When The Classics Are Getting Stale…

If you live in my world, you’ve sought out all of the Classic platformers, beat ’em ups, shoot em’ ups, sport sims and arcade hits.  And though I seldom get sick of any of them, my curiosities have started to wander.  That has led me down a rabbit hole that I had previously ignored, the “ROM Hack”.

Whether the hack is a simple fix to a broken mechanic, addition of a new feature or a downright deconstruction and re-imagining of a classic title into something completely different, these ROM hacks of the last ten years have grown in quality exponentially.  Even a couple of these have replaced the originals title I played as a kid.

Let’s take a look of a bunch great examples!  We’ll start off simple and progress in complexity.

Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest – English Re-translation (+Map)

Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest is loved by some, hated by others.  With new RPG elements, a day/night cycle and an open world, the average Castlevania fan was left a bit puzzled.  It didn’t help that there were details of the game that were incredibly obscure, including misleading and poorly translated dialog as well as an incredibly tedious password system.  Ultimately, making completion of the game unlikely by the average gamer, at least without a hint guide.  On top of all that, Simon’s Quest was brutally difficult.

Enter the “English Re-translation (+map)” ROM hack with the following fix and improvements:

• Improved music via the MMC4 chipset (there are also MMC3, MMC1, MMC5, UNROM and VRC6 options, see the vending machine)
• Reintroduced some features that the English releases removed from the Japanese version — Includes the extended ending text, as well as Konami-style Start text on the power-on screen.
• Map function — An in-game map is included. It helps understand the layout of the game world, and to know the name of whichever place the player currently is in. It compensates for the lack of actual game manual, which in the Japanese releases included a map. Press the select button to view the map in the game.
• SRAM save function — Game can be saved at any time into internal battery-backed memory and loaded later.
• Cinematic prologue
• Seamless fading between night and day times
• Quality-of-life improvements to game controls: Jump down stairs with down+A, hit stun on stairs, Simon blinks when hurt
• Extra dialog in select locations — Small changes that improve the game experience without changing the nature of the game

The fixed dialog and save function makes this life-improvement ROM hack a better experience then the original itself, but the extra prologue sequence and improved music really are the icing on the cake.

Streets of Rage 2: Ultra 2018

In my opinion, Street of Rage 2 (SOR2) is THE premier 16-bit beat ’em up.  With brilliant sound, graphics and gameplay, who would think anyone would need to improve upon it.  But that’s exactly what Hou Yan (User name: Wangtao) did.  Much of the SOR2 hack community features the addition of new characters, such as the Simpsons, Street Fighter 2 Cast Members or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

SOR2: Ultra 2018 features the following additions:

• Adjusted color to make characters look more smooth.
• All playable characters can now run. Their weapon is shown while running.
• Fixed the voice of Axel with his uppercut.
• A new and complete set of weapon attack moves.
• Max has different front throw and back throw.
• All playable characters have new super moves, while some less functional old moves were removed.
• Blaze now wears her BK3 outfit.
• Some shadows were removed to reduce the size of the hacked ROM.

Just the addition of Axel’s new uppercut and Max’s run and slide attack make this ROM hack shine.  And it doesn’t have to have feature vast changes to be relevant in the ROM hacking world.

Tecmo Super Bowl 2022, NHL 94 2022 and NFL 2K22

Sick and tired of spending money on updated rosters and not all that much improvement to gameplay?  Are you like me and think that Tecmo Super Bowl, NHL 94 and NFL 2K5 were the best of best sports titles of all-time?  Then you need to check out the teams at www.tecmobowl.org, nhl94.com and NFL2K5-Resurrected.  Each game does feature small bits of feature improvements, but the main goal is to update the roster on these classic sport sims.

Super Mario Bros 3Mix

Super Mario Bros. 3 is a masterpiece.  On top of the excellent graphics, sound and music, the level designs, power-ups and complex enemies make it the pinnacle of the Super Mario franchise.  ROM hacker Southbird took a brilliant game and essentially made an equally brilliant sequel.  Southbird wanted to create a new experience, but still remain true to the subject content.

Super Mario Bros 3 Mix features:

• All new levels (and a few “remixed” Mario 3 levels somewhere in there)
• Many new songs added from other Mario games (kept some SMB3 classics!)
• Play as Mario, Luigi, or Toad (cosmetic only) in any configuration
• New power-ups (Penguin replaces Frog, Carrot replaces Tanooki)
• Star Coins (which are used to unlock portions of the game!)
• Ability to re-enter past worlds (with level completion intact!)
• Ability to re-enter past levels (to get all of your Star Coins)
• Alternate exits in some levels
• Ability to save progress
• Many new enemies, typically some special ones for the world theme
• All new bosses (many are “remixes” of bosses from other Mario games)
• All kinds of gameplay changes to meet the theme of a level/world!

This game is brilliantly crafted and worth checking out for every Mario fan!

Sonic Classic Heroes

Sonic The Hedgehog was my introduction to the 16-bit era.  My cousins introduced it to my brother and I, which inspired us to purchase a Sega Genesis over waiting for the release of the Super Nintendo.  Sonic Classic Heroes combines Sonic 1 & 2 with unique features such as:

• The ability to choose between 1, 2 or 3 simultaneous characters
• The playable cast of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles as well as Espio, Vector and Charmy from Knuckles Chaotix
• The ability to rotate the lead character mid-game.
• Custom AI for the CPU controlled characters that follow the strengths and trends
• The ability for three-player games with a Sega Multitap
• Individually control power up and shield for each player character
• All levels from Sonic 1 & 2

Though there’s a handful oddities and a couple glitches, Sonic Classic Heroes is a nicely crafted addition to the 16-bit era game series.  The ability to use Tails and Knuckles thru the original Sonic 1 levels is a unique experience.

These are just a handful of the solid ROM hacks that make up a vastly brilliant world of excellent titles.  Romhacking.net is an excellent source, currently featuring thousands upon thousands of brilliant ROM hacks.