When is a game too ''Japanese'' for you?

[Harlemura]

I'm ashamed to have a fairly high tolerance for the crap that Japanese games come with, but it's when fanservice becomes a mechanic of the game I draw the line.
A recent example being "Omega Labyrinth", a dungeon crawler I've not really looked into but as far as I can tell is about the protagonist increasing her bust size? Anyway, there's a thing where to open loot you find you have to rub it between a girl's boobs and it just seems a bit weird.

I've not got anything against these games, I just don't play them since I'd never be able to talk my way out of it if someone caught me playing them. I'm disappointed that I've had to miss out on the Senran Kagura games since they fall under this category. They're apparently legit good hack-and-slash/ beat-em-up games, which are types of games I really like, but no one would believe I'm playing it for the gameplay when busty schoolgirls have their clothes flying off 24/7.

 

[Odbarc]

I hate when Anime (and such) give fan-service. Cheap panty shots of anime aren't exciting or interesting. Clearly non-plot related instances of sexual tension between characters that goes nowhere and is immediately forgotten. The trip-and-grope trope. I can't see that happening in real life ever least of all every day.

 

[BoogieManFL]

I dislike and will generally avoid most games if:

Children are main characters
Children are wearing skimpy clothing
Angsty protagonists/main characters
Lazy/repetitive animations or character design
Excessively flamboyant/over the top behavior and speech

All of which seem to be common, so.. Yeah. I don't end up playing many "visually Japanese" games.

Even the excellent Dragon Quest VIII, while thoroughly enjoyable was right on the limit. I liked Jessica as a character but the whole puff puff themes and abilities made me cringe internally.

 

[Here Comes Tomorrow]

I'm so far past the line I couldn't see it with the best telescope in the galaxy. Bring on the high-school setting, bring on the short skirts, bring on the moe. I've seen it all before and at a higher level than any game can hope to achieve.

This.
Maybe its because when I was young anime wasn't readily available as it is now (the simpler days of no internet and VHS) but the more tropes a game hits the better.

The only thing that I don't like really is exaggerated "cute" voices that could shatter glass because I get migraines a lot. But I'm up for anything else.

 

[kekkres]

High school settings are kinda that line for me, while I'm sure there is a cultural reason behind such things, I always kinda dislike the notion that only young teenage protags are able to save the world and have to do so while still making it to science class.
That and it's High School, how many people actually enjoyed that period in their life's?

basically, high school settings are so populer because for many people in japan it was the only point in their lives when they got to openly be themselves. Adult employed life in japan is so rigid and strict that Japanese men are expected to act exactly as a "Japanese business person" regardless of anything else.

 

[Weaver]

The only thing is the language barrier. If the game is translated no amount of anime tropes will keep me away.

 

[Fox12]

Too much fanservice will kill a game for me, easy. Especially if it involves underage girls. Anime can be fucking creepy sometimes. I'll also avoid anything shonen related with a ten foot pole.

Otherwise I'm pretty open. The language barrier can certainly be a problem, if there's no dub, but I'm willing to overlook it if the game is good. I can even overlook the highschool setting if the story is intriguing. All I ask for is a well made game with a good story. Japanese games were pretty awful last generation, but I feel like they've made a comeback. When their well done, Japanese games can offer a refreshing perspective in storytelling. Just look at the Souls games.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Those dating games, the ones where you see the game from the p.o.v of the protagonist the whole time and it's just cute drawings of girls and you're trying to score points with one or all of them. I just don't see the appeal in those games. And straight hentai games.

Anything else though? If it looks like something interesting, I'll give it a try if I can find it.

 

[Hades]

I should probably have pointed out Fire Emblem x SMT isn't out in the west yet. Its flopping hard in Japan, the region this sort of things are supposed to appeal to the most. I find it rather interesting.

As for me personally. Its really depends on what kind of Japanese I'm getting. I can very much appreciate the completely over the top anime style of Disgaea or Sengoku Basara. I may dislike some individual aspects of them like the token loli or Tsundere but the rest is well worth stomaching that. On the other hand highschools, idols or things to focused on otaku's turn me off very quickly.

 

[Hades]

Tsunderes are when. I think I'm in the minority here but I'm of the humble opinion that the Tsundere trope can go die in a fire. I've seen like one or two examples that I actually liked (Ironically the only one in recent memory that I can remember that made me roar with laughter like the trope is supposed to is Undyne during her date scene. I mean what else do you call someone who declares that you're going to be besties and then chucks a spear at you three seconds later.) I think part of the problem is that making a character act like an asshole and then making me like them is a very delicate art. Severa from Fire Emblem everyone adores but personally I can't STAND her. Oh, she has insecurity issues, that explains why she's rude and insulting to EVERYONE. Characters need more than a sob story to turn around and suddenly be likable thank you very much.

I can't stand Tsunderes either. I get the idea behind them but I just don't agree.

With Tsundere's you're supposed to overlook the fact that they are utter jerks 90% of the time because the remaining 10% would be worth it if you just win them over. And I don't agree with that idea. Someone who's a jerk most of the time is still a jerk. I'm not going to think more favorably of a jerk just because he can be nice in rare moments.

The big flaw of the characters is that ''hard on the outside'' usually means insulting people for no good reason. You COULD overlook that but why would you when other characters act normally.

Severa is a good example though I believe she's got a fairly big hatedom as well. Personally the most grating example for me would be Mitsunari from Samurai Warriors.

 

[McElroy]

I'm fine as long as the R34 checks out.

Eh, I guess when "stupid anime shit" shines through too much. I don't play so many different Japanese games in total to really categorize how I feel about playing them.

 

[infohippie]

Never. I've been a fan of anime since the eighties and I still love it, except for the terrible shonen action junk, like Dragon Ball, Naruto, Bleach, etc. I love the tropes, I find the moe girls adorable, I have no problem with fanservice so long as it doesn't detract from the story. The cultural background is so very different from American culture in particular, and western culture more generally, that I can certainly understand a lot of western gamers not getting it, or disliking it. People who protest too much about fanservice, though, remind me of a teenager desperately trying to show how "grown up" he is. You must keep in mind, some of the things you might consider fanservice really aren't meant to be, especially the supposed "underage fanservice". Much of the time, that is more intended to show how cute and/or innocent the character is. Panty shots aren't always intended to be sexual (though in some games and anime they certainly are, of course!)

 

[flying_whimsy]

I generally just draw the line at things that haven't been translated (as in there's no english patch at all), and when there's rape. Rape is the real line for me: I will immediately stop playing if a vn or something hits that point. Other forms of sexual violence tend to get the same reaction, too; including some forms of psychological abuse.

Everything else that's 'too japanese' like all the sexiness and what not, however, is totally fine by me. I wish western devs were so open to sexy things.

 

[Silverbeard]

I have the perfect example of a TOO-MUCH NIPPON! game for you, OP.

Agarest: Generations of war is one of the most unintentionally disturbing JRPGs I've played in my life and I generally do like JRPGs even with their tropes and cliches. I say 'unintentionally disturbing' because there's nothing explicitly disgusting or stomach-churning about the game. It just...is.
But I digress! On to the diatribe/rant/oh-god-forgive-me-for-buying-this-game:
Agarest is a fairly typical JRPG in terms of mechanics but the storyline has an interesting hook to it: The game occurs across multiple generations and each chapter tracks the descendants of the first protagonist. They all have unique personalities and villains or allies can carry over between generations as and when the story calls for it- and they'll be noticeably different in not just physical looks but also in demeanor or attitude.
Sounds like a neat concept, right? Now comes the kicker: In each generation, the protagonist (who is always male because his father is apparently incapable of siring daughters) is tasked with seeking a bride and procreating with her to produce the next generation's hero. Said bride is usually one of the party members of that generation and the manner in which the protagonist (and by extension, the player) chooses the (un)lucky girl is as follows: All potential mates will quite literally line up in front of the protagonist and ask a series of bizarrely pointed questions ('How do you feel about a strong woman?', 'Would you trust a woman who doesn't know how to cook?') and the answers one picks informs which one of them becomes the bride.
The first time that occurred in the game was completely unexpected and scared the unholy shit out of me. I turned off the game then, curled up in my bed and I haven't touched the game since (this was in 2013). Steam refunds weren't a thing at the time but if they were I would have moved mountains to get Steam to refund the title just so that the stain of that foul thing would be removed from my steam account.

So... yeah. That's a 'too much Japanese' game for me.

 

[infohippie]

Everything else that's 'too japanese' like all the sexiness and what not, however, is totally fine by me. I wish western devs were so open to sexy things.

Not likely to happen, there's a very strong prudish streak in western developers and especially rating authorities. They seem to have this unspoken assumption that games are still primarily for kids and adult content of any form is largely considered "inappropriate" for games. Violence is fine of course, can never have too much of that!

 

[infohippie]

I have the perfect example of a TOO-MUCH NIPPON! game for you, OP.

Agarest: Generations of war is one of the most unintentionally disturbing JRPGs I've played in my life and I generally do like JRPGs even with their tropes and cliches. I say 'unintentionally disturbing' because there's nothing explicitly disgusting or stomach-churning about the game. It just...is.
But I digress! On to the diatribe/rant/oh-god-forgive-me-for-buying-this-game:
Agarest is a fairly typical JRPG in terms of mechanics but the storyline has an interesting hook to it: The game occurs across multiple generations and each chapter tracks the descendants of the first protagonist. They all have unique personalities and villains or allies can carry over between generations as and when the story calls for it- and they'll be noticeably different in not just physical looks but also in demeanor or attitude.
Sounds like a neat concept, right? Now comes the kicker: In each generation, the protagonist (who is always male because his father is apparently incapable of siring daughters) is tasked with seeking a bride and procreating with her to produce the next generation's hero. Said bride is usually one of the party members of that generation and the manner in which the protagonist (and by extension, the player) chooses the (un)lucky girl is as follows: All potential mates will quite literally line up in front of the protagonist and ask a series of bizarrely pointed questions ('How do you feel about a strong woman?', 'Would you trust a woman who doesn't know how to cook?') and the answers one picks informs which one of them becomes the bride.
The first time that occurred in the game was completely unexpected and scared the unholy shit out of me. I turned off the game then, curled up in my bed and I haven't touched the game since (this was in 2013). Steam refunds weren't a thing at the time but if they were I would have moved mountains to get Steam to refund the title just so that the stain of that foul thing would be removed from my steam account.

So... yeah. That's a 'too much Japanese' game for me.

Sounds intriguing, I'd give it a try. I really feel you're overreacting here.

 

[JimB]

Every line of dialogue that is nothing but an ellipsis, as represented by the voice actor making some kind of half-strangled grunt, puts one more bullet in the cylinder in the game of Russian Roulette.

 

[The Bucket]

When they use Circle for confirm instead of X. I get caught in loops of entering then accidentally exiting menus because I keep forgetting. Then I go back to a western game and I have to get back out of the habit

 

[Kotaro]

When it doesn't even have subtitles in a language I can understand. I think that's pretty fair.

This.
I actually rather like being able to see things from the perspective of another culture. And I'm really happy that more countries (beyond just America and Japan) are starting to make some cool high-profile games now.

 

[The Almighty Aardvark]

Fanservice.
Wardrobe.
Katawa Shoujo.
Harem plots.
High school setting.
Gratuitous campy characters.
Vaguely effeminate villains.
Retarded dialogue.
Every second line of dialogue starts by repeating the first line of dialogue.
Panty shots.
Female anatomy.
Female armor.
Hyperdimension Neptunia.
Squad of Elite Strippers.
Passive-aggressive love interest.
13-stage bosses.
7 year old generals.
21 year old "veterans".
Kill God.
Save the World.
CHOTTO MATTE KUDASAI!

Well, you hit most of mine. That being said, I don't always mind the camp. I think western media could use more camp instead of always trying to take itself so damn seriously.

Mainly I'm just fed up with how insular it is. You see the same setting all the time, the same characters, the same love interests, the same tropes, the same dynamics, etc... There's a quote that I like about this:

You see, whether you can draw like this or not, being able to think up this kind of design, it depends on whether or not you can say to yourself, "Oh, yeah, girls like this exist in real life. If you don't spend time watching real people, you can't do this, because you've never seen it. Some people spend their lives interested only in themselves. Almost all Japanese animation is produced with hardly any basis taken from observing real people, you know. It's produced by humans who can't stand looking at other humans."

While I think it's a little harsh, I think it gets at some of the biggest issues in anime. Anime characters are written by observing anime characters, not by observing people