Hacks / translations for your favorite 8-16-bit console games

Two recent restoration attempts for the fans:

Sonic 1 – Fully Optimized 240P 4KEdition tries to give us a proper PAL version of Sonic The Hedgehog for the Genesis / Mega Drive. It eliminates slowdowns and borders, but also features other tweaks. Sonic for instance gets to do the attack move that was introduced in Sonic 2.



And then there's Mortal Kombat Arkade Edition, which tries to turn the unlicensed Mortal Kombat II NES port into something closer to the original. It tweaks gameplay, sound, music and graphics.



(And please note that each and every one of the MK ports for the NES is unlicensed)

 

Dracula II: Noroi no Fuuin (FDS) just got an English translation by BlackPaladin. It's the same game as Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES) but with a few differences, such as better music.



Information and download here.

 

We already had "Black" editions of Batman and Batman: Return of the Joker for the NES. Today I've noticed a new one for Batman Returns as well.



It's a compilation of different hacks: copy protection removal, improved controls, optional hard mode, bugfix and altered title screens.

Information and download here.

If you haven't, I'd advise you to check out the other "Black" editions I mentioned too.

EDIT: Just learned the Secret of Mana Plus SNES hack has been updated to v2.01.



This hack extends Secret of Mana on Snes.

The extended/added chapters are:
- The Wind Palace: explore this new dungeon and stop the Empire invasion.
- The Empire: travel between Southtown and Northtown on a new road.
- The Gold Tower: face extra adversities to obtain the key and climb the added levels.
- The Moon Palace: a mysterious presence awaits you in the new depths of this eerie place.
- Weapon orbs side quests: 8 new weapon orbs have been hidden throughout the world for more powerful weapons.

The new zones and maps feature:
- Additionnal monsters and bosses: new versions of vanilla enemies with their own stats/spells/colors...
- Cutscenes: The new maps are integrated into the main story and add new plot points through numerous cutscenes.

Other changes:
- After you find the Mana Tree, you'll still be able to fight some griffin hands in the pure land.
- Pecard the lighthouse caretaker now gives you hints to find the new weapon orbs.
- Restored the JP version of teleporters in the haunted forest.
- The 2 bosses (Buffy and Dread Slime) now drop weapon orbs.
- The Dark Stalker in Tasnica is now a bit tankier.
- The Biting Lizards in Ice Country have been buffed.
- The Lofty Mountains background scrolling has been fixed.
- Restored some dwarfs who were disappearing after Tropicalo.
- Fixed bug of v1 that would in some rare occasions get you stuck at the end of Grand Palace.
- Fixed bug of v1 that would let Jehk revive you outside the Lofty Mountains.

Besides the additional content, the core game remains unchanged.

The new version is available here.