Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (PlayStation 2)

Dragon Quest VIII takes the concept of "horse girls" to a whole new level.

Sub-Pages#

Unused Text Localization Development Logs Unused Maps

Debug Menus#

Present in the game are a couple of debug menus that can be re-enabled with the below codes. The Japan-exclusive debug menus do not work anymore. Apply the below codes for your version of the game to appear in one of these menus when you first start the game. The Japanese version of the Boot Mode debug menus do not allow you to exit. When exiting the menus in the Japanese version, the game will get stuck in an endless loop.

Master Codes (for cheat devices only):

Boot Mode selector codes (where "??" is one of the below):

02 = Movie test menu
08 = File send menu (network mode)

Boot Modes#

Movie Test Menu#

This allows you to view all of the pre-rendered movies in the game. There are also some movie names here that are not present on the disc, such as the TEST movie names. The US version of this menu does not have the kana font to render the Japanese text.

File Send Menu#

This menu was likely used to send files from a network path to the developer's PlayStation 2 HDD.

Miscellaneous#

These are present only on the Japanese version of the game. These are missing proper controller commands for them, and as a result are no longer operable.

BtlDebug#

This likely would have reloaded a camera script during battle.

Lighting Editor#

This would likely have edited the current lighting settings of the area.

Debug Logging#

Within the game are two stubbed printf functions which would have logged various background information to a debug unit. This logs information such as files and maps loaded. It would also report errors if any occurred. To re-enable these, apply the below codes.

US codes:

Re-enable Debug Logging In Battle
20321620 08046542
20321624 00000000

Re-enable printf
20146E20 08046542
20146E24 00000000

JP codes:

Re-enable Debug Logging In Battle
2032C0D0 080478E2
2032C0D4 00000000

Re-enable printf
2014ADC0 080478E2
2014ADC4 00000000

If you are playing the game on a regular PlayStation 2, you will need to use a TOOL, RDB, or a debug version of OPL to view the logs. If you are playing on an emulator, you can see this information by enabling the option "Show Console". Below is an example of what type of information gets logged.

Top Vram = 10752(64word)
load(0) bin/key_data_1.bin o = 0 s = 2048
file cache 1bcdac0 - 1bcdac0
load(0) bin/bin_ext2.pak o = 0 s = 694272
file cache itemdat2.bin
file cache explist3.bin
file cache p_paramlist6.bin
file cache magiclist3.bin
file cache skilllist6.bin
file cache btl_eventinfo.bin
file cache btl_splcolor.bin
file cache btl_motion_8.bin
file cache btl_monster_id_6.bin

monster_model_info : ver 040726  : date : 2004/10/27 08:16:47

load(0) mons_mem.txt o = 0 s = 20480
file cache btl_monster_param_10.bin
load(0) monster_name_1.txt o = 0 s = 24576
file cache btl_monster_team_ex_5.bin
file cache Habitat_2.bin
file cache mos_owner_1.bin
load(0) btlload_owner_1.txt o = 0 s = 4096
file cache haikai_name_3.bin
file cache btl_action_def_18.bin
load(0) skill_info_1.txt o = 0 s = 6144
file cache actmsg_4.txt
file cache acteffmsg_2.txt
load(0) actmsg_text_3_1.txt o = 0 s = 51200
load(0) acteffmsg_text_2_1.txt o = 0 s = 10240
load(0) actextmsg_text_2_1.txt o = 0 s = 57344
file cache mos_tec_6.bin
load(0) team_tech_1.txt o = 0 s = 6144
load(0) snd2/SY_000.snd o = 0 s = 137216
msin_id = 0
p=9,-1,b=0,hd=cc600,bd=1bc980,hdbd=0
snd id = 6000000
load(0) snd2/rev.bin o = 0 s = 2048
vram 10752 - 16320
tex 1/288
b = 32767,cblur_fix_work0 vram = 64,0
tex 2/288
b = 273,cblur_work0 vram = 64,0
tex 3/288
b = 273,cblur_full_work0 vram = 3584,0
load(0) snd2/MAP_index.txt o = 0 s = 71680
load(0) menu/mcard2_1.pak o = 0 s = 188416
load(0) meswin/font_tex_l3s3_europe_Challenge.pak o = 0 s = 215040
load(0) meswin/sysstr_1.txt o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) meswin/article_1.txt o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) meswin/word_1.txt o = 0 s = 71680
WordStack:37720
Total    :1886
AllocWordStrCnt:29688
Hash:30176 
load(0) meswin/fonttbl_s3_europe_Challenge.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) meswin/fonttbl_l3_europe_Challenge.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) meswin/system_l_1.mes o = 0 s = 18432
load(0) meswin/system_s_1.mes o = 0 s = 18432
load(0) meswin/gaiji2_1.img o = 0 s = 86016
tex 4/288
b = 211,gaiji2 vram = 256,1
tex 5/288
b = 211,nmlcmd5 vram = 64,1
tex 6/288
b = 211,meswinbg vram = 3584,0
tex 7/288
b = 269,work vram = 3584,0
tex 8/288
b = 270,shadow_work vram = 3584,0
tex 9/288
b = 270,shadow_work2 vram = 576,0
tex 10/288
b = 272,glare_work1 vram = 576,0
tex 11/288
b = 272,glare_work2 vram = 576,0
tex 12/288
b = 294,moviework vram = 3584,0
tex 13/288
b = 295,cross_f vram = 3584,0
load(0) bin/bin_ext2.pak o = 0 s = 694272
load(0) itemdat2.bin o = 0 s = 18432
load(0) explist3.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) p_paramlist6.bin o = 0 s = 4096
load(0) magiclist3.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) skilllist6.bin o = 0 s = 4096
load(0) btl_eventinfo.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) btl_splcolor.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) btl_motion_8.bin o = 0 s = 43008
load(0) btl_monster_id_6.bin o = 0 s = 77824

monster_model_info : ver 040726  : date : 2004/10/27 08:16:47

load(0) mons_mem.txt o = 0 s = 20480
load(0) btl_monster_param_10.bin o = 0 s = 77824
load(0) monster_name_1.txt o = 0 s = 24576
load(0) btl_monster_team_ex_5.bin o = 0 s = 8192
load(0) Habitat_2.bin o = 0 s = 4096
load(0) mos_owner_1.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) btlload_owner_1.txt o = 0 s = 4096
load(0) haikai_name_3.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) btl_action_def_18.bin o = 0 s = 61440
load(0) skill_info_1.txt o = 0 s = 6144
load(0) actmsg_4.txt o = 0 s = 63488
load(0) acteffmsg_2.txt o = 0 s = 6144
load(0) actmsg_text_3_1.txt o = 0 s = 51200
load(0) acteffmsg_text_2_1.txt o = 0 s = 10240
load(0) actextmsg_text_2_1.txt o = 0 s = 57344
load(0) mos_tec_6.bin o = 0 s = 6144
load(0) team_tech_1.txt o = 0 s = 6144
load(0) map/map10_1.cfg o = 0 s = 55296
load(0) mapinfo3.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) mapwind.bin o = 0 s = 2048
load(0) btl_map0.cfg o = 0 s = 4096
load(0) worldinfo4.bin o = 0 s = 4096
load(0) fbgpack.bin o = 0 s = 4096
load(0) TreasureList4.cfg o = 0 s = 47104
-------------------------- Tre ver[050801], cre[2005/08/5 15:24:54]
load(0) event/flag_set.cfg o = 0 s = 38912
load(0) title/title_1.mes o = 0 s = 47104
load(0) menu/cmd4_1.pac o = 0 s = 329728
tex 14/288
b = 225,syscmd vram = 256,1
tex 15/288
b = 225,syscmd2 vram = 128,1
tex 16/288
b = 225,syscmd3 vram = 64,1
load(0) title/wmap.img o = 0 s = 462848
tex 17/288
b = 80,mapwok vram = 3584,0
tex 18/288
b = 80,wmap vram = 896,1
tex 19/288
b = 80,title_grade vram = 896,1
create sema 27
create sema 26
create sema 28
start thread 9
create sema 29
load(0) title/title_1.img o = 0 s = 727040
tex 20/288
b = 74,logo0 vram = 128,1
tex 21/288
b = 74,logo1 vram = 896,1
tex 22/288
b = 74,title vram = 896,1
tex 23/288
b = 74,title_w vram = 896,1
fstrm : open cddat:WAV¥BGM¥BG_002.MWV
def_vol = 0.0e+0
loop 0,start 0
mc finish!!
movie vol bgm = 0.0e+1
mwork = 1325980
IOP memory 0x000cee00(size:24576) is allocated
IOP memory 0x000d4e00(size:2048) is allocated
create sema 31
create sema 30
create sema 32
start thread 10
fstrm : open cdrom0:¥MOVIE¥L5_CI_B.MVI;1
fstrm : close
delete thread 10
delete sema 32
delete sema 30
delete sema 31
movie vol off
mwork = 1325980
create sema 30
create sema 32
create sema 33
start thread 14
fstrm : open cdrom0:¥MOVIE¥TAKA_N.MVI;1
PlayBGM Wait:30
sndstrm : play

Unused Title Screen Modes#

Present only in the Japanese version of the game are a few unused demo modes. Apply the below code for the Japanese version of the game and start a new game to use these modes. After a certain amount of time passes, the game will send you to the title screen.

Start New Game for Demo Mode
D0468F7C 00000047
004686F0 0000000?

Replace ? with one of the following:

2 = Map m01 (night - not a demo mode)
A = Story Demo (Map m01)
B = Field & Battle Demo (Map s02i01 & n_22)

• While not a demo mode, mode 2 sends you to the first town at night with no NPCs to talk to. You can't do anything here as a result.
• Demo mode A sends you to the first town.
• Demo mode B sends you to the field where you can battle enemies.

Unused NPCs#

Several NPCs featured in an early build of the game can still be found within the game's files. Some of these NPCs were shown in pre-release screenshots.

To change King Trode's model while in Tryan's Gully, go to memory offset 0x003C0DC0 and change that text string to any model found within the folder chara.

Image	NPC File Name	Shown in a screenshot
	p001a.chr	No
	p002a.chr	No
	p003a.chr	No
	p004a.chr	Yes (near the shopping tent)
	p005a.chr	Yes
	p006a.chr	Yes
	p007a.chr	Yes
	p008a.chr	No
	p009a.chr	No
	cat.chr	Yes

Japan-Exclusive NPCs#

Located in event\test, the Japanese version of the game has a bunch of NPCs that aren't found in the international versions. Most of them have no animations, meaning they were most likely made just for the pre-release media.

Image	NPC File Name	Shown in a screenshot
	p001a.chr	Yes
	ps001a.chr	Yes
	ps002a.chr	No
	ps005a.chr	No
	ps005b.chr	Yes, although could be a different model since the old lady doesn't actually hold on to her cart in-game.

Unused Items#

There are 30 unused items, which can be added back into the player's inventory with the use of codes.

Access#

The code below adds the 30 unused items to the inventory by replacing the first 30 slots in your item bag. These include dummy armor, dummy weapons, dummy dresses, and... dummy cheese. Lots of dummy cheese. None of these items have any special icons. The DUMMY items do not work, however the MIMIC STONE and the BLARNEY STONE do function. The MIMIC STONE lets you recover health in battle endlessly, and BLARNEY STONE instantly wipes out your party.

20409AD0 03E70045
20409AD4 03E70053
20409AD8 03E7005C
20409ADC 03E70061
20409AE0 03E7007A
20409AE4 03E70091
20409AE8 03E700AF
20409AEC 03E700D4

20409AF0 03E700DF
20409AF4 03E700EB
20409AF8 03E700EC
20409AFC 03E700F7
20409B00 03E70101
20409B04 03E70102
20409B08 03E7011B
20409B0C 03E70124

20409B10 03E7012B
20409B14 03E7012C
20409B18 03E70133
20409B1C 03E7013D
20409B20 03E70141
20409B24 03E70146
20409B28 03E70147
20409B2C 03E70148

20409B30 03E70149
20409B34 03E7014A
20409B38 03E70152
20409B3C 03E7015C
20409B40 03E7016A
20409B44 03E70176
20409B48 03E70183
20409B4C 03E70184

List#

To do: I used DeepL to translate the Japanese names and descriptions. If you're a fluent Japanese speaker, please correct any mistakes.

Almost all of the dummy items actually have a Japanese name and a description in the itemstr1.lst file, which contains original names of all the in-game items (translated names are located in itemstr1_1.lst). Below is the list of items using both the Japanese and the English name, their description and theory on what they most likely would've been used for.

Unused Animations#

To do: There is a small chance this could be used for a cutscene. Clarify if this is the case.

Unused crouching animations exist in the game for all heroes. It suggests at one point you could crouch down with any hero. Apply the following code to re-enable this animation for all heroes:

20D37D74 435C0000
20D37D78 43620000
20D37D7C 3DCCCCCC

20D51864 43470000
20D51868 434D0000
20D5186C 3E199999

20D6FDC4 436D0000
20D6FDC8 43730000
20D6FDCC 3DCCCCCC

20D87994 431D0000
20D87998 43230000
20D8799C 3DCCCCCC

If there is no animation data present for a hero, they will do a T-pose as shown here:

Unused Monsters#

Quite a few monsters go unused. Most of them are variations on existing enemies, with limited changes in appearance. Around 80 monsters were totally deleted, and can no longer be restored.

Access#

Apply the following code to force all encounters to be with a monster of your choice (where "????" is one of the IDs listed below):

20351FAC 2415????

List#

To do: Investigate and document all the differences between monster variations.

Trode's Fight Cheer#

Though used, you can hear Trode cheering for Yangus for only 4 seconds before the cutscene fades out. However, in reality, it lasts for 19 seconds. Located in DATA2.DAT\trode_fight_cheer.mwv

Unused Voice Clips#

a03#

Located in DATA2.DAT\a03.mwv is a voice clip spoken by a Japanese person. Since there are no characters voiced in Japanese, its purpose is unknown.

There are also two files named a01 and a02, which contain the first and the second part of the clip respectively.

b, c & d#

Voiced by the same Japanese person, these three files most likely had something to do with a03. The file names don't match the spoken syllables.

Unused Event#

If you force yourself through the chamber wall during the escape from Maella Abbey, you'll be able to play an unfinished stealth-like event. Unfortunately, the game hangs after you use the main door, likely due to lack of scripted events which would follow.

Unused Royal Hunting Ground Lines#

A cut portion of the event that occurs at the Royal Hunting Ground after the party and Prince Charmles decide to rest. In the game it cuts to Hero waking up and seeing the Prince trying to ride Medea, but it appears the scene was originally supposed to involve all of the characters. Interestingly, all of the lines were voiced and even got carried over to the 3DS version (where they also weren't used), indicating that this part of the event was cut relatively late into localization:

The scene that follows afterwards is Trode protecting Medea from Charmles until the latter gets distracted by the Great Argon Lizard's roar, but originally all of the party members, sans Hero, were supposed to confront the Prince. It also features a slightly different version of Charmles' lines:

300
//ゼシカ「ちょっと　やめなさいってば！
//　今のは　誰が見たって　悪いのは
//　王子様のほうじゃないの！
Jessica: Hey! Give it a rest! If anyone's in the wrong, it's you!

@310
//ククール「よぉよぉ　王子様。
Angelo: Well, well, well!

@320
//ククール「馬が相手だと　威勢がいいねぇ。
//　トカゲと戦うときも　今と同じくらいの
//　気迫を見せてほしいもんだなぁ。
Angelo: You certainly come to life when there's a horse to be beaten! If only you showed this kind of fire around Argon lizards, eh!? You'd be quite an asset!

@330
//ヤンガス「おっさん　やめときな。
//　そんな　駄々っ子の遊びに
//　つきあうこたぁねえよ。
Yangus: Just ignore 'im, grandad. He's actin' like a spoilt brat, if you ask me.

@340
//チャゴス「この無礼者め。
//　平民のぶんざいで　王族に意見するとは。
Prince Charmles: Such rank impertinence! How dare you filthy lowlifes speak to, to...MY MAJESTY like that!?

@350
//チャゴス「おい　聞いたか！　今のは
//　アルゴリザードの　鳴き声じゃないのか！？
Prince Charmles: Oh! Did you hear that!? It was an Argon lizard!

@360
//チャゴス「気が変わった。馬のことはいい。
//　今の鳴き声を　たしかめに行くぞ。
Prince Charmles: I've changed my mind! I don't care about the silly horse any more. Let's go and find that lizard!

All text lines are located in the e1004_1.txt file.

Development Text#

DARK3#

This line can be found inside the game's ELF file:

S:/DARK3/DC3_SOUND/

While "DC3" may stand for "Dark Cloud 3", referring to Level-5's other games, Dark Cloud and Dark Cloud 2, it might have just been a codename for Dragon Quest VIII.

map.lst#

DATA.DAT\map\map.list contains a list of all .map files as they were stored on a developers system. This file is identical in all versions of the game, containing the the full list of maps include in the Japanese version (including the unused maps found on disc).

Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map
Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map\c01\c01.map
Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map\c01\c01i01.map
Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map\c01\c01i02.map
Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map\c01\c01i03.map
Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map\c01\c01i04.map
...

Leftover at DATA.DAT\map\make.bat is the batch script used to create this file.

cd > map.lst
dir /b /s *.map >> map.lst

Interestingly, when using this batch script to regenerate the list and diffing the output with the list on disc, 2 maps are named in map.list that are not found in the Japanese version.

Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map\wm4\_Twm4.map
Q:\DQ8\data\datav3\map\wm4\__wm4.map

Alternate Hero Costume#

This costume is only seen in one of the flashback sequences which is in greyscale and you cannot normally ever see its color, nor can you ever equip it. However, you can apply the following code to make the Hero wear it. With the code on, equip the Dragovian Armour and Dragovian Helm.

209239E8 00326E69

Alternate Hero Costume

Unused Music#

Inside DATA2.DAT\data2\wav is two unused versions of the opening song, one being an uncompressed wav file, and the other being in the game's native ADPCM format. The used version that plays is located in DATA2.DAT\data2\wav\bgm\bg_002.mwv.

DATA2.DAT\data2\wav\bgm\bg_039.mwv in the North American release of the game is an unused sequenced song of "Memories of an Ancient Ocean".

DATA2.DAT\data2\wav\bgm\bg_037.mwv in the North American release of the game is an identical copy of bg_005, which is the overworld music.

Regional Differences#

To do: More regional differences

• The Japanese version has sequenced music, whereas the international versions feature live orchestrations, sourced from the album Symphonic Suite Dragon Quest VIII: Sora to Umi to Daichi to Norowareshi Himegimi.
• The Japanese version lacks voice acting, which was added to the international versions.
• The menu system was modified for the international versions. For example the international versions added character portraits during battle.

Oddities#

To do: Check if this is in the EUR version. Also, so far I've only seen the log thing happen on the song "Peaceful Community".

Despite the streamed orchestral soundtrack playing instead, the USA version of Dragon Quest VIII still has the JPN version's entire sequenced soundtrack in the same folder as it would be in the JPN version: DATA.DAT\snd2\bgm.

• If you turn on the logging cheat, you will notice that sometimes (at least in "Peaceful Community"), the sequence is set to play, but the function is set at zero, and the stream plays instead.

• Some music in the USA version wasn't replaced by streamed audio, and thus the sequenced version plays instead.