Importing games isn’t cheap. It’s about $20 more to import a GameCube game than to buy the domestic version. Actually, they’re mostly around $60-65, but after shipping, it’s more like they’re $70 each. Of course, you’d get to play a game months before it ever comes out in the US. But another downside to importing is the language barrier and not being able to understand the story in a game, if there is one. 日本語を理解するか。 いいえ?? Well, too bad for you! You’re SOL.
I’ve been wanting to import Pikmin 2. It doesn’t come out here until August or something… it’s hard to keep up with release dates since they’re always changing. Either way, that’s still months from now. If you’ve ever played the first Pikmin, you’d know that Captain Olimar talks a lot in the game. That’s one of the reasons why I haven’t imported this yet because I know there’s probably a lot of text… the other reason is because I don’t want to pay 70 bucks for something I can get for 50 if I wait until it’s out here. I’m waiting for a Play-Asia special of $40 or less like they had when I bought Four Swords.
Well, now there’s an Action Replay code out for the import Pikmin 2 that will add some English text to the cutscenes in the game. Cutscenes only, but that’s tempting enough for me to want to buy this now. I already have an Action Replay. I bought one to play in the test areas in Wind Waker. 🙂 I’m still waiting for a special sale price though. And I don’t know if there will be one any time soon. 🙁