Giftpia! Giftpia!

Kinoko · Fri 14/04/2006 12:52:20

I go on about this game sometimes. It really is about my favourite game in the world. I thought, for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about and would like to see a little bit about the game, I'd let you know about the webpage.

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/ggfj/

It's in Japanese, but very visual!

If you click "ON" on the front page, you can hear the theme song (the screen that pops up will ask you if you want the "short" or "long" version, in that order - get the long version).

If you'd like to see a bit of the game in action, click on the red movie reel-looking thing that says, "click!". Or just go to this link here:

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/ggfj/images/movie.wmv

For those of you who have never heard of it, Giftpia is a game released on Gamecube some years back. It's what you'd call an RPG, but I think it's closer to an adventure game. It's both and neither really. It was never released outside of Japan, unfortunately, and never translated. If there was a way for me to do it though, I'd translate it myself.

One of the greatest things about Giftpia is the music! It's -stunning- and never, ever leaves my everyday music rotation. An official soundtrack was never released because all the music is created by various amateur Japanese street bands. It's a real shame, but you can get most of the tracks here anyway:

http://www.revo-europe.com/news.php?nid=4185

I suggest you -do-. they're all wildy different styles of music, and all fabulous. They aren't all full tracks, unfortunately, but this is better than nothing.

Thankyou for your time ^_^

Chrille · Fri 14/04/2006 13:25:40

I tried this at a friend's place. The intro was excellent, but the game itself didn't impress.

Kinoko · Fri 14/04/2006 13:39:49

1. How much did you play?

2. Can you speak Japanese?

ManicMatt · Fri 14/04/2006 14:09:12

Thanks but no thanks, I'm not going to investigate a game I'll never be able to play!

I wish I didn't know about that 3D RPG maker on the PS2 in japan either! (That needs a hard drive anyway.. which we don't have.. traditionally.)

magintz · Fri 14/04/2006 14:17:48

Again the fact that it is in Japanese and only ever released in Japan and restricted to the Gamecube makes quite esoteric and probably will have similar responses. If someday Japanese evolves naturally into my brain and I stumble across a free gamecube I'll track down a copy of this game.

The music is neato though ^_^

ManicMatt · Fri 14/04/2006 14:26:28

Quote from: magintz on Fri 14/04/2006 14:17:48
If someday Japanese evolves naturally into my brain and I stumble across a free gamecube I'll track down a copy of this game.

Don't forgot a 60Hz compatible television. (Right?)

LimpingFish · Fri 14/04/2006 23:53:48

I think people put too much emphasis on games in Japanese being "Unplayable".

I own 23 Nintendo DS games...

Three are European.
Nine are American.
Eleven are Japanese...or rather "in" Japanese.

Most of the Japanese ones are RPGs. Or heavily text based.
I have no trouble playing, or indeed completing, any of them.

I know not a stroke of Kanji, although I have to admit that I've come to recognize the "Start" "Save" "Load" etc., options in Japanese menus.

I'd have no hesitation in playing Giftpia...if I could find a copy.

For more on Giftpia, see...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giftpia

Rolf · Sat 15/04/2006 00:30:02

I taste of Japanese games even so confuses me very very thus. But I am approved because taste to all play the game that I to find.

Domino · Sat 15/04/2006 00:43:03

Rolf, i agree with you 100 percent.

The game looks nice and i like the graphics. You can always count on Nintendo for those kinds of games. Very original and unique. That is probably why i love Animal Crossing so much.

ManicMatt · Sat 15/04/2006 10:42:37

LimpingFish, sure, if the game is a japanese Halo then I suppose you wouldn't need to know what's going on. (Indeed, I didn't know what was going on in that game anyway)

But if it's like Morrowind/Oblivion, and you NEED to know what's being said to progress in the game, then playing it in another language would render the game a hopeless cause to complete.

And would you play a point and click game in another language?

Tuomas · Sat 15/04/2006 10:54:09

Well I've played point & click in English, Finnish, German and Russian, I don't think Japanese would make that much harder. Besides now that I'm learning Japanese, this'd give me great means to develop!

Might even give it a go one day here.

Helm · Sat 15/04/2006 11:19:24

QuoteMost of the Japanese ones are RPGs. Or heavily text based.
I have no trouble playing, or indeed completing, any of them.

Truly a testament to the fine jrpg tradition of fully integrated and involved storytelling where every bit of information presented to the player affects gameplay, where characters are never formulaic and where the overall storyline is never derivative in any way.

Hammerite · Sat 15/04/2006 15:11:16

Quote from: Rolf on Sat 15/04/2006 00:30:02
I taste of Japanese games even so confuses me very very thus.Ã,Â But I am approved because taste to all play the game that I to find.

how do you know what japanese games taste like?

LimpingFish · Sat 15/04/2006 21:44:06

Quote from: Helm on Sat 15/04/2006 11:19:24
QuoteMost of the Japanese ones are RPGs. Or heavily text based.
I have no trouble playing, or indeed completing, any of them.

Truly a testament to the fine jrpg tradition of fully integrated and involved storytelling where every bit of information presented to the player affects gameplay, where characters are never formulaic and where the overall storyline is never derivative in any way.

I wholeheartedly agree.