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

[StarWyvern]

Thank you for your work.    I am always looking for a reason to replay PS2 ans PS4. Though I wish someone who is skilled with programming would find a way to make tech combos work in PS2.  I have been wishing for that since the first time I beat PS4. Still, all improvements are welcome and appreciated.   

[nosynose]

Thanks for the report. Those are good suggestions, and I'll consider them. Right now I want to keep them, because most of the other games in the series have notices for searching and finding nothing.

I also found a couple of references to PSI that I missed in Uzo (There's a reason he discusses the Frad Mantle despite it being ages since you picked it up...). I'll probably wait to release a new version since these are pretty minor changes.

Thanks for the reply and the consideration!
And yeah, I'm kinda wondered about that Frad Mantle discussion.

[FlamePurge]

v1.1 of Reparations has been released.

- Fixed Phantasy Star I references in Uzo.
- Corrected names of Bayamare Gift Shop and AERO-PRISM.
- Revised name of DEZO OWL and Dezo Penguin in anticipation of an update to PSII Improvement.
- LTHR-CLOTH is now Hide Vest.
- Typo fixes. Thanks to nosynose for reporting.

[FlamePurge]

In a long time coming, v4.0 of Phantasy Star II Improvement has been released. The mod has been ported to lory1990's Phantasy Star II Disassembly, allowing me to implement not only more bug fixes, but more script changes. I had thought about majorly revamping the script as I did with Reparations, but instead I decided to fix the worst mistakes and make lore terms consistent. I have a lot of praise for PSII's script and general writing.

The philosophy behind the gameplay changes to this update was to rebalance underused characters, making them attractive choices next to Amy or Anna. Rolf and Rudo still reign supreme, of course.

Gameplay:
- 2x EXP/MST version provided. (Choose one; do not apply both in tandem)

- Shir no longer steals from Dezo shops. Must still be LV 10 to steal item VISIPHONE.

- Implemented all bug fixes in lory1990's PSII disassembly, which includes corrected stats of weapon LAC DAGGER.

- Fast Walking patch applied again.

- Fast Battles patch applied; allies/enemies only flash once when damaged.

- Implemented unused enemy VANLEADR to Blue and Green Dams.


Text:
- Script tweaked all around to fix the most egregious mistakes.

- Lore terms conform to standards set by Phantasy Star I: Palma, Motavia, Dezoris, and Algol all return written in full, even on Gaila's radar graphic.

- Naturally, proper case text for menu selections, etc. return.

- Naming screen revamped; allows dash and period in addition to lowercase letters.


Equipment and Shops:
- Weapon BOW GUN removed; weapon Wave Shot (Equip: Hugh, Kain / 40 damage, one-handed) added.

- Weapon WHIP removed; weapon SilverClaw (Equip: Nei / +59 ATK, +7 DEF, one-handed) added.

- Footwear HIRZABOOTS removed; armor ElastcVest (Equip: Nei / +33 DEF) added. (Amy/Shir equip LONG BOOTS as opposed to Anna.)

- Weapon FIRE STAFF casts tech GIFOI when used as an item again.

- Rolf and Kain can still equip helmet LACONIAMET as opposed to Rudo and Hugh.

- Nei can equip the following:
* SNOW CROWN
* NEICROWN
* SilverClaw
* GR SLEEVES
* TRUTH SLVS
* ElastcVest
* CRYSTCAPE
* NEICAPE

- Hugh was once again permitted to equip armor CRYSTCHEST and LACONCHEST.


Techs:
- Tech FANBI absorbs 30 HP from an enemy.

- Amy learns tech GRA at LV 5 instead of FOI, and GIGRA at LV 31.

- Anna and Kain no longer learn tech FOI; Anna also no longer learns ZAN.

- Nei learns more techs:
LV  1 - RES
LV  8 - ANTI
LV 16 - SAK
LV 20 - NASAK
LV 24 - SHIFT
LV 27 - GIRES
LV 33 - SAR
LV 44 - GISAR

- Shir's tech acquisition overhauled:
LV  1 - FOI
LV  6 - RYUKA
LV  6 - HINAS
LV  8 - RES
LV 11 - ZAN
LV 15 - GIFOI
LV 18 - GRA
LV 22 - GIZAN
LV 25 - GIRES
LV 28 - GIGRA
LV 33 - NAZAN
LV 36 - NAGRA

It's available on RHDN and Steam. Note that if you've been leveling Shir, to learn her new techs, you will need to start a new game.

Pleas enjoy!


Edit - Oops, I made a boo-boo and Shir's original tech acquisition was left in. This has been fixed in v4.1. It should be live on Steam later tonight.

[91-MPH]

Besides Phantasy Star I, do the lore terms in the hacks for PSII-IV meet the standards for the rest of the series? Including PS Online I & II?

[FlamePurge]

No, I've never played any of the online games. If they ever release the Algol Legends Pack for PSO2 I might try it out, but right now I'm centered in the classics only. I generally go by PSI's names and terms first and foremost, except for the name Noah which PSII and IV abandoned.

[Nightwolf]

Thank you for the patch for PSII! Finally fast walking, and less tedious enemies/player impacts! Starting to play it again, and now it is much more smoother. So, again, thank you!

As for crazy requests, I wonder if could be possible to add the same SFX for combat as PSIV, and same feedback impact (instead of that horrible flikering and red screen) Well, to me the ideal scenario is to play PSII script with PSIV engine... (hell, even PSI and PSIII)

[91-MPH]

No, I've never played any of the online games. If they ever release the Algol Legends Pack for PSO2 I might try it out, but right now I'm centered in the classics only. I generally go by PSI's names and terms first and foremost, except for the name Noah which PSII and IV abandoned.

Don't forget about the name Lassic which PSII and IV also abandoned.

Also, the previous message I posted about the lore terms, I only brought it up cause the item name "Cola" I noticed in the screenshot is still called "Peloriemate" in the Phantasy Star fandom/wiki webpage.

[FlamePurge]

Thank you for the patch for PSII! Finally fast walking, and less tedious enemies/player impacts! Starting to play it again, and now it is much more smoother. So, again, thank you!

As for crazy requests, I wonder if could be possible to add the same SFX for combat as PSIV, and same feedback impact (instead of that horrible flikering and red screen) Well, to me the ideal scenario is to play PSII script with PSIV engine... (hell, even PSI and PSIII)

Thank you for the kind words, but uh, no, that's a lot of work and beyond my skill level. I'm pretty purist when it comes to games, anyway, so I wouldn't want to do that. I'm content with reducing the time damaged units flash, myself.

Don't forget about the name Lassic which PSII and IV also abandoned.

Also, the previous message I posted about the lore terms, I only brought it up cause the item name "Cola" I noticed in the screenshot is still called "Peloriemate" in the Phantasy Star fandom/wiki webpage.

Well, I'm not going to be changing any wiki pages, that's for sure. But the PelorieMate item was changed to Cola in Phantasy Star I, so Perolymate was changed to Cola in Reparations.

Also, near as I can tell PSII kept the name Lassic. He's mentioned once in the opening by his SMS name. PSIV is the one that mucked it up with Lashiec, unfortunately.

[LineWalker]

Hello. Thank you very much for Improvement (it's really cool ) for PSII, but is there any way to fix this in MD/Genesis version? I applied your Improvement and than Reiska's Easy Mode and I've got this. Game don't break, plays as normal. EXP for that start battle ~500-800, but MST like 1x or 2x. If I apply Easy Mode and than Improvement - I've got just Improvement. Or maybe is there any way to make built-in 4x/8x EXP & MST? Or how to do this? ) Even with 2x it will be very long
Sorry for my English and if I wrote in wrong place

Spoiler

[close]

[zeteginara]

I have a couple of simple questions.

1.  I noticed Nei can now equip late game equipment that would be impossible to get while she is a playable character.  Is there a way to keep her in the patch?

2.  Are there any plans to restore the characters of PSIV to their original names?  The big one I'd like is "Rune" changing to "Thray", as I feel the latter is a much more fitting name.

[FlamePurge]

Hello. Thank you very much for Improvement (it's really cool ) for PSII, but is there any way to fix this in MD/Genesis version? I applied your Improvement and than Reiska's Easy Mode and I've got this. Game don't break, plays as normal. EXP for that start battle ~500-800, but MST like 1x or 2x. If I apply Easy Mode and than Improvement - I've got just Improvement. Or maybe is there any way to make built-in 4x/8x EXP & MST? Or how to do this? ) Even with 2x it will be very long
Sorry for my English and if I wrote in wrong place

Spoiler

[img width=590 height=480]https://i112.fastpic.ru/big/2020/0907/ae/2b2ecdaf0f6f54d660237ae8403d41ae.jpg[/img

[close]

Hi, I'm sorry for the late response. Your English is fine. Because a lot of data was shifted around, I knew Reiska's patch probably wouldn't work. That's why I made the Doubled Edition patch. It's not that difficult to play with the 2x patch, however; it only becomes tedious if you want to change your teammates often, which PSII wasn't built around. Thank you for understanding.

I have a couple of simple questions.

1.  I noticed Nei can now equip late game equipment that would be impossible to get while she is a playable character.  Is there a way to keep her in the patch?

2.  Are there any plans to restore the characters of PSIV to their original names?  The big one I'd like is "Rune" changing to "Thray", as I feel the latter is a much more fitting name.

1. No, there isn't. These additions were made for those who would like to add her back in after the midpoint.
2. Again, no, there isn't. For one, "Thray" wouldn't fit in the four letter limit, so I'd need to get creative (Tray? Slay? Thay? Thry?). For two, one of the goals of my two projects was to make the lore terms consistent with the international English canon.

Phantasy Star Generation:4 - A Relocalization by GhaleonUnlimited (also available on RHDN) does have a patch to restore character names, but I'm unsure of what he did with Rune.

[LineWalker]

Hi, I'm sorry for the late response. Your English is fine. Because a lot of data was shifted around, I knew Reiska's patch probably wouldn't work. That's why I made the Doubled Edition patch. It's not that difficult to play with the 2x patch, however; it only becomes tedious if you want to change your teammates often, which PSII wasn't built around. Thank you for understanding.

OK. I understood I'm one of that type that want to do 100% in a game
But is there any way to make more income of exp and mst? I just don't want to come to Cheat Engine or else. Or it's hard enough because "a lot of data shifted"? If so then let it be. Then I really understood

[FlamePurge]

Because of my low skill level, I have to manually change the EXP and MST for every single monster in the game. It's very difficult.

[LineWalker]

Because of my low skill level, I have to manually change the EXP and MST for every single monster in the game. It's very difficult.

Oh my... OK. Thank you for your answers

[Christuserloeser]

Excellent work! Very interested in trying out your PSII Improvement hack. - Does it include most or all of the bug fixes by lory1990 ( see https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/2132/ ) ?

[FlamePurge]

Lory1990 made the disassembly I used for v4.x. There is an option in his disassembly that, when the disassembly is recompiled, implements various non-intrusive bug fixes which originated in his Phantasy Star II Bugfix patch. So yes, I did.

"Bug fixes galore implemented from lory1990's Phantasy Star II Disassembly."

[Christuserloeser]

Thanks for clarifying. Sounds great! I will choose your hack for my next playthrough then.

[Volcannon]

Is there any way to get Retroarch Achievements to detect Reparations Phantasy Star IV?

[FlamePurge]

that might be something to bring up with the retroarch achievements team. i'm guessing the shifted over data is impeding the recognition of the achievements