Nintendo’s non-announcement of the release of Xenoblade, The Last Story and Pandora’s Tower is a disappointment for sure, but not surprising. Good games, in fact some of the greatest games I’ve ever played didn’t receive North American releases. This has been a practice used by game publishers ever since the days of the NES and continues to this day. Terranigma, Kid Dracula, Earthbound 3, Super Mario Bros. 2 (aka Lost Levels), Secret of Mana 3, and Doshin the Giant are just a handful from previous generations.
I think this is a culmination of a notion that has been echoed many times throughout the past year: Japanese game development is dead. The appeal of Japanese games in western markets is at an all time low. Some believe this is because Japanese development has become stagnant. I would argue that the “noise” of western releases overshadows Japanese releases. Before Operation Rainfall began getting coverage on various gaming websites, I can’t remember much excitement from western game fans for Xenoblade, The Last Story, and Pandora’s Tower. There are two factors to consider why western game fans didn’t seem to have much interest in these titles. #1: Theses games are on the Wii. Western game fans have no desire to play Wii games. #2: These are technically JRPGs. Western game fans don’t have a desire to play JRPGs.
I have a feeling that if Nintendo went ahead and made an announcement for these titles at E3, it would’ve fallen on deaf ears. The noise of Mass Effect 3, a Halo remake, Uncharted 3, and Gears of War 3 is enough for western game fans not to care about Xenoblade, The Last Story, and Pandora’s Tower, but Operation Rainfall is possibly be the best thing to happen to these games. Operation Rainfall is creating its own noise. Game fans are being introduced and reminded of these titles. The demand is creating a buzz, and the hype is growing. Now more than ever would be the best time for Nintendo to make an announcement of these release of these titles. Unfortunately, I don’t think Nintendo would make an announcement like this unless they were at a big event. Tokyo Game Show is a possibility, but I think PAX Prime would be an ever greater location to make such an announcement.
In the end, whether or not these titles receive a North American release I will play these games. Like I mentioned earlier, every generation a number of titles never make it to our shores. This is why I import games. For Xenoblade, The Last Story, and Pandora’s Tower the fact that the European releases will have an English translation make importing these titles all that more enticing, but it’s also the same reason frustrates North American fans.
1 Comment
I think everything you said is correct, but as a fan of Japanese games I still wish that they would bring it over. Unrealistic given the climate you describe, but a fun dream for me none-the-less.