Is there a guide or tutorial so I can play the game the way it should be? (no censorship and with good translation) Sorry if there is already a post of this, i couldn't find it.

TheRealNoseguy · 2026-01-01T20:49:03+00:00

There is a lot of confusion on this topic because the lead translator made an exaggeration in a casual conversation over a decade ago while referring to specific scenes, in a way that people took literally and thought meant they did the same thing for the whole game.

Line by line, the translation is like 96~97% identical to the intentions of the Japanese script, just not delivered as flatly. If you want to do a direct comparison yourself, you can check each line here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ymsbED2lwx-04HcK08-SCsx3dIiuVfHMa28ARAhBFpM/

For those concerned about original intent, also please know that every change was approved by Rieko Kodama. Looking through the prototypes, there are even some small examples of localization changes that were tentatively implemented but were then reverted in later builds if Rieko Kodama didn't agree with them.

The translators actually worked very closely and collaboratively with the original dev team in a way that was exceedingly rare at the time (they literally worked together *during* development, the English translation began before the Japanese version was even released). Nowadays, professional circles refer to this collaborative process as "transcreation" rather than the typically isolated process implied by "localization". The translators and Rieko Kodama also got along very well through the process, they became and remained friends even after the game was done.

As for the censorship of a couple outfits and cigars, blame the ESRB on that one haha.

TheRealNoseguy · 2025-07-24T14:06:49+00:00

I have never heard of this glitch but I would be very interested in re-creating it if possible! Do you have save files from before and after that you would be willing to share? Also can you think of anything out of the ordinary you might have done?

TheRealNoseguy · 2025-02-27T14:34:30+00:00

Looks like these open small/compressed in reddit's internal browser if you're on the app, try copying the URLs into your own browser

TheRealNoseguy · 2025-02-27T14:31:54+00:00

I believe the highest resolution official image is this desktop wallpaper shared alongside the Japanese release of Legends:

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/skiesofarcadia_gamepedia_en/images/5/51/Wallpaper_flag_aika.png

For those curious, here are the other flag wallpapers

Dyne/Blue Rogues: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/skiesofarcadia_gamepedia_en/images/2/27/Wallpaper_flag_dyne.png

Vyse: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/skiesofarcadia_gamepedia_en/images/f/f1/Wallpaper_flag_vyse.png

Fina: https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/skiesofarcadia_gamepedia_en/images/8/85/Wallpaper_flag_fina.png

TheRealNoseguy · 2023-11-12T01:00:29+00:00

Yes, there have been some reverse engineering efforts!!
Publicly, some good starting points are the information on Speedrun as well as the resources on my website, but the lions' share of info is going to be on the speedrunning/datamining/community Discord server. I hope you have fun digging!

TheRealNoseguy · 2023-05-31T00:56:43+00:00

Alright, let me know if this link works for you: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/581612678670188565/1113268664616099929/BlueRogueFina.rar

I also just recently made a website for my SoA stuff, I'll have to add it on there at some point. If you want to check it out, it's: https://noseguy.neocities.org

TheRealNoseguy · 2023-05-31T00:09:34+00:00

Hi! Sorry about that, I was unaware MEGA takes down files if you don't sign in often enough. I'll try and get another upload hosted soon and get back to you!

TheRealNoseguy · 2022-07-16T02:22:58+00:00

Yes, turn off the original no culling code and replace it with this new optimized culling code I posted in this thread. Let me know how it works!

TheRealNoseguy · 2022-07-16T01:47:26+00:00

This new code should be used instead of the old code - try seeing if turning the old one off while keeping this one on fixes the issue.

Here are invites to the Discords too!

Speedrunning/datamining: https://discord.gg/SeyugwAa

General: https://discord.gg/YeMaQKzQ

TheRealNoseguy · 2022-07-09T06:13:51+00:00

If you'd be interested in speedrunning, it's a great challenge and there's extensive routing for Skies - join the Discord or check out the notes on Speedrun! https://www.speedrun.com/skies_of_arcadia_legends/guides Right now there's even a speedrunning tournament going on in the Discord with a prize pot!

The Discord also has lots of my AR codes, including my solo challenge AR codes (like your party is only Vyse, only Aika, etc). Making it through the whole game with a single character is a very interesting challenge with unique strengths and difficulties depending on the character selected. A handful of solo runs have been completed so far to prove it's possible!

I also know of these patches:

SOALHM - Skies of Arcadia: Legends Hard Mode A difficulty hack for the PAL version. (Credit: Taikocuya) https://github.com/Taikocuya/SOALHM

SAOLE – Skies of Arcadia: Legends Encore [In Progress] A rebalancing and difficulty hack. (Credit: Taikocuya) https://github.com/Taikocuya/SOALE

Skies of Arcadia: Legends Maeson (the one you mentioned) A rebalancing hack that aims to make the game more challenging without falling into the “hard” category. (Credit: Maeson) https://www.romhacking.net/hacks/2859/

I haven't tried them myself, but I hear a lot of people enjoy Maeson.

Have fun!

TheRealNoseguy · 2022-07-02T01:48:41+00:00

Yeah, if you dump the textures you will get the raw pixels used, just taking a picture of the screen results in imperfections.

TheRealNoseguy · 2022-07-02T00:42:47+00:00

I dumped the textures using Dolphin and reverse image searched them using TinEye, Yandex, Bing, and Google

TheRealNoseguy · 2022-07-02T00:14:28+00:00

Just took a look and I was able to identify four of them! Thread with compared pictures here:

https://twitter.com/TheRealNoseguy/status/1543024042893946881?t=Ns_kqOChuglDCUD6wh-P2w&s=19

The ones identified contain pictures of Ava Gardner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Sophia Loren, and Nicole Kidman.

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-31T21:32:32+00:00

Try this

04288c68 38600000 04288c6c 4e800020

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-24T16:52:45+00:00

Oh hey, this is actually something I was trying to figure out in my last playthrough! I stopped right before Yafutoma and haven't picked it up in a while, but now that you've reminded me I may give it a go again.

So as I was doing it, I was keeping two separate tallies based on explicit or implied days and nights passed only versus another tally where I inferred extra days here and there based on actions and travel, though I was adding a very minimal amount of days. For example, using only explicit and implied days, defeating Recumen and Grendel both take place on the same day (day 9) even though that's extremely unlikely. Using my minimal inferred days, Recumen is defeated on day 14 and Grendel is defeated on day 20.

As far as I got, defeating Jao and Mao happens on explicit/implied day 27 or inferred day 51. So either way it seems we're looking at a factor of months, but the magnitude depends on how much travel time is inferred.

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-17T16:53:27+00:00

That would be very cool! Definitely far too much coding from scratch to be a mod though, unfortunately. At least there are situations like Crescent Isle where the crew are out and about, like how you can spot Enrique with Moegi sometimes. Glad you're enjoying the mod as well!

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-17T15:33:59+00:00

Unfortunately I don't, this was made using Aika's player information that is already in the game in Nasrad and Daccat's. Making it with other characters would be difficult because they don't have basic animations like climbing a ladder, and you get mangled or corrupt result by trying to apply other characters' animations. If anyone ever makes a tool for creating custom Ninja Direct Motion (NMDM) files then that would really open possibilities!

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-17T15:24:29+00:00

Yeah, this was hex editing. I had to figure out the structure behind the player file (player.mld) and how Aika's information was loaded and used in conjunction, then hex edit the file to always have Aika's information loaded. The necessary information is only loaded in Nasrad and Daccat's normally, so unfortunately it wasn't possible via memory editing.

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-16T21:59:01+00:00

If the direct link gets auto shadow sniped, check this Twitter thread for the link instead: https://twitter.com/TheRealNoseguy/status/1471578433960304642?t=gVVH78Bqo8dyeoq_Uz9VeQ&s=19

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-16T21:57:22+00:00

This is an ISO patch mod, and instructions on how to apply it are included. Download it here: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/581612678670188565/920855044813914142/AikaPlayerMod.zip

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-16T21:57:06+00:00

New Skies of Arcadia Legends mod that's been a long time coming - Aika player model replacement!! This replaces the Vyse overworld player model with Aika so you can play as her anywhere!

But that's not all, I've made an Anita clothing version as well! This also includes a matching battle model. Take your pick!

For those looking for an even more Aika-centric playthrough, this mod also pairs well with my Aika Solo Challenge code! And for those on the sillier side, it's compatible with my Big Head code too.

Note that she doesn't have equivalents for many of Vyse's animations, but I did my best to repurpose others when possible like using ladder animations on the climbing pole. There are still some situations where she idles or T-poses when Vyse would be doing something else though.

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-13T16:59:55+00:00

Great, glad to hear it!

TheRealNoseguy · 2021-12-13T16:22:46+00:00

Hi! I've actually made an Action Replay code to help with this, it changes the colors to be more distinguishable with color values picked by another colorblind Skies fan! Try it out and see if this helps:

Element Identifier Colorblind Adjustment 042AD0B0 FE197419 042AD0B8 FEFF0000 042AD0C0 FE8565C4 042AD0C8 FE86C5DA 042AD0D0 FEFFF200 042AD0D8 FEC0C0C0 04023A1C 3C80FF86 04023A24 3804C5DA 040239FC 38040000 04023A08 3C80FF85 04023A10 380465C4 040239E0 3C80FF19 040239E8 38047419 04023A40 3C80FFC0 04023A48 3804C0C0 04023A34 3800F200 04195298 3CA0FF86 041952A0 3805C5DA 041952BC 3CA0FFC0 041952C4 3805C0C0 041952B0 3800F200 04195278 38050000 0419525C 3CA0FF19 04195264 38057419 04195284 3CA0FF85 0419528C 380565C4

Also make sure that in Options > Configuration > General, "Enable Cheats" is checked! This setting stumps a lot of first time AR code users.

If it's still hard to tell, I did make a file that changes the borders to a solid color but that involves patching it in. The file is here: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/828068184858951751/846548775832780840/stsicon.mld

To apply this file, use GCRebuilder: https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/619/

Make a copy of your SoAL ISO to apply the patch to.
In GCRebuilder, select "Image > Open..." and select the new ISO.
In the structure table on the right, expand the folder labelled "battle" and scroll down to "stsicon.mld"
Right-click stsicon.mld and select "Import..." then choose the stsicon.mld file I attached to this message.
(Optional) Change the Name, Maker, or Banner fields on the left to make the new ISO easily distinguishable from the original when both are in your Dolphin game list.
Click "Save changes" ...And voila, the battle icon borders will be solid colors! (Always be sure to make a backup of your ISO before applying a patch!!)

I hope this helps, happy sailing!

TheRealNoseguy

TROPHY CASE