Illusion City

[ General ]

• Full translation of all the texts on all 8 disks (Intro, Main Game, and End Demo/Credits).
• Translated an alternative version of Illusion City where a few scripts and map data are different from the most common version (Disk 2 and Disk 8).
• Translation of the manual for backstory, more details, and better translations of items, weapons, magics, etc.
• Decompiled all 151 Event (EVT) scripts and 4 Scene (SCN) scripts with the ability to compile them back into the game (later one EVT script was removed as a redundant and 4 SCN made into one).
• Discovered and fixed duplicate scripts and unused scripts in the game.
• Recreated in-game compressor to be able to alter GFX and data and compress it back into the game.
• Created new special dual compression for the script files in order to fit them in the same space or less as the original game. All scripts unpack as they print on the screen.
• Translated graphics where it was required.
• Dumped scripts from the PC98, SHARP X68000, and Mega CD version of the game to enrich MSX texts.
• Translation working on 256KB or 512KB Turbo-R like the original game.
• MIDI Music fully working for both Turbo-R 256KB (with MuPack) and 512KB with MSX MIDI.
• Added newer version 1.02 of ARMI.COM from MSX Fan 14 to DISK 1 and translated it. You can play RCP MIDI files with it.
• Added a translated version of ARMI.DOC for ARMI.COM 1.02 to DISK 1.
• Created 4MB (real size 3.6MB using "AI" optimization) ROM version of the game - almost instant loading speeds, no "change disk" messages" plus other improvements.
• Added Flash ROM save to the ROM version of the game (now supports ASCII16-X mapper, MegaFlashRom+SD, Carnivore 2). Tested on openMSX and real hardware.
• Disassembled Fray.DOS and the game initialization routine to improve multi-mapper support and ensure full MuPack compatibility. Code was heavily optimized for size, with many new options and improvements added.
• Fixed the issue when MIDI initialization would crash if the data buffer was not empty before loading the data.
• Many improvements to the game to remove some small flaws.

[ Intro ]

• Altered texts and graphics appearance to make it better for English texts.
• Added space to the "ILLUSION CITY" logo and re-synchronized with the lightning animation.
• Added English text to the game logo (similar to the game box art).
• Fixed hotel/ skyscraper name GFX from "Horizn" to "Horizon" on the billboard.
• Added palette pulsing to the title screen.
• Created a variety of fonts for all intro screens.
• Added black contour for the texts that overlap pictures.
• Moved red image(s) to better position it for wrapping the texts in English.

[ Main Game ]

• Completely rewrote in-game print subroutines with support of a new lowercase variable width font.
• Moved all printing from characters to pixel-based.
• Added the ability to auto-center texts, shift texts, and more.
• Added automatic color changing to characters' names during text conversations.
• Added multi-color texts during battles.
• Expanded the post-battle window to display five lines, allowing users to view all texts without the need to scroll.
• Sped up print by eliminating VRAM buffer. Text printing directly from RAM to screen.
• Optimized and improved menu bar code (line drawing) and visual appearance.
• Adjusted in-game windows to accommodate bigger English texts.
• Adjusted dimensions of menus to fit English texts nicely.
• Added ability to the game to automatically select window size based on the amount of text to be printed (for menu selection window).
• Added ability to store longer names of items/weapons/magic/etc.
• Fixed Scene (SCN) script on disks 5/6/7. Added events texts that were missing.
• Corrected continuity errors with NPCs on disks 3, 4, and 5. Added new messages to the NPC on disk 2 to address a previously missed event.
• Resolved an issue where the NPC on disk 3 displayed a message prematurely.
• Included the missing Dasa release message for Yama.
• Removed delayed animation after going back on disk 5.
• Fixed bug related to the Death Mask, preventing players from dying even when the mask was removed and making it impossible to defeat the boss.
• Created a new way of displaying magics in menus.
• Improved texts on menu buttons of the main game screen.
• Extended size of the battle menu to fit bigger texts and menu options.
• Added current level for each character during battle.
• Added a new player status mode where you can see the current player status as "Normal/Confused/etc...".
• Made items like Petrify Needle unusable during boss battles to ensure balanced difficulty.
• Resolved (removed) the ability to scroll through all Protective Gear and Weapons in the [Weapon & Armour Store].
• Re-coded magic menu to have one menu line instead of three. This is done to fit full English magic names.
• Added gender-correct messages when he/she cannot use magic.
• Translated original in-game [debug menu].
• Fixed major issue with magic when you can use "disabled" (blue) magics during Boss fight.
• Fixed major issue with party almost never able to escape. The whole code for it was wrong. Now it works as intended.
• Fixed a bug when cursor out of line in "select character window".
• Improved magic usability: the cursor now remains on the same line after casting spells.
• Made adjustments to game INT to improve screen split and palette change for portraits.
• Found and fixed issue with player animation in the final boss fight.
• Corrected the bullet type for the Thompson submachine gun so it uses the same bullets as in real life.
• Fixed a major issue with pre-generated enemy pointers causing multiple problems, including fleeing from a battle.
• Re-coded subroutine for escape to work as intended.
• Made special code to fit Ensealed Spell Shells in the item list and during battle mode.
• Added items that were missing in the game (some located in stores and some in maps). Some of them were present in the manual.
• Translated "ELEVATOR" GFX to "LIFT".
• Implemented text delay adjustments and other optimizations during battles to enhance readability and playability.

[ End Demo | Credits ]

• Thoroughly overhauled the End Demo and Credits printing subroutines, now supported by three newly introduced fonts.
• Re-synchronized the End Demo's English text to harmonize with the animations and music.
• Incorporated English text into the game logo, mirroring the aesthetic of the game's box art.
• Conducted thorough research on the game's staff to ensure full names are accurately included in the Credits.