One of the virtues of moving toward a digitized gaming market is that titles tend to be universally available. It’s no longer about region locks and delays between nations or anything like that; now, a title simply appears on all digital shopfronts once it’s ready to go — orwhen it’s almost ready to go.
But, even as the gaming world grows more globalized, some titles still manage to slip through the cracks. Whether it was simply an indie title that lacked the resources to make it tointernational markets and acclaim, or a foreign-language title that was content in its home market, there are some great RPGs on the PlayStation 4 that simply didn’t reach an American audience through the platform.
5The Dragoness: Command Of The Flame
A Might And Magic Inspired Strategy RPG
This is a title that wears itsHeroes of Might And Magicinspiration on its sleeve — but imitation is the finest form of flattery, andThe Dragoness: Command of the Flameadds plenty of unique spins to the time-honored strategy role-playing game genre to make it a title worth discussing. The PS4 version of this title is a Japanese exclusive, so players hoping to tackle someMight and Magicchallenges (whilewaiting for the new game) with all the conveniences of a console will unfortunately be left wanting.
The title is a streamlined and simplified version of what it emulates but with a good story and unique graphics that help give it some personality. Also, a pangolin wearing a little hat provides tutorial info on the game. This is another selling point.
City Shrouded In Shadowis a fascinating title that really doesn’t have much of a western parallel. This is a game set in a Japanese city where iconic mechas, aliens, monsters, etc., are all fighting one another or trying to cause as much destruction as possible — and the player is just a helpless bystander trying to find their way to safety. The RPG elements are mostly present in which protagonist players choose to play (and the subsequent choices they make while trying to survive).
For a game about colossal monsters leveling a city, there are a lot of really quiet, little moments that make this game feel more personal and intimate. Licensing issues seem to be the main reason this one hasn’t made it to American PS4s, so western gamers will have to find some other outlet to scratchtheir kaiju itch.
This strategy RPG well and truly lives up to its title. A ‘super robot war’ is the only way to describe mechas and gundams from across over twenty anime and manga series coming together to defeat a wide range of foes. Doubling down on the influence from such a range of anime and manga,Super Robot Wars 30is an incredibly flashy title with lots of stylized effects that really make players feel the impact of their mechas.
Enemies from such a range of series means players can expect this title to join that specific niche of “epic boss battle” JRPGs, though once again the dreaded licensing issues have stoppedSuper Robot Wars 30from seeing a western release on the PS4.
2Monochrome Mobius: Rights And Wrongs Forgotten
A Sleek And Expansive JRPG
This JRPG takes a lot of traditions from the genre and doubles down on them. The classic high fantasy setting is fused with eastern flair to frameMonochrome Mobiusmore like an epic, with the protagonist, Oshtor, speeding through the first few steps of the hero’s journey to find himself from quiet obscurity on the fringes of an empire to smack bang in the middle of affairs that will decide the fate of the world.
Battles are initiated by attacking or being attacked by individual enemies on the overworld, which opens up a new battlefield like classic JRPGs. A game abouttaking a reluctant heroon an epic, world-saving quest would be just what a lot of western players are after, butMonochrome Mobiusremains an exclusively Japanese titles for the PS4.
1The Legend Of Heroes: Kuro No Kiseki 2: Crimson Sin
A Sprawling Fantasy JRPG
This lush, stylish title continues a much beloved series, and theiconic fusion of sci-fi and fantasymakes for a fascinating, enthralling aesthetic.The Legend Of Heroes: Kuro No Kiseki 2: Crimson Sindelivers a setting that is so uniquely JRPG-styled, with kitschy cottage-core towns and idyllic, fantastical villages melding with organizations that have names like the Central Intelligence Division, fighting cybernetic warriors aglow with evil energy and aura. As a sequel, there are obviously some things that will need to be caught up on from the first game, but the phenomenal combat and lovingly detailed environments make this a title that will be sorely missed on western consoles.
The Republic of Calvard is fit for western PS4 gamers to explore from top to bottom with some fantastic graphics and sound design - if only it were available for them to purchase.
