PS1 Game Hacks

[SoThankful]

I’ve been diving into PS1 game hacks lately. Some of them rebalance gameplay, fix bugs, and even include full retranslations that really improve the experience.

For someone playing a game for the first time, or just never finished it, do you think it’s better to go with the original version for the “authentic” experience, or would you go straight into the improved hack?

Examples I’m thinking about:
Digimon World
Final Fantasy Tactics
Xenogears
Curious what people think. How would you decide which version to play first?

 

[Segadude113]

i got a weird one for ya

Sailor Moon: Master of Arena (Hack) PSX ISO – RGT Repository

Sailor Moon: Master of Arena (Hack) PSX ISO Game ID: SLPS-01855. Languages: Japanese. For Sony PlayStation.

retrogametalk.com

 

[qw90700]

I automatically go for the hacks that reduces random encounter frequency and balances the game to eliminate grinding because from the start I accept JRPGs are not to play to have fun playing them with great exceptions so I cheat and hack my around just because what matters is experiencing what the game has other than gameplay. If the gameplay is too drag I go for god mode and one hit kills. The only drag I like is drag racing!!!! lolol

But then if I really like a JRPG I don't use cheats and hacks, I grind "the way it was meant to be suffered!!!". Sometimes I did regret starting a good JRPG with hacks and cheats, then I repent lol and start over without hack and cheats.

For example I didn't regret starting Xenogears with hack and cheat, and after disc 1 ended I realized the game is boring and never continued playing the game, checked how it ends instead. Why? The game is generic in how story and combat sections happens. Too much drag story and then too much combat to "balance" to make it boring for me. It feels like disc 1 is a big tutorial and over-long "act 1" section of the game that unnecessarily drags and the real game actually starts in disc 2 half way there. I never liked such games anyway.

 

[bjork]

I feel like you wouldn't know the benefits of a hack unless you'd experienced the original first. You can read a changelog, sure, but it's like if I handed you a cookie you'd never had before and said, "this is the new recipe, it's better." You have no way of knowing what the old one was like. Plus, some hacks won't appeal to every player; there's a Symphony of the Night one that I forget the name of, but basically it reroutes your path through the castle by blocking off areas and making it impossible to backtrack until much later, etc. But if you look at a screenshot, it just looks like a glitch with random blocks everywhere. I couldn't get around how it looked so I never stuck with it. But that's only because I know how the original looked.

 

[SoThankful]

I feel like you wouldn't know the benefits of a hack unless you'd experienced the original first.

Excellent point.

 

[eyixon]

I feel like you wouldn't know the benefits of a hack unless you'd experienced the original first. You can read a changelog, sure, but it's like if I handed you a cookie you'd never had before and said, "this is the new recipe, it's better." You have no way of knowing what the old one was like. Plus, some hacks won't appeal to every player; there's a Symphony of the Night one that I forget the name of, but basically it reroutes your path through the castle by blocking off areas and making it impossible to backtrack until much later, etc. But if you look at a screenshot, it just looks like a glitch with random blocks everywhere. I couldn't get around how it looked so I never stuck with it. But that's only because I know how the original looked.

Well said. For me though, i have a very hyperactive brain and even more active gaming hands. So i have a funny habit of playing the original and modded version of some games side-by-side to see the differences. I end up choosing one over the other; sometimes out of preference, other times out of loyalty to the vanilla experience.

 

[Mal]

i always put it down to personal opinion, like savestates or speedfowards, at the end of the day what you want is to experience a game of a lost era you find cool but if you find it sounds too compromising to your taste you go and use the other options.

while i do think some romhacks, like digimon world maeson or vice are just too much to digest to even know if this is "the" experience to go with, in my personal opinion when thats the case, i give the original experience a few hours then check the romhack's changelog to see if i find the appeal.

otherwise i just stick with the original experience.

 

[mortuz]

If you've got the time, it's better to play the original version first to see the vision of the devs before diving in the romhacks.

 

[AceWhatever]

I consider it on a case-by-case basis. Bug fixes and general improvements I will immediately apply to a game I never played before, developer intentions be damned. Rebalances and retranslations I will research extensively before applying as some of them tend to be heavily subjective.

In my case I played Secret of Mana for the first time in 2018 with hacks for increased item limit, adjusted endgame item drops, improved font and (possibly) a retranslation. I had zero reason to play with the original item limit of 3.

My off the cuff insights for your examples:
- Digimon World games tend to always be poorly designed, so any improvements would be welcome.
- Final Fantasy Tactics is a very complex game with a very hardcore fanbase. So rebalances tend to lean towards making the game harder. I'd say go for stuff that cuts down on grinding time and makes it easier to get boss-exclusive items so you don't waste time trying to steal them.
- Xenogears greatly benefits from bug fixes and QoL improvements. I see no reason to play the vanilla game if you only want to experience it in general and not view it from a historical perspective.