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WIP / FFVII: Shinra Archaeology Cut

« on: 2023-12-07 18:40:41 »

Demo version 0.3 IRO Download

About the mod

This mod for Final Fantasy VII has been created to accomplish two things:

First, it offers a full (up to the party's arrival in Costa del Sol in this demo) retranslation of the game's text that fixes mistakes in the original English translation; improves tonal accuracy using idiomatic language; and conforms to the localization choices of the Compilation and Remake trilogy where applicable to ensure continuity through the Final Fantasy VII series. The goal of this retranslation is to give English players a narrative experience and foundation of lore that is as close as possible to that of Japanese-speaking players.

Second, and optionally, this mod restores numerous events, maps, animations, puzzles, and lines of dialogue that were cut from the final release. In 99 cases out of 100, this content has been mined from the original game files themselves. Only when absolutely necessary have the authors of this mod supplied the minimum amount of additional assets to ensure the functionality of the official scrapped elements. A full dump of this mod's script is available on Google drive, with unofficial dialogue clearly demarcated. Unused content restoration goes up to the end of the game in this demo, but post-Midgar content has not been thoroughly tested.

This mod requires the 7th Heaven mod loader to be used.

This mod is still a work in progress. Currently the retranslation only covers up through the Cargo Ship.

Custom facial expression system requires FFNx v1.16.0.144 or higher to function.


Example images of contents

Retranslated script

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Parity with Remake and Rebirth localizations

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Restored unused scenes

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Restored unused puzzles

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Restored facial expression system

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This system existed in the PSX version but was almost never used. It was unfinished in the PC version but has been restored by TrueOdin in recent FFNx canary builds, and I took the liberty of porting over the textures and incorporating new expressions into scenes on top of what few were already in the game. A full list of scenes affected can be found in the iro. Eyes work perfectly but custom mouths are a bit of a work in progress.

Additional features (separately toggleable in the options from everything else)

Spoiler: show

Restored opening crawl text seen in early builds of the game.

Restored beta menu portraits datamined from the Tobal No.1 FFVII Demo.

Custom sprite portraits made to match the above (WIP, applies to all members but Red XIII and Cid).
Drawn by Prism

Credits

This mod is a production of the Shinra Archaeology Department, an FFVII fan group dedicated to translating Japanese interviews and guidebooks and making them available to English-speaking audiences.

Restoration, Implementation, and Logo Graphics: Odysseus (TheStrifeIsRife)

Translation and Localization Continuity: TurquoiseHammer

Data Mining, Organization, and Annotation: Shademp

Original Script Mining: Herman1134 (Jason Maltz)

Custom sprite portraits: Prism


Acknowledgements

NPC blink animation fixes provided by Orichalcon.

Unused custom eye and mouth texture system restored by TrueOdin.

The tile set for the TRAP field was decoded by BrutalAl.


Tools used

Makou Reactor and Vincent Tim: myst6re

WallMarket and ProudClod: nfitc1

Black Chocobo: sithlord48

KimeraCS: LaZar00