I was wondering what good games are available that weren't commercially released, so that we never got to play them back in the day, or games that were released but not in the English language, but have since been translated for English speakers. Please post any good games that fit this criteria, be they for any console or computer (i.e., the PC, or 8-bits, or 16-bits, etc), and a download link if possible. I'm not talking about prototypes as such, but playable games in their own right. These are the ones I can think of: Infection (ZX Spectrum). This is a really good game, which went on to be converted to an arcade game called Ataxx. Infection is a very simple strategy game for two to four players, that's sort of like Othello/Reversi, but more enjoyable. The Spectrum version allows the computer to control any or all players if you like, and you can edit the board to add obstructions too. I can't drive, so I have to commute to work, and this game is one of the regulars that I play on the train, using my PSP and the Spectrum emulator FUSEPSP. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0002479 Robotron 2084 (ZX Spectrum). This won't wow anyone now, of course, but if it had been released when it was written (1984) then it would have been a fine addition to the Spectrum's shooter library. http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0004196 40 Winks (N64). This is a 3D platform game that for some reason was never released, but found it's way to the internet a few years ago. It's no Banjo or Mario, but it's still a good game for 3D platform fans. http://krikzz.com/forum/index.php?topic=1268.60 Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (N64). This game was released commercially, but I mention it here as the PAL version was never released, so I never got to play it on my N64 (I'm a PAL user, as I'm in England) until I bought an Everdrive 64, but even then I couldn't play the game, as it's one of the few NTSC N64 roms that my temperamental TV wouldn't display. Fortunately, the PAL version, which had been completed but not released, was made available on the 'net a while back, so now I can play it. It's not my sort of game, being a Tomb Raider style arcade-adventure, but it's a good example of the genre, and in fact the only one of it's type on the N64, so any N64 fan should play it. http://krikzz.com/forum/index.php?topic=2915.msg28511#msg28511
Another couple, translations this time: Sin and Punishment (N64). This is a really good game (Retrogamer magazine even called the game the best shooter ever, three or four years back), but it was a Japaense only release. Fortunately it's been fan-translated into English, though if you have a Wii then you can download an officially translated version via the Virtual Console (plus it's Wii/Wii-U sequel). http://krikzz.com/forum/index.php?topic=2915.msg28511#msg28511 Wonder Project J2 (N64). I've never played this, but I've seen it described as very good and fairly original, and according to Wikipedia "Wonder Project J2 is a sequel to Wonder Project J. The game's protagonist is a girl Gijin (robot), named Josette, invented by the same Doctor Geppetto who built Pino 15 years prior. Having just completed Josette, the aged Doctor Geppetto had little time left to raise her on his own, so the player assists. The previous game's antagonist, Messala, receives orders from the Siliconian King, Siliconian XIII, to "find the girl who lives on the island of Corlo who is in possession of the J," an object of great power capable of giving Gijin humanity and making highly desired dreams come true. Siliconian armies are dispatched to find the girl at Corlo Island. Geppetto tells Josette to leave the island for the island of Blueland where she will meet someone to help her. Blueland is occupied by the Siliconian Army, which is harvesting Proton, a mineral fuel source. The player communicates with Josette through her robot, Bird. The player answers her questions on-screen by selecting "yes" or "no". Josette cannot hear or see the player, but learns about the player through successive, binary questions. She recalls the answers later throughout the story. The player can command Josette through Bird, though she does not always listen. Player advancement through the game is dependent on how well their teachings mesh with other activities on the island. After teaching Josette a series of fundamental human interactions, the game's plot-driven second chapter guides Josette through a series of hardships and confrontation with the Siliconian Army." http://krikzz.com/forum/index.php?topic=3560.msg33653#msg33653
Monster World 4 for Sega Mega Drive. Was only released in Japan. There's a fantranslation and an official translation on Wii VC/PS3/X360 The official translation from 2012 has been dumped from VC, pm for link I've had this rom flashed to custom repro. Can't brag enough about it
40 Winks was a really good game on psx, beautifull and a little tricky. I would recomend Deep Fear for the Saturn, the unreleased US version, if you like the RE style.
There was a discussion here years ago of a guy who worked for a game store that claimed to sell the N64 version of 40 Winks. I replied to it but I can not find the thread. I remember because I said "screenshot or it didn't happen." I did not get any screenies.
Until recently, I didn't realise there was a sequel to the Pokemon Trading Card Game for GameBoy that was only released in Japan. The English fan translation is extremely high quality and well worth the playthrough.
