It’s taken over seven years, but Nintendo has finally decided that the brave, adorable starfish known as Starfy (or Stafi, or even Stafy) is ready to explore new horizons. Nintendo recently announced that the fifth Starfy game, Densetsu no Stafy Taiketsu! Daiiru Kaizokudan, will be released in North America on June 8, 2009 as The Legendary Starfy.

Seems like Nintendo is going back to Starfy’s roots with the title – the original GBA game (which will be reviewed March 6, 2009 in Important Importables) went by the same name.

But who is this mysterious little star/starfish which has inspired a fan following in Japan and such devotion among importers? Let’s look back over the history of Starfy over the past five games. After all, we may never see Densetsu no Stafi 1 – 4. Okay, if The Legendary Starfy does well, then maybe Nintendo would release the DS game Densetsu no Stafi 4 as The Legendary Starfy 2…

It’s a given that not all Japanese games will make it outside of Japan. Some didn’t sell well enough in that country, others were too focused on a certain age group and sometimes they’re just too weird.

At the same time, there are quite a few phenomenal or funny games which should get a worldwide release, but don’t. Sadly, gamers don’t get a list of reasons from publishers or developers as to why we’ll never have the honor of playing a domestic version of one of these titles, but usually it is pretty easy to understand why.

So this week we’ll review four DS titles which will very likely never, ever be released in North America.