Phantasy Star II Improvement v4.4 | ReConstruct: Phantasy Star IV v1.2

[FlamePurge]

After mulling it around in my head for several months, I've decided to rename my PSIV mod to ReConstruct: Phantasy Star IV. There were no changes to the patch.

[Special]

Changing names over here like pants.

Proper-caser, Improvement, Reparations, ReConstruct... You make it very hard to follow your hacks you know.

[FlamePurge]

II Proper-caser -> Improvement made sense because it ceased being just a proper-caser
IV Proper-caser -> Reparations was admittedly a poor choice given its political and human rights connotations. That's what you get when you just use a thesaurus to find synonyms of the word "fix"
Reparations -> ReConstruct is my attempt at sounding futuristic

[Special]

Your reasoning's are sound, and Re:Construct is definitely an Improvement(HA!) over the old Reparations name for sure.

[lan-vuhoang]

You may have noticed that I also have a Phantasy Star III mod; please play Rebecca Capowski and Peaches' retranslation instead.

I'm still gonna play your mod, because it's closer to the original script and don't have any made-up tech names.

[FlamePurge]

I'm still gonna play your mod, because it's closer to the original script and don't have any made-up tech names.

Actually

1. Rebecca and Peaches' retranslation is closer to the original Japanese script. 90% of PSIII's English localized script is made up.
2. The tech names weren't changed according to Rebecca and Peaches' whims; the non-combat techs actually do have weird and random names in Japanese. Rebecca notes this on her website. http://www.sceneryrecalled.com/trans/ps3item.txt

I have actually made an addendum of their PSIII retranslation that renames the techs to align with PSII and IV, if you're interested? I do heavily recommend the retranslation over the made-up official localization.

I would also like to take this opportunity to make a general statement to please not put down others' projects in order to uplift mine. Of course nothing is above criticism, even free labor projects like this. I know I've made my own fair share of criticisms, but it's in poor taste to entirely shut down others' projects. (Even when I criticized Bishoujo Senshi Translations' take on Sailor Moon RPG, I still noted the positives.)

[ThegreatBen]

Been playing your PS IV mod, i noticed a few typos.

Theres a musk cat that says "I'm feel some sort of aura..."

And at the Dezorian climatrol Chaz says "The monster was making making it into a nest"

Something I'd like to propose is putting a letter in a bracket next to weapons with hidden functions. Like Wren's hit all guns could have a (A) at the end of the name to indicate it hits all. Then maybe an (S) after the weapons that cast a spell when used as an item.

Also If possible Demi should have Phonon when she returns endgame whether she acquired it or not.

[FlamePurge]

thanks ben, i corrected them. i'll get on releasing a new version in a few days here.

as for the suggestions, it sounds like a lot of work for someone unskilled like me, unfortunately. i'm unsure if i'd be able to implement them

[ThegreatBen]

I think there is also one in the conversation when you first meet Rika too. But i cant remember exactly what.
March 21, 2021, 04:05:07 PM - (Auto Merged - Double Posts are not allowed before 7 days.)
Found 2 more. When talking to Daughter Chaz says "Are you who sent the androids to Zema..."

And on Rykros the entity there says "Then I shall then reveal all that you seek to know"

One of those "then" needs to go.

[FlamePurge]

Thanks again, Ben. I appreciate it.

1. "Are you who sent the androids to Zema?" - I know this sounds strange, but it's valid grammar. But I looked over the line and I've changed it to, "Was it you who sent the androids to Zema and the Plate System?"

2. "Then I shall then reveal all that you seek to know." - This one received a revision, too. It didn't connect that well from his previous line. Now it's "It is then that I shall reveal all you seek to know."

Please let me know when you've finished your playthrough, Ben. You've reported the most typos thus far and I appreciate it.

[ThegreatBen]

Just finished my playthrough, I'll probably try your phantasy star 3 hack now.

The only other gripe I had was the Rykros Ring. The other rings are indisputably the best equipment they have but the Rykros Ring isnt as good as the helmet that 4 of the 5 who can wear it start with.

Its also the only one of the 5 rings to not grant an additional stat bonus.

[FlamePurge]

i know i can't control what you do but don't play my PSIII hack please, play the retranslation by Rebecca Capowski and Peaches instead. it's much much better!

yeah i know the rykros ring is worse than the other helms but i just wanted to offer this as an alternative if people needed an extra space in the inventory

[ThegreatBen]

It was actually my favorite change, but it should be consistent when the others.

If it had 26 defense and 2 mental it would just barely be the best helm for all the extras and still fall within the range and theme of the other 4 rings.

As for III that comes as a shock but I'll check out your recommendation.

[FlamePurge]

it does use the original japanese names for psiii techs and characters, so if thats too much of a change i do have an alternate version that uses official terms that i'm willing to privately provide

[ThegreatBen]

Sure hit me up.

[Chicken Knife]

This has been an interesting discussion. The Capowski / Peaches version of III sounds really up my alley, but I'm kind of an initiate to the whole franchise. I've only recently played the SMS Power! version of PS1 (and loved it). Are options out there to play the other 3 games with the same conventions used in the Capowski / Peaches version of III?

[FlamePurge]

PSII is the outlier in that it doesn't have a good option to play with the original names. You have SMS Power's PSI, Rebecca/Peaches' version of PSIII, and one of GhaleonUnlimited's versions of PSIV. But no one has made a good version of PSII with the names Alisa and LaShiec, among others. Naflign's Ego's translation is pretty terrible and the new "retranslation" of PSII apparently mistranslates a few things, and its grammar is nigh-incomprehensible to boot since it intended to be quite literal.

*sigh* I guess if it's just character names, I really should whip up an alternate edition of PSII Improvement to fill the gap.

[Chicken Knife]

Sounds exciting. Being able to experience the first 4 games with that kind of continuity in place would be a thing of beauty. Would the spell names also be the same across the board?

Since you are thinking about revisiting your PS2 improvement project, let me share a couple additional thoughts. I was extensively comparing between that and the bugfix version and having a  hard time deciding which one to play. I really liked the idea of you doing some fixes to the script and conventions in  your version, but there were also some miscellaneous equipment changes and things like mandatory faster walking speed added that gave me pause. I'm probably in a vast minority here, but I really like the slow speed of a lot of old school rpgs. It gives the game a meditative, retro feel, as opposed to a more modern frantic feeling. Would there be any way you could include an optional patch to revert to the old walking speed? As far as the changes to equipment, I usually like my first experience to be gameplay vanilla, so I can determine for myself if those things addressed are really things I consider flaws. But on the other hand, I'm probably willing to trust you as a long time fan that those alterations fixed genuine issues. I just need original walking speed. 

[FlamePurge]

Oof, sorry but no. The original walking speed is hell to me.

[Chicken Knife]

I was asking for a way to revert it for me personally, not for you to prefer it. But if that's an issue for whatever reason, I understand.