Version 25 of Shining Force III Translation Patch Releases

The first update for the English translation patch for Shining Force III in more than a year and a half was made public July 19, adding the ability to choose options a la carte for the first time in the project’s 20-year history.

The patch can be downloaded from the translation team’s website here.

Version 25 of the patch fixes myriad bugs and script typos across four games — Shining Force III Scenarios 1, 2 and 3 as well as the Premium Disc, none of which was released in West except the first scenario. The specific changes include:

• Silver Beak in Scenario 1: Adds ability to craft the Silver Beak. The associated special Penguin Flash isn’t available in Scenario 1, but it will provide the additional 10% crit you normally get with a fourth special.
• Critical and Counter Fix in Scenario 1: Patches Scenario 1 to match Scenario 2 and beyond. Moves the 3% crit and counter from weapons to characters. Note in order to crit or counter, enemies and NPCs must have a special attack.
• Silver Ring 1.003 Fix in Scenario 2: Depending on the events of Scenario 1 Battle 2, in Saraband you may get a Silver Ring. If not in Scenario 1, it will still be there in Scenario 2. This fixes an issue with Scenario 2 v1.003 where the ring doesn’t appear in HQ stash if everyone’s inventory is full.
• Scenario 1 Character Stats in Scenario 2 Fix in Scenario 2: -spoilers- Previously, during the final battle, the stats of the Scenario 1 enemies wouldn’t take their equipment into account until after their first turn. This fixes that, giving them accurate stats from the beginning.
• Dantares Paladin Sprite Fix in Scenario 3: Dantares’ overworld sprite didn’t update after final promotion. This uses the updated sprite from the PD in Scenario 3.
• Rogan Sprite Fix in Scenario 3 and Premium Disc: Fixes Rogan’s sprite so he is a working version capable of being added via Gameshark.
• Jane Sprite Fix in Scenario 3: Jane’s sprite updated to hold proper weapon.
• Difficulty Options and Sound Test in all four games: Allows access to difficulty options and sound test without having completed the game.
• Bookcase Ordered in scenarios 2 and 3: The Biographical Encyclopedia (commonly known as the bookcase) in HQ is now in alphabetical order.
• Reserves Available in Shops in Scenario 1: Patches Scenario 1 to match Scenario 2 and beyond. Allows access to reserve characters while in Shop menus including the Blacksmith.
• Show High HP in all four games: High enemy HP (600 and above) replaces ??? with actual value in the status menu and the target window in battle outside of combat.
• Haggle 75% Chance in scenarios 1, 2 and 3: Chance to haggle items in a shop increased to 75%. Choose only one haggle patch to avoid conflict.
• Haggle Items Become Deals in scenarios 1, 2 and 3: Converts all “haggle” items into deals upon interacting with either shop keeper for the first time. Includes haggles from previous towns if applicable. Choose only one haggle patch to avoid conflict.
• Irene Insane Buff in Scenario 1: Saving Irene in Battle 6 on Insane difficulty was seemingly impossible. She will heal herself exactly once when her HP is low. A 15% land effect was also provided on the tile where she stands her ground. Active on all difficulties.
• Kahn Control in Graveyard in Scenario 1: Allows the player to control Kahn in Scenario 1 Battle 11 when he has to convert the Kyon-Shi.
• Penn Joins at Level 9 in Scenario 1: Penn joins at level 9 unpromoted (previously level 1 unpromoted). New game required.
• Penko Joins at Level 9 in Scenario 2: Penko joins at level 9 unpromoted (previously level 1 unpromoted) and starts at weapon level 1 (previously weapon level 0). New game required.
• Donhort Control in Scenario 2: Allows the player to control Donhort in Scenario 2.
• Jane Equipable in Premium Disc: Jane can unequip her Thunder Wand and equip a different weapon in the PD.
• Scenario 1 Character Weapons in Scenario 2: -spoilers- Previously in the final battle of Scenario 2, Scenario 1 characters’ weapons were replaced with generic, less powerful ones. This keeps what they were equipped with at the end of Scenario 1 for a more honest, but challenging encounter.

The patch uses a bespoke patch wizard program created by Knight0fDragon, the project’s longtime programmer. It newly features the ability to choose which specific fixes you’d like applied to each game.

“It’s all modular now,” said project manager Steve “legalize freedom!” Simmons on the translation website. “Pick and choose the exact combination of options for your playstyle and interests. I’m geeking out pretty hard.”

Released alongside the patch is a mod pack created by Rika, a member of the translation team. It includes a number of helpers to make the game easier, like making items unbreakable, as well as the option to keep Japanese voices during battle in Scenario 1. The mods can be applied a la carte using the patch wizard.

“While these mods are outside of the scope of this translation and are not provided as a part of it, they are all gameplay changes that have been requested,” Simmons said.

The first Shining Force III translation patch was released in January 2004. The most recent patch was Version 24 released in November 2022.