Games with a lot of modern Japanese culture in them...

[kamikazekeeg]

You might want to look into Akiba's Trip, and eventually Akiba's Beat once its release. Akiba's Trip takes place exclusively in the Akihabara (Akibagahara) district. If I remember correctly, they painstakingly worked to make the game look as close to the actual area as possible. They even left the Japanese advertising for real-life Japanese locations.

That's one I was actually thinking about.  The game is real goofy, but I heard they did a good job recreating a section of Akihabara.  That's one I can actually pick up pretty easily being on PS4.  I went to the flea market today and checked a couple vendors, but no luck on Persona or Yakuza.

[davifus]

I said say go with P4 first then P3.

Wasn't particularly wanting to pull out the PS2, but I might consider it if I can find a copy since it seems like both Persona 3 and 4 are pretty cheap.

You could always get it in the PSN store.

[kamikazekeeg]

You could always get it in the PSN store.

That's on the PS3 store only.

[davifus]

You could always get it in the PSN store.

That's on the PS3 store only.

Oh I assumed you had one. What about a Vita for P4G?

[kamikazekeeg]

You could always get it in the PSN store.

That's on the PS3 store only.

Oh I assumed you had one. What about a Vita for P4G?

I ended up trading my PS3 towards my PS4, and nope on the Vita, never had any interest in it.

[fauxshot]

You might want to look into Akiba's Trip, and eventually Akiba's Beat once its release. Akiba's Trip takes place exclusively in the Akihabara (Akibagahara) district. If I remember correctly, they painstakingly worked to make the game look as close to the actual area as possible. They even left the Japanese advertising for real-life Japanese locations.

That's one I was actually thinking about.  The game is real goofy, but I heard they did a good job recreating a section of Akihabara.  That's one I can actually pick up pretty easily being on PS4.  I went to the flea market today and checked a couple vendors, but no luck on Persona or Yakuza.

I can't speak for the console version, but the Vita version is kinda icky. The controls need work (you can move the thumbstick a pretty decent ways without getting any rotation in game). I didn't play it for long, though.

As for Akihabara (since someone mentioned wanting to visit Japan), go during the night, not the day. It's a lot cooler at that time. I was actually pretty disappointed, though, because I thought it was a pretty large area, but it's only a few blocks (and really, mainly one road).

P3 is on the PSP, and P4 is on the Vita (if you're looking for alternative versions). My emulator is a bit slow for the PSP version on my PC. Do keep in mind that the PSP version does lack some visual elements the original had, but it's still a very good version (I nearly finished a review, but never got around to doing the final check and edits, unfortunately).

As for P3 vs. P4, everyone has their favorite. P4 makes some nice gameplay improvements, but I still like the visuals and darker story of P3. That being said, one problem (unless you play the PsP version) is that you don't have AI control over your party members. And P3 can already be frustrating enough at times during boss battles, so that alone makes me want to recommend that version instead of the normal PS2 version.

Atlus does have sales on the PS Store from time to time, so if you follow the facebook page, they'll post when there are sales.

You could try Persona 2 as well (PSone classic or emulate). I just find it hard to play anything older than P3, because it feels a bit clunky going through all the battle menus. I would wholeheartedly recommend the OSTs of any game, however.

Also, FYI, Persona is a sub-series of the Shin/ Megami Tensei series. The other games are also RPGs, but (basically) lack the social life simulator mechanics, in favor of different ones. So you can check out any of those games, especially if you like mythological/religious figures, as the 'demons' in the game are icons from different cultures/religions/myths/etc. I enjoy reading about them.

[argyle]

I was going to mention Akiba's Trip myself - I don't have it myself yet but want to pick it up mainly for how well it supposedly recreates Akihabra, and I've watched some reviews of the PS4 version that say it's a pretty fun game.

I just read a review tonight that said the Yokai Watch games are set in modern day Japan and are very steeped in the culture, which was one of the things the reviewer found appealing. So that may be something else to look into assuming you have a 3DS.

Yet another game I haven't played, Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE, is set in modern day Tokyo.

Honestly the big 3 series that sound like they fit what you're looking for - getting to explore/experience a little of modern day Japan & culture, and not just see it as a backdrop - are Yakuza, Persona & the Akiba games. If you still had a PS3 (or weren't opposed to picking up a cheap one again) I'd recommend starting w/ Yakuza 3 since the controls & general gameplay will feel a lot more modern than the PS2 games. It also has a really nice summary that tells you everything that's already happened. As for the Persona games, every numbered entry is a stand-alone story much like the FF games. So you should be fine jumping in with P5 next year, or trying TMS#FE on the Wii U.

[kamikazekeeg]

No go on the PS3, but I already own Tokyo Mirage Sessions.  It's been on the backburner for a little bit now with like 15 to 20 hours played and it's not bad.  Need to finish it here soon before I get bogged down by the other 2 or 3 games coming out this month.

I did grab Akiba's Trip and...it's okay.  The gameplay is goofy and a little basic, but what I was hoping to get out of the "Akihabara" stuff was more minimal than I expected.  Basically there's like a dozen or two shops that all sell mostly the same sorta stuff, but only a couple things each.  What would normally be one or two shops filled with stuff to buy in other games, you'll just find like 10 or less of usually the same items in a shop.  There's some cafe's and other minor shops, but they aren't really anymore varied.  There's not really any minigames (two are in your HQ, but I can only find one and the one I did play is a really short and bad tower defense game lol), you don't go INTO stores also, so you aren't really exploring anything other than running up the same streets over and over again.  Tokyo Mirage Sessions at least makes you feel like you are going into actual stores with actual people.  Vendors in Trip are a weird selection of anime characters or 3D modeled normal people.  It's odd that they just weren't one or the other because it makes things feel slightly out of place at times.

It's not bad, but if I had to put it more simply, there's the bones of an experience here, but not a lot of real meat to it.  I'm gonna put my time in and get through it, but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone.  You really gotta like what amounts to a dress-up game.  You can even crossdress your character, though they cheaped out on it and just made him use the female body when you wear the clothing, effectively turning him into a girl lol Tad silly.

I was gonna say I hope Akiba's Beat fixes a lot of the games shortcomings, but it's an entirely different game in every single way from the gameplay trailer, sharing seemingly nothing with Akiba's Trip.  I'm not even sure why it's considered a sequel other than having "Akiba" in the name lol It looks exactly like Tokyo Mirage Sessions, just not turn based.  I might still get it, though depends on when it releases.  Q1 next year is another busy quarter.

[kashell]

One game that hasn't been mentioned yet is Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters. This is available on the PS3 and Vita, and an "enhanced" port of it is available on the PS4. It's part visual novel and part strategy RPG. You take control of a Japanese student in a new school in Tokyo and join an after school club called The Gate Keepers. By day, they help publish a magazine. Interestingly, they moonlight as ghost hunters that go across Tokyo to exorcise evil spirits.

It's a great premise, but your mileage with the game will vary. Heavily. During the VN parts of the game, you will be often times given a choice with a Sense Wheel/Emotion Wheel. The descriptions for each of the choices on these wheels are vague so you may end up accidentally sniffing a girl while pondering the situation at hand. Seriously. Battles are even more reliant on guess work since you have to predict enemy movements. The tutorials are awful and there aren't any guides in the game that would allow you to reference things.

This game was too niche, even for me. But, you might be able to overlook it's uniqueness.

[fauxshot]

One game that hasn't been mentioned yet is Tokyo Twilight Ghost Hunters. This is available on the PS3 and Vita, and an "enhanced" port of it is available on the PS4. It's part visual novel and part strategy RPG. You take control of a Japanese student in a new school in Tokyo and join an after school club called The Gate Keepers. By day, they help publish a magazine. Interestingly, they moonlight as ghost hunters that go across Tokyo to exorcise evil spirits.

It's a great premise, but your mileage with the game will vary. Heavily. During the VN parts of the game, you will be often times given a choice with a Sense Wheel/Emotion Wheel. The descriptions for each of the choices on these wheels are vague so you may end up accidentally sniffing a girl while pondering the situation at hand. Seriously. Battles are even more reliant on guess work since you have to predict enemy movements. The tutorials are awful and there aren't any guides in the game that would allow you to reference things.

This game was too niche, even for me. But, you might be able to overlook it's uniqueness.

I was just looking at this game yesterday, but wanted to wait until the price dropped (why did Vita games get so expensive again all of the sudden??? :/  ). Thanks for the info... the damn box hardly said anything about the game whatsoever. 9.9;

[davifus]

I think your best bet is just persona or play visual novels.

[kamikazekeeg]

I think your best bet is just persona or play visual novels.

Not particularly huge into Visual Novels unless it's got something really interesting going on, I kinda want more actual interaction, but I'm gonna try and get Persona 3 or 4 to play before Persona 5 comes out.  Same for Yakuza.

[kamikazekeeg]

Checking back in for this as I'm still interested in any games anyone brings up, but I did end up beating Akiba's Trip and that game went from a "Eh, not so bad", to "This game kinda sucks" by the end lol I hit a point where I was just so bored, the combat is so repetitive and dull, the fan service gimmick wore off incredibly fast, and it's no wonder they are making a sequel that has nothing to do with the series before this, cause it's not good.  It also unlocks a bunch of extra stuff after you beat the game, but I have no interest in replaying.  This is a big "Never Recommend" from me lol

[baileykun]

The World Ends With You is a bit of a statement on Shibuya shopping district and the attitudes prevalent there. The map area is quite an accurate recreation of the area.

Persona games are great. Even if people say to play 4 and then 3 the games stand alone well enough that you can start where you want so don't shy away from 5 when it releases. Other Shin Megami Tensei games also often  seem to take place in modern Japan and they play a lot on Japanese Mythology and of Mythologies. Devil Survivor, takes place in Japan during an apocalypse if I remember correctly.

[kamikazekeeg]

I think my current best bet is Yakuza 0 coming out at the end of the month and the remake of Yakuza 1 that is supposed to be out at the end of the year.  Persona 5 I don't know, because it's releasing at a bad time within the Switch's launch window, so I don't know when I'll ever get to playing it.