![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
So, Shining Force 2 has a semi-hidden timed bonus stage known as the Fairy Woods. Nowadays it is used primarily as a grinding spot by players wanted to get their pre-promotion characters to level 40 for maximum stats. I'm bringing this up because some time ago prototypes of the game's English translation were posted to the Hidden Palace. The Cutting Room Floor has more information on textual differences but I'm here to talk about the Fairy Woods.
Specifically the fact that the Woods received a major layout overhaul sometime between the prototype dated April 4th and the prototype dated June 30th. The June 30th layout is identical to the final English version as far as I can tell.
Note: only the bottom layer is included in the image files as the upper layer of roofs and tree tops doesn't change between versions and isn't relevant.
NORTH AMERICA
The Fairy Woods are actually two near identical maps. The first is used only for the town. The second is used only for the secret battle area.
Map 23 is the civilian area. Music is track 13 (Elven Town) and it has 2 areas. It has 6 warp areas, 3 changing map to area 68 position 48x31 facing south, 1 changing area to area 24 position 1x27 facing east, 2 warps moving coordinates to different map layers 8 block copy events, 4 obtainable items: mithril at 29x27 flag 202, Vigor Ball at 2x3 flag 221, Fairy Powder at 24x9 (vase) flag 157, Secret book at 52x2 (shelf 2nd floor) flag 158
Map 24 is the battle area. Music is track 39 (Headquarters) and it has 1 area. It has 1 warp to area 23 position 30x24 facing west, 1 block copy event, 2 obtainable items: Light of Hope at 6x14 flag 215, Life Ring at 10x1 flag 216. However although the item coordinates are present the two tiles are not flagged as searchable.
APRIL TRANSLATION PROTOTYPE
Map 23 has 3 items: mithril at 29x27 flag 202, Fairy Powder at 24x9 (vase) flag 157, and Secret Book at 52x2 (shelf) flag 158 (vigor ball appears to have been appended to end of flag list)
Map 24 has 2 items: Light of Hope at 6x14 flag 215 and Life Ring at 10x1 flag 216
The most immediate difference is that the final North American layout streamlined the village's borders and added the Vigor Ball in the northwest corner. In the April prototype and Japanese versions (the Japanese version cannot be opened in The Caravan due to data differences in the game but playing it in an emulator confirmed the April prototype uses the same structure for the Fairy Woods) the northern exit from the village is only accessible by winding around a path obscured by the trees. In addition to that reaching the bonus area requires navigating a small secret path on the map's southern edge to find ramp tiles that allow the player to walk over several other otherwise impassable tiles.
The final North American version keeps the ramp but removes numerous impassable-tile flags south of the pond and opens one tile on the eastern side making it easier to reach the bonus area. It also mostly blocked the still-present warp tiles south of the tree-top ramp so players are less likely to accidentally exit to the overworld.
Specifically the fact that the Woods received a major layout overhaul sometime between the prototype dated April 4th and the prototype dated June 30th. The June 30th layout is identical to the final English version as far as I can tell.
Note: only the bottom layer is included in the image files as the upper layer of roofs and tree tops doesn't change between versions and isn't relevant.
NORTH AMERICA
The Fairy Woods are actually two near identical maps. The first is used only for the town. The second is used only for the secret battle area.
Map 23 is the civilian area. Music is track 13 (Elven Town) and it has 2 areas. It has 6 warp areas, 3 changing map to area 68 position 48x31 facing south, 1 changing area to area 24 position 1x27 facing east, 2 warps moving coordinates to different map layers 8 block copy events, 4 obtainable items: mithril at 29x27 flag 202, Vigor Ball at 2x3 flag 221, Fairy Powder at 24x9 (vase) flag 157, Secret book at 52x2 (shelf 2nd floor) flag 158
Map 24 is the battle area. Music is track 39 (Headquarters) and it has 1 area. It has 1 warp to area 23 position 30x24 facing west, 1 block copy event, 2 obtainable items: Light of Hope at 6x14 flag 215, Life Ring at 10x1 flag 216. However although the item coordinates are present the two tiles are not flagged as searchable.
APRIL TRANSLATION PROTOTYPE
Map 23 has 3 items: mithril at 29x27 flag 202, Fairy Powder at 24x9 (vase) flag 157, and Secret Book at 52x2 (shelf) flag 158 (vigor ball appears to have been appended to end of flag list)
Map 24 has 2 items: Light of Hope at 6x14 flag 215 and Life Ring at 10x1 flag 216
The most immediate difference is that the final North American layout streamlined the village's borders and added the Vigor Ball in the northwest corner. In the April prototype and Japanese versions (the Japanese version cannot be opened in The Caravan due to data differences in the game but playing it in an emulator confirmed the April prototype uses the same structure for the Fairy Woods) the northern exit from the village is only accessible by winding around a path obscured by the trees. In addition to that reaching the bonus area requires navigating a small secret path on the map's southern edge to find ramp tiles that allow the player to walk over several other otherwise impassable tiles.
The final North American version keeps the ramp but removes numerous impassable-tile flags south of the pond and opens one tile on the eastern side making it easier to reach the bonus area. It also mostly blocked the still-present warp tiles south of the tree-top ramp so players are less likely to accidentally exit to the overworld.
◾ Tags:
