When the Japanese version was better...

[phantasy]

I debated posting this in the database section so we may update some database games with superior versions. Let's start here though.

 

Oddly, I can't even find a website that exhaustively tackles this subject, let alone compiles a list of games where the Japanese (or even perhaps European) version was better of a certain game for any of the numerous consoles, handheld and computer systems. What makes them "better"?

 

1. If you remember the term "blood codes" in the mid 90's, things like Nintendo's family friendly policy come to mind and the controversy of having Mortal Kombat move from the arcade to the home. Blood does not always equal "better" but truer to the original tends to.

 

2. Now, I am finding many English language games have better English versions made by fans who can accurately translate the original Japanese stories! Phantasy Star (the original Master System game) comes to mind.  Bare Knuckle III for Sega MegaDrive I learned has a translation with the superior Japanese story and extra footage the creators made that was cut for the English version (they also changed a gay boss character). Try the fun hacked "Really gay version" if you can find it. Are there Japanese differences in Bare Knuckle 1&2 I have yet to discover?

 

3. Some games had company logos removed due to lawsuits and cease and desists. Marlboro cigarette ads in Super Monaco GP comes to mind.

 

4. Censored versions of games- nudity, language, space limitations etc. Which Sega Genesis game had either a hidden 'nude' code or censored fairies.. Stormlord? Think I read it in EGM.  Remember when Final Fight had to exclude Guy and then Final Fight: Guy was also released due to space limitations for the programmers?

 

So I'd love to learn from other gamers' experience and memories: Which games were better for whatever reason by REGION? Definitive versions of games by SYSTEM PLATFORM (Amiga vs. SNES type of thing) should be saved for another totally awesome thread.

 

I will start with:

 

Sega Master System:

Phantasy Star

 

Sega MegaDrive/Genesis

Bare Knuckle III (better than USA title, Streets of Rage 3)

Hokuto no Ken - Shin Seikimatsu Kyuuseishu Densetsu (better than USA title, Last Battle) - Blood and explosions? In this case I love it!! I bet that story is better if translated. 

 

 

Honorable Sega MD mentions though not for THIS list:

1. Final Blow vs Buster Douglas from arcade accuracy

2. Ghouls N Ghosts - loading up the Daimakai Mura (Japan) title screen was one of my first codes I learned.

3. Fatman - Electronic Gaming Monthly reported this as the title and I anticipated it, but the Engligh version was changed to Mondu's Fight Palace.

4. The Super Shinobi - I played an early USA version in a mall with this title when they were promoting the Sega Genesis- changed to 'Revenge of Shinobi' - my 2nd code I learned was toggling the title screen like Ghouls N Ghosts.