Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones/Regional Differences

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Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones features plenty of regional differences, be they simple graphical touches or full-on gameplay changes.

Graphics

Health Warning Logo

There is no health warning screen when starting up the game in the Japanese version.

Opening Demo

In the Japanese version of the intro, the names of the characters are shown written in katakana with their romanization written underneath. The katakana was removed during localization, and aside from changing "Eirik" to "Eirika" the romanized names were left intact.

Japan	US

The background that the character portraits in the intro appear over was changed, the Japanese version likely having some sort of animation error, as in context the US background makes more sense. The portraits fly in over the blue background, but it then changes to the gold texture and the blue background flickers in and out when the game switches to the next set of portraits in the Japanese version.

Japan	US

Title Screen

When the title screen was localized, a few changes were made compared to the original Japanese logo: the logo was entirely redone in English, the drop shadow on the primary logo was made smaller, "Press start" was changed to "Press START", and the subtitle scroll was adjusted for the length of the English subtitle. The copyright year was also adjusted, as The Sacred Stones released in the rest of the world one year after the original Japanese release.

Japan	US

Miscellaneous

The buttons in the sound room were redrawn and recolored, that and the height of the music numbers also seems to have been raised a pixel or two for some reason.

Japan	US

The skirmish occurring at the world map location Bethroen had its Fog of War palette changed from nighttime to actual fog.

Japan	US

The flash that plays when a unit of the Assassin class instakills an enemy with the Silencer skill was changed from red to purple. This is somewhat curious, as the previous game had this animation unchanged in all regions.

Japan	US

When engaging a randomly generated enemy on the world map the Japanese version declares "Opening of a Battle!"; but in the international versions the text simply reads "Skirmish!".

Japan	US

The European version reworded the retreat prompt to avoid using spaces as padding. The US version uses 8 spaces to pad the text box to a guaranteed minimum width (if these spaces are removed the prompt does not display properly). This padding is also present in the Japanese version.

Gameplay Changes

General Changes

• In the Japanese version, you can skip through the title screen and main menu by holding Start when resetting or booting up the game. In the international versions, it's no longer possible to skip through the title screen and main menu.
• In the Japanese version, the Rapier, Reginleif, and unused Mani Katti are the only anti-cavalry weapons that don't receive an effective bonus against Mage Knights, Tarvoses, and Maelduins. This was fixed in the international versions.
• In the Japanese version the Gorgon class has the flying movement type. As Gorgons aren't depicted as flying creatures in this game, the class was changed to the mage movement type in the international versions.
• The difficulty settings were adjusted for every map. The settings are listed in the order of "Difficult, Normal, Easy".

Chapter	Japan	International
Prologue, Ch. 1	+3, 0, 0	+1, 0, 0
Ch. 2-3	+4, 0, -2	+2, -2, -4
Ch. 4-14, Tower of Valni, Melkaen Coast, Link Arena, unused maps (38/3B/3C)	+5, 0, -2	+3, -2, -4
Ch. 5x	+5, 0, 0	+3, 0, -2
Ch. 15 Eirika	+6, 0, -2	+3, -2, -4
Ch. 15 Ephraim	+5, 0, -2	+4, -2, -4
Ch. 16-Final, Lagdou Ruins	+6, 0, -2	+4, -2, -4

(Source: Serenesforest.net)

Chapter 5

• Joshua lacks the "do not attack Natasha" AI in the Japanese release, and as such will attack her if she is in his movement range. This change was most likely made to make it easier for the player to recruit Joshua.

Chapter 7

• A Javelin was added to Murray's inventory.

Chapter 9 (Eirika's Route)

• Binks' Iron Bow was replaced with a Steel Bow.

Chapter 11 (Eirika's Route)

• The boss' level was raised from 3 to 8.

Chapter 12 (Eirika's Route)

• The boss' level was raised from 4 to 9, and a Steel Bow was added to its inventory.

Chapter 13 (Eirika's Route)

• Aias' level was raised from 9 to 10, and a Swordslayer was added to his inventory. His default weapon was changed from the Silver Blade to the Short Spear.
• In the Japanese version, Pablo has higher stats than his first encounter. However, he loses two levels in between encounters, as his level is lowered from 7 to 5. In the international versions, Pablo's level was raised from 5 to 9, and he has the same stats as in his first encounter.
• Amelia's starting level was reduced from 5 to 4.

Chapter 10 (Ephraim's Route)

• Beran's Steel Sword and Short Bow were replaced with the Lancereaver, Killer Bow, and Longbow.

Chapter 11 (Ephraim's Route)

• The boss' level was raised from 3 to 8.

Chapter 15

• A Mend staff was added to both Troubadours' inventories.
• A Hand Axe was added to the Dragon Axe Berserker's inventory.
• Forts were added underneath Caellach and Valter.
• Caellach's default weapon was changed from the Tomahawk to the Silver Axe. Also, he pursues any units in his range in the Japanese version.
• Valter's Silver Lance was replaced with a Killer Lance, and his default weapon was changed to the Spear.

Chapter 16

• A Sage now drops a Purge tome when defeated.
• In the Japanese version, Orson carries a Silver Lance and a Runesword on Eirika's route, and a Silver Sword and a Spear on Ephraim's route. This was swapped in the international versions. Also, Orson initially wields the Spear or Runesword by default rather than the Silver Sword or Silver Lance.

Chapter 18

• The boss' level was raised from 8 to 15, and Stone was added to its inventory.

Chapter 20

• In the Japanese version, Riev has higher stats than in his first encounter. In the international versions, his stats remain the same.

Final Chapter

• Fomortiis summons stronger promoted monsters in the international versions as opposed to weaker unpromoted monsters in the Japanese version.
• Fomortiis' default weapon was changed from Ravager to Demon Light. Also, animations are forced to be on during the Fomortiis battle in the international versions.

(Source: ウホウホゴリラマン)

Stats

The localization team changed many of the characters, classes, and weapons' stats. In the tables below, instances in which a stat increased are marked in green. The instances in which a stat decreased are marked in red.

Characters

Character Growth Rates Japan -> International

Character	HP	Str	Skl	Spd	Def	Res
Seth	85%->90% +5%	-	-	-	-	-
Gilliam	-	40%->45% +5%	30%->35% +5%	-	-	-
Moulder	80%->65% -15%	-	-	45%->40% -5%	-	-
Ross	-	-	-	25%->30% +5%	-	-
Innes	60%->75% +15%	-	-	-	-	-
Lute	-	70%->65% -5%	-	-	-	45%->40% -5%
Forde	80%->85% +5%	-	-	-	-	-
Kyle	85%->90% +5%	-	-	-	-	-
Amelia	70%->60% -10%	40%->35% -5%	-	-	-	-
Artur	-	60%->50% -10%	-	-	-	60%->55% -5%
Marisa	-	25%->30% +5%	50%->55% +5%	55%->60% +5%	-	20%->25% +5%
Ewan	-	55%->45% -10%	-	-	-	-
L`Arachel	-	60%->50% -10%	-	50%->45% -5%	-	-
Rennac	60%->65% +5%	-	-	-	-	25%->30% +5%
Joshua	-	30%->35% +5%	-	-	-	-
Syrene	-	35%->40% +5%	-	-	-	-
Hayden	-	-	40%->45% +5%	-	-	-
Selena	-	-	-	-	-	25%->30% +5%
Glen	-	40%->45% +5%	-	-	25%->35% +10%	-
Lyon	-	-	10%->55% +45%	10%->55% +45%	10%->45% +35%	15%->55% +40%

Character Base Stats Japan->International

Character	HP	Str	Skl	Spd	Lck	Def	Res	Con	Weapon Rank
Franz	21->20 -1	8->7 -1	-	8->7 -1	-	-	-	-	-
Vanessa	-	-	-	12->11 -1	-	-	-	-	-
Neimi	18->17 -1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Colm	-	-	-	12->10 -2	-	-	-	-	-
Artur	-	7->6 -1	-	9->8 -1	-	-	-	-	-
Lute	-	-	-	-	-	-	6->5 -1	-	-
Tana	-	8->7 -1	8->9 +1	12->13 +1	-	7->6 -1	-	-	-
Innes (Eirika`s Route)	28->31 +3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Gerik	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11->13 +2	-
Saleh (Eirika`s Route)	-	-	-	-	-	9->8 -1	-	-	-
Cormag (Ephraim`s Route)	29->30 +1	13->14 +1	8->9 +1	-	3->4 +1	-	1->2 +1	-	-
Cormag (Eirika`s Route)	36->32 -4	18->15 -3	12->10 -2	13->11 -2	6->5 -1	15->13 -2	3->2 -1	-	-
Rennac	26->28 +2	8->10 +2	11->16 +5	15->17 +2	-	8->9 +1	3->11 +8	-	-
Duessel	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	(Sword Rank) B->A +1
Syrene	-	10->12 +2	-	-	-	8->10 +2	10->12 +2	-	-
Caellach	42->47 +5	16->19 +3	15->14 -1	-	-	13->15 +2	-	-	-
Orson	47->48 +1	-	14->15 +1	12->14 +2	-	-	9->11 +2	-	-
Riev	44->49 +5	-	-	-	-	17->16 -1	-	-	(Light Rank) A->S +1
Selena	33->38 +5	-	-	-	-	9->11 +2	-	-	-
Glen	41->46 +5	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Valter	40->45 +5	-	-	15->17 +2	-	-	10->12 +2	-	(Lance Rank) A->S +1

Classes

Class Base Stats Japan->International

ID	Class	HP	Con	Weapon Rank
59 7D	Elder Bael	28->36 +8		-
5A	Cyclops	28->40 +12		-
6D	Civilian	-	5->4 -1	-
6E	Civilian	-	6->3 -3	-
6F	Civilian	-	7->6 -1	-
70	Civilian	-	5->4 -1	-
71	Civilian	-	6->7 +1	-
72	Civilian	-	4->5 +1	-
7C	Cyclops	28->40 +12		(Axe Rank) A->S +1

Class Growth Rates Japan->International

ID	Class	HP	Str	Skl	Spd	Lck	Def	Res
5A 7C	Cyclops	85%->95% +10%	-	-	-	-	-	-
66	Demon King	10%->95% +85%	0%->40% +40%	0%->30% +30%	0%->20% +20%	0%->25% +25%	0%->20% +20%	0%->20% +20%

Class Maximum Stats Japan->International

Class	HP	Str	Skl	Spd	Def	Res	Con
Great Knight (Female)	-	-	25->26 +1	23->25 +2	-	-	-
Recruit (3)	-	28->23 -5	-	-	27->22 -5	27->26 -1	-
Journeyman (3)	-	30->26 -4	28->29 +1	26->28 +2	30->23 -7	24->23 -1	-
Pupil (3)	-	-	29->28 -1	26->27 +1	24->21 -3	30->26 -4	-
Draco Zombie	80->100 +20	-	-	-	-	-	-
Demon King	-	40->50 +10	40->50 +10	40->50 +10	40->50 +10	40->50 +10	40->25 -15

Weapons

Weapon Base Stats Japan->International

Weapon	Might	Hit	Crit	Range	Worth	Notes
Steel Blade	-	-	-	-	1250->980 -270	-
Brave Sword	-	-	-	-	3000->7500 +4500	Probably changed to match Brave Lance and Brave Bow.
Brave Axe	-	-	-	-	2250->7500 +5250	Probably changed to match Brave Lance and Brave Bow.
Devil Axe	-	-	-	-	900->880 -20	-
Siegmund	19->17 -2	-	-	-	-	-
Vidofnir	-	80%->85% +5%	-	-	-	-
Slim Lance	-	-	-	-	450->420 -30	-
Luna	-	-	20%->10% -10%	-	-	-
Demon Light	13->15 +2	-	-	(1-2)->(1-3) +1	-	+13 Str, +10 Skl, +10 Def, +15 Res (Japan) +10 Str, +10 Skl, +10 Def, +15 Res, +10 Lck (International)
Ravager	18->15 -3	100%->85% -15%	0%->10% +10%	-	-	+10 Str, +10 Skl, +15 Def, +10 Res (Japan) +15 Str, +15 Skl, +15 Def, +10 Res (International)

(Source: Serenesforest.net)

Shop Changes

In the international versions, many shops had their stock and/or the order of their stock changed visited during a chapter. Most notably, the international versions allow players to purchase the Nosferatu tome in the Chapter 17 shop, while it can't be purchased in the Japanese version. On the flip side, the international versions don't allow players to buy stat-boosting items from the Secret Shops during the storyline.

Shop	Japan	International
Ch. 5 Armory	Iron Sword Slim Sword Steel Sword Iron Lance Slim Lance Steel Lance Iron Axe Steel Axe Iron Bow Steel Bow	Slim Sword Iron Sword Steel Sword Slim Lance Iron Lance Steel Lance Iron Axe Steel Axe Iron Bow Steel Bow
Ch. 5 Vendor	Heal Torch Vulnerary Fire Lightning	Fire Lightning Heal Vulnerary
Ch. 9 Armory (Eirika)	Steel Sword Iron Blade Iron Lance Steel Lance Iron Axe Steel Axe Hammer Hand Axe Iron Bow Steel Bow Short Bow	Iron Sword Steel Sword Iron Blade Iron Lance Steel Lance Javelin Iron Axe Steel Axe Hand Axe Iron Bow Steel Bow
Ch. 9 Vendor (Eirika)	Fire Thunder Lightning Shine Heal Mend Unlock Vulnerary Elixir Antitoxin Torch	Fire Thunder Lightning Shine Heal Mend Unlock Vulnerary Antitoxin Torch
Ch. 12 Vendor (Eirika)	Thunder Elfire Shine Heal Mend Restore Vulnerary Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin	Fire Thunder Lightning Shine Heal Mend Restore Vulnerary Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin
Ch. 10 Armory (Ephraim)	Steel Sword Iron Blade Slim Lance Steel Lance Iron Axe Steel Axe Hammer Hand Axe Iron Bow Steel Bow Short Bow	Iron Sword Steel Sword Iron Blade Iron Lance Steel Lance Javelin Iron Axe Steel Axe Hand Axe Iron Bow Steel Bow
Ch. 10 Vendor (Ephraim)	Fire Thunder Lightning Shine Heal Mend Restore Unlock Vulnerary Elixir Antitoxin Torch	Fire Thunder Lightning Shine Heal Mend Restore Unlock Vulnerary Antitoxin Torch
Ch. 12 Vendor (Ephraim)	Thunder Elfire Shine Heal Mend Restore Vulnerary Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin	Fire Thunder Lightning Shine Heal Mend Restore Vulnerary Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin
Ch. 14 Secret Shop (Both routes)	Lancereaver Swordreaver Axereaver Killer Bow Purge Bolting Recover Angelic Robe Energy Ring Lockpick Hero Crest Knight Crest Orion's Bolt Elysian Whip Guiding Ring Ocean Seal	Steel Blade Silver Blade Killing Edge Killer Lance Battle Axe Killer Axe Killer Bow Barrier Physic Lockpick Hero Crest Knight Crest Orion's Bolt Elysian Whip Guiding Ring Ocean Seal
Ch. 15 Vendor	Thunder Elfire Lightning Shine Divine Flux Luna Mend Restore Barrier Vulnerary Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin	Thunder Elfire Shine Divine Flux Heal Mend Restore Vulnerary Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin
Ch. 17 Armory	Slim Sword Steel Sword Killing Edge Slim Lance Steel Lance Killer Lance Steel Axe Hand Axe Killer Axe Steel Bow Longbow Killer Bow	Iron Sword Steel Sword Lancereaver Killing Edge Iron Lance Steel Lance Axereaver Killer Lance Javelin Iron Axe Steel Axe Swordreaver Killer Axe Hand Axe Iron Bow Steel Bow Killer Bow
Ch. 17 Vendor	Thunder Elfire Shine Divine Flux Luna Mend Recover Restore Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin	Thunder Elfire Shine Divine Flux Nosferatu Heal Mend Restore Elixir Pure Water Antitoxin
Ch. 19 Secret Shop	Shamshir Spear Battle Axe Physic Angelic Robe Energy Ring Secret Book Speedwing Goddess Icon Dragonshield Hero Crest Knight Crest Orion's Bolt Elysian Whip Guiding Ring Ocean Seal	Barrier Physic Hero Crest Knight Crest Orion's Bolt Elysian Whip Guiding Ring Ocean Seal

(Source: Fireemblemwiki.net)

Transfer Data

To do: Does the transfer menu itself still exist in international versions?

Despite only being used in the Japanese release, the Transfer Data feature has its menu graphics existing in every language.

Event Distribution Items

To do: Add the European names. Also verify if the Beacon Bow is effective against flying units.

These items were distributed at events in Japan with the above mentioned transfer feature, and were left unused in the rest of the world (and essentially Japan too, as said distributions haven't run in ages). Despite never being released internationally, these items did receive localized names, and it's also worth noting that not only are those items impossible to be obtained during normal gameplay, but none of them can be sold.

ID	Icon	Name	Range	Might	Hit	Weight	Critical	Weapon rank	Durability	Flavor Text	Notes
81		Shadowkiller	1	5	90	5	5	E Sword	60	Effective against monsters.
82		Bright Lance	1	7	90	8	5	E Lance	60	Effective against monsters.
83		Fiendcleaver	1	8	75	10	5	E Axe	60	Effective against monsters.
84		Beacon Bow	2	6	85	5	5	E Bow	60	Effective against monsters.	Also effective against flying units.
B7		Juna Fruit	--	--	--	--	--	--	1	Give this to a worthy unit and see what happens.	A unit at level 10 or above randomly loses 1 to 5 levels, but their stats remain the same.

(Source: Fireemblemwiki.org)

Text Changes

Character Names

Some character name changes occurred from the Japanese to English localization.

Japanese	Romanization	English		Japanese	Romanization	English		Japanese	Romanization	English
エイリーク	Eirik	Eirika		ヒーニアス	Heanus	Innes		ケセルダ	Cethelreda	Caellach
コーマ	Coma	Colm		ジスト	Xyst	Gerik		アーヴ	Irv	Riev
アスレイ	Asseray	Artur		マリカ	Marica	Marisa		フォデス	Fodeth	Fomortiis
ターナ	Turner	Tana		クーガー	Cugar	Cormag

The US English and European English revisions have no name differences, however, several other names were changed for other European languages:

• In the German version Duessel's name was changed to Duenell.
• In the Spanish version Innes' name was changed to James, Fado's name was changed to Vari, and Tirado's name was changed to Tatoh.
• In the Italian version Tana's name was changed to Dana, and Eirika's name was further changed from the original "Eirik" to Erika.

(Source: Fireemblemwiki.org)

Class Names

As with the previous game, several classes were renamed in the international releases, a few of these being minor tweaks that seem to have been made with limited menu space in mind.

Japanese	Translation	English		Japanese	Translation	English
ソシアルナイト	Social Knight	Cavalier		ゾンビ	Zombie	Revenant
山賊	Mountain Thief	Brigand		マミー	Mummy	Entombed
シスター	Sister	Cleric		ビグル	Bigl	Mogall
かけだし戦士	Novice Fighter	Journeyman		アークビグル	Arch Bigl	Arch Mogall
アーマーナイト	Armor Knight	Knight		スケルトン	Skeleton	Bonewalker
ドラゴンマスター	Dragon Master	Wyvern Lord		ヘルボーン	Hellbone	Wight
ドラゴンナイト	Dragon Knight	Wyvern Rider		マグダイル	Macdaire	Maelduin
剣士	Swordfighter	Myrmidon		デスガーゴイル	Death Gargoyle	Deathgoyle
フォレストナイト	Forrest Knight	Ranger		ケルベロス	Cerberus	Gwyllgi
マムクート	Mamkute	Manakete		ドラゴンゾンビ	Dragon Zombie	Draco Zombie

Location Names

For some reason the Italian localization changed the name for the locations Grado and Rausten to "Graze" and "Raust" respectively.

Removed Alcohol References

While this game's localized script is generally unchanged from Japanese, the support set for Garcia and Dozla was changed to remove references to them trying out many kinds of alcohol and getting drunk. The localization preserved the general content of the first conversion, but it diverges a bit in the later conversations. In the localization they end up trying out many different weapons (and end up hurting themselves in amusing ways):

• In the C support the two discuss what they had for breakfast, and how breakfast is an important meal for a warrior. Dozla mentions he drank nothing but alcohol that morning in Japanese. The English version instead says all he had for breakfast was... knowledge. In Japanese they discuss that the youths in the army don't drink much alcohol, while the English version has them discuss how the youths in the army don't practice with many weapons.

• The B support once again removes alcohol references, them discussing the drinks they had earlier is changed to them discussing their sparring match earlier. In Japanese they discuss how axemen and alcohol go together well, and how you meet friends in the strangest places. In English there are amusing lines about Garcia managing to shoot himself with a bow... somehow. In English the conversation ends with them deciding to try magic next.

• The A support is completely different, Garcia talks about his son and Dozla talks about L'Arachel, and the conversation ends with them both sharing a drink. The English version ends with a very amusing but less heartfelt conversation recounting their misadventures with magic (Garcia managing to burn off Dozla's beard with a healing staff.)

Sound Room

Several of the song names in the Japanese version are spelled out in often rather awkward English, and as such a few of these English names were changed in the international versions.

Japan	International
[Follow me!/Sadness time/Comical time/Work out a plot]	[Follow Me!/Sorrow/Laughter/Solve the Riddle]

(Source: Fireemblemwiki.net)

Errors

• In Gilliam and Garcia's C Support, Garcia calls Gilliam "Garcia" during the part where Garcia challenges Gilliam to arm-wrestle him. This typo appears in the Japanese and North American versions, but was fixed in the European version.

Japanese Version

• In Tethys' C support with Marisa, Tethys asks Marisa why she sleeps on her left side. This is incorrect as Marisa is left-handed and Marisa explains how she sleeps with her dominant arm up. The English version corrects this to so that Tethys asks Marisa why she sleeps on her right side.
• There is a typo in Syrene and Tana's B support conversation where Syrene calls Tana "Syrene".
• Joshua tells Artur that Artur has won 15 times and lost 16 times out of 21 matches. The sum of the matches equals 31, not 21. The English version fixes this by having Joshua tell Artur that Artur has won 11 out of 21 matches.

Every English Localizations

• In the Japanese version, in Neimi and Gilliam's A Support, Neimi refers to Colm. In the English version, Neimi instead refers to Cormag, which doesn't make sense since Neimi and Cormag don't interact. This error was caused due to Cormag being written similar to "Coma", which is Colm's Japanese name.
• In Kyle and Syrene's C Support, Kyle calls Syrene "Selena". Syrene and Selena's names are pretty similar, which explains the names getting mixed-up.
• In Cormag's English A support with Artur, Artur explains that wyvernstones are rarer than dragonstones. This is a mistranslation as in the Japanese script, dragonstones are never mentioned, only wyvernstones.

German Localization

• The help-description of the NPC-civilians in Chapter 6 erroneously claims that Novala conquered the capital of Renais. This error likely stems from the translator mistaking the claim of him having seized something as being about the capital itself, instead of about the civilians living in it.

Oddities

• In his A support with Tana, in the Japanese version Cormag says that he's thinking of disappearing. Strangely, the English version changed this line so Cormag instead says that he's thinking of getting into woodworking.
• In the Japanese version of Ephraim's route, Glen's death is mentioned in Valter and Cormag's battle conversation. This is strangely omitted in the English version.
• In the Japanese version, checking Lyon's stats in the Final Chapter of Ephraim's route shows him with his possessed portrait. The international versions changed his portrait to his normal appearance.
• As shown above, the maximum stats for Demon King class was increased in the international versions. However, in all versions the Demon King never gets close to 40 in stats, making the further increase in the localization odd.
• In the international versions, it's possible for the game to freeze up if a Wyvern Knight activates Pierce and attacks consecutively without being interrupted by the enemy. This glitch doesn't seem to occur in the Japanese version. There is a section on Sacred Stones' bug page that goes into more detail about this.