Topic: Thoughts on if Yokai Watch 4 will ever get localized.

@Anti-Matter I have a Japanese copy of 4, and I don't get any enjoyment out of playing it. Not because it's a bad game, but because the game's story focused, and if you don't speak or know Japanese, then you can't properly read it.

I'd learn Japanese, but I can barely learn different languages. I took a spanish class three different times, and I still don't remember anything from it.

@Anti-Matter I've seriously considered ordering a Japanese copy of Yo-Kai Watch 3, but there are two barriers for me:
1. The 3DS is region-locked. Somewhat easily solved by buying a Japanese 3DS or 2DS, but I find it very hard to justify buying an entire system for just one game. There are currently no other Japan-only games that I'm interested in picking up.
2. The language barrier. I'd love to learn how to read and understand Japanese. It's on my bucket list! But I unfortunately don't presently have the time to invest in learning the language. With RPGs, I like being able to understand what I'm reading. Sure, I could stumble and poke around enough to pick up what to do gameplay-wise with battling and other actions, but I'd feel like I'd be missing out on a big part of the game by not fully understanding what's going on.

As much as I love physical games, there are a few cases where I'm fine with making an exception for the digital format when I feel it's more cost-effective. Copies for Yo-kai Watch 3, when they were still available on Amazon, were going for $80-$90 each. Used even! I'm okay with paying slightly extra for a game in some cases if I feel like the price increase is reasonable, but more than double the MSRP is WAY too much.

@Tyranexx
I think you will like Nippon Columbia games (Nippon Columbia is a Japanese games developer) for Japanese only 3DS games such as Pika Pika Nurse Monogatari, Pets to Kurasou (NintenPets if i called the game), Tamagotchi games, Sumikko Gurashi games, etc. They are cute games, targeted for female players or kids with very simple gameplay (mostly touch screen based for the mini games).
Also, there is AKB48 + Me, an audition game with Mii and some mini games variety based on schedule and OSU style rhythm game. You can only use female Mii for AKB48+ Me since the game is an audition for next AKB48 member.
You can also can consider Yokai Watch Sangokushi with tactic strategy gameplay style and Yokai Watch Buster 2 for similar gameplay as Yokai Watch Blaster 3DS.
And you can always depend on AbdallahSmash Youtube videos for Japanese Yokai Watch games walkthrough.

@VoidofLight
My Yokai Watch 3 game was Japanese version too (Yokai Watch 3 Tempura).
Bought from Tokopedia with very cheap price (Rp 200,000 or around US$ 13.85) and the cartridge still have Save Data from previous owner (Wow, rank S on slot 1).
I made my Save data on slot 2, still keep the Save data on slot 1 just for curiosity.
I just skipped the dialogues if i didn't really understand they said but i understand for some Japanese words. Reading Hiragana and Katakana are easy for me but reading Kanji (without Furigana) and understanding the Japanese sentences are really hard for me. Mada mada Wakarimasen. 😣

Can't you just buy a Digital copy of 3? Unless they removed it from the eshop?

@VoidofLight Fossil Fighters... haven't heard that name in eons...

@VoidofLight agreed, but they'll probably make a loophole somehow, like how Yo-kai Watch 3 has several quests that require knowledge of the second and third movie, which is only in Japan, but the localization kinda wrote the film references out. I can see them doing the same here.

@Adhik762 By the way, again. No, that division didn't shut down because "censhorship". It was because they didn't feel it made enough money to continue. In our current system, if a company makes money, it usually doesn't shut down. I don't know how to point out how obvious this fact is.

If that is not the case then please tell me how "censorship" is the reason why it happened.
I guess your point would be that their games didn't sell well due to "censhorship" (aka localitzation from Japan going "way too far") which is really subjective since we can't prove that was the actual reason or not.

But, in my opinion, that is not the reason why that division shut down. There were games localized from Japan that were also "censored" or ones that had quite poor localization but did just fine (or great even) so I don't think that is it.

@NikHogan The movie references in YW3 were mostly just related to side-quests that didn't influence the main plot. The localization could get away with direct references because none of the Yokai Watch movies are actually canon.

Except Movie 4, the Shadowside movie is a direct prequel to Yokai Watch 4.

That said though, they could still get away without localizing the movie. It explains how the main cast of characters know each other and how they were introduced to Yokai, but the overarching plot is separate enough from Yokai Watch 4.

Though I'd still rather the just through a dub on Nexflix or something alongside a theoretical international release of Yokai Watch 4.

I know it isn't what we all want, but to those who have modded switches or are comfortable with that kinda thing, there is a full fanmade english translation for YW4 in the works. I'll link the project below:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/wip-yo-kai-watch-4-switch-english...

I wish I could use that when it releases, but I don't have a first gen switch anymore.

@VoidofLight you need a first gen switch specifically? that blows : (
luckily i have one, but i'm not sure if i'll mod it as i don't think its worth possible being banned from online as well as bricking my system potentially.

@NikHogan I'm not going to say much else on this, since it's getting into kind of dangerous territory honestly, since modding discussion isn't really allowed. However, yeah, it's a shame that the game may never get an official localization.

@VoidofLight Yeah, as much as i'd like them to localize the first game's remaster, and Academy Y, I feel like we deserve 4, considering we have the first 3, it is just weird not having the other one. It feels incomplete. Also love that P5 pfp

@NikHogan Agreed, and thanks!

@Adhik762 They keep things faithful to the Japanese version, because the people over in Asian countries would know the culture more, due to being closer. Most Americans don't know Japanese culture, hence why games get localized instead of just straight up translated. Some localizations only translate text, however it's not a one to one translation, as some of the words wouldn't translate properly.

You have cases where localization has done big censorship before, like with Xenoblade X removing the breast slider in the english release of the game. However, most games now don't really do that.

@Adhik762 No, but I'm saying with Yokai watch, it's not as big of a deal as you make it seem to be. Most people can tell from a mile away that the game's based on Japanese mythology, and everything about it is Japanese, even in the localized version of the game. I could tell at a young age. It wasn't why the game failed at all.

@Snaplocket That's the one reason I think they probably gave up on the franchise in any country outside of Japan.

@Snaplocket True, I could. However, that's still way more than I'd ever sink on a game. Especially if it's used lol. Besides, I'd likely want to keep it if it wowed me.

@Anti-Matter I appreciate those suggestions, but I don't think some of those other games/franchises you mentioned are my cup of tea. I was into tamagotchi at one point, but only the Digimon variants that came on a Digivice.

I'd certainly use AbdallahSmash for a walkthrough if I needed to, but I really would prefer an English variant (or translation patch). Sure, I could use such online walkthroughs to advance, but I really do like reading along with and appreciating the writing of what I'm playing. I played Yo-kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls and definitely appreciated some of the dialogue there.

@Adhik762 Pokemon has been heavily localized as well as censored, and that's the most profitable franchise in the world. So yeah that has nothing to do with yokai watch failing.