Japanese developed games not physically released in Japan

[zinger]

Another one for MD/Genesis: Hook

Ported from the SFC game by Ukiyotei (the company behind the wonderful Karura-Oo) by Core Design.

[Imhotep]

Arcade:

Over Drive (by Konami)

[CIT Seven Force]

Thanks guys!

Over Drive (by Konami)

This is a weird one, as in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTH9CUOq174 it shows a license notice "for use in Japan only", but maybe that was just for internal use by Konami. Anyway, I'm gonna add it to the list for now, along with some other not-in-Japan Konami games.

[zinger]

Here are a couple more that I'm pretty sure were never released in Japan (well, some of them were but in other formats or for different systems)!

(badass soundtrack for GBC Action Man: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUi9lXSzSvc)

Game Boy:
TaleSpin
The Little Mermaid

Game Boy Advance:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wrath of the Darkhul King

Game Boy Color:
Action Man: Search for Base X

Game Gear:
Hook (again, from Ukiyotei's source material)

Mega CD/Sega CD:
Hook (again, from Ukiyotei's source material)

NES:
Arkista's Ring
The Adventures of Gilligan's Island

SNES:
Sterling Sharpe: End 2 End
Tetris & Dr. Mario

Xbox:
The Nightmare Before Christmas

[Imhotep]

Arcade:

Varia Metal
Speed Racer

[zinger]

Whoa, Varia Metal, never heard of that before.

[zinger]

NES:
Adventures in the Magic Kingdom
Bandai Golf: Challenge Pebble Beach
Dynowarz
Godzilla 2

Not completely sure about these arcade titles:
Charlie Ninja (supposedly never made it past location test in Japan)
Hotdog Storm (overseas only according to some sources?)
Super Dodgeball (the japanese version, Kunio no Nekketsu Tookyuu Densetsu, supposedly never made it past location test in Japan)
Twin Qix (supposedly never made it past location test in Japan? Never seen a cart or PCB from any region though, perhaps only prototypes exist)

[zinger]

GBA:
Blender Bros.

Arcade:
Rambo III
Ribbit!
Slip Stream
Twin Squash (?)

[CIT Seven Force]

Thanks! Some great additions those!

On a Japanese site it says Speed Racer may have gotten a limited release in Japan, although could be those were just re-imported units.

Twin Squash and Ribbit at least have Japanese flyers. Where did you see that they weren't released in Japan?

http://segaretro.org/File:TwinSquash_Sy ... _Flyer.jpg
http://segaretro.org/File:Ribbit_JP_Arcade_Flyer.jpg

[zinger]

I read about them here: https://www26.atwiki.jp/gcmatome/pages/ ... d_a6f38209

It says there were location tests for both in Japan, but that they were only released overseas. Hard to be completely sure with arcade games though...

[Gaijin Punch]

AFAIK, there is a Japanese language version (called Mach Go Go even) that was loke-tested. Japanese text, and all, and a certain member here has at least scene it (if not own it).

[zinger]

Another one: Shi no Meikyuu got an MD/Genesis cartridge release named Fatal Labyrinth in the West. Meganet and Mega CD (Geemu no Kandzume Vol. 2) only in Japan.