MASSIVE Japan-to-America Game Changes

[Dragomorph]

Background first: when I got into the emulation scene, I tried out a ROM of Arabian Dream Sherazado, and was struck by how drastically different the Japanese version was from the American. Graphics, map layout -- even the game mechanics were slightly different. It was almost like a completely different game.

I noticed a similar amount of changes in the Japanese and American version of Mickey Mousecapade, though those were mostly aesthetic. Which led me to wonder: how many older games went through a LOT of changes between versions? I'm not just talking about difficulty gimping, I'm referring to massive graphical and gameplay differences.

Just kinda curious.

Dragomorph

[kainemaxwell]

I would think the conversion of Doki Doki Panic to SMB2 counts.

[kedawa]

Decap-Attack was a totally different game in Japan, and that horrible first SFC Ranma game was turned into an equally horrible generic fighting game for SNES.

FC and NES Castlevania III have some interesting differences, I've been told.

[Dragomorph]

Oh man, Doki Doki Panic and Ranma. TOTALLY should've thought of those.

Also of note: Whomp 'Em. Why they took a game based on the Saiyuki tale and turned it into a slightly offensive game starring a stereotypical Native American is beyond me.

[Haoie]

Everyone who knows anything about Namco will know about the stir Ace Combat 3 caused. Originally it had anime cutscenes, lots and lots of talking, a politically oriented story, multiple paths leading to 5 endings, interesting characters, etc etc

All of the above was cut out, and it became a straight shooter.

I now have both versions [got J a few weeks ago], and the J is infinitely better in every possible way.

[InsaneDavid]

Everyone who knows anything about Namco will know about the stir Ace Combat 3 caused. Originally it had anime cutscenes, lots and lots of talking, a politically oriented story, multiple paths leading to 5 endings, interesting characters, etc etc

All of the above was cut out, and it became a straight shooter.

I now have both versions [got J a few weeks ago], and the J is infinitely better in every possible way.

Either version was still dissapointing in terms of control and mission variety compared to Ace Combat 2, sadly. All that content was planned to be in the US at one time, quite a bit of the PR material mentioned it. Also the preview movie on the R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 bonus disc does as well.

[Haoie]

Ah, you saw that promo movie too huh? It was on the R4 bonus disc, with the hi speed demo of RR: Rev. So disappointing.

Also I'd like to add that although Ace Combat 2 was superior to 1, I still have to say there's no way it surpasses 3. Except in music. 3's mission variety often shows 1 battle from 2 differing views [Neucom, General Resources] depending on the path you choose. And at least 3 had a story, albeit a confusing tale.

I like high tech planes and technology too, actually.

[lotus13]

Maniac Mansion. The Japanese version was totally recreated from scratch, all of the graphics and music. It looks similar but not even close to any other version.

[pragmatic insanester]

final fight (snes). not only did CoA insert the girly men into the game, but the majority of the villians in the japanese version look...black?

the jessica section of the intro was also removed.

[Jorpho]

Maniac Mansion. The Japanese version was totally recreated from scratch, all of the graphics and music. It looks similar but not even close to any other version.

Wow. I completely forgot about that one. Do you know of a good website for further information?

Shatterhand originally featured a fairly generic-sounding Japanese robot thing instead of the ex-cop in the US version.
http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/natsume/natsume.htm

And everyone should read The Rad Project (http://www.flammie.net/vse/things/rad/index.htm), a tale of the derivation of "Totally Rad" from something called "Magic John", with hilarious ALT tags.

[CartCollector]

How 'bout Yo! Noid and, um, that ninja game. Sorry, I forgot the title, and I'm too lazy to look it up. It's from Tecmo... I think.

[lotus13]

Maniac Mansion. The Japanese version was totally recreated from scratch, all of the graphics and music. It looks similar but not even close to any other version.

Wow. I completely forgot about that one. Do you know of a good website for further information?



Hrrm. Here we go, two different pages of screenshots.
I haven't played the Famicom version since last summer, but IIRC it doesn't have any music except maybe for the intro screen. I'd love to translate the Japanese version, but I always have difficulties trying to find the proper tools and methods to do that, but oh well. One more thing to note is that the box art and manual are also totally different on the Japanese version, and the characters have more of an anime slant than the other versions.

Side by side comparison:

Famicom version screenshots (http://home.comcast.net/~ervind/mmjpnes.html)

NES screenshots (http://www.mobygames.com/game/maniac-mansion/screenshots) (at the very bottom)


Oh yeah, one more thing to note is that the naked statue is still in the hall in the Famicom version. This was censored from the other countries versions.

[Jorpho]

Hrrm. Here we go, two different pages of screenshots.
I haven't played the Famicom version since last summer, but IIRC it doesn't have any music except maybe for the intro screen. I'd love to translate the Japanese version, but I always have difficulties trying to find the proper tools and methods to do that, but oh well. One more thing to note is that the box art and manual are also totally different on the Japanese version, and the characters have more of an anime slant than the other versions.

Aside from the graphics, it doesn't look all that different in the end. Go figure. (And of course it can't be SCUMM internally.)

Translation of NES games can be surprisingly easy, provided you have persistence and knowledge of the language. (Rearranging menus to accomodate extra characters might not be so easy, though.)

[Push Upstairs]

Also of note: Whomp 'Em. Why they took a game based on the Saiyuki tale and turned it into a slightly offensive game starring a stereotypical Native American is beyond me.

I have that game (the Saiyuki one) and it sure seems to make loads more sense being set in Japan than what it was changed to for the US.



Hrrm. Here we go, two different pages of screenshots.

Those characters sure are happy in the Japanese version.

[exit]

I'd love to translate the Japanese version, but I always have difficulties trying to find the proper tools and methods to do that, but oh well.

I remember finding the rom for it years ago and I'm surprised that nobody has translated yet since the old Lucas Arts games have such a huge following. Not that it would be anything different, besides the lack of side-scrolling, but it's always nice playing different variations of games.


From what I've heard, Jackal had nice changes done to it for the US release. Also, Contra had some weird changes in the EUR release.

[Kitsune Sniper]

I remember finding the rom for it years ago and I'm surprised that nobody has translated yet since the old Lucas Arts games have such a huge following. Not that it would be anything different, besides the lack of side-scrolling, but it's always nice playing different variations of games.


From what I've heard, Jackal had nice changes done to it for the US release. Also, Contra had some weird changes in the EUR release.

Maniac Mansion (J) is hackable, I remember someone posting pictures of some changed menus and text a while back at The Whirlpool's board.

Contra (J) had its ENTIRE storyline removed for the US version, and there was a map which showed your progress when you completed a level.

Contra and Super C were butchered in Europe due to dumb "let's turn everything offensive into robots!" rules. What the hell is "Probotector" supposed to mean?! Blegh.

[InsaneDavid]

What the hell is "Probotector" supposed to mean?! Blegh.

It means "hosed" to gamers all across Europe. LOL

[Neo Rasa]

Also of note: Whomp 'Em. Why they took a game based on the Saiyuki tale and turned it into a slightly offensive game starring a stereotypical Native American is beyond me.

I have that game (the Saiyuki one) and it sure seems to make loads more sense being set in Japan than what it was changed to for the US.

I'm sure it wasn't any less silly to Japanese audiences as a game "based on" the Saiyuki legend. ;)

Castlevania III has worse sound in the US, and the hunchbacks/flea men are a completely different sprite. They look like those odd mutant type things the harpies drop in Super Castlevania IV.

And of course "Holy Water" is actually "Magical Fire Bomb." LOL

Shatterhand was originally a Japanese game based on some sentai show or other. The Japanese version's protagonist is a cop that dons an armored suit instead of a soldier type guy with on armor and the cutscenes/intro/etc. are totally different.

[Push Upstairs]

I've not played "Whomp'Em" but running around with a spear and fighting Elemental Masters does sound like it'd be more at home with an Asian theme.

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

Aside from the graphics, it doesn't look all that different in the end. Go figure. (And of course it can't be SCUMM internally.)
The NES version actually is SCUMM internally, so it's possible that the Famicom one is, too. I guess the fact that the rooms don't scroll might indicate that it's not SCUMM, though. I've never seen any mention of the Famicom version on the SCUMMVM page, either. I didn't even know it existed.


Those characters sure are happy in the Japanese version.
Yeah, huh? That seems to be the main change. They gave everyone a big huge smiley face. I love it.

Someone should start a "Bring Back Smiley Faces In Games" campaign.


...word is bondage...

[Ruudos]

Probotector. It's a mix of the words "protector" and 'robot". -_-

[Damaramu]

Don't forget the differences between Cybernator/Assault Suit Valken!!

HERE (http://www.geocities.com/opcfg3/asv.html)

[InsaneDavid]

Probotector. It's a mix of the words "protector" and 'robot". -_-

Yeah, but some of those UK name changes made even less sense than that, S.C.A.T. (can't remember the Japanese title, sure someone here does) was changed to "Action In New York" ROFL and if I remember correctly the intro was somewhat censored.

[njiska]

Dragon Quest had all of the religous references removed from the game and it seems to me there's no walking left animation in the JP version.

[Lord Contaminous]

Wrath of the Black Manta/Ninja Cop Saizou (NES/Famicom) Totally different music for both versions. Other differences such as the cinemas.
Title screen
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/TitleScreens.jpg
Opening cinema
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Cinema.jpg
The screen when capturing a gunman and getting info
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Interrogation.jpg
Screen when rescuing kids
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Rescue.jpg
The animation for when you jump straight up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Jump.jpg
Boss 1-Tiny
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Boss.jpg

Plus, there's also a stage shuffle.

[Lord Contaminous]

How 'bout Yo! Noid and, um, that ninja game. Sorry, I forgot the title, and I'm too lazy to look it up. It's from Tecmo... I think.

Masked Ninja Hanamaru. It was from Capcom

[NeoZeedeater]

Anmitsu Hime(Princess Anmitsu) to Alex Kidd in High Tech World.

[Lord Contaminous]

Ah here's one of the most popular censorship targets by Nintendo of America/Europe.

Thongs or panties?

[noriaki_kakyouin]

Thongs or panties?
Dragon Power in the US how Master Roshi wanted Bulma's "lunch" as opposed to the Japanese (real) version where he wanted to see her panties.

"oooh... so mach!" (http://www.retrojunk.com/details_articles/423/)

[Lord Contaminous]

Hahah that's a good one.
But I was mainly talking about ass shots in vs fighters on the SNES. Since her debut in Fatal Fury 2, Mai Shiranui has always been a prime target. But then again, not all of it is there. Surprisingly Chun Li's high kicks and Cammy's win pose in Super SF2 where she turns to the background got past the NoA/E's censors, but then again, that's a full body suit so that may be different.

Before I go off that subject, one game on the NES that had its share of nice 8-bit ass shots was "WURM: Journey to the Center of the Earth".

[Push Upstairs]

Wrath of the Black Manta/Ninja Cop Saizou (NES/Famicom) Totally different music for both versions. Other differences such as the cinemas.
Title screen
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/TitleScreens.jpg
Opening cinema
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Cinema.jpg
The screen when capturing a gunman and getting info
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Interrogation.jpg
Screen when rescuing kids
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Rescue.jpg
The animation for when you jump straight up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Jump.jpg
Boss 1-Tiny
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v125/Youkai525/Boss.jpg

Plus, there's also a stage shuffle.

Those "Black Manta" screens look better than thier Japanese counterparts. It makes it seem like the game has a darker, gritty tone.

[InsaneDavid]

The Japanese version of A Boy and His Blob - Touble on Blobolonia (Fushigina Bloby - Blobania no Kiki) had a much better looking title screen (not an Indiana Jones rip off, they also worked the Blob into the Japanese text) and the Boy was a much better rendered sprite. Instead of being a little stick figure he was an anime-ish little chubby kid. Don't know what else (if anything) was changed since I haven't played it that much.

[InsaneDavid]

Also Star Wars was a completely different game on the Famicom (and MUCH better in my opinion). Instead of a clunky platformer like the US Star Wars, the Japanese release was more of a Super Mario / Megaman esque game with far better shooting stages than the US title. I'd love for someone to pick up translation, the text seems very basic but the game internals could be a mess.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Also Star Wars was a completely different game on the Famicom (and MUCH better in my opinion). Instead of a clunky platformer like the US Star Wars, the Japanese release was more of a Super Mario / Megaman esque game with far better shooting stages than the US title. I'd love for someone to pick up translation, the text seems very basic but the game internals could be a mess.

You rang? (http://romhacking.deadbeat-inc.com/?page=translations&transpage=875)

[Lord Contaminous]

It's true. The Famicom Star Wars Insane David is referring to is one of the best Star Wars games I've ever played, right up there with the SNES Star Wars trilogy. I mean.....freakin' NAMCO made it. Forget that shitty NES platformer by JVC. It didn't make it globally in this form because the difficulty was brutal.

Nothing's more entertaining than hearing a 8bit version of Darth Vader's breathing.

[christhegamer]

Krion Conquest for the NES; man, that game was more butchered and unplayable than 4-kids TV's One-Peice!!

[Lord Contaminous]

Also music makes differences in the games as well. remember I said Wrath of the Black Manta/Ninja Cop Saizou had alternate soundtracks? Now here's some WAV's to compare.

TITLE SCREEN
USA- http://media.putfile.com/Wrath-title
Japan- http://media.putfile.com/NCSTitle

INTRO CINEMA
USA- http://media.putfile.com/WrathIntro
Japan- http://media.putfile.com/NCSIntro

GAMEPLAY MUSIC
USA- http://media.putfile.com/Wrath-1
Japan- http://media.putfile.com/NCS1

POWER UP/CHILD RESCUE ROOMS
USA- http://media.putfile.com/Wrath2-88
Japan- http://media.putfile.com/NCSRoom

BOSS
USA -http://media.putfile.com/WrathBoss
Japan -http://media.putfile.com/NCSBoss

Music differences of other games:
MEGAMAN/ROCKMAN 6 INTRO
USA- http://media.putfile.com/MEGA_MAN_6__U_
Japan-http://media.putfile.com/ROCKMAN_6___SHIJOU_SAIDAI_N[/url]

STAR FORCE
The music is the same, but since the US NES version came out 3 years after the Famicom version, the arrangements are different, plus several new tracks were added, including Game Over music which the Famicom version never had.
USA (1988) -http://media.putfile.com/Star-Force-English-2-19
Japan (1985)-http://media.putfile.com/Star-Force-1-15

http://media.putfile.com/WrathBoss

[Push Upstairs]

Krion Conquest for the NES; man, that game was more butchered and unplayable than 4-kids TV's One-Peice!!

How so?

[InsaneDavid]

Also Star Wars was a completely different game on the Famicom (and MUCH better in my opinion). Instead of a clunky platformer like the US Star Wars, the Japanese release was more of a Super Mario / Megaman esque game with far better shooting stages than the US title. I'd love for someone to pick up translation, the text seems very basic but the game internals could be a mess.

You rang? (http://romhacking.deadbeat-inc.com/?page=translations&transpage=875)

Excellent!! Thanks for the translation heads up! :) I haven't kept up much on goings at The Whirlpool since just before the change to Romhacking.net. LOL

[SamuraiSmurfette]

Here's a more modern example, and goes to show you that somewhere, they're STILL DOING THIS!

Sengoku Basara became DEVIL KINGS PS2

Apparently, the traditional story of Japan's warring states period would be not recognizable, too boring, or who knows what. So, they changed it. Big time.

So, Nobunaga Oda = Devil King
Date Masamune = Azure Dragon
etc..
And the story has been changed to one about a king who sold his soul to the devil. :hmm:

[InsaneDavid]

Got a couple more, again for the NES / Famicom.

Joust. The Japanese version of Joust was basically a barebones attempt at making Joust on the Famicom. The gameplay was there but the visuals were rather boring. The NES version had much more accurate graphics and looked far more arcade like.

Family Pinball / Rock 'N' Ball. For the most part the games are very much alike. However Namco created Family Pinball in Japan and the first table was Pac-Man themed, also the character selection screen features Namco characters. The US release, Rock 'N' Ball had the first table changed to a 1950's diner style and all the characters were replaced with "Americanized" characters themed to match the style of the first table.

City Connection. This is a VERY interesting change between the US and Japanese versions. Gameplay and ingame stuff of each are exactly the same. The changes are the title screens and intermission screens. The Japanese version features just a text title screen and the intermission screens show things like an anime style girl (I believe the player character in the Japanese version) and so forth. In the US version the title screen was completely reworked to add a graphic of the player character and has a different text logo. No big deal. Now upon completing the first stage in the US version, the intermission screen shows... the player character lighting up a cigarette. LOL Considering how tight Nintendo was with localization and licensing I can't believe they let this slip. This is even stranger since the smoking scene was ADDED IN THE US VERSION.

http://www.startoursinfo.com/junk/DP-CityConnection01.jpg

Now smoking wasn't something Nintendo allowed in their US games. Smoking references were removed from Little Nemo The Dream Master (Nemo - Pajama Hero in Japan) but I swear that I've played a US version where the smoking was left in. There's a thread I have up about that right now, click for details (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=84036).

[JPeeples]

The first game that comes to mind from my own experience is Toukon Retsuden, which was heavily altered before coming out in the U.S. Blood and mist effects on the faces were removed, as was Jushin Liger. The rest of the roster suffered color changes, and the ring and arenas were altered to remove any NJPW-related licensing, which wasn't entirely reflected in the original ads. I believe I also saw a game case of it in this state. I personally own a copy of the game where the case shows the alterations in what have to be the blurriest screens I have ever seen used for a game case.

[Snapple]

Pop'n Twinbee: Rainbow Bell Adventure

One version of the game is stripped down compared to the other. They take out a game map and a bunch of other stuff.

[Ed Oscuro]

From what I've heard, Jackal had nice changes done to it for the US release.
HUGE changes. The FDS version is tiny. I think it's only a single screen (no multidirectional scrolling) and the opening is cut. Plus you've got to flip the disk immediately after pressing start at the title screen o_O


Contra (J) had its ENTIRE storyline removed for the US version, and there was a map which showed your progress when you completed a level.
The map was shown at the beginning of a level, actually.

Also, there possibly was some sort of rare graphical bug in the FC version fixed for the U.S. release, but I'm getting that second hand and babelfished.


Contra and Super C were butchered in Europe due to dumb "let's turn everything offensive into robots!" rules. What the hell is "Probotector" supposed to mean?! Blegh.
Aside from the graphics (I don't mind Probotector 2's graphical overhaul that much, honest!), it's not that big a change. A few of the boxes (such as Operation C - er, Probotector, and Probotector II: Return of Evil Forces) had decent artwork, too. Also of note: Browny from Contra: Hard Corps seems to have been inspired by the robots-only versions; naturally his sprite wasn't changed in the European version.

Also, Devil Kings on PS2 sounds like it might be a fairly decent remix. Read the developer's comments on it recently; they're trying to make it worthwhile.

[InsaneDavid]

From what I've heard, Jackal had nice changes done to it for the US release.
HUGE changes. The FDS version is tiny. I think it's only a single screen (no multidirectional scrolling) and the opening is cut. Plus you've got to flip the disk immediately after pressing start at the title screen o_O

That's the case with a LOT of Famicom Disk System games. Quite a few will only have a title screen or an attract screen initially on side A (or disk 1, side A) and then prompt you to turn the disk over.

[Dire 51]

I've got three for you: the Mega Drive versions of Alex Kidd and the Enchanted Castle, Last Battle and Mytic Defender have quite a few differences. All of these can be read about (not in as much detail as I'd like, sorry about that) here (http://www.geocities.com/opcfg2/converterfun.html).

I'll also like to take the opportunity to thank Damaramu for throwing in the link to my Assault Suit Valken article. :D

[Damaramu]

I'll also like to take the opportunity to thank Damaramu for throwing in the link to my Assault Suit Valken article. :D

No problemo! :cheers:

[Kitsune Sniper]

Aside from the graphics (I don't mind Probotector 2's graphical overhaul that much, honest!), it's not that big a change. A few of the boxes (such as Operation C - er, Probotector, and Probotector II: Return of Evil Forces) had decent artwork, too.

Actually, I hate Europe because many violent games are butchered during censorship, and characters are turned into robots because of it.

Sure, let's main some robots! They're not alive so they're fine to destroy! Guess they never heard of Johnny Five...

[starsoldier1]

The Japanese version of JJ & Jeff (Turbografx) is definitely different then the NA version. The game is actually called Kato and Ken and the characters can use a fart attack instead of the lamer spray can move.