Elbobelo

Shadow of the Beast Genesis

Project Title: Shadow of the Beast Genesis
Project Dates: March 2022 to July 2022
Bytes Modified: 202,685 of 1,048,560 (19%)

Original Game: Shadow of the Beast (Japan, 1992)
Platform: Sega’s 16-bit Mega Drive
Coding Language: 68K Assembly

Summary: We set out to localize the Japanese version of Shadow of the Beast because it’s the only version optimized for 60Hz. We translated the in game text from Japanese to English, fix the glitches and bugs, restored missing enemies and music present in the FMTowns and Amiga version, and introduce a brand new speed-run mode with a running clock.

Tools Used:
Exodus 2.1 (emulator, hex editor, debugger)
gensKMod_073 (emulator, tracer)
Tiny Hexer (hex editor)
UNICE (ICE format data compressor/decompressor)
YYCHR Tile Editor (graphics editor)

Some Techniques Used:

  • Used a Hex Editor to extract blocks of compressed data to unpack and edit.
  • Used data decompressing function within the game to load level and graphics data during gameplay.
  • Use of IRQ interrupts for special effects like sky gradients.
  • Used a HEX editor to rearrange data in order to fit new code.
  • Sprite tile repositioning.
  • Drawing custom pixel graphics.

3 responses to “Shadow of the Beast Genesis”

  1. OlivusPrime Avatar
    OlivusPrime

    Hi there, was this ever finished? I was thinking of performing a translation on this game, but it sounds like what you’ve come up with is much more comprehensive.

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    1. elbobelo Avatar
      elbobelo

      Thanks for the comment. This is just about finish. I would like to try to convert the Intro Theme of the US version to 60Hz and import it to this version. Do you have that capability?

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      1. OlivusPrime Avatar
        OlivusPrime

        Hi, unfortunately I don’t. I have very little experience in hacking Mega Drive games and was thinking about this as a starter project. I was curious about reintroducing the intro theme from the US version as well, though I wouldn’t really know where to start.

        I have looked around though and this thread seems to have a little bit of info on Sound Images, the sound driver for SotB:
        https://www.sega-16forums.com/forum/general-discussion/blast-processing/29848-sega-genesis-music-hacks

        Ti_ has then made Mode 1 hacks of two Sound Images games, Top Gear 2 and Rock n’ Roll Racing. I’ve now sent them a PM on Romhacking to ask if they might be able to provide help with the intro track, and if they might be able to contribute an Mode 1 hack for the game, to incorporate the Amiga or FM Towns music.

        If the opening track is the only thing holding this back, it might be a good idea to release a 1.0 now, so that what you’ve done is out there and the track can be added in a future update. I’d be happy to stay in touch via email if you’d like to discuss further?

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