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Author Topic: Uncensoring Landstalker  (Read 1 times)
Szczepaniak
Guest
« on: October 11, 2010, 04:05:04 am »
I did a search and found nothing apart from this thread. Which I perhaps wrongly bumped. It might get lost in news, so I'm starting a new topic, which obviously makes the bump redundant, and me a trouble maker on these boards, but you have my complete and uncensored apology for this transgression.


I've recently gone back to Landstalker and, doing some research, found that it had been censored by making the nude bath scene inaccessible due to an NPC placement, and also the brothel scene was changed along with some item names and descriptions. This was all part of censorship at the time.

Naturally I assumed the RHDN would have corrected such a simple matter with a patch, but it appears this hasn't grabbed people's interest or attention.

Would this tool enable removal of an NPC (that might actually require more intense hacking), and correction of the dialogue censorship? I don't think this warrants retranslation from the Japanese (though it might be handy to look at the Japanese ROM, especially if imagery has been censored), since it should in theory simply require the changing of existing text.

I mean, if we have a tool which takes care of the hard work, it should be an easy matter, right? In which case I'd be tempted to do this myself - on condition I could find an accurate translation of the original Japanese text blocks which were censored.

Does anyone have thoughts on Landstalker and its censorship? Do we want to even address the matter?

One of the great things I like about this community is not only that you translate what is unavailable, but you correct the ineptitudes of western publishers - Streets of Rage 3 being a defining moment in romhacking history.


EDIT:


The following has been stolen from Wikipedia. Though it doesn't go into detail, I've been led to believe that several different dialogue fragments pertaining to Madam Yards Pink Palace were also changed, to put it more in-line with the Ballet Studio nonsense they put in.

Quote
# There was a scene cut out where Kayla is taking a bath. Nigel can either join or trying leave her, but in the end he will be beaten by Friday or Kaylas Henchmen. In the NA/EU versions the scene is not really cut: script and dialogues for this scene are present and translated in cartridge's data but a maid was added in front of a door, so that Ryle/Nigel can't get into the room where this scene happens.

# “Madam Yards Pink Palace” (brothel) was renamed to “Ballet Studio” for NA and European territories.

# The ending differs slightly between the American version and the European/Japanese version.

# Some items differs between the American/European versions and the original Japanese version. This is probably due to erotic references:

    * Oracle Stone (NA/EU versions) is a bunny playmate called "Bunny-chan" in the original Japanese version.
    * Spellbook (NA/EU versions) is an erotic book in the original Japanese version.
    * Shortcake (NA/EU versions) is a bunny playmate costume (Usagi no fuku) in the original Japanese version.
    * Pawn Ticket (NA/EU versions) is a G-String in the original Japanese version.

# In the crypt, the sign reading "WHOUDINI" (NA/EU versions) reads "KAN NAITO" (Landstalker's Chief Programmer and Executive Producer) in the original Japanese version.

# Some characters' names differs between versions:

    * Ryle (JP,FR) - Nigel (NA,EU) - Niels (DE)
    * Kayla Kowalski (NA,EU)-Kala Kowalski (JP)
    * Wally & Ink (NA,EU) - Goose & Zwam (JP)
    * Princess Lara (NA,EU) - Princess Rolia (JP)
    * Zak (NA,EU) - Zed Saw(JP)
    * Arthur (NA,EU) - Don mel (JP)
    * Pocket (NA,EU) - Morio
Gufino2
Guest
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2010, 08:50:24 am »
Hi Szczepaniak, Gufino2 here. I've made extensive research on Landstalker when I made my italian translation for that game, and comparing with the JAP version I noticed all the censored stuff (the wiki text you quoted was actually written by me eheheh). I'm already working on a patch that could restore the censored stuff (including a complete retranslation from the JAP scripts I extracted with my tools). I have tools to extract/insert text and graphics, and some time ago I even managed to patch the script for the added maid blocking the bathroom scene (god, I hope those old files aren't lost) so uncensoring the game should just be a matter of time. Talking about time, I don't have much spare time right now, but I'll keep you informed on the WIP state Tongue Meanwhile if you have any question and/or request, feel free to reply Smiley

See ya....
DaMarsMan
Guest
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2010, 08:54:56 am »
Quote from: Szczepaniak on October 11, 2010, 04:05:04 am
I did a search and found nothing apart from this thread. Which I perhaps wrongly bumped. It might get lost in news, so I'm starting a new topic, which obviously makes the bump redundant, and me a trouble maker on these boards, but you have my complete and uncensored apology for this transgression.

Your name isn't Mike is it?
Szczepaniak
Guest
« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2010, 04:34:14 am »
No, my name is my username. Mainly I sometimes drop in and make a nuisance of myself. Bump old topics. Harass the locals. Delete my own topics. Ask asinine questions. You know, the usual. Smiley

Quote from: Gufino2 on October 11, 2010, 08:50:24 am
Gufino2 here. I've made extensive research on Landstalker when I made my italian translation for that game, and comparing with the JAP version I noticed all the censored stuff (the wiki text you quoted was actually written by me eheheh). I'm already working on a patch that could restore the censored stuff (including a complete retranslation from the JAP scripts I extracted with my tools). I have tools to extract/insert text and graphics, and some time ago I even managed to patch the script for the added maid blocking the bathroom scene (god, I hope those old files aren't lost) so uncensoring the game should just be a matter of time. Talking about time, I don't have much spare time right now, but I'll keep you informed on the WIP state Tongue Meanwhile if you have any question and/or request, feel free to reply Smiley

Wow, that's very cool. I'm glad to hear you're taking an interest. I absolutely loved LS back in the day - long before I had the internet and was able to talk about the game online.

I'm also impressed you've gone beyond simple text changing, and altered things like the maid blocking the way. Based on what you've seen, how different would you say the English script is from the Japanese original?

Keep us posted of your developments - it's always felt to me that Landstalker was a slightly unknown gem. Certainly it's never garnered as big a fanbase as other Mega Drive RPGs (such as Phantasy Star and Shining Force), which is a shame, because its use of perspective makes it stand out for me.
KingMike
Guest
« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2010, 10:32:07 am »
I'm probably not the only one who had a hard time tolerating the control.
From what I remember, you have to push diagonally to move. Should've allowed 8-direction, or at least 4-way movement using single direction buttons (like Equinox and I think even the spin-off Lady Stalker).
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