Most gamers love Japan, but not every gamer can speak or read Japanese. Whether you’re living in Tokyo, or just a fan looking for imports, this series will give you the lowdown on the latest releases in Japan and the English options available to them. We’ll also try to cover Japanese censorship.
: Full English support (by default, optional, region setting, etc.)
: Some English (voices, menus, subtitles, etc.)
: No English available (Japanese release only, no English support, etc.)
Kingdom Hearts III
Finally!
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
English Level:
No Japanese release of a Kingdom Hearts game has ever supported English, and if the Japanese support site for the game is to be believed, that trend isn’t changing. People in Japan just really hate Haley Joel Osment. The next entry in the confusing as hell long-running Disney and Final Fantasy mashup series is due to release at the end of January. If you’re hoping to hear Sora and the gang mope around before finding inner-strength for the hundredth time in English, then you’re better off opting for a digital release or import.
Onimusha Warlords
Kids today don’t know about tank controls.
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows
English Level:
Japanese Censorship: Unconfirmed
Not only is Capcom releasing a fully remastered Onimusha, but they’re releasing it on every platform. For gamers not in the know, Onimusha was pretty much Resident Evil with samurai. Complete with zombies and fixed camera angles. Capcom has said that the game will ship with high-definition graphics, widescreen support, a new control scheme for analog sticks, and even a brand new soundtrack. They’ve also promised to include an easy mode for filthy casuals.
Super Smash Brothers Ultimate
The office keeps refusing my challenge.
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
English Level:
I was not a happy camper when I discovered my Japanese copies of Super Smash Brothers 4 on Wii U and 3DS did not have any English language options despite releasing worldwide on practically the same day. Thankfully, Nintendo has really been knocking it out of the park lately in terms of region free gaming, and I’m happy to report that the Japanese release of Super Smash Brothers Ultimate has full English language support.
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