Download Harmony of Dissonance - Localisation Fix ROM Hack

??

Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance - Localization Fix

-------------------------------------------------------





By spiffy (http://www.romhacking.net/community/3923/)





This hack was made to clear up a number of localization issues that have existed in the English game text for years. I'm not a native or fluent Japanese speaker, so I had to rely on a wide variety of sources as well as very judicious use of online dictionaries and translators (knowing full well the pitfalls of solely relying on such things without taking into account the surrounding context or proper sentence structure). I've almost certainly made some massive mistakes somewhere, so please feel free to correct me via reviews, PM or what have you.





Changelog & Updates

---------------------



- v1.0 - initial release (22/1/2018)

- v1.01 - changed 'Shinobi Mantle' to 'Ninja Mantle' (23/1/2018)

- v1.02 - replaced one instance of the term 'Vampire Hunter' with 'Vampire Killer' during the conversation with Maxim in Castle A's Sky Walkway and decapitalized all remaining instances of the term (like it is in all other games), changed 'Lamel Coat' to 'Lamellar Coat', overhauled some text formatting/spacing for certain menus and item descriptions, altered descriptions for 'Hide Gloves' and 'Hide Greaves' to refer to animal skins rather than leather specifically. Also added a few extra mentions to the list of acknowledgements and special thanks (4/2/2018) 





How to Apply

--------------



Simply apply the IPS patch to a clean rom of the US version of Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (CRC: 88C1B562) using any IPS patching utility (e.g. Lunar IPS - https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/240/).





Changes

-----------



ENEMY NAMES:

#02 - Tiny Slime (?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Mini Slime (lit. 'Petit Slime', but changed to match with 'Mini Devil' and also to complement the renamed 'Max Slimer' boss)

#07 - Fleaman (n007u) -> Flea Man

#07 - Bone Soldier (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Skeleton Soldier

#11 - Large Ghost (?0?0?0|0F0?0D0) -> Giant Ghost (lit. 'Big Ghost', but changed to keep consistent with Almagest's AOS Fix 2 and my other upcoming DS Castlevania hacks)

#16 - White Dragon Lv2 (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Screw Dragon

#21 - Big Skeleton (`0D0L0D0S0d0) -> Giant Skeleton (lit. 'Big Skeleton', but changed to keep consistent with later games' tendency to use 'Giant' instead)

#22 - Flying Bone (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Flying Skeleton

#28 - Bone Thrower (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Throw Master

#33 - Tiny Devil (?0?0?0?0?0) -> Mini Devil (lit. 'Petit Devil', but changed to match up with translation used in later games)

#36 - Man-eater (W0?0O0X0?0p0j0)-> Man-Eating Plant (lit. 'Man-Eating Flower', but exceeds the 16 character limit)

#44 - Bone Archer (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Skeleton Archer (lit. 'Archer Skeleton', but switched the order to maintain consistency with the nomenclature of the 'Skeleton' enemy sub-type)

#49 - Fishman (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Fish Man

#50 - Arabaki (?0?0?0?0?0) -> Arahabaki (http://nancy.andoreseven.com/doku.php?id=the_secret_of_akihabara_moe_otaku)

#54 - Boomerang Armor (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Scale Armor

#56 - Max Slimer (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Maxi Slime (to complement renamed 'Tiny Slime' enemy, also closer to Japanese name, lit. 'Slymaxim')

#57 - Fleaman Armor (?0?0?0?0?0n007u) -> Armored Flea Man

#60 - White Dragon Lv3 (?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Bone Naga

#68 - Legion (saint) [?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0] -> Legion (Saint)

#71 - Bone Liquid (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Skeleton Liquid

#85 - Legion (corpse) [?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0] -> Legion (Corpse)

#93 - Clear Bone (Y0Q0?0?0?0) -> Skeleton Clear (Japanese is a pun on 'skeleton' - '?0?0?0?0?0' - and clear - '?Q0?0', which obviously can't be as elegantly conveyed in English, so therefore made it a subset of the Skeleton enemy-type) 

#94 - Jp Bonepillar (O0W0V0W0{0m0p0W0?0) -> Bone Skewer (lit. 'Skewered Bone Pillar', but exceeds the 16 character limit)

#95 - Simon Wraith ({k??) -> Hellmont (Japanese is a pun on 'Shimon' - the Japanese spelling of Simon's name - and '{k??' - 'Gate of Death'. Harmony of Despair used the absolutely PERFECT localisation of 'Hellmont', so I went ahead and nicked it for myself)





ITEMS

- Elixir (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> X-Potion

- Big Mana Prism (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> High Mana Prism

- Drumstick (k0O0) -> Meat

- Turkey (J0J0M0D0k0O0) -> Large Meat

- Anti-Venom (?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Antidote

- Uncurse Potion (?0?0?0?0?0) -> Uncurse

- Medicine Jar (?0f0M0n0d0|0) -> Invincible Jar

- Invincible Jar (desc.): "Contains medicine that makes you invincible at a set time." -> "Contains medicine that makes you invincible for a limited time." (altered to read less awkwardly)

- Lure Key (desc.): "Opens the door that gives off a golden hue." -> "Opens doors that give off a golden hue" (there is more than one yellow glowing door in the game)

- Floodgate Key (desc.): "Enter the lion's cross in the cavern." -> "Offer me to the lion's cross in the lower caverns" (closer to the Japanese)

- Hint Card 3 (desc.): "Kneel before the round gate to be taken to a different place." -> "Look upwards to shift between the two layers, look downwards to..." (closer to Japanese, doesn't just hand you the solution)

- Hint Card 5 (desc.): "They say there is a book with the power to summon monsters." -> "They say that the black book has the power to summon monsters" (closer to the Japanese)

- Hint Card 6 (desc.): "The red book and the Dagger share a secret" -> "The red book and the Knife share a secret" ('Knife' was mistakenly translated as 'Dagger')

- Noon Star (desc.): "Can only be seen at night." -> "Though no one can see it, it still shines brightly" (closer to the Japanese)





WHIP UPGRADES

- Bullet Tip (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Christopher Soul (lit. 'Christopher Soul', but 'Christopher's Soul' or 'Soul of Christopher' both exceed the 16 character limit)





ARMOR (BODY)

- Rubber Armor (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Rubber Plate

- Cloth Tunic (d0M0n0?0?0D0) -> Cloth Armor (not the same 'Cloth Tunic' from SOTN and AoS due to its different name and sprite)

- Fire Mail (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Flame Armor

- Plate Mail (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) - Plate Armor

- Sun Armor (_0D0?0F0n0?0?0D0) -> Solar Armor

- Moon Armor (d0M0n0?0?0D0) -> Lunar Armor

- Heal Armor (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Heal Walker

- Casual Wear (u0`0?0N0) -> Casual Clothes (to match with later games)

- Summer Clothes (F0Y0g0n0u0O0) -> Thin Clothes

- Loose Clothing (0K0?0W0n0u0O0) - Evasion Clothes

- Ramail Coat (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Lamellar Coat

- Noble Robe (M0^0O0n0u0O0) -> Noble Clothes (closer to the Japanese, corresponds with 'Casual/Thin Clothes')

- Mystical Robe (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Mystic Robe (closer to the Japanese, matches with 'Mystic Brooch')

- Lightning Robe (D0K0e0a0n0{0F0D0) -> Thunder Robe (closer to the Japanese, specific elemental attribute is referred to as 'Thunder' in most Castlevania games - NOTE: all subsequent instances of the term 'lightning' have been reverted to 'thunder' to reflect this)

- War Fatigues (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Combat Suit





ARMOR (HEAD)

- Fancy Bandana (?0?0?0?0) -> Bandana

- Sturdy Turban (?0?0?0?0) -> Turban

- Plain Circlet (?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Circlet

- Leather Cap (K0?0n0|0F0W0) -> Hide Cap

- Greek Helm (?0?0?0?0W0M0K0v0h0) -> Corinthian Helm (lit. 'Corinthian-style Helmet')

- Face-Guard (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Face Guard

- Piros Helm (?0?0?0) -> Pilos (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pileus_(hat))

- Barbuta (?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Barbute ('Barbuta' is an acceptable alternative [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbute] but the katakana specifically spells out 'Barbute') 

- Barrel Helmet (?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Barrel Helm

- Iron Helmet (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Iron Helm

- Full Helmet (?0?0?0?0?0) -> Full Helm

- Pot Helm (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Lobster Tail Pot (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobster-tailed_pot_helmet)

- Gold Headband (S0?0X0M0n0h0F0K0?0) -> Golden Crown

- Gold Headband (desc.): "A headband made of gold" -> "Circular head ornament made from pure gold" ('pure gold' is a bit of an embellishment, but a literal translation is somewhat dry and redundant, reading something like "Ring/loop made from gold that is worn/placed on the head")





GOODS

- JB's Bracelet (?0?0?0?0n0F0g0?0) -> Juste's Bracelet

- MK's Bracelet (?0?0?0?0?0n0F0g0?0) -> Maxim's Bracelet

- Leather Gloves (K0?0n0f0v0O0?0) -> Hide Gloves

- Steel Glove (o0L0m0n0S0f0) -> Steel Gauntlet

- Shin Guards (K0?0n0Y0m0B0f0) -> Hide Greaves

- Floating Boots (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Levitation Boots

- Infinite Boots (?0R0?0n0?0?0?0?0) -> Infinity Shoes

- Silk Cloak (M0l0n0?0?0?0) -> Silk Cape

- Velvet Cloak (?0?0?0?0n0?0?0?0) -> Velvet Mantle

- Emerald Cloak (W0?0?0?0O0n0?0?0?0) -> Verdure Mantle

- Wind Cloak (W0c0w0F0n0?0?0?0) -> Wind Mantle

- Crimson Cloak (?0?0?0n0?0?0?0) -> Crimson Mantle

- Ninja Cloak (W0n0s0n0?0?0?0) -> Ninja Mantle

- Twilight Cloak (W0c0S0O0n0?0?0?0?0) -> Jet Black Cloak (literally specified as a cloak, also has its own unique sprite compared to the other mantles)

- Silver Bangle (N0?0n0F0g0?0) -> Silver Bracelet

- Crested Band (?0?0W0?0F0n0F0g0?0) -> Crested Bracelet

- Magic Necklace (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Magical Necklace (closer to Japanese, matches with 'Magical Armor')

- Greed Amulet (T0F0?0O0n0O0s0K0V0?0) -> Greed Necklace

- Cipher's Charm (?0?0?0?0n0Y0D0W0?0F0) -> Sypha's Crystal (restored reference to CVIII's Sypha Belnades)

- Logoth's Ring (?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Logos Ring

- Night Goggles (?00?0n0?0?0?0) -> Night Glasses (lit. 'Dark Night Glasses')





SPELL BOOKS

- Bolt Book (D0K0e0a0n0~0i0F0W0?0) -> Thunder Book (lit. 'Thunder Magic Book' - see 'Thunder Robe' item above to read my justification for replacing 'Lightning/Bolt' with 'Thunder', even though the former may be more factually/semantically accurate)





RELICS

- Lizard Tail (?0?0?0n0W0c0}0) -> Gecko Tail (the relic itself is even shaped like a gecko)

- Griffin's Wing (?0?0?0?0?0n0d0p0U0) -> Griffin Wing (to match the naming format of the other 'ability' relics)

- Eye of Vlad (?0?0?0?0?0n0?v) -> Dracula's Eye

- Heart of Vlad (?0?0?0?0?0n0W0?0^0F0) -> Dracula's Heart 

- Rib of Vlad (?0?0?0?0?0n0?0?0?0) -> Dracula's Rib

- Nail of Vlad (?0?0?0?0?0n0?0?0) -> Dracula's Nail

- Fang of Vlad (?0?0?0?0?0n0?0?0) -> Dracula's Fang

- Vlad's Ring (?0?0?0?0?0n0?0s0?0) -> Dracula's Ring





SUB-WEAPONS

- Holy Book (V??f) -> Bible





COLLECTABLES

- Chandelier (T0F0K0j0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> Grand Chandelier ('opulent' wouldn't fit, so went with 'grand' instead)

- Chandelier (desc.): "Said to have been used by royalty. It has an interesting history." -> "A stately chandelier once said to have been used in some royal palace." (closer to the Japanese)

- Tall Clock ('Yi0Q0D0) -> Big Clock

- Tall Clock (desc.): "Bought the morning your granddad was born. Still keeps perfect time." -> "Bought the morning your grandfather was born. Now, it sits motionless." (completely opposite meaning in Japanese, Simon always formally referred to by Juste as 'grandfather')

- Wizard's Urn (~0X0?0n0d0|0) -> Genie Bottle (lit. 'Genie Vase' - item is a reference to 'The Genie Family' - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Genie_Family)

- Teacup (desc.): "With a sip of tea from this cup, you can join the clan" -> "With a sip of tea from this cup, you too can become an aristocrat" ('???e' denotes nobility or the aristocracy in general, not a specific house or clan)

- Wine Glass (desc.) -> "A beautiful wine glass for elegant evenings with friends" -> "Crucial for staging a lovely evening. Makes a beautiful sound when struck" (katakana lit. reads 'marvelous' instead of 'lovely', but space was very limited)

- Smiling Statue (?0L00n0a0?0F0^0F0) -> Goddess Statue

- Raccoon Figure (?0?0?0n0J0M0?0n0) -> Tanuki Figure (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_raccoon_dog)

- Candleholder (N0?0n0W0?0O0`0D0) -> S Candlestick ('Silver Candlestick' exceeds 16 character limit, periods aren't displayed in HUD)

- Candleholder (desc.): "A silver candlestick for elegant evenings with friends." -> A silver candlestick. Indispensable for staging a gorgeous evening." (closer to the Japanese)

- Candlestick (M0?0n0W0?0O0`0D0) -> G Candlestick ('Gold Candlestick' exceeds 16 character limit, periods aren't displayed in HUD)

- Candlestick (desc.):  "A gold candlestick for elegant evenings with friends." -> "A gold candlestick. Indispensable for staging a marvelous evening." (closer to the Japanese)

- Castle Drawing (B0O0~0X0?0F0n0K0D0L0) -> Castle Painting

- King-size Bed (?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0?0) -> King Size Bed





DIALOGUE

- Several lines have been altered to more accurately reflect the Japanese script. While this doesn't dramatically change the meaning of the actual story, several minor plot points such as the nature of Maxim's possession, the creation and nature of the two castles, and Death's plan to complete both Maxim's possession and the two castles are all made slightly clearer. While the story isn't all that complex, a few odd translation choices make some aspects seem more nebulous and convoluted than they need to be.







Acknowledgements & Special Thanks

-----------------------------------



- LagoLunatic (https://www.romhacking.net/community/4318/), creator of the DSVania Editor (https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/1271/) 

- BFrayne, author of the White Night Concerto English Translation Guide available on Gamefaqs (https://www.gamefaqs.com/gba/554981-castlevania-harmony-of-dissonance/faqs/17572), from which I derived many of my dialogue alterations.

- Schlave, whose Harmony of Dissonance Guide on Gamefaqs (https://www.gamefaqs.com/gba/554981-castlevania-harmony-of-dissonance/faqs/17339) helped me settle on a number of enemy and item translations, including 'Bone Skewer'.

- AstroBlue, whose Concerto of the Midnight Sun Item Translation Guide (https://www.gamefaqs.com/gba/554981-castlevania-harmony-of-dissonance/faqs/17304) was also a massive help in completing this hack.

- Midna (https://www.romhacking.net/community/2550/), for answering some of my translation queries.

- enigmaopoeia (http://www.romhacking.net/community/1255/), for answering some of my translation queries.

- The Castlevania Wiki (http://castlevania.wikia.com), whose sheer wealth of encyclopedic Castlevania-related information I found myself referring to and cross-referencing almost constantly.

- Clear Feathers' Japanese Castlevania website (http://www.geocities.jp/clearfeathers/index.html)





Copyrights

-----------



Akumajou Densetsu, Castlevania, and all other names are trademarked to Konami of Japan.