Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents Japanese Video Game Obscurities

Japan has produced thousands of intriguing video games. But not all of them were released outside of the country, especially not in the 1980s and 90s. While a few of these titles have since been documented by the English-speaking video game community, a huge proportion of this output is unknown beyond Japan (and even, in some cases, within it). Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: Japanese Video Game Obscurities seeks to catalogue many of these titles – games that are weird, compelling, cool or historically important. The selections represent a large number of genres – platformers, shoot-em-ups, role-playing games, adventure games – across nearly four decades of gaming on arcade, computer and console platforms. Featuring the work of giants like Nintendo, Sega, Namco and Konami alongside that of long-forgotten developers and publishers, even those well versed in Japanese gaming culture are bound to learn something new.

UNOFFICIAL AND UNAUTHROIZED! Beginning as a 1986 science fiction/horror novel, Megami Tensei has since grown to become one of the most expansive Japanese RPG series of all time, comprising of over thirty titles in variety of subgenres. As the original "monster collecting" game, the heroes converse with hundreds of demons across various world mythologies and convince them to join their cause. While early entries focused on exploring post-apocalyptic Tokyo, the series has branched out in several different directions, putting you in the role of demon-hunting detectives and high school students, across other spinoffs like Devil Summoner, Persona, and Devil Survivor. This book catalogs all of them and untangles the web of the this complicated but fascinating series, reviewing many Japanese-only entries as well as other incredibly obscure titles within the series. Included features are reviews for every mainline and spinoff entry in the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series, including Devil Summoner, Devil Survivor, Last Bible, and all others, with over 30 extensive reviews in all; trivia and recurring elements; essays introducing the series and analyzing its use of demons; and reviews of various anime, manga, and other media tie-ins.

Reviews of over 300 graphic adventure games, focusing on games from prominent publishers such as LucasArts, Sierra On-Line, and Legend Entertainment but covering games from independent developers as well. Reviews primarily cover games published 1984-2000. Interviews with game creators/developers Al Lowe, Corey Cole, Bob Bates, and Josh Mandel are included.

In this in-depth critical and theoretical analysis of the horror genre in video games, 14 essays explore the cultural underpinnings of horror’s allure for gamers and the evolution of “survival” themes. The techniques and story effects of specific games such as Resident Evil, Call of Cthulhu, and Silent Hill are examined individually.

Presented by retro video game website Hardcore Gaming 101. Localization is a tricky business, especially due to the myriad of differences between both the English and Japanese languages and cultures. Retro Game Super Translation Selection examines 101 lines of dialogue from classic video games, compares how they were localized, and includes some explanation for the business or cultural reasons surrounding such changes. Originally authored by a professional video game translator, this is a localized version of a doujinshi released at the Game Legend retro game event in late 2016, and features a unique perspective rarely seen in the English speaking world! Also includes four columns by guest writers that compare English and Japanese onomatopoeia, examines different game titles between territories, explains the math behind retro games, and illustrates the many changes made to the Pok�mon Game Boy titles.Covered games include: Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior / Dragon Quest, Super Mario World, Landstalker, Lunar: The Silver Star, Zero Wing, River City Ransom, Cybernator, Pok�mon, Lufia II, Shadowgate, Shadowrun, Maniac Mansion, Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom, and many more!NOTE: The paperback edition of this book is in black and white, but the Kindle version uses color images.

Whenever anyone thinks of the best developers on the Nintendo Entertainment System, the most popular are typically Konami, Capcom, and, of course, Nintendo themselves. But what of the numerous other developers, the ones that put out games you may have read about in Nintendo Power or have vague recollections of renting on some Saturday afternoon? This book covers many of those titles, from developers like Sunsoft (Blaster Master, Journey to Silius), Natsume (Shadow of the Ninja, Shatterhand), KID (Low-G-Man, KickMaster), Irem (Holy Diver, Metal Storm), Atlus (Rockin' Kats, Xexyz), and many others. Also included are reviews of several notable Japan-only Famicom games, including Layla, Otocky, Moon Crystal, Cocoron, Cosmic Epsilon, and several others, as well as the infamous unreleased title Bio Force Ape! While these all may not be the A-listers of the NES library, this book represents some of the more interesting, offbeat, and lesser discussed titles of the system, and is essential for anyone looking to expand their knowledge of the platform!

Are you ready for hot-blooded fighting action? Hardcore Gaming 101 Presents: The Guide to Beat-Em-Ups Vol. 1 covers the origins of the belt-scrolling brawler with Technos' Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun (AKA Renegade) and the world-famous Double Dragon. Also covered are the works of Capcom (Final Fight, Captain Commando, Aliens vs. Predator, Dungeons & Dragons) and Konami (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Vendetta) as well as Sega's Streets of Rage series!