English Script

This is a sub-page of Development:The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

To do:
Check through other message files within the folder SFC\ソースデータ\ゼルダの伝説神々のトライフォース\NES_Ver2\us_msg\bun\ for other earlier drafts of English dialogue. Most of the files are final game material, but some may not be.

Maiden Dialogue English Drafts#

Earlier drafts of the Maidens' English dialogue can be found in the files named yama00.txt through yama0a.txt.¹ Here they are compared line-by-line with the equivalent lines in the final game to show differences.

Yama00.txt#

Draft	Final	Notes
...This world used to be the Sacred Land where the Triforce was placed.	...This world used to be the Golden Land where the Triforce was hidden.	"Sacred Land" became "Golden Land" and "placed" became "hidden."
But, the man who found it... Because Gannon, the boss of thieves wished it, the world was transformed...	But because Ganon, the boss of thieves, wished it the world was transformed...	Line became more concise.
I'm sure he's intending to conquer even our Light World after building his power here.	I'm sure he's intending to conquer even our Light World after building his power here.	Line did not change.
Using the powers of the descendants of the seven wise men as keys, he is going to try to open an even larger path around the castle. But, the path is not open completely...	He is trying to open a larger gate between worlds near the castle using our powers. But the gate is not open completely yet...	Line was made shorter.
There is still time! If the seven of us come together, we can break the barrier around Gannon's hiding place.	If we seven maidens come together, we can break the barrier around Ganon's hiding place.	Line was reworded slightly.
I will tell you where the other girls are held. I believe you will destroy Gannon.	I will tell you where the other girls are held. I believe you will destroy Ganon.	"Gannon" was corrected to "Ganon."
I will return to my original shape at that time.	I will return to my original form at that time.	"Shape" was changed to "form."

Yama01.txt#

Draft	Final	Notes
That is why it was hidden in the Sacred Land. Knowledge of this place was had by only a select few individuals. But, at some point that knowledge was lost...	That is why it was hidden in the Golden Land. Only a select few knew of its location, but at some point that knowledge was lost...	"Sacred Land" became "Golden Land."
The person who rediscovered the Sacred Land was the evil Gannondorf the thief.	The person who rediscovered the Golden Land was Ganondorf the evil thief.	"Sacred Land" changed to "Golden Land" again, "Gannondorf" became "Ganondorf," and the final added that he's an evil thief.
Luckily, he couldn't figure out how to return to the Light World...	Luckily, he couldn't figure out how to return to the Light World...	No change.
...Well, remember... You have magical powers only The Hero can make the most of!	...Well, remember that you have magical powers, which only The Hero can make the most of!	The punctuation changed.
There are some other magical warping points like the one you saw on Mount Hebra.	There are some other magical warping points like the one you saw on Death Mountain.	"Mount Hebra" was changed to "Death Mountain."
By using them you can go back and forth between the two worlds and find the monsters hiding in the Dark World. You are the only one who can destroy Gannondorf the thief- no, Gannon the evil King Of Darkness... I will pray for you!	By using them you can go between the two worlds and find the evils hidden in the Dark World. You are the only one who can destroy Ganondorf, the thief--no, Ganon, the evil King Of Darkness!	Rewritten to be more concise.

Yama02.txt#

Draft	Final	Notes
If the evil one destroys the Hero, nothing can save the world from falling to evil.	If the evil one destroys the Hero, nothing can save the world from his wicked reign.	Line was rewritten.
I also recall that only a person of the Knights Of Hyrule who protected the royalty of Hylia can become the Hero...	Only a person of the Knights Of Hyrule, who protected the royalty of Hylia, can become the Hero...	"I also recall" was removed and a comma was added.

Yama03.txt#

Draft	Final	Notes
It is strange that the last one in the line has the potential to become the Hero of legend.	It is ironic that the last one in the line has the potential to become the Hero of legend.	"Strange" became "ironic" (don't you think?)
Surely you can destory Gannon!	Surely you can destroy Ganon!	"Gannon" became "Ganon" again, and "destory" was corrected to "destroy."

Yama04.txt#

Draft	Final	Notes
If we combine the courage of the Knights with the wisdom of the wise men, our powers will increase.	Our powers will increase if we mix the courage of the Knights with the wisdom of the wise men.	Line was re-worded, but the meaning remains the same.
We have only a short time until the path at the castle that connects the Light and Dark Worlds opens completely.	Only a short time remains until the gate at the castle linking the worlds opens completely.	Line was re-worded, but the meaning remains the same.
I believe that if you destroy Gannon, the Dark World will vanish and the Triforce will wait for a new owner.	If you defeat Ganon, this world will vanish and the Triforce will wait for a new holder.	Line was re-worded, but the meaning remains the same.

Yama05.txt#

Draft	Final	Notes
Gannon captured us because he couldn't break the seal of the wise men with his power alone.	Ganon captured us because he couldn't break the seal of the wise men with his power alone.	"Gannon" was corrected to "Ganon."
And then, using the wizard Agahnim as his pawn, he drew us to the Dark World.	And then, using the wizard Agahnim as his pawn, he drew us to the Dark World.	Line remained the same.
After cracking the seal with our powers we were no longer useful to him, so he sealed us inside of these crystals.	After cracking the seal with our powers, he sealed us inside of these crystals.	Line was shortened.
He then offered us to his loyal monsters. But the fatal gap in Gannon's plan was he didn't know about you.	He then gave us to his loyal monsters. But Ganon didn't plan on your getting this far.	Line was rewritten.

Yama06.txt#

Draft	Final	Notes
I appreciate your coming so far to rescue me. As I thought, you are the legendary Hero. I felt this since the first time we met. ... ... ...	I appreciate your coming so far to rescue me. As I thought, you are the legendary Hero. I have felt this from the first time we met. ... ... ...	An extraneous space was removed after the end of the first sentence.
Gannon has created a barrier around his mountain tower. He is waiting inside for the time when he can pass through the gate linking the two worlds.	Ganon is waiting inside of his tower to pass through the gate linking the two worlds.	Line was shortened.
Once Gannon enters the Light World, it is unlikely that anyone can stop him.	Once Ganon enters the Light World, it is unlikely that anyone can stop him.	"Gannon" was corrected to "Ganon."
But, if he stays in the closed space of this world, you can find him where ever he runs.	But if he stays in the closed space of this world, you can find him wherever he runs.	A comma was removed and "where ever" became "wherever."
Now, hurry to the Tower Of Gannon with seven crystals. We will use our combined powers to break the barrier.	Now, go to the Tower Of Ganon! We will use our combined powers to break the barrier.	Another case of "Gannon" being corrected to "Ganon," additionally this line was shortened.

Yama0a.txt#

This is Zelda's alternate message, only seen if you beat Turtle Rock without having gotten all seven Crystals.

Draft	Final	Notes
(same initial text as yama06.txt)	--	--
You still need to help some of the missing girls. After you rescue them all, you should go to the Tower Of Gannon.	Some maidens still need your help, though. Once you rescue them all, go to Ganon's Tower.	Line was shortened.
We who are of the blood-line of the wise men will use our power to break Gannon's barrier!	We who are of the blood-line of the wise men will then use our power to break Ganon's barrier!	"Gannon" was corrected to "Ganon", and "then" was added between "will" and "use".

(Discovery of script differences: Delda)

msg.DAT and msg.DAT1#

It appears that the hex message data in NES_Ver2\us_msg\bun\msg.DAT² and NES_Ver2\us_msg\bun\msg.DAT1³ are very different in many places. In a cursory sampling, msg.DAT1 does not appear to be using the text fragment system that allows specific hex values to be converted to entire words or word fragments to save space (for example, B7 = "just"). Instead, it seems it only spells words out normally in hex. There is a leading 0 and a trailing H for each hex block separated by commas.

It's possible msg.DAT1 could contain an earlier revision of the English translation, if the lack of the text fragment system usage is not the only reason for the differences seen between these files. However, until further investigation is done, it's also possible it could be largely the same with the major difference being the lack of usage of the text fragment system.

(Source: GlitterBerri (Cursory analysis of files, determination text fragment system not used in msg.DAT1))

References#

[Folder: SFC\ソースデータ\ゼルダの伝説神々のトライフォース\NES_Ver2\us_msg\bun\]↩︎
[Full File Path: SFC\ソースデータ\ゼルダの伝説神々のトライフォース\NES_Ver2\us_msg\bun\msg.DAT]↩︎
[Full File Path: SFC\ソースデータ\ゼルダの伝説神々のトライフォース\NES_Ver2\us_msg\bun\msg.DAT1]↩︎