Rogue Galaxy - Localization Improvements

Localization Improvements

Due to its success in Japan, Level-5 opted not only to localize Rogue Galaxy for North America and Europe, but to add a significant amount of new features and content, and address any complaints concerning the original version. These improvements, which feature in both the North American and European versions of the game, and the Japanese Director's Cut, include:

• The game now uses a double-layer 8.5GB DVD to play instead of a standard 4.7GB DVD the Japanese version used. This allowed smoother, better looking graphics and additional data to be added into the game.
• A sixth planet, the water world of Alistia. While it is separate from the main story arc, the planet includes its own sidequests and special items, and helps flesh out some of the characters. However, it is only available after obtaining a key item in Chapter 8.
• Toady's Analysis of weapons, which became much simpler to use.
• The Burning Strike system. Players now collect Burning Chips during battle, which allows them to store power and execute their Burning Strike when they want to. Also, the Burning Strike system in the Japanese version had a completely different layout. In the Japanese version of the game, it had a much smaller window that had a line to which people could input the commands for a Burning Strike attack, which is more reminiscient of the line timing system of games such as the Rock Band, Dance Dance Revolution, and the Guitar Hero/Band Hero/DJ Hero musical games, among many other titles in this other video game genre. In the USA and other versions of the game (including the Japanese Director's Cut), there are full animations of each character as they perform each Burning Strike attack and they vary between their five-hit, seven-hit, and nine-hit Burning Strike attacks. Also, the buttons that are used to initialize the Burning Strike attacks now spiral into the bottom of the screen as opposed to merely being on a line as is the case in the original Japanese version of the game.
• The layout and visual design of several dungeons and planets was altered and improved, making them more visually appealing. Affected areas include Rosencaster Prison, the Gladius Towers, the Daytron factory, Rosa's desert town, and Rosa's Labyrinth.
• Additional content within the Insectron Tournament sidequest. Main difference is that two species of Insectrons, the Bomber Snail and the Spidan, have been added, each with 8 types of Insectrons per species.
• Each character (except Jaster) has two new types of weapons, thus increasing the number of weapons in the game by 140.
• Each character has 4 bonus costumes, except for Kisala and Simon, who each have 5. The difference in defense is small, but each character's clothing changes according to the costume they wear, even in cutscenes and in battle (except during the pre-rendered cinematics and when on board the Dorgenark). Some sidequests even require certain outfits.
• Improved and expanded battle animations.
• Over 2000 lines of additional voiced dialogue.
• Making it easier to damage enemies, as the formula for attacking has been modified.
• Every character gets three extra abilities to their Revelation Flow, except for Lilika, who has 4. Some characters also come with abilities that only work if certain characters are in the main party with them. For example, Lilika and Kisala have a combination ability called "Star-Linked Venus", and Jupis and Steve get a combination ability called "Black Hole". Jaster has two called "Supernova", which works when he, Kisala and Zegram make up the party, and "Fated Passion", which is for Jaster and Kisala and is considered the ability born from their love for each other.