Any Western to Japanese localizations with interesting changes?

[Bootyfan]

Future Cop: lapd added anime characters for both the cutscenes & *new* in game portraits when EA localized it for Japan (though they kept the English voices) back in the psx days. I thought this might make a good idea for a re-localization project by simply changing the text back to English.

I only know of this example, though. Does anybody know if any other western games got a similar treatment for the Japanese market?

 

[moonbits]

 

[BigTony]

Ultima Underworld on PSX had unique 3D models and kinda anime looking character portraits. It was a Japanese exclusive port of the game so idk if that counts.

Post automatically merged: Dec 1, 2025

The Japanese version of Postal had some unique levels set in Japan

 

[Scum Of Orion]

Ultima Underworld on PSX had unique 3D models and kinda anime looking character portraits. It was a Japanese exclusive port of the game so idk if that counts.

Post automatically merged: Dec 1, 2025

The Japanese version of Postal had some unique levels set in Japan

Now I need to play both of these, they hit me right in the microniche

 

[otogirisou]

japanese version of CTR have better gameplay, portrait, and fix penta penguin aku-aku and "penguin yay 1" sound

 

[Clippy]

Oddworld Abe's Oddysee had some very interesting changes when released in Japan. The reasons for those changes are things some people may be uncomfortable with so I'll leave it up to you to read up on them. All I'll say is that murder and discrimination are involved.

 

[hardcoretyphoon hardcoretyphoon]

A lot of games get censored in japan funny enough. Examples I can think of are Metal Gear Rising turning the blood white and Silent Hill 1 removing the child-like enemies. But those are both japanese games hmmm. Crash Bandicoot 2 changes one of the death animations as not to associate it with a real world murder at the time

 

[BigTony]

Now I need to play both of these, they hit me right in the microniche

Im pretty sure the Japanese Levels were included in Postal Redux

 

[Mopeybloke]

Now I need to play both of these

The repo has Ultima Underworld PSX fan translation.

 

[Dodgykebaab]

Does anybody know if any other western games got a similar treatment for the Japanese market?

Actually here are 5 mental ones!

 

[snes9x]

A lot of games get censored in japan funny enough. Examples I can think of are Metal Gear Rising turning the blood white and Silent Hill 1 removing the child-like enemies. But those are both japanese games hmmm. Crash Bandicoot 2 changes one of the death animations as not to associate it with a real world murder at the time

It feels like the Teen rated games get censored in the west while the Mature rated games get censored in Japan. Japan had to remove the chainsaw decapitation death in RE4 for example.

 

[hardcoretyphoon hardcoretyphoon]

It feels like the Teen rated games get censored in the west while the Mature rated games get censored in Japan. Japan had to remove the chainsaw decapitation death in RE4 for example.

Iirc 2004 and onward CERO has some sort of policy against depictions of dismemberment in video games

 

[Cu-Neo]

In GTA Vice City, in the japanese version they added some costumes for Tommy like this one:

 

[snes9x]

Iirc 2004 and onward CERO has some sort of policy against depictions of dismemberment in video games

CERO more like ZERO FUN