A while back I discovered ZSNES's search function. Since then I seem to have acquired a habit of trying to map out the flags and whatever other parts of RAM that I can. It's sort of like getting 2 games in 1. I get an RPG, and I also get something like a puzzle game. Except that it's fun.
Here's an example of a few bytes of my notes for Lennus II :
Quote:
7E24BA 1:signed guy's T-shirt 2:was greeted in Gwan(also set if get egg) 4:rested at gwan inn(after party) 8:Doughren defeated | 1:played prologue sequence 2:was greeted by chief caretaker(now in control) 4:talked to guy guarding stair at start. 8:talked to guys guarding treasure room
7E24BB 1:met mayor,kids went missing 2:passed through gwanji depot(Du Ter) 4:beat Kaiclone/Z 8:blue flame speech | 1:saw Petro red sleep speech 2:took red sleep 4:flew to Du Terran 8:Kai unlocked bookshelf
default: GA(Gondo Ata) dark, minions @3rd house
7E24BC 1:got gold spirit 2:GA light, 3shopkeeper@shop 4:GA dark, 1 extra grave, minions@2nd house 8:GA light, 1 extra grave 2shopkeepers@shop | 1:took blue flame 2:Shopkeepers have left their houses(presumably should always be set if light...?)(does this mean "forga dead"?) 4:took black light 8:got white shadow(also has chest flag...?)
7E24BD 1:Forga taunted 3rd house(?) 2:Forga taunted 2nd house(?) 4:Forga taunted 4th house? 8:Forga taunted 1st House | 1: GA dark, 2 extra graves, minions@4th house 2:GA light, 2 extra graves, (1 shopkeeper?) 4:GA dark, 3 extra graves minions@1st house 8:GA light, 3 extra graves, (no shopkeepers?)
7E24BE 1:head 2:heart 4:got both? 8:giant together |1, 2, 4: mira key door opened 8: talked to priest(1st time)
7E24BF* 1:(returned with 4 treasures/got 4?) 4:placed red sleep 8:placed blue flame| 02: beat 4th boss 04:Petro green rage speech 08:got green rage
That is most of the Andel flags (there are others scattered about here and there). I of course have mapped most of the flags for the rest of the game, not to mention treasure chest/hidden item flags and character data.
I guess that this information would be essential for actual game modification, but not so sure about its utility for translating the game and inserting scripts/fonts/etc.
But, if it would help with the hacking, you don't have it done already, and it wouldn't be stealing a fun puzzle game from you, I might be persuaded to do this for some of your current projects, like, for example, Aretha II. I could even format it to be sort of readable or something like that.
Actually, I might do it for Aretha II even if you don't want me to, because I find the fact that I can't put more than 10 crystals into a manufactured item very vexing. Since I can't read Japanese, my only chance to locate a 15+ crystal shop might be to take apart the game. Or maybe I should just wait for the translation
.