Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Mega Man 3 Claw is the 3rd hack of the Mega Man Claw series by Tsukikuro. This is a hack not of Mega man 3, but Rockman 3 – Dr. Wily no Saigo!, so be sure to patch the correct rom. This hack changes all the graphics, colors, level designs throughout the game to add additional challenge and fun. Enemy AI has been changed also, but passwords for vanilla Rock Man 3/Mega Man 3 do still work! Sliding is closer to how it looks the sliding distance from MM4 and MM5. You can also select weapons and Rush Adapters via the select button now and backwards by holding down and select instead of going to the sub-menu. Note: this hack is for the Japanese Rock Man 3, not the US Mega Man 3.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Working Designs was well known for bringing amazing rpgs and adventure titles to the US for the Sega CD, Saturn, and PSX. They loved games and took a lot of time translating and making the titles they ported. Most people now have a love-hate relationship with them: They either love what they did and their translations, or love what they did and hate their translations due to many of the jokes and pop culture references made throughout the games. Besides their translations, they tended to make games more difficult then their Japanese counterparts for some reason and added other new mechanics that made no sense (needing magic pts to save in Lunar 2).
Supper reworked the 4 Sega CD Working Designs title (Popful Mail, Vay, Lunar 1 & 2) back to something more like their Japanese counterparts in way of difficulty and mechanics, and even changed the fonts for text in some cases, and more. Check out his website and writeups on TCRF for more details. Ms Tea took the improvements to Lunar Eternal Blue a few steps further with improving load times and a few other fixes too.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Created by Nesdraug and Shauing, this is a complete overhaul hack of SMB2. Adventures in Pepperland and loosely based on the Beatles Yellow Submarine film and follows the plot as the Beatles venture from Liverpool to Pepperland to save the people from the Blue Meanies and bring back color and music there.
The Fab Four replace the cast of SMB2 with George as Mario, Paul as Luigi (with no shoes), Ringo as Toad, and John as Peach. The music is all 8-bit renditions from the Yellow Submarine album and you’ll find yourself humming along as you play, especially if you’re a Beatles fan. Game does have a streaming warning that the soundtrack could cause copyright claims on Youtube/Twitch and offers a simple fix for this issue.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Created by Ok Impala!, this Zelda 2 hack changes the game from the ground up with a new story, revised graphics, different gameplay and more! The game is more balanced and there’s less grinding and combat isn’t a chore as in Zelda 2 itself. Temples and towns are redesigned for this new world and you’ll still find all the elements of Zelda 2 here someplace: the magic spells, items, stat building and more. In this hack, Link finds himself in an all new world, trapped there until he discovers the secret of Amida’s Curse.
Features:
9 new temples to explore (vs 7 in vanilla Zelda II).
11 new towns to visit (vs 8 in vanilla Zelda II).
New soundtrack.
Brand new overworld.
New story.
New graphics.
Animated tiles on the overworld.
Balanced difficulty, no cheap deaths.
No random encounters on the overworld.
Loads of gameplay tweaks (building on Zelda II Redux).
Lives you find are permanent.
No grinding necessary.
Enemy rebalancing, no more huge HP pools.
Press A as a Fairy to instantly return to your normal form.
Temple stones give fixed EXP.
Fairy can’t fly through doors.
Save anywhere by pressing up and A on the start menu. Be aware though, that you’ll be warped back to the starting point of the game. So, only use this option when you want to stop playing.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
The Sonic 1 Megamix hack is an ongoing project by Team Megamix with the goal of enhancing and improving Sonic 1 for Genesis in the best ways possible! This hack showcase is for the current 3.0 for Genesis, there is an unstable beta 4.0 for Sega CD, use it your own risk. A later edition was released after files were stolen. Currently the project is on hold or dead, with the team members going their own ways and some who worked on Sonic mania. The Sonic 1 Megamix adds the ability to save and continue your adventure, and use Mighty the Armadillo or Shadow the Hedgehog throughout the adventure of new stages and using abilities from later Sonic games. Other highlights of v3.0 include:
All level layouts edited (some complete; others pending).
Each character now has a unique set of moves (though Sonic and Shadow share the homing attack).
Most levels (not all) have a small intro, ala S3K, where they perform some sort of action when starting the level i.e, running in from the left.
Loads of music edits.
There is now a “preferences” screen, where you can customize certain aspects of the game (suggestions are welcome).
Cheat codes have been changed – figuring them out will grant you access to a new, special level select
“Original Mode” allows you to play the original levels from Sonic the Hedgehog, using all of the additions from Sonic Megamix (such as bug fixes, moves, preferences, etc). There is also a separate save slot for a character’s original mode.
Title screen demos have been edited. Credits demos have not.
Super forms have been added.
Elemental shields, ala S3K, have been added.
Credits have been edited; each character has a unique end pose on the ending sequence.
SO HOW IS IT? This hack is so well done! The Sonic hacking community constantly puts out great stuff and this is one of them! Shame it was unfinished. The graphics are great and in line with the other Sonic games. Great music tracks in the new levels and some music was remixed for this one like the boss themes. Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal even plays in one of the later levels! The hud for your score, time and amount of rings each changes whether you use Sonic, Mighty, or Shadow. Sonic, Mighty, and Shadow can all use their basic moves and use the Shields, Mighty and Shadow each have a unique abilities too. You can also either play the new hack, or play the original Sonic 1 with all the gameplay changes of Megamix!
Being able to use Sonic’s abilities from Sonic 3 is a great change and really adds to it, especially being able to charge a spin dash which you couldn’t do in Sonic 1. The stage new layouts all have the different power-up monitors and you can find the lightning, water, fire, and basic shields throughout the level, sometimes in spots where you’ll need them in the water and fire based levels. Sonic, Mighty, and Shadow can each use them. The level designs are larger than that of Sonic 1, and more dangerous too. Sometimes their too long, and they use the design of Sonic 1 where Act 3 has you go through a level before fighting Robotnik. For the record, I never liked the Special Stages in Sonic 1, Megamix changes up the designs of the Special Stages so they’re more manageable. The music and design is the same, but there’s more to do and it’s not as hectic.
If I had to come up with some negatives it’s the aforementioned longer levels. Sometimes just trying to get through them is a chore and like Sonic 1, there isn’t many opportunities to go fast since you’re avoiding the environment and enemies, Misty Maze Zone is a great example. The Robotnik fights seem about the same as from vanilla, except the final fight is harder. The save feature is a great addition, but it saves where you left off and how many lives you had at the start. So if you make it to a later zone with 1 life, you’re kind of in trouble.
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Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
PROPHET’S GUILE: Created by Kaja Laboratories, PG tells the story of Magus and how he becomes the Prophet in the Kingdom of Zeal in 10,000 BC after the incident with Lavos when the heroes came to fight him in 600 AD. The hack is pretty short, but fills in a number of details of how Magus got where he was when you encounter him again at Zeal and the Ocean Palace.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Created by MGE and his team, this is a difficulty hack of the US Final Fantasy 2. For the record, I’m not that big of a fan of these types of hacks, but I gave it a chance for review purposes. No storyline changes were made in this, but it intends to be tougher than the vanilla game where you’re forced not to grind to really high levels in areas, turning leveling sluggish when you reach the right levels for that area. Bosses are tougher with new moves, sometimes having commands such as jump, and they may have one big weakness. Items were revised as are gear to be more specific for heroes and their need, meaning you’ll be running out of inventory space often, but you can call the Big Chocobo with Cache on the menu screen, eliminating chocobo items.
With most romhacks, strongly suggested to check out the readme files for advice on the changes to hacks and any gameplay tips, especially with rpgs. Readme files for rpg hacks can contain additional gameplay advice, etc, and it’s worth subscribing to hacks you like on RHDN to keep up with updates for bug fixes, additional content, etc.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Created by PowerPanda, this hack changes a number of story elements for FF6 including the 3 scenarios arc, the events at Thamasa and more. General Leo is a main character now and can be recruited along with a special 16th hero. Many parts of the plot have been repurposed and rearranged for the new content along with many other surprises! This hack is more story and plot based, rather than changing different gameplay elements, making it harder or easier, and so on. Gameplay is about the same as in vanilla, as is finding the Espers and learning magic for all your team members. Play this and you could fall in love with Final Fantasy 6 all over again.
With most romhacks, strongly suggested to check out the readme files for advice on the changes to hacks and any gameplay tips, especially with rpgs. Readme files for rpg hacks can contain additional gameplay advice, etc, and it’s worth subscribing to hacks you like on RHDN to keep up with updates for bug fixes, additional content, etc.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Created by kandowontu and a number of other contributors, this hack boosts a lot of changes to Starfox! Like a great chef, Kando has taken all the ingredients from the source code and constructed a beautiful 4 course meal with this hack! You got a pre-game menu to set different options, including God mode, different guns, a 2-player mode and more! A boss rush was added and a whole new map based on the map from Starfox 2! The new plot involves various characters from Nintendo franchises posing as Andross and his forces to conquer the Lylat galaxy, and they even hired the infamous Star Wolf Team to help! You can even change your ship design and see all of the different models in the game, and a harder game of Starfox with New Game+! There’s a lot of new features in this hack that are too numerous to name here including:
A brand new map with 17 new levels, new bosses, music, backgrounds, enemies and more!
A 3+ page pre-game menu to customize your experience!
Use the SNES Mouse, Super Scope, NTT Data Pad or Multi-Tap for a new way to play!
Play with 2/3/4/5 people, AI controlled teammates, or ships all controlled by player 1!
Wireframe mode, grid lines, palette changes and more!
Customize your player ship and crosshair style with new crosshair functionality!
A full model test viewer, BGM/SFX test menu and Super Scope Calibration screen!
This revised review is for the brand new (as of 12/30/2022) version of this hack. For the record, I’ve helped Kando with testing and ideas for this hack streaming and on Discord in the past. Review will be as objective as possible. As of 12/23/20023 the current version is 1.08.2 and may do a new review in the future depending on major updates.
Hack Showcases and RPG Hack Showcases are a series where I show off various game and rpg hacks. I try to stick with hacks that improve gameplay or add quality of life features, completely or partially change the plot and characters, along with additional content, dialogue, graphical and sound improvements. Non-rpgs I try to give a full run to, or at least enough for a solid review. Rpgs I will stick with titles that have enough changes in the beginning to show off, and when I can, show parts later in the games where more differences appear. There may be spoilers in the reviews and videos. Some of these I may stream fully in the future or play on my own. Reviews are open to later revisions due to bug and content updates or me playing them and finding anything new I wish to bring up.
Led by Mike Farrell with a team of many contributors, RotDS is a complete overhaul of FF6 into it’s own game. Using the plot and characters of FF6 as its base, RotDS paints an entirely new world where the events are taking place, using the plot, locations, characters, etc as its base. Even the world map is completely changed! Heroes, villains, locations, magics, Espers and more are completely different, including a number of surprises where heroes are much different than the hero they are based from in FF6! If you go into this thinking its a straight hack of FF6, you’re gonna have a bad time because the strategies you would use in FF6 may be different in fighting an enemy or boss here. Even the soundtrack is different! Compiled from a number of different sources, the soundtrack uses tracks from various other games, and real life music, to convey the tale of our heroes in music with both soundtracks. Starting the game you can choose your difficulty level too! INew sprites and character portraits show your cast in great detail, and the sprite and portrait work is very good, as well as the new bosses! Some of the new cast you may be familiar with from other forms of media too. The magic system is different also- not everyone can use all the Espers and learn all the spells like in the original!
It’s worth noting also downloading the patch file also comes with an assortment of goodies, including an optional Side B soundtrack, little fixes and changes here and there like alternate screens and features from FF6, listings of all the gear, Espers and magic, and a strategy guide with fun little hints for those who need help, and development notes. Some of these screenshots from my hack showcase, others from the RotDS website. I’ll also be happy to update and revise more of this review as i play more again.
Note: latest version of RotDS is 2.6.4, review was done with 2.6.3. Most changes between them were some bug fixes, etc.
kainetertainment 