Crisis Core Research Thread
- Thread starter Shademp
- Start date
Shademp
420
Neat videos by YouTuber Ex Majik.
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Copy-pasting CC version differences which were listed in the DC research thread.
CRISIS CORE VERSION DIFFERENCES
- Losing in optional missions.
Japanese: If Zack loses, you get a Game Over.
Localization: If Zack loses, you are brought back to the save point with all the battle spoils still intact. This makes grinding for the Minerva battle much easier, because you can steal 99 Phoenix Down and sell them repeatedly.
- Character surnames.
Japanese: Genesis, Angeal and Lazard are given no surnames in the mails Zack receive.
Localization: Genesis, Angeal and Lazard are all given surnames in the mails Zack receive.
Tres dissected this version difference in this article about their surnames
- The Goddess statue in the Banora Underground.
Japanese: Likeness to Virgin Mary.
Localization: Religious connotation removed by greatly changing the statue.
- Difficulty settings.
Japanese: Only one difficulty.
Localization: Two difficulties. Normal and Hard.
- Parts in the Japanese game that are not voiced ended up voiced in the English game.
This Japanese scene has no voice acting. Compare to English game. Because of the Japanese version waiting for button-input from the player, soldiers can spawn indefinitely in the cutscene.
--------
Copy-pasting CC version differences which were listed in the DC research thread.
CRISIS CORE VERSION DIFFERENCES
- Losing in optional missions.
Japanese: If Zack loses, you get a Game Over.
Localization: If Zack loses, you are brought back to the save point with all the battle spoils still intact. This makes grinding for the Minerva battle much easier, because you can steal 99 Phoenix Down and sell them repeatedly.
- Character surnames.
Japanese: Genesis, Angeal and Lazard are given no surnames in the mails Zack receive.
Localization: Genesis, Angeal and Lazard are all given surnames in the mails Zack receive.
Tres dissected this version difference in this article about their surnames
- The Goddess statue in the Banora Underground.
Japanese: Likeness to Virgin Mary.
Localization: Religious connotation removed by greatly changing the statue.
- Difficulty settings.
Japanese: Only one difficulty.
Localization: Two difficulties. Normal and Hard.
- Parts in the Japanese game that are not voiced ended up voiced in the English game.
This Japanese scene has no voice acting. Compare to English game. Because of the Japanese version waiting for button-input from the player, soldiers can spawn indefinitely in the cutscene.
Skan
Pro Adventurer
- AKA
- dief
I did come across that debug menu in 00000.raw's MBD file.
---
Quick tutorial for extracting game data:
1. Download G's extractor here.
2. Download RINOA here.
3. Obtain a CC ISO. Extract it. You should get two more files: discimg.pkg and discimg.fse.
4. Take these two and dump them into the DATA folder of G's extractor.
5. Run ff7cc_extractor (Linux) or ff7cc_extractor.exe (Windows).
6. Wait for a few minutes as it runs. You will end up with 8725 files in the "output" folder of G's extractor.
7. Take whichever raws from the output that you want to examine and stick them in the "FILES" folder of RINOA.
8. Open RINOA and browse. (The creator of RINOA, koral, and ignitz did most of my legwork for me already with their tables.)
NOTE: I think RINOA can only view game script and model data. I haven't really gone looking for model stuff yet though.
Other options:
---
Here's the breakdown I've been using to save some time (posted by koral over at Qhimm):
Location models from a quick perusal:
Should probably add that if you press SPACE while looking at a model in RINOA, you'll enter a first person camera mode in which you can walk/look around these location models.
---
Quick tutorial for extracting game data:
1. Download G's extractor here.
2. Download RINOA here.
3. Obtain a CC ISO. Extract it. You should get two more files: discimg.pkg and discimg.fse.
4. Take these two and dump them into the DATA folder of G's extractor.
5. Run ff7cc_extractor (Linux) or ff7cc_extractor.exe (Windows).
6. Wait for a few minutes as it runs. You will end up with 8725 files in the "output" folder of G's extractor.
7. Take whichever raws from the output that you want to examine and stick them in the "FILES" folder of RINOA.
8. Open RINOA and browse. (The creator of RINOA, koral, and ignitz did most of my legwork for me already with their tables.)
NOTE: I think RINOA can only view game script and model data. I haven't really gone looking for model stuff yet though.
Other options:
ignitz said:
---
Here's the breakdown I've been using to save some time (posted by koral over at Qhimm):
Location models from a quick perusal:
Should probably add that if you press SPACE while looking at a model in RINOA, you'll enter a first person camera mode in which you can walk/look around these location models.
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Shademp
420
Ex Majik also uploaded the Zack vs Sephiroth Nibelheim reactor scenes and in it I noticed for the first time that the Genesis DMW attack "Apocalypse" has excerpts from Loveless written on the ground. The video is of extremely high quality.
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
game script as in dialogue?
i need to know for reasons
and what the hell is going on with that video, why is it so high quality, it's like a hd remaster right there
i need to know for reasons
and what the hell is going on with that video, why is it so high quality, it's like a hd remaster right there
Skan
Pro Adventurer
- AKA
- dief
Mostly dialogue, but by script, I basically just mean text that appears on-screen in a dialogue box in-game. So you can get stuff like this too:
01457.raw
And here's the debug menu from 00000.raw, which doesn't add anything that you don't see in the video:
01457.raw
You get these two in almost every .raw I find containing game script:
And here's the debug menu from 00000.raw, which doesn't add anything that you don't see in the video:
ultima espio
Pro Adventurer
Use this extractor, you can unpack and repack with it as long as they are the same size or smaller than the original:
http://forum.xentax.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5869
http://forum.xentax.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5869
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
i have tried this on files from the japanese version, but i don't know whether the files are ordered differently or rinoa just doesn't work with the japanese files because i don't seem to get anything
JBedford
Pro Adventurer
- AKA
- JBed
List of non-location models with varying degrees of clarity to focus and sometimes images.
Animation format was never figured out, the posing in the images is all manual.
I have also since extracted locations but getting Noesis to extract them in a way that doesn't mean re-applying 30 or so textures is hard.
As a further note, the statue at 2439 is the English version of the Goddess statue, but if you look at the model of the area where the statue is then this is there. Rather than replacing the model in the field they modeled it separately and placed it as a new added model.
Also Emerald Weapon They didn't model the bottom half.
Animation format was never figured out, the posing in the images is all manual.
I have also since extracted locations but getting Noesis to extract them in a way that doesn't mean re-applying 30 or so textures is hard.
As a further note, the statue at 2439 is the English version of the Goddess statue, but if you look at the model of the area where the statue is then this is there. Rather than replacing the model in the field they modeled it separately and placed it as a new added model.
Also Emerald Weapon They didn't model the bottom half.
Skan
Pro Adventurer
- AKA
- dief
@ Strangelove: I think RINOA might not support Japanese script; there were some MBD sections that spat out question-marks at me when I tried to read them (residual Japanese?). You may need to click on certain files multiple times/toggle between files repeatedly, 'cause RINOA's display screen can sometimes lag.
Is it just the script, or are you having trouble with the models too? Do the character/location models show up at least? 02012.raw and onwards should have location models showing up in the display on the right.
EDIT: This is what my screen looks like: one, two, three.
Is it just the script, or are you having trouble with the models too? Do the character/location models show up at least? 02012.raw and onwards should have location models showing up in the display on the right.
EDIT: This is what my screen looks like: one, two, three.
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
i can see models, though they don't seem to be exactly in the same numbers as the english ones (or i'm being an idiot and missing it completely). the only text i have seen has just:
<text>
and maybe a few random punctuation after, but nothing more than that. i have yet to see anything with say a full page of text (readable or not)
<text>
and maybe a few random punctuation after, but nothing more than that. i have yet to see anything with say a full page of text (readable or not)
Lex
Administrator
They're using the PSP emulator which makes the game look phenomenally good and HD with the right settings (and a good enough PC of course). Yop streamed it with high graphical settings a long time ago. The only noticeable thing that doesn't upscale too well is the main menu.
ultima espio
Pro Adventurer
The game has a weird system for models:
Only the weight data is kept in the model, the hierarchy is in the animation. So it's loading Aeris/Cissnei/Tifa's envelopes over Zacks bones, resulting in a garbled mess.
I have no idea why they even bothered doing it that way.
I also dislike Cloud's mom's redesign...
Only the weight data is kept in the model, the hierarchy is in the animation. So it's loading Aeris/Cissnei/Tifa's envelopes over Zacks bones, resulting in a garbled mess.
I have no idea why they even bothered doing it that way.
I also dislike Cloud's mom's redesign...
Shademp
420
- I now have an 8GB memory stick because I was running out of space in my 2GB memory stick. Need the memory for my Japanese Crisis Core saves.
- Began playing JP CC today. Memory stick confirmed to work. Observed a version difference.
Save Points
JP: The square rotating on its edge has a big S on it.
ENG: The square rotating on its edge has the SOLDIER symbol on it.
My goal now is to get PSP emulators working, both for easy gameplay access and for the ability to easily take snapshots and videos.
- Began playing JP CC today. Memory stick confirmed to work. Observed a version difference.
Save Points
JP: The square rotating on its edge has a big S on it.
ENG: The square rotating on its edge has the SOLDIER symbol on it.
My goal now is to get PSP emulators working, both for easy gameplay access and for the ability to easily take snapshots and videos.
Skan
Pro Adventurer
- AKA
- dief
What emulator are you using?
Just in case it sounds like I gave up, I did sit my ass down today and pull all the script I could find from 01457 - 02011. It's definitely not all the script in the game, but I'm not sure I wanna go through all the other files to find the rest. I didn't see anything else that was particularly interesting in those files, unfortunately.
I'll see if Ravynne and I can use what we have to whip the script into postable shape.
I also started going through the location models and tagging them so we know what's what, but some of the models will require another playthrough for me to ID accurately. (I've edited them into my first post in this thread.)
Just in case it sounds like I gave up, I did sit my ass down today and pull all the script I could find from 01457 - 02011. It's definitely not all the script in the game, but I'm not sure I wanna go through all the other files to find the rest. I didn't see anything else that was particularly interesting in those files, unfortunately.
I'll see if Ravynne and I can use what we have to whip the script into postable shape.I also started going through the location models and tagging them so we know what's what, but some of the models will require another playthrough for me to ID accurately. (I've edited them into my first post in this thread.)
Shademp
420
So far none, but I'm about to use PPSSPP.
Currently at the following step because I need to turn my Crisis Core games into .ISO files.
I don't have a way to unzip the archive on my memory stick because I don't have a memory card reader. Going to the city tomorrow so I can get one and connect the memory stick to my computer. Connecting my PSP to my computer with a USB connection was not enough, even with the memory stick inside the PSP during this USB connection.
Also, I somehow managed to delete my Japanese Crisis Core saves. =/ I had created a ton of saves, although only up until the beginning of Chapter 3. Yay.
At least I wasn't experimenting with my other memory stick, which has a hundred English CC saves. If those had been deleted I might have been mildly annoyed.
EDIT: Just found this impressive, very fresh, upload of Crisis Core as a movie. Absurdly HD, longer than other "Crisis Core Films" on YouTube, so I have more confidence that this one is not missing any scenes. Uploaded merely a week ago! I may link to it in our Crisis Core content page. Really the only downside of these HD graphics is that the subtitles become pixelated but that's a very acceptable sacrifice.
EDIT #2: Oddities of HD movie linked above. The FMVs look very dark. They are clearly ripped straight from the game, as they have no subtitles. I remember the FFVII FMVs looking dark after upload unless you chose the right settings. I think this problem could have been avoided if the entire movie was game recordings and not with occasional FMV rips. Also, instead of the Pre-Start-Screen FMV playing at the very beginning, the uploader chose to have it play when Chapter 1 ends. The video did not show the Chapter End Card, which I think is a pity.
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Shademp
420
Could very well be that the purple is intensified with the HD-ing process. Not sure.
Yes, the other upload of CC as a movie definitely has a way weaker purple tone.
EDIT: Although this older upload includes Chapter End Cards and has subtitled FMVs, every seven minutes a message will pop up that says the recording software is a non-activated version. The message stays for a minute every time. Plus this movie is almost half an hour shorter than the recent HD upload, so I reckon the newer upload includes more scenes.
EDIT #2: After booting up my English copy of CC, I can confirm that my Japanese copy is not glitched. On the PSP 2000 Slim (2003 to be exact) the uniform looks almost perfectly blue for the most part. Emulations seem to make the purple/red element more visible.
Yes, the other upload of CC as a movie definitely has a way weaker purple tone.
EDIT: Although this older upload includes Chapter End Cards and has subtitled FMVs, every seven minutes a message will pop up that says the recording software is a non-activated version. The message stays for a minute every time. Plus this movie is almost half an hour shorter than the recent HD upload, so I reckon the newer upload includes more scenes.
EDIT #2: After booting up my English copy of CC, I can confirm that my Japanese copy is not glitched. On the PSP 2000 Slim (2003 to be exact) the uniform looks almost perfectly blue for the most part. Emulations seem to make the purple/red element more visible.
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The Twilight Mexican
Ex-SeeD-ingly good
- AKA
- TresDias
Whatever word one would use for that color, I seem to remember an interview where Nomura (or one of those guys) explained that with the changes made to the SOLDIER color scheme for Crisis Core (black taking purple's place for 1st Class), they decided they needed to keep the original color for Zack's initial uniform (it being iconic) even though that would mean other 2nds wore a different color than he did.
I feel it's supposed to be seen as purple. Wish I knew where that interview was.
EDIT: Also, keep in mind that in Crisis Core 3rds wear what is definitely blue, as in the original game.
I feel it's supposed to be seen as purple. Wish I knew where that interview was.
EDIT: Also, keep in mind that in Crisis Core 3rds wear what is definitely blue, as in the original game.
Shademp
420
Indeed, I remember that article too. It mentioned that Nomura could not imagine Zack in a red SOLDIER outfit (which, honestly, I don't want to imagine either).
I've done some online searching. A german site translates what I think is the interview you talk about and apparently it was in "Dengeki Maoh". <--Link to Part 1 of the translations, where Nomura is interviewed.
Place the German passages into google translate and you get info very close to this interview we both remember. Google translate of first segment:
The link to ACF is no longer functional, naturally.
- Part 2 (The Kitase Part)
EDIT: Just found that this Clerith forum copy-pasted the interview translation from ACF! According to this site, the magazine was the October issue of Dengeki Mao, not September. Sounds a bit odd, given that the forum thread was started on September 5. Who on ACF translated this interview btw?
EDIT#2: Wiki-page on Dengeki Maoh.
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The Twilight Mexican
Ex-SeeD-ingly good
- AKA
- TresDias
Nice find. =) As for who did the translation, I'd guess hito. He did most of those back in the day.
By the way, magazines are oddly released with the following month's name, so a magazine that comes out in September will be marked October. Apparently it's a "display until" date?
By the way, magazines are oddly released with the following month's name, so a magazine that comes out in September will be marked October. Apparently it's a "display until" date?
Shademp
420
We are definitely rehosting this. I have now created this page. Article formatting was modeled after this 15th Anniversary interview article.
Contacted hito to see if he remembers who translated the Dengeki Maoh interview.
Stepping back to the Crisis Core movie uploads, I can see that RandomBlackGamer (who uploaded the HD movie) generally tends to upload videos that are a bit off with the hue and saturation (ergo why Zack's unform is more purple and why Genesis is close to looking pink rather than red). His movie upload is still the best one on YouTube, in my opinion, despite its flaws.
Contacted hito to see if he remembers who translated the Dengeki Maoh interview.
Stepping back to the Crisis Core movie uploads, I can see that RandomBlackGamer (who uploaded the HD movie) generally tends to upload videos that are a bit off with the hue and saturation (ergo why Zack's unform is more purple and why Genesis is close to looking pink rather than red). His movie upload is still the best one on YouTube, in my opinion, despite its flaws.
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
Shademp
420
Thank you Hito for pointing out that an edited version of the translation was on page 2 of that Clerith thread. 
(When I mentioned "post #21" I was referring to the post in this thread we are posting in right now)
So the second version of the interview translation is yours, yes? Then I'll enter that version into the page and credit you.
(When I mentioned "post #21" I was referring to the post in this thread we are posting in right now)So the second version of the interview translation is yours, yes? Then I'll enter that version into the page and credit you.