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[Roto13]

I always like reading about games and finding the differences between the Japanese and Western versions. There were a lot of them in the 8 and 16 bit eras. For example!

Dynamite Headdy (Mega Drive/Genesis)

This one is less drastic, but there are some changes between the Japanese and North American versions od Dynamite Headdy. Specifically, some bosses are tweaked or completely redesigned between versions. Even Trouble Bruin, the recurring foil, is different in Japanese. (Though more catlike than bearlike in both versions, including meowing in the first level.)

There are also two different doll bosses that are changed into more masculine or ambiguous robots for the Western release.

The Japanese version also has more story than the other versions. There are more textboxes that explain what's going on. There are only a few of those in the Western versions.

Screens from here. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/dynamiteheaddy/dynamiteheaddy.htm

Dragon Ball/Dragon Power (Famicom/NES)

Dragon Power was a Dragon Ball game in Japan. I'm not sure why they even wanted to bring this shitty game over to North America in the first place since the only thing it had going for it was the Dragon Ball license, but they did, changing all of the Dragon Ball characters into original characters.

Yup. That's Goku.

The best part is where they change Master Roshi and his love of panties into a different old man who totally digs sandwiches.

Magical Hat no Buttobi Tabo! Daibōken/Decap Attack (Mega Drive/Genesis)

This one's weird. There was a Genesis game based on the anime Magical Hat released in Japan, but rather than bring it over and deal with licensing, Sega decided to make a whole new game based on it. Where Magical Hat was bright and colourful and cute, Decap Attack uses a comical horror theme. The main character in Magical Hat throws punches and Chuck D. Head from Decap Attack throws his head.

Whereas Dragon Power simply removed all references to Dragon Ball (and turned panties into sammiches), Decap Attack just remakes the game. The physics and rules are the same, but the graphics, sound, and even the levels are completely different. Decap Attack also uses a hit point system and Magical Hat uses a one-hit-ko lives system. (Items that refill your life in Decap Attack give you a 1up in Magical Hat.)

Screens from here. There are a few more. http://rq87.flyingomelette.com/RQ/region/decap/attack.html

Magic John/Totally Rad (Famicom/NES)

I love this one! It started out as a generic animu game in Japan but they westernized it and replaced the main characters with surfer dude teens and dialog.

The writing is a total sendup of late 80's/early 90's California surfer culture. Everything in the Japanese version is generic and boring but it's legitimately funny in the English version. "They've got my father!" "I'll save him!" becomes this:

And "I'm practicing magic so I can come and help you!" becomes:

There's also a great part where the girl is getting kidnapped and she says "Jake, they're like stealing me or something!" That screen is having trouble uploading, though. This one's definitely better in English.

Screens from here. There are a lot more of them, so check 'em out. http://www.flammie.net/vse/things/rad/index.htm

Ok, I ended up putting a lot more work into this than I was planning to. xP Post!

 

[Kazerei]

Angry Kirby comparison shots still make me laugh

 

[Dreamer RD]

Nice thread. Persona Revelations comes to mind fast.

Jap vs US

 

[Electivirus]

Dragon Quest VIII, hands down. Adding voice acting and an orchestrated soundtrack to the US version... THIS is how you localize a video game.

 

[sixteen-bit]

J-Ratchet's eyebrows are pretty amazing.

 

[udivision]

Super Mario Bros 2 <=> Doki Doki Panic?

 

[hikarutilmitt]

Reposting my Soul Blazer/Blader pic from the other topic:

I think one of the more interesting changes was to the status menu, because of the fixed-width font and long descriptions, they ended up breaking the portion with the Souls into its own second screen.

The mermaid sprite change is barely noticeable, to the point of asking why they would even bother.

The ending sprites are actually kind of funny because this young girl is instead some mysterious clone of Sarah Jessica Parker with the long face.


Also of odd note is Super Valis becoming Super Valis IV, the main change was not to the sprites (changing the mermaid and harpy boss sprites to, again, cover breasts, etc) and was instead to the damage changes between using the sword and using the items as well as removing the ranking screen at the end of the game. Super Valis is quite a bit easier than Super Valis IV.

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Chocobo Racing:

 

[Sylver]

Bionic Commando:

 

[Sleep Arrest]

[Kriby]

Wow that's very interesting, and I'm now curious as to why that was done with his eyes... Maybe they thought western culture loves conflict so much he needs to look bad ass?

 

[ComputerMKII]

In my (French) version of Final Fantasy VIII, Zell says he like eating 'Bretzels' but he is shown eating hot dogs in the ending cutscene.

 

[TheOGB]

Came to post Angry Kirby, one and done

Also Mega Man Powered Up's Blue Popo: Oil Man

 

[mollipen]

The best part is where they change Master Roshi and his love of panties into a different old man who totally digs sandwiches.

For some reason, I loved Dragon Power as a child, and would continually rent the game from the local rental place. I had no notion of what Dragon Ball was, so I never made the connection until later.

It ALWAYS baffled me why one of the guy's wishes you could grant (or whatever it was) was just to give him a sandwich. Seemed so, so arbitrary and bizarre. Later, of course, it made sense.

 

[Atolm]

Ace Combat 3. Basically, everything.

 

[Magnus]

Holy shit, Angry Kirby is hilarious! I had no idea that was so prevalent across Kirby's cover history, lmfao.

OP: I immediately thought of an article I read online years ago as soon as I saw your OP.

http://www.filibustercartoons.com/Nintendo.php
"Nintendo's Era of Censorship"

I honestly don't know how much of the article is properly sourced, but the screenshots don't lie. Enjoy.

Super Castlevania IV - nude to clothed statue

Earthbound Hospital - Red cross to no cross

Ducktales - Tombstone Cross removal

 

[hikarutilmitt]

Super Castlevania IV - nude to clothed statue

What's hilarious is that with all of the editing they did to SC4 with covering up nude statues and removing the cross from Vlad's tombstone in the opening and the like, they left Medusa's breasts hanging out for all to see. huh?

 

[Sylver]

FFVI

More cross removal SGG:

Resident Evil & Biohazard Intro.

 

[LeleSocho]

why remove the crosses?

 

[sn00zer]

why remove the crosses?

Nintendo (America) had a strict policy about not allowing any religious symbols in their games during the NES/SNES era

 

[Diprosalic]

melee had some interesting difference, between ntsc and pal, if you were hardcore enough to notice them. still to this day i wonder why they made them.

 

[MedIC86]

 

[XANDER CAGE]

melee had some interesting difference, between ntsc and pal, if you were hardcore enough to notice them. still to this day i wonder why they made them.

Do tell us, o hardcore one

 

[Roto13]

Holy shit, Angry Kirby is hilarious! I had no idea that was so prevalent across Kirby's cover history, lmfao.

OP: I immediately thought of an article I read online years ago as soon as I saw your OP.

http://www.filibustercartoons.com/Nintendo.php
"Nintendo's Era of Censorship"

I honestly don't know how much of the article is properly sourced, but the screenshots don't lie. Enjoy.

Yeah, there are a lot of these that are just because Nintendo's censors were a lot stricter in North America than they were in Japan. I was planning to post the various Final Fantasy VI sprite changes but I figured the OP was long enough already.

 

[CO_Andy]

In the Japanese Link's Awakening you looked for the Mermaid's top, but in the localization it was changed to the Mermaid's Necklace. Above is a hack applied to restore the uncut content.

 

[Sylver]

why remove the crosses?

Maybe jews and muslims could feel excluded?
ridiculous? right, but this world and humanity mind is really absurd. Some islamic countries sell my avatar's club jersey without that cross, and only with a red line.

 

[Shiggy]

Xenoblade Chronicles:

EU:

US:

 

[someguyinahat]

The red-cross-to-no-cross on the hospital is likely not because of Christian imagery, but because the Red Cross Society protects the use of their red cross symbol quite vehemently. They crack down on all unauthorized uses of the red cross. They'll even crack down on nurse outfits marked with a red cross in porn movies.

 

[Torraz]

Nier Replicant vs. Gestalt.

Brother saving sister vs. Father saving daughter

 

[Magnus]

Xenoblade Chronicles:

EU:
http://www.abload.de/img/xenotitlea8ue.jpg[IMG]

US:
[IMG]http://m1.ikiwq.com/img/xl/iAToG8tsLNqzX0Oivnr1Aa.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]


Well done.

:(



[QUOTE=MedIC86][img]http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/shanghailaine/wow-change.JPG

This was for China, right? Something cultural re: skeletons not being permissible.

 

[Bankoiia]

 

[beje]

why remove the crosses?

To avoid any kind of specific religious imaginery that may cause controversy in the west. Still happens nowadays, I remember some screens from a PSP Final Fantasy (don't remember which one) where they change a statue of the Virgin Mary to a generic ancient godess.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Xenoblade Chronicles:

EU:

US:

cold-blooded

 

[Valnen]

I wouldn't exactly call needless changes and censorship "awesome", but interesting thread anyway .

 

[Cfuentes]

Xenoblade Chronicles:

EU:

US:

Well played sir!

 

[Sylver]

The red-cross-to-no-cross on the hospital is likely not because of Christian imagery, but because the Red Cross Society protects the use of their red cross symbol quite vehemently. They crack down on all unauthorized uses of the red cross. They'll even crack down on nurse outfits marked with a red cross in porn movies.

Yeah and this is why mulsim countries use Red Crescent, right? Videogame censorship is only religion offense terms.

 

[Forkball]

Nier Replicant vs. Gestalt.

This.
American main character:

Japanese main character:

You are either the father or brother of the damsel in distress, because Square thought that America likes old burly geriatrics and Japan likes waify androgynous teens.

 

[Ellis Kim]

The red-cross-to-no-cross on the hospital is likely not because of Christian imagery, but because the Red Cross Society protects the use of their red cross symbol quite vehemently. They crack down on all unauthorized uses of the red cross. They'll even crack down on nurse outfits marked with a red cross in porn movies.

I don't remember, but did they also crack down on Child's Play using the red cross? Or did Child's Play defend that as being a d-pad?

I don't know, seeing as right now its a green cross on their website. http://www.childsplaycharity.org/

This.
American main character:
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/nier/nier.jpg[/

Japanese main character:
[IMG]http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/nier/nierjp.jpg[/

You are either the father or brother of the damsel in distress, because Square thought that America likes old burly geriatrics and Japan likes waify androgynous teens.[/QUOTE]
I haven't played Nier, but I remember reading/hearing from people that they did a good job with delivering on the father role?

 

[rakhir]

This was for China, right? Something cultural re: skeletons not being permissible.

Yeah, skeletons, bones showing through the skin, broken jaws etc - they had to hide all of it, including all artwork showing skulls, like spell icons, cut-off head icons etc.
This is great:

http://img1.178.com/chinagame/201008/75942001505/75942652773.jpg

http://img2.178.com/chinagame/201008/75942001505/75942659698.jpg
more pics: http://chinagame.178.com/201008/75942001505.html

 

[AkuMifune]

Asian Version of Shadow of the Colossus

Idle Thumbs.cry

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Xenogears JP credits: boring, static dark red "X" that just stays this way

Xenogears US credits: awesome red wavy watery shit that changes pattern during the whole credits roll

EDIT:

I haven't played Nier, but I remember reading/hearing from people that they did a good job with delivering on the father role?

The father character was actually the original version. The androgynous guy from the JP version is the one who's actually changed due to Square Enix's wishes.

 

[Ellis Kim]

There's also a great part where the girl is getting kidnapped and she says "Jake, they're like stealing me or something!" That screen is having trouble uploading, though. This one's definitely better in English.

Screens from here. There are a lot more of them, so check 'em out. http://www.flammie.net/vse/things/rad/index.htm

Just went through the site. That's hilarious. I guess there wasn't a character limit to speak of?

Asian Version of Shadow of the Colossus

Idle Thumbs.cry

Why would you do this to me? To us? Why?

*cries* Its so beautiful ;_;

The father character was actually the original version. The androgynous guy from the JP version is the one who's actually changed due to Square Enix's wishes.

orly? Interesting. Now I definitely have no problem with picking up the US version

 

[Roto13]

There's also a great part where the girl is getting kidnapped and she says "Jake, they're like stealing me or something!" That screen is having trouble uploading, though. This one's definitely better in English.

Screens from here. There are a lot more of them, so check 'em out. http://www.flammie.net/vse/things/rad/index.htm

Just went through the site. That's hilarious. I guess there wasn't a character limit to speak of?

I guess they just added more "slides" as needed.

 

[Why would you do that?]

Panel De Pon -> Tetris Attack

The main character in the Japanese version is Lip. (If you've played Smash Bros. and want to know where Lip's Stick came from... well, it's from her.)

The Tetris license was tacked on, and Yoshi's Island characters were included for the American release.

Some Panel De Pon music was replaced with remixed Yoshi's Island music, too.
Panel De Pon title music | Tetris Attack title music
Lip (main character)'s music | Yoshi (main character)'s music
Boss music that was sort of cut from Tetris Attack

The red-cross-to-no-cross on the hospital is likely not because of Christian imagery, but because the Red Cross Society protects the use of their red cross symbol quite vehemently. They crack down on all unauthorized uses of the red cross. They'll even crack down on nurse outfits marked with a red cross in porn movies.

Really? That's crazy (if the use of the red cross predates the Red Cross society).

 

[AbsoluteZero]

Someone post the Yo Noid comparisons.

 

[Takao]

The days of Agetec localizations are over.

 

[Roto13]

Someone post the Yo Noid comparisons.

Yeah, they basically took a game called "Kamen no Ninja" and turned it into a commercial for Domino's Pizza.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F5LxvSoz2c

 

[Noisepurge]

Hokuto no Ken / Fist of the North Star on the Sega Megadrive being Last Battle on the Genesis with new character sprites/recolourings and the plot was even more nonsense than the japanese version And they censored the blood

 

[Seven Force]

For a rare audio example, the US version of Castlevania III lacked the VRC6 chip that the Famicom version had implemented. The added sound channels make the tracks in the Famicom version sound better than the ones in the NES version.

Here's the NES version of the Stage 1 theme:

...And here's the (superior) Famicom version

Castlevania III in general had some subtle differences between the US and JP versions, this being one of them:

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Well if you're asking for the awesome ones it's hard to top this recent change made to P2: Innocent Sin

presumably it's to make it easier to localize (likely to Europe)

 

[Buzzati]

Well if you're asking for the awesome ones it's hard to top this recent change made to P2: Innocent Sin

presumably it's to make it easier to localize (likely to Europe)

I'm not understanding - they put sunglasses on Hitler to make it easier to localize or is this picture representing the game before it was localized (because it's in Japanese)?