Beyond the Labyrinth The Unlocalized Mystery

[@SomeCameo]

you have no idea how important this video is. once as a kid i saw in a magazine a page dedicated to this weird in development game with some girl in it, the writer making a big deal about how it was actually a first person rpg on the 3ds and generaly just hyping up the reader. and for years after that i tried to find just wtf that was, was it just a hazy memory of something entirely different? some game i never got the chance to play at the time? lost media? i even tried to look it up but without the name its was just impossible. now i learn that it wasnt even released overseas but thanks to some badass translator i can play it. thank you so much.

[@RyanBeardy]

This kind of comment helps make what I do all worth it. Thank you so much!

[@quarreneverett4767]

​@@RyanBeardyi havent seen this before i wanna play it :D thanks man

[@DoctorEviloply]

There's been quite a few 3D dungeon crawlers on 3DS if you're interested. Etrian Odyssey comes to mind, so does SMT Strange Journey, SMT 4, and if you want to go further back Orcs vs Elves for the DS is fully backwards compatible with 3DS. There were even a couple of Japanese Exclusive Wizardry games that are on 3DS too.

[@quarreneverett4767]

@@DoctorEviloply :D

[@andregon4366]

​@@RyanBeardy I was on a similar situation, except I gave up of searching, because I figured out it was JP exclusive. I didn't know there was a fan translation. By the way, is it possible to play it on a 3DS console with the translation?

[@TrynePlague]

The animations on that girl are crazy good for a 3DS game.

[@diamondhamster4320]

😭😭😭

[@Toro563]

Motion tracking

[@LordTenebrum]

I was an online editor for a popular Spanish video games news site back then when ラビリンスの彼方 (Beyond the Labyrinth) was announced. I was the only editor among my teamwork to be excited and wishing for a Western release. But thanks to emulation, we can play this gem with a translation patch. Thanks for making this video!!

[@Q2tall]

I would love to play this on my vita you what’s the site you use to play this

[@magic1wizard]

​@@Q2tallIt's a 3ds game and there is no 3ds emulator for Vita.

[@Q2tall]

@@magic1wizard ya I found that out like yesterday, kind of a let down. I’m not to keen on the ds but I’m under the impression most of the games require dual screens right?

[@magic1wizard]

@@Q2tall Yeah the bottom screen is used in pretty much every game in some way. 3ds games generally dont use it as extensively as Ds games though.

[@mortenera2294]

​@@Q2tallStop mixing up the DS with the 3DS

[@DragonplayerDev]

I guess this is what the VR game "Last Labyrinth" is inspired by

[@thechosenfundead6626]

I think this is the closest we have to a second person game

[@zdacadzda]

Reminds me: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3SbgqKIlp2slbMsi=1boQJqfEDmLa7BIl&t=207

[@killthemwithfirelol]

Pac man 2: the new adventures was purely 2nd person and came out three decades ago. There were others before and after as well.

[@spinfuse]

Driver San Francisco has a 2nd person moment

[@Noum77]

"Trover Saves the Universe", the game made by Rick And Morty's creators is the perfect example of 2nd person

[@RootVegetabIe]

​@@killthemwithfirelolGot'em

[@nvaierwatch]

I actually have the physical copy of Labyrinth no Kanata! I kinda dropped it after the second difficulty spike, but it was a lot of fun! Also, as a fun fact, the music was composed by Motoi Sakuraba, who you might also know from a little known game series Dark Souls.

[@RyanBeardy]

I didn’t know that! It was a good soundtrack!

[@Rihcterwilker]

The 3ds graphics have a weird charm to it. The lighting outline you tend to see in some models feels so characteristic of the 3ds.

[@cloudycolacorp]

It seems like developers were able to make really fantastic looking games with what the 3DS had. I think the low resolution actually helped it, because I remember vita games having technically more advanced models, but a lot ran in subnative resolutions making them all blurry and jaggy.

[@hosatus2433]

3DS devs innovated. Switch devs stagnated.

[@trashtrash2169]

New Horizons looks good, but does anybody else's switch do that glitchy double framed broken interpolation thing? New Leaf never did THAT.

[@theunbearablejuan]

Tri-Ace are generally underappreciated as far as tech goes. Valkyrie Profile 2: Lenneth went up to 1080i on the PS2 and it had better visuals than most early PS3/360 games.

[@Rihcterwilker]

@@theunbearablejuan radiata stories is the coolest game from them, that never got enough recognition.

[@jamesgames4553]

Glad to see a video on this fantastic RPG. It blew me away when I played it, no coincidence that the Tri-Ace team behind similarly inventive games like Resonance of Fate and Valkyrie Profile 2 was driving this game. It’s very special indeed.

[@RyanBeardy]

I need to play Resonance of Fate soon!!

[@GHNeko]

@@RyanBeardyResonance of Fate is great especially if you like running along Triangle lines! 10/10 game experience.

[@unemployedphilosopher5072]

And Radiata Stories! 🤩

[@jamesgames4553]

@@unemployedphilosopher5072 still on my list! I think it never came out in Europe which is why I missed it. Is it good?

[@jamesgames4553]

@@sirei01 Resonance of Fate is a flawed game but it is an interesting one. My issue with it is you can get through most of the game using the same strategy for almost all battle rooms.

[@Mark.the.Suspect]

There's always some crazy dude or team of dudes digging up the coolest, obscurest games and going the extra mile of translating them for everyone to see. They're doing God's work.

[@RadioactivePuppy01]

I desperately wanted to play this back when I had little knowledge of online communities. What a gem.

[@Zero_Tester]

Lol same too,i thought it would be something like ICO back then,but to my surprises,i actually like it

[@theabysswalker114]

Oh boy, a video essay made by a small channel with a bearded guy about a game I have never heard of in my life nor will I play randomly recommended by youtube, my favorite jokes aside great video

[@g5aUhN5g]

I actually own a physical copy of this game, it was like 500 yen in a used games bin when I lived in Japan back in 2013/2014. Really unique experience.

[@EmissaryOfSmeagol]

I visited Japan (from U.S.) recently and it shocked me how many games they have... just laying about haha. Path of Radiance (in English) could sell for multiple hundreds of dollars here but over there it's super cheap, for example.

[@Coolio_Ash]

Games likes these with largely unexplored lore and worlds. Knowledge about technology or magic long lost to all present humanity. Ruins of long lost civilizations that make you want to dive into every detail you see. I love stuff like this!!!

[@starlightxfury]

oh wow, this looks like if Shin Megami Tensei had a baby with King's Field. I was drawn to the atmosphere of this game even by the short clips you showed in the video. thanks, definitely gonna play it now :D

[@CommandantLennon]

IIRC, the files that an emulator can use are also the files that can be direct-installed to real hardware. I'm unsure about the translation step however. Look, I know piracy and emulation are touchy subjects, but unless it's on a walmart shelf, it's effectively abandonware after the e-shop shutdown.

[@eratinuwu1952]

Probably converting from whatever 3DS emulators use to .cia files? I think Godmode9 can do that. Otherwise replacing romfs files for text probably works too, I'm sure.

[@rumotu]

Yup. Watching this and wondering if I can install it with translation patch to my console.

[@s07195]

One of the RPGs I really wanted to get in the final hours of the eShop before realizing it was delisted long ago...

[@dndhydrate]

Randomly found this video in my reccomends. This was a game I knew about, but forgot since it never got localized. Was never aware there was a fan translation!

[@cyanners2171]

finding this video just sent me down the multiple hour long debacle of acquiring a Beyond the Labyrinth 3ds file and figuring out how to apply an English patch (because it was never released anywhere else but Japan). God I hope it was worth it. Your video inspired me, and that inspiration demands that I play.

[@eXtremeLink859]

thanks for having proper subtitles on this, I sometimes watch videos without sound on and I really appreciate good CC (as I'm sure those with hearing loss issues do as well). also just a great video overall!

[@tespenkr9924]

Never thought I'd play an smt game where you play as the summoned demons.

[@couchmoba]

Really love the combat section; I can tell this was a primary point of interest and comparing it to SMT/Persona is high praise. Shame there wasn't more to this world and plot.

[@RyanBeardy]

Glad you liked that section! That was the main point of conversation about the game I wanted to talk about while not making it too long or boring!

[@AlchemistofFlame]

I finished this game years ago on the 3DS and I feel privileged to own a copy of it until today. It's an incredible game I wish more people knew about. Its ending is so epic! Thank you very much for the video and for bringing this amazing game to light!

[@SprayerDaYuri]

I keep on checking in this game to remind myself that I still want to play it one day. I discovered it years ago and have become obessed with the mood it establishes and especially the soundtrack, which is so so great. It is very inspiring to see a game like this, as it really seems to transcend the medium and tell a unique story through means that no book, movie or image could do. I will hold off on playing it until everything feels right and I can dive into it fully and get immersed.

[@clay2889]

Beautiful video. There are many Japanese hidden gems like this that just go unnoticed due to the effort of translation. Thank you for bringing light to Beyond the Labyrinth!

[@thomasgeppi6762]

Very cool! Almost feels like a Team Ico game with having to manage the companion character and explore a giant structure with mysterious origins, I wonder if the devs were inspired by Ueda's works??

[@JadenGoter]

I was thinking the same thing! Gotta be

[@literallythelamest2177]

Thank you youtube recommendations for showing me this - and thank you for making it!

[@KarmaSpaz12]

Even if the sales were low it was a novel idea that hasn't been seen much. Maybe someone should make a similar entry.

[@astrea555]

I still remember this game from back when it was announced and yeah it sucks it was never localized. I didn't know it had a patch subbed :)

[@nazgulsenpai]

Thanks for this -- as a fan of dungeon RPGs and with a fascination for obscure Japanese games, this was a homerun and something I've never heard about before!

[@Q2tall]

Game looks really innovative I can tell a lot of love was put into it based on how fluid her movements are thanks for putting me on this gem! Subs

[@josephjarosch8739]

Such a fascinating little lost gem. It seems like it deserved more fame.

[@ivanj988]

Still remember when this was announced along with first screenshots. The game looked amazing for a handheld that time. Good old times!

[@orcuswells649]

This is honestly kind of fascinating, crazy I’ve never caught any trace of it

[@kamuihyo]

never heard of this game but i watched for the first minute and stopped because i want to play it myself. i'll come back here once i've done so. glad i caught this in my feed o7

[@randomsaint]

Great video, got me really interested and now I plan on trying this game later! You have a great voice for narration and I enjoyed your script, keep it up man!

[@RyanBeardy]

Kind words thank you!

[@Vinterloft]

"Over a thousand creatures" what do you mean, there are only 802 Pokémon forever

[@wolfrox777]

Blows my mind to still find out about interesting titles like this.

[@goranisacson2502]

What a fascinating little insight into a game long forgotten. I always love coming across people talking so passionately about something so obscure- it just feels nice to aee that no matter how much you might think your hard work lead to nothing, somewhere out therr someone noticed it and really liked it. Konami might not have cared, but a bearded man on the internet did and decided we all should hear about it. See, it doesn't even have to be sonething I myself vibe with. As interesting as the battle system sounds I would be so frustrated if two intriguing concepts (the girl scavenging for magic and a real world MMO-team suddenly having to become her guardians as they bond with each other) ultimately DIDN'T lead to interesting story beats. But even if I wouldn't dig this, I still feel my day was improved seeing this kind of passion for something so few experienced. So thank you for that- this felt like a nice way to end my evening :)

[@Geostationary0rbit]

Wow thanks for sharing! I would never have found this without this video!

[@ROAD-HORROR]

Wow, this is such an incredibly inspiring game through and through... Thank you for sharing this title, I never would have found it otherwise.

[@GameThoughts]

What a cool find! I love games that use self-aware means of interacting with the player, but it's a shame this game only really used it as a novelty feature. Either way, great video Ryan! :)

[@diamondhamster4320]

"Last Labyrinth" and "Beyond the Labyrinth" is a definition of a hidden gem games.

[@luvlybaluga]

I loved this game. I wish you had mentioned the amazing OST it had. The look and aesthetic was great and the combat was simple yet deep at the same time.

[@sebastianstyles9750]

It’s honestly some of the best graphics I’ve ever seen for a 3DS game, I don’t know how Nintendo managed to get this onto a 3DS console, it’s truely astonishing.

[@mawillix2018]

I didn't even click this video, it just opened on it's own. It looks great though, looking forward to watching this later!

[@ShadowEclipse777]

Honestly a super interesting sounding game. Sad to hear that the plot doesn't really go anywhere though

[@jackal27]

Excellent video about a game I can’t believe I’m not already familiar with. I’m guessing I forgot when this one originally released. Subscribed!

[@Fatih120]

Downloaded this game randomly on my 3DS, randomly clicked this cuz I was confused about the title at first but now I can see this game is right up my alley. Will prolly start it soon.

[@ghostghost514]

Your video makes me want to download the game and play it immediately.

[@beefour7480]

I had heard about this game a lot but its cool to finally see a video on it thanks man!

[@debostahn]

The main character is so cute!

[@akaviolaqrif350]

16:42 is exactly what I've been preaching sadly, Many don't even want to touch the topic of emulation evenmore when you'll have to eng patchit yourself, the most recent work that impressed me was that persona 2 part 2 on psp which never seen a global release it took some fans to replace all the dialogue with the already available ps1 version of the game and apparently some people have been waiting for almost 2 decades for that to happen

[@jellyscape]

i had no idea this game existed. thanks for the wonderful video!! subscribed! :)

[@TBGEM]

Love this video, instant sub!!!! Need to play this!

[@RebornGalaxy]

I love games that are slowpaced like this with very vaugh story, thanks for the tip.

[@0hl0ngj0hns0n]

Wow, really interesting game! I'll definitely give it a try. Thanks for bringing my attention to it with this gresat vieo :)

[@Nintendo_Gamer1889]

This was really cool, I'll have to check out this game as well thanks for the share. At least we got the Spirit Camera Fatal Frame spinoff & the AR cards from the first Bravely Default to enjoy.

[@Pownchao]

Wait, there's a translation patch for this game? Also, it's still nice to see people talking about this game! I still hope we get some sort of revival for this title, or maybe even a spiritual successor.

[@DGP406]

I remember Hideo Kojima tweeting about this game

[@ShadowEclipse777]

Makes sense, pretty sure he'd love a game like this plus he still worked for Konami himself at the time

[@ArthurLopes39]

Never heard of this before but I love how it looks, will definitely check it out.

[@BlackReaper0]

This looks pretty unique, going to check it out later.

[@Bane_Amesta]

Uhhh never heard of this game, or your channel (thanks YT for the random reccomend) but you got my attention, specially with the QoL features like the auto map (I hate tracing the map manually). It does feel similar to Ico which I love, so i'm definitely trying this one out, thank you for the video

[@zukuu]

What a unique game.

[@kanekiyoshimura5707]

Im so happppyyyyyyy to see a video being made on this highly underrated game

[@d.aardent9382]

I'd never heard of nor seen this ever before. It looks like it would have been in the same series as ICO, the world looks similar,the design of things looks similar. Very interesting.

[@Nesdude42]

What a cool concept for a game! I can't believe this wasn't released in the west. This is the first I've ever seen about it.

[@DesignFrameCaseStudies]

I absolutely LOVE her design, and the animations are great. It's clear that they focused all their efforts on the visuals and combat; it's a bummer they didn't have a story, 'cause that kind of kills motivation to play it, let alone see it through to the end. I hate the 3DS since it was generally a death sentence to make a game exclusive to it. RIP.

[@gusbart5856]

I think your thumbnails are starting to get better. Didnt like your previous thumbnails but this one is great

[@TheRealAlpha2]

Almost kinda reminds me of another Konami game, Lifeline on the PS2. But it's a much simpler game, more interaction between you and the game character, and she's the one that attacks but you have to tell her what to do though.

[@megabyte01]

I'll have to check out Beyond the Labyrinth!

[@xianad2electricboogaloo399]

This game looks gorgeous

[@AtticusMJ]

I remember seeing this video long time ago I went to Japan in Oct with some friends and I was happy to find this game for just simple 400 yen Thank you for making this video am glad that it left a impression to recognised the case for the game :) I looking forward to trying it out

[@vadiks20032]

wow, i like how bad ancient looking dungeon crawler game just turns into 3D dungeon crawler

[@auriplane]

I really loved this game. I put more hours into this than anything else on my 3DS

[@Dzzy123]

I remember seeing trailers for this game and then the info on it seemed to stop coming.

[@PLANTBAT]

Bro. SMT is my favorite series, so I really want to try this, I love the aesthetic and the MC’s subtle tattoos. How is the soundtrack?

[@RyanBeardy]

It’s a great soundtrack!

[@NickMaasDvorak]

Love when you cover niche games or Mario

[@serikaonoe6493]

I played this game on my hacked 3ds. I loved it.

[@D2Synua]

Great video!

[@sarkwalvein]

Oh, this game. I did some very little beta testing back when Nagato was translating it. Very poor job on my part, very limited. Sorry Nagato, I wish I would have worked harder.

[@legrandarkan]

would go hard on a crt monitor

[@thecrowds209]

Wow this game looks amazing, grapgics and story (however much there is), and the combat? Forget about it. It truly earns the title of unique. I can totally see it tanking overall in the west and only carving out a unique fanbase though lol

[@SocraTetris]

This game is interesting! Can you clarify something for me? You said the girl character couldnt hear the interactions of the rest of the party. Saw that on screen as "she can't read our chat". Is there communication with the girl character? And what exactly do you do which acts as that communication?

[@RyanBeardy]

I mostly meant communicating your intent to help by playing the game, defeating enemies, and protecting her. There isn’t much outside of that as thats the only major way to interact with the girl.

[@theeraphatsunthornwit6266]

Nice concept

[@Rockmanbalboa]

good ideas, just could had a little more of the world, happy that game preservation exists

[@WesleyFiles]

Passionate.

[@RamChop451]

Not gonna lie I thought this was a Nier Reincarnation video. I'm so happy this fell into my rec

[@REIDAE]

A lot of japanese games dont get released in english. If anything, games getting localizations is the exception, not the rule.

[@SilentVinyl]

Nagato is goated for translating this

[@Zero_Tester]

Loved this game though,always gave me ICO and Wizardry vibes,though this time we get guided by the girl

[@msd5808]

Looks good. I'm surprised it didn't get a release in the U.S.

[@bryandavidasuncion9515]

Interesting. I should get around to playing this. Especially now that I can actually read japanese at a decent level.

[@acolyte1951]

What an interesting and awesome game that i never knew existed

[@kurisuchiinathecrocodile333]

some of best music for sakuraba here

[@alinayossimouse]

Thank you for your video. This game is exactly the type of game I would have bought. Alas Konami will be out one sale as I play the fan translation on my hacked New 2DS XL

[@Lucifronz]

I tried out a fan translated version of this on 3DS when I had first hacked my 3DS. I never really beat it, but it was kind of interesting. Truthfully, I found the combat mechanics a bit too exhausting to continue the playthrough, along with how sparse the whole plot felt. There is something neat to the kind of atmospheric, story-lite experience presented, but those two things together made it less than appealing.

[@devaunbeats]

Installed this game a looong time ago and only played for an hour or so. I really should give it another go.

[@PunishedForkbundle]

interesting, i've never seen this game before.

[@mister_milkman]

Would be nice if this game got a remaster with some reworked gameplay. Exploring the levels is chill, but also super slow. In a remaster there'd need to be faster movement speed, a fast travel option between areas, some collectibles to make exploring the levels worthwhile, and far less fights.

[@ThePerro]

I started playing this game last month and it’s amazing how it’s barely ever talked about! The game has some flaws in my opinion but overall it is to me the definition of a hidden gem