One more subset for today is the Maker series. These are definitely interesting games, although the idea of making your own RPG sounds exhausting to me. Still, it's a really interesting concept.

I posted the Test Drive subset some time ago, and I later realized that I was missing Test Drive Le Mans. Now that I finally have it, here is an updated picture.

It's just speculation, but I think Tomb Raider V: Chronicles (as it's known in Japan) was supposed to be SCPS-45515. I have an official Sony of Hong Kong flyer supporting this theory. That flyer is dated 6/2001, while another flyer dated 4/2001 advertises Time Crisis: Project Titan, which is the last Asian release (not counting Klonoa Beach Volleyball, which came out more than a year later). Probably cancelled at the last minute, or maybe released but hard to find, or maybe released as vanilla Japanese version with red sticker on the wrap (good luck finding a sealed copy to prove it).

I posted this on your other thread too, but just in case it is helpful here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1xvKlUe9AbR7Dr9BY86mfQCbtRJMs6wzanDzdTQg6MKw/edit?usp=sharing

Bump!

The Vita is region free but I don’t think much of it is English friendly from Japan. You’ll need to grab the Asia version which had English as option (at least that’s what I’ve heard).

If I recall, most of the English language Asian versions of games were the Chinese or Korean or some such version, rather than Japanese specifically. I recall buying some rather specific regional variants off PlayAsia back in the day. Soul Sacrifice was one of the first I bought from Asia, and happily they ended up releasing it over here. Also Cladun Sengoku, which I'd suggest the English version of since being able to read the big menus is important.

So is the PS Vita region free? I don't mind buying imports if they have English subtitles. I may need a list of your favorite Japanese imports that are playable with English as their only language.

I’m going for a complete Japanese Vita collection and it’s the opposite haha. Haven’t spent over $20 for a game yet, most around $10-15. It was huge in Japan though, so heaps of supply of games. I’d love to have a complete Japanese PS2 collection one day, but there’s just so many games for the system that it feels way too large of a task.

I'm a pretty big PlayStation fan but any more I only actively collect PS3, PS4, & PS5 consoles. I also am actively going for a full set of NA PSVR games. I think the main reason is that I didn't get into current console gaming until PS3. A lot of PS1 and PS2 titles are available though PS3. Maybe once I get my backwards compatible PS3 from GoodWill fixed I'll be more open to collecting physical copies of the earlier PlayStation stuff that I can find on PS3. Also was surprised how there was little interest in the PSP and PS Vita. I love my PS Vita but damn if it isn't expensive to collect for that system. If anything I love the PS Vita for playing PSOne & PSP digital games.

I have about 180 PS1 games (includes a few Japanese imports - and a Japanese PS1 to play them) -includes pretty much all of the RPGs. I also have a neat store display sign in a metal case that is about 10" by 48" that has the color logo and is backlit by a flourescent bulb.

I'm also curious for PS2. I've started buying every PS2 Asian release that I see here, if it's about $5 or less. Don't have a lot though, the buggers aren't the easiest to find.

Following because I'm interested to see what information you find. However, I think you will have a hard time getting a solid list. The US list of PS1 games is massive already, and the Asian list makes the US list look like the Wii U list.

I've been collecting the Asian PS1 releases, does anyone have a complete / comprehensive list of what exists?

I think this is an interesting subset. This is one of each game that was originally released in a long box, later re-released in a black label jewel case, and eventually released again under the Greatest Hits line. Out of almost 1,300 PS1 titles in the US, these are the only 17 games to be released in those three formats. Obviously it's my goal to eventually have pictures of all 17 of these games in all three formats, but this will have to do for now.

And beat Echo Night 2: The Lord of Nightmares. 6/10 It looks better and it's got some quality of life improvements over the first game but not massively so and it's hard to really call it better overall. We've even got another practically-unsolvable-if-you're-not-a-music-guy puzzle and this one's probably less amenable to trial-error than the first game's. It's technically skippable but the alternate solution locks you out of the best ending (lots of ways to do that actually and yeah that wasn't my favorite design decision either). The haunted mansion setting is much more standard and the main antagonist and final confrontation were less memorable. This one does probably does have generally better characters though.

I tend to collect more Nintendo systems, games, and accessories, but have always been a big fan of the PS1. I have a launch model PS1, along with a longbox copy of Rayman: A Pac-Man World demo disc: A Crash Bandicoot 2 shirt that I got when the game was new: My original copy of Mega Man 8 that I've had since 2000: I have a lot of other PS1 games, demo discs, accessories, etc. I'll post more pics when I have a little more time.

So there I was thinking “I hear Overblood 2 is pretty neat, I should get around to playing overblood 1 and then it sometime.” and then I thought “MagusSmurf you idiot nobody likes overblood 1 for anything beyond so bad its good monents why are you considering this when there’s still allegedly decent-to-good stuff even just on PS1 like Galerians and Echo Night # 2 you haven’t played? Or hell, Dino Crisis 2 and Parasite Eve II which you already own?” and then I thought “wait, what the hell was Echo Night 1 even about? I remember the setting and a few bits and pieces but none about how any of it fit together. Uh. Guess I’m replaying that then.” then I did that. 6/10 pretty decent game. It’s got a neat atmosphere with some cool moments and I can largely overlook the bad voice acting. Found myself heading for a walkthrough a few too many times though and when I did I felt there was usually some kind of issue or oversight with the game’s design rather than JUST me being dense. And while I liked the macabre story and all, the characters who weren’t William generally ended up sketched too lightly to make much of an impact.

And here is a new photo for the PS1 Star Wars games. I posted this one earlier, but this is updated with all black label games.

Here are a few other recently finished sets. Road Rash Pro-Pinball

That's really cool. Thanks for sharing the info and pic about the inlay. I never noticed that.

This is the subset for the A1 Games/Agetec releases in the US. This publisher was known for brining Japanese games over to the US. These games all use a unique template with a color code on the top for the genre. Most of these games have a super generic title such as Racing, Bowling or Boxing. Also, most of the games don't use the standard PS1 inlay as seen in the second picture. These are the only US PS1 games I can think of that don't use it.

reminds me of when i played gt5 on ps3. there were, 220 mph max @ daytona, rooms. the settings for gear/suspension were cool. the building cars and sponsor thing seems cool but like you said what a time sink.

I enjoyed 2002 because the simulation mode was based around running the race team. You had to build cars and repair them after races. Building and repairing took time and resources meaning that you had to mange everything extremely carefully. If you started to build a new race car on week 10, it might not be ready until week 12 which means you had another race to worry about before the car was done. You also had to keep sponsors happy or they would back out and you could lose precious earnings. The other big thing was that the default settings for each car were crap. If you used the default settings, you would be lucky to finish in the top 35. You had to take the time to practice and adjust settings to make your car faster. I had a notebook for every track with the settings I used (I still have that notebook today). It was a very difficult, yet rewarding game to play. Unfortunately, I would never have the time and energy to put into a game like that today.

thunder 2004 (xbox) is my favorite nascar game. they should have come with a 12 pack of mnt dew/budwieser.