Japan Gamecube Games
The GameCube is a lovable little system, and with good reason: it’s loaded with fun games that hold up well after years of more technically advanced releases! Its import scene is equally endearing, with silly entries that focus on simple fun. Let’s check out the best of the bunch!
For GameCube on the GameCube, a GameFAQs message board topic titled 'What are the best Japanese exclusive Gamecube games?'
- I just recently purchased a Japanese Gamecube, and I was curious on what Japanese exclusive games are worth buying. What Japanese exclusive titles.
- Nov 10, 2011 Wow, so something I've noticed is that Gamecube owners are really ignorant when it comes to importing games. YOU DON'T NEED TO MOD YOUR GAMECUBE.
Before we continue, here’s what you need to know about GameCube importing: You can play import games on domestic systems, with effort, but getting import hardware is the best way to go. You can get FreeLoader discs for the GameCube and there are ways around region lock on backward-compatible Wii systems, but the hassle, combined with the weirdness that shows when it tries to show absent Japanese system fonts, means it’s best to grab an import GameCube. And they’re really rather cheap these days (or you can import a Wii and get two systems for the cost of one). The import options here are weird, but not as text-heavy as other platforms. The GameCube was a kid-friendly system and doesn’t have a lot of JRPGs or visual novels. That said, most good games were localized, so the games to grab all have some market potential-killing quirks. But those can be fun quirks! Don’t cross the streams. Grab another memory card for imports it’ll save you a lot of headaches.
Now, it’s GameCube imports time! Nintendo Puzzle Collection This Japan-exclusive compilation actually itself includes a West-exclusive N64 game: Dr. It’s paired with an enhanced port of Pokemon Puzzle League, with the original Panel de Pon characters reapplied and four-player support added. These two games look like N64 games and that’s not great, but hey, these are puzzle games and it really doesn’t matter.
Joining them is a GameCube-exclusive version of Yoshi’s Cookie, also with four-player support, and downloadable versions of all three games for GBA. Check out for more. DreamMix TV: World Fighters It’s Smash Bros., but with the weirdest lineup of characters! Hudson combined with its future overlord, Konami, and roped toy maker Takara into the mix, so you have Snake fighting Bomberman and Optimus Prime. You also have the Moai from Gradius fighting Barbie-knockoff Licca-chan. Before the age of Smash Balls and PlayStation All-Stars, the game has a focus on dealing damage and inflicting special attacks on others, and it means a very different sort of experience. But one without the burden of competitive play found in the Smash community these days.
Kururin Squash! The Kurukuru Kururin franchise hasn’t seen the West much (or America at all), but the gameplay is universal: you’re a spinning vehicle and you avoid obstacles in your path by moving with careful timing. This game has lots of single-player stages like its GBA predecessors, but also adds multiplayer race and battle modes that are worth a few plays. Donkey Konga, Donkey Konga 2, Donkey Konga 3 A little-known fact about the Donkey Konga games: generally speaking, different regions have different songs, so your American games and the Japanese ones offer a whole host of different tunes to play within their shared features and menus. Of course, the third game was a Japan exclusive, and offers lots of content to explore.
It’s not like we’re getting a new Donkey Konga game anytime soon, so check these out! Homeland The only online game on the GameCube not named Phantasy Star Online, Homeland never left its, well, homeland.
Still, Chunsoft’s RPG is a very different thing, with a top-down view, an aesthetic that holds up well today and a battle system that okay, you’ll need to learn some Japanese on this one or spend a lot of time using trial and error to get through menus. Even played solo, though, you can explore all the game’s content, assisted by NPCs instead of real-life allies. Battle Stadium D.O.N Another Smash-like, D.O.N combines its three titular worlds — Dragon Ball, One Piece and Naruto — in a battle that well, it makes sense! All these characters fight a lot, and with crazy amounts of power, so the movesets are varied and consistent. Definitely worth a look on the platform! Giftpia Skip, the makers of Chibi-Robo, often made games so strange that they were never localized.
This was one! Tasked with working off a massive debt, you go around and help the citizens of the community which ends up being a little like Animal Crossing with its fun found in the menial. It’s not the easiest to figure out what to do with the language barrier, but it looks so cool while you’re fumbling around that it’s worth it anyway. SD Gundam Gashapon Wars A combination of a turn-based strategy game and a robot-fighting action title?
EA Sports
And one with four-player battles? Gashapon Wars is worth a look even for those who aren’t too into Gundam and a must-play for those who are. It’s a bit like the smaller maps in Advance Wars and a bit like combat of Custom Robo, rolled into one peculiar package. Doshin the Giant (PAL) Basically the only game a lot of people know for the Nintendo 64’s Japan-only 64DD accessory, Doshin was ported to the GameCube and subsequently localized for the European market. The game isn’t exactly stellar on its own merits, but it’s just so weird enough that — when you can understand it — it’s worth a try.
Japan Exclusive Gamecube Games
So grab that PAL version if you are capable of playing it! For more helpful advice for budding importers, check out our section.
Wow, so something I've noticed is that Gamecube owners are really ignorant when it comes to importing games. YOU DON'T NEED TO MOD YOUR GAMECUBE!!!
Geeze, see what you made me do? I never use exclamation points and you've gone and frustrated me to the point where I had to use three of them in a row.
Now, for some REAL INFO on playing import games on your Gamecube: 1) You do NOT have to mod your Gamecube to play import games. All that is required is either the Freeloader software (. Point is who wants a poxy freeloader,they dont play a usa or jap game on a uk cube full screen no boarders and at 60 fps (fact!!) Yes we all know about freeloaders but serious gamers dont wait for these boot disks to be released,besides it was cancelled that many times and pushed back god knows how many months,and when they finally released the. it did not play all games and most people had to send it back and get another version.
The amount of posts ive seen on forums about people having resi zero for months waiting for the release of the freeloader makes me want to shout(go get a imported machine)that plays usa and jap games (thats if your like me from the uk that is). I live in the UK and have an imported Cube which I modded myself to play Jap and US games. However, you are being a bit ignorant. I am sure there are a lot of people out there who have already bought their Gamecube, whether they live in the US or UK, and those with US machines may not want someone to tinker with their Cube, and those in the UK don't have the choice.
The Freeloader is a really clever bit of kit, even if it doesn't work with every new game. And again as Matt mentioned in his post, that's where boards like this can help, you just ask if anyone has tried the game with feeloader, and then you know. Also, I have a freeloader, and when a newer version was released, I sent my old copy to them and I recieved the new version for free within a week of posting.