Version Differences

This is a sub-page of Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon.

While the European version came out before the North American version, it was modified from the North American version, and not the other way around. This has been confirmed by John Ricciardi, COO of 8-4, this game's localizing company, on NeoGAF.¹

Five multiplayer maps were added in the overseas versions, as well as a handicapping option and random map selector. There was only one multiplayer map in the Japanese version. These new maps were later included in Shin Monsho no Nazo.
Wendell's weapon experience was altered from Tome 135 to Tome 105 and Staff 30.
Catria's Level was raised from 3 to 5, while Est's Level was lowered from 5 to 3. Their initial stats remained the same however.
In the Japanese version of Shadow Dragon and Shin Monsho no Nazo, the Warp Staff's menu icon was a six-pointed star in the style of the Star of David. In the localized versions of Shadow Dragon, it was changed to a five-pointed star in order to avoid religious reference.

JP	International

Two events were added to the Event Recap (Event Recap #140 and #149); they existed in the Japanese version as well, but didn't have an entry in the Event Recap.

Title Screen#

Japan	USA	Europe

Warp Staff Cloning Glitch#

The European version fixed a glitch known as the Warp Staff Cloning Glitch, which happens when casting the Warp staff and quickly skipping the staff animation causing an invisible clone of the teleported character to appear where they were standing before being teleported away. The clone will remain where it is as long as the enemy doesn’t make a move.

The glitch works differently between the Japanese and US version. In the Japanese version, the clone disappears immediately when the enemy makes a move. In the North American version, it will remain for 1 to 3 turns and acts as an effective Light Rune or Shine Barrier from previous games, impeding enemy movement.

(Source: https://serenesforest.net/shadow-dragon/miscellaneous/hints-and-secrets)

Text Changes#

Names#

Several names are altered between the European and North American releases. The Japanese names are included for reference.

Japanese name	Meaning	American name	European name	Notes about European version
Characters
シーダ	Sheeda	Caeda	Shiida	Possibly to match Smash Bros. Brawl. First used in the 1997 English dub of the Fire Emblem OVA from ADV Films.
ナバール	Nabaaru	Navarre	Nabarl	First used in the English dub of the Fire Emblem OVA from ADV Films.
ハイマン	Hyman	Hyman	Reynard	Possibly due to resemblance to "hymen".
ララベル	Larabel	Larabel	Aimee	To be consistent with Path of Radiance and Radiant Dawn.
Locations
アカネイア	Akaneia	Archanea	Akaneia	Possibly to match Smash Bros. Melee. First used in the 1997 English dub of the Fire Emblem OVA from ADV Films.
ドルーア	Durhua	Dolhr	Doluna	Possibly to match Smash Bros. Brawl.
マケドニア	Macedonia	Macedon	Medon	To avoid confusion with the real life nation of Macedonia.
Classes
コマンド	Command	Freelancer	Chameleon	N/A
Chapters
港町ワーレン	Port Town Warren	Port Warren	Coastal Skirmish	N/A
ペラティの火竜	The Peraty Fire Dragon	The Pyrathi Dragon	A Wyrm-King's Wrath	N/A
マクロニソスの城	Makronisos Castle	Helena Castle	Prisoner of Helena	N/A
炎の洞窟	Cave of Flame	The Lair of Fire	Men and Monsters	N/A
決戦マケドニア	Macedonia Battle	Clash in Macedon	Clash in Medon	N/A
異界の塔	Tower of Another World	The Alterspire	A World Apart	N/A
Epilogue Titles
神竜王の化身	Divine Dragon King's Avatar	Dragon Ruler	Holy Avatar	N/A
グルニアの戦士	Grunian Fighter	Gravel-Yeller	No Monster	N/A

(Source: FE12 (FE DS 2) Fan translation team, http://serenesforest.net/general/unused.htm, http://fireemblemwiki.org/wiki/Name_chart/Fire_Emblem:_Shadow_Dragon)

Sound Room#

A few of the song names in the Japanese version are spelled out in English. One of these English names was changed in the international versions.

Japan	International
In a shiny wind	In the Wind and the Light

(Source: Fireemblemwiki.net)

Level Up Animation#

Japan	International

The level up animation between the Japanese and international versions is different. The localization changed the "LEVEL UP!" banner from all caps to mixed case and removed the exclamation point.

Icons with Text#

Some icons with English text had their text changed for the western versions.

Japan	International

Note that the "playing" graphic accordingly has three more frames of animation, but the files here are not animated.

Intro Sequence#

Besides changing "Akaneia" to "Archanea", the American version polished up the opening narration of the introduction sequence significantly; it is likely the European version came from an earlier version.

North America	Europe
Long ago, Medeus, king of the dragonkin, conquered the continent of Archanea, giving rise to an age of fear and despair for all its people. That tyranny was broken, however, when an unlikely hero intervened. A young man hailing from the Altea region appeared with a divine blade in hand. Fang of dragon and blade of light locked in battle; and in the end, blade prevailed.	Long ago, Medeus, king of the dragonkin, conquered the continent of Akaneia beginning an age of fear and despair for all its people. That tyranny was broken, however, thanks to a miracle. A young man hailing from the Altea region appeared with a divine blade in hand. He stood against the Shadow Dragon, and struck him down.

Chapter 4#

During the opening of the chapter the boss Bentheon says "another think coming" in the European release while the North American uses "another thing coming".

North America	Europe
If they think we’ll sit by and let them join forces with the Aurelians, then they have another thing coming.	If they think we’ll sit by and let them join forces with the Aurelians, then they have another think coming.

Chapter 12x#

A tweak was made to the opening scene of Chapter 12x: A Traitor's Worth; with the tweak removing a rare instance of the word "hell" from the game's script. This line of dialogue is said by the boss Dejanira.

North America	Europe
That accursed Archanean wench! To hell with Camus's pleas. We should have put her to the sword with the rest of them...	That accursed Akaneian wench! Never mind Camus's pleas. We should have put her to the sword with the rest of them...

Chapter 24#

In Chapter 24: The Dragonkin Realm, Medeus explicitly mentions hell in the North American release while he is somewhat more vague (though implying the same thing) in the European release.

North America	Europe
Come and face me. I’ll tear the ground asunder and send you straight down to hell!	Come and face me. I’ll tear the ground asunder and make you wish you’d never been born!

Epilogue#

North America	Europe
After Medeus's demise, Dolhr would relax its shadowy grip on the land and fade into obscurity: the empire was finished.	After Medeus's demise, Doluna would relax its shadowy grip on the land and fade into obscurtiy: the Empire was finished.
Marth: To Altea, of course. War has left my kingdom in shambles.	Marth: To Altea, of course. War has left my kingdom in ruins.

Credits#

Wolf#

North America	Europe
Wolf remained a knight of Aurelis. He helped rebuild and later captained an elite force known as the Wolfguard.	Wolf remained a knight of Aurelis. He helped rebuild, and later captained an elite force called the Wolfguard.

Roshea#

North America	Europe
Roshea left the army but later returned and became an Aurelian paladin. Records show he resided in Altea for a time.	Roshea left the army, but later returned and became an Aurelian paladin. Records show he resided in Altea for a time.

Wendell#

North America	Europe
Wendel became the senior mage in Khadein and embarked on a journey that took him from land to land in pursuit of truth.	Wendell became the senior mage in Khadein and embarked on a journey that took him from land to land in pursuit of truth.

The US version misspelled Wendell's name as "Wendel".

Rickard#

North America	Europe
Rickard returned home to live in peace—or so he claimed, even as the area experienced a surge in break-ins and purse snatchings.	Rickard returned home to live in peace- or so he claimed, even as the area experienced a surge in break-ins and purse-snatchings.

Miscellaneous Text#

Armory#

North America	Europe
Armorer: I'll send this to your convoy, then.	Armorer: I'll go ahead and send this to your convoy. Would you like something else?

Tutorial for The System Menu/Map Menu#

North America	Europe
Highlight a space not occupied by a unit and press A or touch the MENU button to display the System menu.	Highlight a space not occupied by a unit and press A or, if you are using a stylus, touch the A icon to display the Map Menu.

The first tutorial in the game is referred to as "The System Menu" in the US version while it's referred to as "Map Menu" in the European version. The US description altered the text for using the stylus by removing the mentioning of "stylus".

Other Differences#

At the last screen of the credits, the Japanese version has the text "fin". This text was changed to "The End" for the international versions.
At the Epilogue where each character has their amount of battle "B" and amount of battle won "W", the US version has both "B" and "W" aligned to the left side of the margin. The European version has "B" and "W" more spaced out and has both "B" and "W" aligned to the right side of the margin.

Virtual Console Differences#

Please elaborate.
Having more detail is always a good thing.
Specifically: Elaborate more on how they changed the online shop to work offline.

The Wii U Virtual Console release alters the online shop to work offline.

References#

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14797916&postcount=259 ↩︎