Mega Man X5 Improvement Project Addendum (v2.1.4)

[acediez]

This is an addendum to the Mega Man X5 Improvement Project by DarkSamus993 (v0.01.1). It started in 2019 as a restoration of graphics, songs and voice clips from the japanese version and unused soundtrack. In 2021, development resumed with the inclusion of a retranslated script and several new features. The amount of work put on this is now comparable to what's been done in X6 Tweaks. And even though there isn't (and there won't be) a patching tool, there are a few customization options (see below).

Features from the original Improvement Project (v0.01.1):
- Alia's hints are permanetly disabled (replaced by in-game option since v1.6)
- Keep both character bonuses regardless of which one is chosen
- Each Heart Tank/Life-Up Part affect both X & Zero
- Save/Load menu was given a redesign
- Fixed the injured sprites for X & Zero

Addendum Features:
- Graphics:
    - Title Screen restored from the japanese version (custom graphics by Metalwario64)
    - Mavericks renamed to their japanese/MMXLC2 names (custom graphics by Metalwario64, based on MMXLC2 new graphics, ripped by DarkSamus993)
- Script:
    - Main version: Complete script replacement, based on Hondoori's translation. Edited by Ghaleonh41
    - No Retranslation: the original USA version's script and font, except for various typos corrected, and Mavericks renamed to their japanese/MMXLC2 names.
- Soundtrack:
    - Opening theme replaced with the japanese opening song "Monkey"
    - Ending theme replaced with the japanese ending song "Mizu no Naka"
    - Tidal Whale's stage theme changed to the unused track "Deep Sea"
    - X's "Good" Ending theme changed to the unused track "Armageddon"   
    - Dr. Light's theme changed to the unused "Dr. Light" track.
    - Stage Select 2 theme changed to the unused "Stage Select" track.
- Voice clips restoration:
    - X's Charged Shot
    - Zero's Giga Attack
    - X and Zero on low health
    - Maverick introduction name calls
    - Dynamo's voice clips
- Parts Unlocking:
    No need to waste "hours". All available in a single playthrough.
    - Get Life Up/Energy Up at any level
    - Get Life Up+/Energy Up+ (Parts) at any level
    - Get both Parts regardless of Life Up+/Energy Up+ selection.
- Enigma/Shuttle RNG exceptions:
    - Enigma/Shuttle launch with no parts will always fail.
    - Shuttle launch with all 4 parts will always succeed.
- Stage modifications:
    - Tidal Whale's Stage: Auto-scrolling segments run faster (100-125% horizontally, 150% horizontally).
    - Tidal Whale's Stage: U-5555 (mini boss): smaller health bar (75%), but deals more damage (about 150% each attack).
    - Dark Necrobat's Stage: slowdown gimmick removed
    - Zero Space 1: the inner walls in the laser segments are now not grabbable.
- More options to explore areas:
    - More weapons can break stage objects blocking items in Tidal Whale's, Shining Firely's and Dark Necrobat's stages.
    - Dark Hold protects you from spikes.
    - F-Splasher and can push V-Blocks.
    - More forgiving orb collecting in the Ride Chaser segment (you only need 7 out of 8.)
- Incomplete Armors:
    - Armors can now be selected as soon as you get a part for it. While incomplete, they'll be displayed as unarmored X with a custom palette (see details below)
- Gameplay:
    - Dark Hold: can be cancelled.
    - F-Splasher behaves like a regular air dash (can be cancelled)
    - W-Shredder: input changed to Dash + Special
    - Disabled double tap dash input
    - Falcon Armor: gets a custom air dash with the same properties as the "free move" flight.
    - Gaea Armor: can slide down walls by pressing down. Dash speed penalty removed.
- Rebalancing:
    - Gaea Armor: buster damage against common enemies increased.
    - Z-Saber: damage against main bosses decreased.
    - Z-Buster: startup delay sligthly reduced.
    - Longer/harder "X vs. Zero" fight (damage tables reduced)
- QoL:
    - Alia's hints can be turned off from the options menu
    - Cutscenes and dialogues skip by pressing START
    - Cheat Code to unlock Ultimate Armor will keep the Fourth Armor selectable
    - Cheat Codes to unlock Ultimate Armor and Black Zero can be combined 
    - Faster pause menu transitions
    - Exit Button always available, can be used to skip intro stage.

Customization & Optional Hacks:
- Additional hacks available in the "readme" as hex editing instructions:
    - Remove Timer
    - Hide Virus Status UI
    - Always get both Life Up and Energy Up upgrades
    - Receive All Parts on the Next Hour
    - Change default game options
    - Enable Item Drops in Xtreme Mode
    - Change number of Parts equipables by armor
    - Enable Fourth Armor Nova Strike
    - Continues restart the stage (experimental)
    - Enable Title Screen voice clip ("Rockman X5")
- There's also instructions to reverse some of the changes included in the patch.

About "Incomplete Armors":



Works exactly like in X6 Tweaks: Falcon and Gaea armor will become selectable as soon as you find an Armor Part for it. While incomplete, they'll be displayed as unarmored X with a custom palette. This is the breakdown of the skills you get for each Part:

Falcon Armor
  - Helm Parts: Increases Special Weapons ammo by 50%.
  - Buster Parts: Spear Charged Shot
  - Armor Parts: Halves damage taken and reduces recoil
  - Leg Parts: Air Dash**
  - Complete Armor: Free Move + Giga Attack
** Originally, the Falcon Armor doesn't have an Air Dash, forcing you to use the slower "Free Move" flight as its only air move. Since we're keeping the flight as a complete armor bonus, the Leg Parts will give you a customized Air Dash instead. It does contact damage and gives you invincibility. You get to keep it when the armor is complete.

Gaea Armor
  - Helm Parts: X-Buster quick chage (mid-charge becomes fully charged shot)
  - Buster Parts: Shot Eraser Buster + Ladder climbing speed bonus.
  - Armor Parts: Halves damage taken and reduces recoil
  - Leg Parts: Spikes protection + Sticking to walls (controllable!) + Dash that can move V-Blocks**.
  - Complete Armor: Giga Attack
** Originally, the Gaea Armor has a Dash speed penalty. Since that doesn't do much for the game's balance except being annoying, and the Gaea has enough drawbacks as it is, the penalty was removed.

FAQ:

Current status of the project?
(July 2023) More bugfixes for last year's v2.1. No set timeframe for an update with new features, but big things are in the works.

Can I use it in MMXLC2/PC/PS1 PAL/PS1 NTSC-J versions?
The patch only works on the PS1 USA version.

About the retranslated script...
The script was edited by Ghaleonh41, based on Hondoori's translation. I'm not personally making edits to it, besides typos, and I'm not interested on implementing other versions of the script. You still have the option to play the hack with the original game's script.

Why keep the Falcon Armor's flight and the Giga Attacks for the completed armors instead of the individual armor parts?
I thought having the full Falcon flight from pretty much the start of the game was too unbalanced. Besides that, there's also a technical limitation: there's no underlay sprites (unarmored X) for those moves. I could theorically import them from X6, the Falcon Armor ones at least, but the player graphic files are compressed, and I don't currently have the tools or knowledge to handle compressed graphics files.

Why can't the Falcon Armor charge special weapons? Can the Gaea Armor have special weapons at all?
They can be activated, but the graphics for them don't display correctly. And, again, modifying them would require editing compressed graphics files.

Will you ever make the armors actually be displayed by parts, like in X1-X4?
I don't know. I don't currently plan to. It's a big leap in technical difficulty. But the first step would be to be able to handle compressed graphics.

Is there gonna be a patcher tool like in X6 Tweaks?
No, I prioritized working on the actual hacks this time.

I can't save/load from the memory card!
This is a common emulation issue, not an Improvement Project issue. Try:
- A more accurate emulator (Mednafen/Beetle PSX or Duckstation)
- Safer settings (no overclocking)
- If you're on PSP/Vita, try a different method for creating your eboots.

I don't like (thing)
Besides the included patch variants, the readme has a bunch of instructions to revert some of the changes manually. If what bothers you is not covered by either, there's probably a technical/practical why it wasn't included. You could also try figuring out how to modify stuff further by following the documentation.

After modifying the patched game through hex editing instructions, the game freezes and/or the changes are not happening
Double check you edited the right data at the right address. Also, remember you have to run the build through the EDC/ECC recalculator tool after every modification (instructions are in the "readme"). If you're still having troubles, please report it in the thread (there might be an issue with the instructions provided).

I want to work on my own hacks for this game
I made my documentation available in the download page. Everything I ever wrote for this game is in there. Good luck!

I want to help with this project!
Help testing for bugs! All bug reports are useful, as well as reports of a 'successful' playthrough with no issues on a recent build.

Latest updates:

v2.1.4
- (Bugfix) Ultimate Armor's pause menu mugshot will now display correctly.

v2.1.3
- (Bugfix) The low health voice clip playing every time you got hit after the first trigger (v2.1.2 bug)
- (Music) The original Dr. Light theme has been restored for X's ending cutscenes.

v2.1.2
- (Music) The original Tidal Whale's stage track and Dr. Light tracks have been restored to their original length.
- (Music) Holding L1 before Tidal Whale's stage starts will switch the track for the rest of the playthrough. Do it again to revert it back.

v2.1.1
- (Bugfix) Enigma shot freeze (v2.1 bug)
- Reverted Fourth Armor buster remnants behavior back to original (for now)

v2.1
- Major rewrites, making room for more custom code.
- Media: the disc now includes all media files previously replaced from disc.
      - Opening: Holding "L1" before the opening starts will play the variant video (the original USA version)
      - Tidal Whale's stage: Holding "L1" before entering the stage will play the variant track (the original "Bubble Crab Remix" track)
      - Dr. Light capsules: the Ultimate Armor capsule will play the variant track (the original "Mega Man X1 Remix" track)
      - You can now make individual changes, such as  swapping the main tracks for the variants, through hex editing instructions.
      - Because of this, the "no music changes" and "all music changes except opening" variant patches have been discontinued.
- Sound effects: Gaea Armor's teleport sound effects are now the same as the other armors (instead of using Zero's)
- Unlockables: getting the Ultimate Armor through the capsule in Zero Stage 3 will now activate the armor immediately (instead of simply unlocking it for future use)

DOWNLOAD LINKS

Format: xdelta.
xdelta UI (Windows)
MultiPatch (OSX)

Target: "Mega Man X5 (USA)", "REDUMP" release.
MD5: 98C0D278DC4A795A0A7562D950D37CC9
http://redump.org/disc/7437/

Credits:
acediez: Addendum author.
DarkSamus993: All the groundwork from Improvement Project. Disc files documentation. Maverick names graphics ripped from MMXLC2.
Metalwario64: All custom graphics. 
Ghaleonh41: Script editing.
Hondoori: Script source retranslation (https://hondoori.wordpress.com/)
gledson999: DAT/ARC extraction and reinsertion tools. Text editing tools and tables.   
injoon84 & Aceearly1993: Bug testing.
AxlRocks: Project logo.

[Elyos03]

I had no idea I wanted an addendum such as this.

But there's one problem: the Hex Editing Customization doesn't really work for me. I did what the Readme asks, saved it, and nothing's changed in the BIN file (that I know of).

UPD8: Just used the Error Calculator after hex editing and the customizations finally decided to work.

[SCD]

This is pretty cool, maybe for the next version, can you try and restore Dr. Light's unused track?

[injoon84]

I have a few issues with this Mega Man X5 Improvement Project Addendum:

- Keep both character bonuses regardless of which one is chosen
This one supposed to keep Fourth Armor if you start the game with Zero right?
Well, it's not working. No Fourth Armor or Ultimate Armor.
Also, when you play as Zero, the Weapon Menu is also wrong. It shows as Z-SABER and not Z-BUSTER.

- Cheat Code to unlock Ultimate Armor will keep the Fourth Armor selectable
Yes, you get Ultimate Armor and also managed to keep the Fourth Armor but you start off the intro stage as Fourth Armor.
Is that intention?

- Cheat Codes to unlock Ultimate Armor and Black Zero can be combined
Well, how do you combined both cheat codes?
You got to highlight either X for Ultimate Armor or Zero for Black Zero.
But once you move the cursor to another character, doesn't that reset back the cheat code?
So far I failed to combine these cheat codes.

I had no idea I wanted an addendum such as this.

But there's one problem: the Hex Editing Customization doesn't really work for me. I did what the Readme asks, saved it, and nothing's changed in the BIN file (that I know of).

It's working for me. Well, at least for those I tried to change or restore back:
- Title Screen voice clip ("Rockman X5") working
- Change W-Shredder Input from (Square) to (Triangle) working
- Navigator Calls (modified = all disabled) working
- Exit Stage Button (modified = always available) working

Also, acediez stated it must be customize from this Addendum. I suspect maybe you Hex Edit it on the original bin file?

[Elyos03]

I suspect maybe you Hex Edit it on the original bin file?

What? N-No!

[acediez]

the Hex Editing Customization doesn't really work for me.

Which one?

can you try and restore Dr. Light's unused track?

I'm working on it.

But once you move the cursor to another character, doesn't that reset back the cheat code?

Damn, I made a mistake on the released patch, it's missing a last minute fix. Cheat codes are broken. It'll be fixed in the next update.
But just to be clear, you'll be able to move your selection between both characters, previously activated codes will not reset.
Edit: Fixed

Also, when you play as Zero, the Weapon Menu is also wrong. It shows as Z-SABER and not Z-BUSTER.

I hadn't noticed. This also happens in the original improvement project. I'll take a look and see if I can fix it.
Edit: Fixed

[Elyos03]

Which one?

Nevermind that, I already said managed to get them to work for me.

One more thing I found out outta nowhere:


As you can see, the purple thing's shot goes down the wall, then the game freezes. Why...?

[TheUnknownHunter]

Cool! I have 2 suggestions:

1. Make Tidal whale's stage go faster
2. Make the Plasma Charge Shot spheres work like in X4 (damaging sub bosses & bosses)

Keep up the good work, you are making Megaman great again 

[acediez]

Because I made a dumb mistake lol

Update coming through...

Edit: It's up.

[AxlRocks]

Good work! Another batch of Mega Man X Legacy Corrections 

[injoon84]

I just detected another bug.
Some wrong color palette will appear for certain parts on Save Files whenever Zero is used.
The affected color palette for those parts are Burst Shot, Ultimate Shot, Quick Charge, Buster Plus, and Speed Shot.
Is this an unresolved bug from DarkSamus993? Can it be fixed?

[Elyos03]

By the way, the Maverick's names in the briefings are unchanged.

[Thirteen 1355]

Yes! Props for taking up another project! X5 is the final PS1 MMX that really needs some solid improvement hack.

[alfcohol]

thanks, finally !!
i'll try it up

[Heaven Piercing Man]

Are absolutely ALL of Alia's interjections disabled? The ones at the start of each level tend to involve lore and change depending on game progression.

Also, make sure to change all mentions of Reploid Force into Repliforce.

[Thirteen 1355]

Oh yeah, the 'Reploid Air Force'. Good one. The X series and translation consistency... 

[acediez]

I just detected another bug.
Some wrong color palette will appear for certain parts on Save Files whenever Zero is used.
The affected color palette for those parts are Burst Shot, Ultimate Shot, Quick Charge, Buster Plus, and Speed Shot.
Is this an unresolved bug from DarkSamus993? Can it be fixed?

Thanks. I haven't dug into the pause menu redesign, it's either an oversight from the original improvement hack, or I missed some of its modified files. I'll have to check this one later when I have a bit more time.

Are absolutely ALL of Alia's interjections disabled? The ones at the start of each level tend to involve lore and change depending on game progression.

All stage dialogues from Alia are disabled, the only ones left are Dr. Light and boss dialogues.
There's instructions to reverse this change in the readme.

By the way, the Maverick's names in the briefings are unchanged.

Oops!

Oh yeah, the 'Reploid Air Force'. Good one. The X series and translation consistency... 

I was just checking these... The script varies from "Air Force" to "Reploid Air Force" to "Reploid Force", changing even between two copies of the same bit of text. Looking at hondoori's retranslation as a reference, turns out all of those should be Repliforce.

I'll put an update including these script changes soon.

[ThegreatBen]

Awesome work as always.

[Solid One]

I was just checking these... The script varies from "Air Force" to "Reploid Air Force" to "Reploid Force", changing even between two copies of the same bit of text. Looking at hondoori's retranslation as a reference, turns out all of those should be Repliforce.

Two years ago, I was helping gledson999 in translating MMX5 to brazilian portuguese, and was using Hondoori's translation as basis in order to fix localization issues such as Octopardo instead of Octopus. When I stumbled into Skiver's dialogues, I had this same doubt, so I've done a few researches on wiki articles related to this issue.

Taking into account the description of Spiral Pegasus (The Skiver) on megaman.fandom.com, it mentions this:

Code Select Expand

He was a young director of the Repliforce air brigade, who survived the Great Repliforce War that occurred during the events of Mega Man X4. He looked up to Colonel and General and knows Iris. He then began overseeing an Air Force base near to the west coast of Norway, known as the Reploid Air Force.

Basically, Repliforce still exists after the events of MMX4, and The Skiver is the last of its members, taking care of the Air Forces after Storm Owl was defeated. So, "Air Force" is kinda a division of Repliforce. IMO, I guess we can assume that all ocurrences of "Air Force" points directly into the Repliforce itself, and the same applies to the ocurrences of "Reploid Force" and "Reploid Air Force". That's why we basically replaced all ocurrences of it to "Repliforce" in the script, with the exception of maintaining mentions of "air division" when needed.

[injoon84]

- Voice clips restoration:
   - X's Charged Shot
   - Zero's Giga Attack
   - X and Zero on low health
   - Maverick introduction name calls
   - Title screen "Rockman X5" call ***

May I know how many voice clips are still not included compare to Rockman X5?
All I can notice is Dynamo still not having the full voice clips.