Why a ROM Hack?
The Sega Mega Drive has always been one of my favorite consoles, and I’ve long dreamed of creating a game for it. While tools like the SGDK and Scorpion Engine offer streamlined and modernized ways to develop games for the platform, I chose the ROM hacking route to dive deeply into the console's inner workings.
This decision required learning 68k assembly, working with RAM, VRAM, and ROM manipulation, and sending instructions directly to the VDP, among other technical challenges. By gaining hands-on experience with these low-level systems, I not only developed a deeper understanding of the Mega Drive hardware but also prepared myself to write custom 68k assembly wrapper functions when I eventually create my own game.
Why “Hokuto no Ken”?
The original Japanese release of Hokuto no Ken had several intriguing aspects that drew me in:
- Cultural and artistic alterations: The game was heavily altered for its Western release (Last Battle), losing its Fist of the North Star license, iconic “exploding heads,” and original character designs.
- Potential for improvement: As a launch title, the game had the potential to be enjoyable but was plagued by issues such as unbalanced boss fights and the absence of a life system, leaving players with only one chance to complete the entire game.
- Untapped opportunity: Surprisingly, no ROM hacks or proper English translations of the Japanese version were available at the time.
What began as a simple translation project quickly evolved. As I explored the game’s original code, I uncovered numerous bugs and design flaws. Seeing these as opportunities to learn, I pushed myself further with each discovery. The result was not just a translation but a comprehensive overhaul of the game, enhancing its balance, fixing bugs, and restoring its authenticity.
Media Coverage
This project gained media attention and was featured in an article by Time Extension, which praised the patch as a "major overhaul" of the Japanese original. The article highlighted how the project addressed long-standing issues in gameplay balance, narrative consistency, and overall presentation. The improvements have resonated with fans, earning positive feedback from the community.
One review on ROMHacking.com says:
"I remember buying Last Battle when it launched. It looked so awesome to my 12-year-old eyes. It ended up
being a frustratingly difficult and slightly slow game. I am happy to report that the improvements made to
Hokuto no Ken, coupled with the translation, have swept away the buyer’s remorse I had experienced back
then."
Patch Notes
The ROM hack builds upon the original Japanese release of Hokuto no Ken, enhancing gameplay with bug fixes, redesigned dungeons, and an updated HUD. It introduces new features such as a life system, power-ups, and a high-score save function, while also restoring elements lost in its Western counterpart, Last Battle.
Available Versions:
- FONTS_2_1_2: An anime-inspired Japanese-to-English translation that includes all bug fixes, graphical updates, and gameplay improvements.
- FONTS_ENG_PURIST: The original Japanese-to-English translation with some bug fixes and graphical enhancements.
- FONTS_ENG_ANIME: An anime-inspired Japanese-to-English translation featuring some bug fixes and graphical updates, music for story walls, new sound effects, and rebalanced bosses and enemies.
The full list of changes is available in the README on the project's GitHub repository