Higemaru Makaijima: Nanatsu no Shima Daibouken - Insensitive Sprite Replacement (Hack) NES

The "Insensitive Sprite Replacement" romhack "replaces a few insensitive caricatures in enemy and building sprites in Makai Island, primarily on Cook Island (the first one).

Those original Higemaru (JP version) sprites were cartoonishly racist (”Little Black Sambo” stereotypes, Kalahari Bushmen), and while a couple sprites were improved in the ‘Makai Island’ prototype version later made available, several elements were left as they are (Moai statues, totem poles), which have also been updated in this hack. The new sprites have been carefully edited to maintain the visual style and detail Capcom games of the era are known for. The only other change is the correction of the name of Cook Island also included in many other patches." (by HangedMan)

I also added a second file combining it with the "Restoration" romhack, which adds to the USA prototype ("Makai Island") some removed contents and makes it closer to the MSX original version of the game.

Hack Credits:

"Insensitive Sprite Replacement"
Released By HangedMan
Category Improvement
Patch Version 1.0
Date 28 April 2024

Source and details: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/8592/ 

"Restoration"
Released By SCD
Category Improvement
Patch Version Final
Date 24 October 2019

Source and details: https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/1102/ 

Oh, and the japanese rom is also combined with the english patch made by snark!

Thanks, Joe, for patching and sharing these hacks with me.