi Souzou

[Kid Fenris]

btw: don't get terranigma just to play it, if you want it because it's kinda rare...ok, but if u only want it because it's fun to play get a european version, it's english (at least the uk release, there is also a german release and i think a spanish too)

Don't you need a PAL console or some elaborate and expensive converter to play the European Tenchi Souzou/Terranigma on an American or Japanese system? And doesn't the English version run about seventy bucks at least?

[hydr0x]

not seventy, 20 or so ;)

yes you need an adapter or pal snes

[Mayhem]

@Maxlords/LinkNz

Fire Emblem 776 boxset (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3530694388)

Seller is very good as I've bought a lot of SFC items from him in the past...

[Bighab]

@Maxlords/LinkNz

Fire Emblem 776 boxset (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3530694388)

Seller is very good as I've bought a lot of SFC items from him in the past...

Thats a nice set. If I had the cash I would consider getting it.

[Ed Oscuro]

@Maxlords/LinkNz

Fire Emblem 776 boxset (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3530694388)

Seller is very good as I've bought a lot of SFC items from him in the past...

Thats a nice set. If I had the cash I would consider getting it.

Damnit! That's a VERY good price for that thing. If only I had an eBay account to use :/

[Mayhem]

Damnit! That's a VERY good price for that thing. If only I had an eBay account to use :/

Is it? Then I may well get it myself ;)

[Bighab]

Damnit! That's a VERY good price for that thing. If only I had an eBay account to use :/

Is it? Then I may well get it myself ;)

And indeed you did :D I am going to try Yahoo Japan to see if I can find it cheaper. It is a very nice set though.

[BenT]

Ask for Umihara Kawase. It should be cheap (mine was around $10) and is like Bionic Commando with a little girl and semi-realistic physics. There are also two updates for it on PSX.

[Kid Fenris]

Ask for Umihara Kawase. It should be cheap (mine was around $10) and is like Bionic Commando with a little girl and semi-realistic physics. There are also two updates for it on PSX.

There are two Umihara Kawase sequels? I thought there was just one, known as Umihara Kawase Shun. What's the other called?

[BenT]

The second PSX title was Umihara Kawase Syun Second Edition. I have that but lack the original PSX release, and from what I understand SE just has some different fields (levels) and is missing some FMV or something similar that was in the original Syun.

[badinsults]

Umihara Kawase

One of the best games released on the snes/sfc. A must get.