Tomba went through a series of changes for the international market. Many of these differences are visual improvements, though some changes were made to certain gameplay elements.
The opening intro in the Japanese version has "Paradise", complete with vocals, as its theme tune. The US version uses an instrumental version of the song and adds sound effects to go with the video.
The European version curiously plays the theme song to the 1997 Children's BBC TV show No Sweat!, which was performed by UK teen band North & South (Wikipedia).
Title Screen
Japan
USA
Europe
The US and European versions removed the 3D effect from their respective logos, but made the menu and copyright text a bit more visually appealing. The game was also renamed Tombi in Europe, likely due to "Tomba" also meaning tomb in Italian, something that most definitely doesn't fit the game.
Loading Screen
To do: Replace these with GIFs since APNG support isn't quite universal yet.
Japan
International
The loading screen is much more animated in the localized versions than it is in the Japanese version.
(Source: Dirty Justice, X-Cult)
Items Screen
Japan
International
The item menu in the localized versions of the game is more visually appealing than the Japanese version, and also has a different layout, though the Japanese version has a pig for a background.
Events Screen
Japan
International
Like the item menu, the localized versions of the game have a completely different appearance to the Japanese version, which uses a picture of Tomba for the background.
Status Screen
Japan
International
As with the other screens, the status screen was also updated and moved things around. Tomba's laugh and cry icons were given a very minor update for some reason.
Japan
International
Map Screen
Japan
International
The map was completely redrawn for the international release. Notable changes include the Village of Civilization shrinking in size (likely due to the area becoming much smaller than anticipated, as seen in this article), and the Lumberjack Factory becoming filled with trees to the side. Perhaps the biggest difference of all is that the Japanese version shows Pig Island to the left of the map. In the localized versions, the island has been completely removed. There are multiple pieces of evidence to suggest that Tomba would visit Pig Island.
The icon for Tomba was also redrawn. He's somewhat slimmer in the international releases.
Japan
International
Game Over
Japan
International
The Game Over Screen is much more appealing in the international version.
Ending
Japan
USA
Europe
Like the intro, the ending also displays differently depending on what version you play.
The Japanese version has "Que Serã Serã" by Fumitaka Fuchigami. The US version uses the instrumental track, with additional sound effects to match the ending. The European release also features the instrumental version of Que Serã Serã, but lacks the sound effects.
End Stats Screen
Japan
International
The final score screen displays differently in the localized release.
General Gameplay
Shading is lighter in the localized versions. Some paths have also been made more obvious.
When Tomba leaps on a Koma Pig, they fart in the Japanese version. Other versions have them make a grunting sound.
Tomba doesn't nod in response to other characters talking in the Japanese game.
Tomba laughs. A lot. More. In the Japanese version. In fact, he laughs every other step taken, making it almost crucial that you jump around while under this condition. In localized versions, his laughter is randomized and not as frequent. He also cries a lot more frequently, but at least he's still moving.
Tomba has no idle sprite in the Japanese game.
When the AP quest is completed, the text waits to clear before opening it in the localized release, whereas in the Japanese version it doesn't, which can result in two event texts on the screen.
Vocals are lower in pitch in the international versions.
Support for analog control and vibration were added in the international versions.
The talk box has a different color.
Japan
International
Tomba Sprites
Many of Tomba's sprites were given a bit of polish for the international releases.
Japan
International
Evil Pigs
Tomba isn't shocked when he finds an Evil Pig.
The Evil Pigs have more effect sprites in the international release.
The Green Evil Pig has a couple of sprites that include a little more touch ups than just shading.
Japan
International
The Green Evil Pig's fight has a strange looking gap in the Japanese version. It was patched up in the localized edition.
When Tomba defeats the Green Evil Pig, he appears standing on the podium in the international release, but just beneath it in the Japanese release.
Along with the usual touch ups, the Pink Evil Pig moves his eyes between versions.
Japan
International
The Green Evil Pig's arena has a chunk taken out of it on the side of the Japanese version, but since you can't move across it, localized versions fill it in.
Japan
International
When capturing an Evil Pig, the bag has no light effect in the Japanese game.
A couple of the Blue Evil Pig's sprites have been touched up more than the others.
Japan
International
There are additional background items in the international versions.
Japan
International
Several of the Navy Pig's sprites were touched up.
Japan
International
The Navy Pig's arena had a background fix.
Japan
International
Like his allies, several of the Yellow Pig's sprites were fixed.
Japan
International
The Yellow Pig's arena has a few changes. Aside from the usual touch ups, the whirlwind is much bigger and water can be seen lapping up against the background objects.
Japan
International
Like his underlings, the Real Evil Pig also has a few sprites that were changed in more ways than just shading differences.
Japan
International
His battle arena has a couple of differences. The sun is brighter and there are more clouds in the international version.
Japan
International
Village of All Beginnings
Tomba doesn't look around or show his surprised face when he meets the man at the beginning of the game in the Japanese version. He also fails to show them when he meets up with the man a little later.
The mailbox lacks the tornado around it in the Japanese version.
Charles is already in the tree in the Japanese version. In the localized versions, he leaps into the tree as Tomba approaches.
Part of the red house is pink instead of red in the Japanese versions.
There are sound effects in the tornado cutscene in the localized versions. They are completely absent in the Japanese version.
Forest of All Beginnings
There's a pig plant on the front path after the fog area. It renders properly while Tomba is on the back path in the Japanese version but the International version doesn't draw it properly.
Japan
International
There's a Koma Pig on one of the rock platforms near the end of the area in the Japanese version. The Pig is absent in localized versions.
There are subtitles for the 100 Year Old Man's story in the Japanese version, but none for the localized versions.
In the international games, Tomba can accidentally grow bored after the cutscene has played. This doesn't happen in the Japanese edition.
The Old Pond
The fisherman has a different colored fish net in the international versions. Considering the colors are garbled and the red/blue palette also exists just above this one in the Japanese version, it's likely an error that just got fixed.
Japan
International
The turtle has a noticeable change to the eye.
Japan
International
Underwater, the sides of the pond have a large gap. This was filled in with the international versions.
Dwarf Forest
The Dwarf language uses symbols in the Japanese version, whereas the localized versions use nonsensical text.
Japan
International
The fencing leading to the Watch Tower is different between versions.
Japan
International
Dwarves are counted in the Japanese version, but the international games tell you how many more dwarves you need to find.
Tomba doesn't get set on fire when he touches the bonfire.
When entering (and becoming blocked in) Dwarf village, Tomba faces towards the dwarves and not ahead.
When in the prison, Tomba doesn't glance around when the lights dim.
Wobbly Wharf
The spiky barrel lacks one texture in the Japanese version. Localized versions fixed this.
Japan
International
The spores hide the door to Charity Square in the Japanese version.
Japan
International
A glitch can occur with the Japanese treasure chest. Once it disappears into the water, it can reappear with a well timed jump. Despite it appearing as already open, Tomba can re-open it again. You can repeat this as long as the jump is right.
When Tomba falls into the water, he doesn't shake himself dry in the Japanese version.
Watch Tower
The rock in the Watch Tower area has a different texture applied.
Japan
International
Charity Square
The Broken Fountain quest activates a little earlier in international releases.
After defeating the Fire Pig, Tomba is placed next to the save point in the Japanese game, but on a random platform in the others.
The door to the Leaf Slider has different flower patterns.
Japan
International
Once saved, the statues move in the Japanese version. This was changed in the international versions, presumably to make it less obvious as to what they were doing.
Japan
International
Phoenix Mountain
When the plant gobbles up Tomba in the upper area of part 2, it sends you back to the lower area into a second plant. In the Japanese version, Tomba gets spat out at the beginning of the level. In the international release, the game appears to be glitched, going straight through the plant it's supposed to and into the next one. Which annoyingly drags you all the way back to the beginning first area of the level.
When activating "A Large Keyhole!" the Japanese version unlocks Tomba's movement, whereas the localized version locks him for a while so that he doesn't get blown away with the text still obscuring the screen.
The guard at the end of the level has had a bit of a sprite change. Most of it involves better and darker shading, but a correction was made to his bandana and his eyes now focus forward in his leaping sprite rather than into the air.
Japan
International
When the blue trumpet blasts Tomba into the sky (specifically, the one next to the Funga guy), it throws Tomba so far up that he goes through the platform above. This was fixed in the localized versions, so Tomba's head hits the top.
At the Phoenix's Nest, there's a rather noticeable lack of background in the Japanese version.
Japan
International
The Haunted Mansion
There's a small graphical error in the Japanese version that can be seen after entering, where part of the wood appears to be floating. It was fixed in other versions.
One of the Kokka eggs (the one furthest left at the beginning) can regenerate when Tomba moves around, but only in the Japanese release.
The camera is placed a little further back in certain parts of the Haunted Mansion in the localized release.
A Small Keyhole will clear even as Tomba enters. In the localized versions, Tomba remains outside until the text clears.
Like with most doors, Tomba waits until he's finished laughing/crying and the text has cleared before moving in.
The trees behind The Haunted Mansion were given some changes to the leaves.
Japan
International
The fountain room is missing the floor texture in the Japanese version.
Japan
International
The room containing two cheeses has a longer entrance in the localized versions, probably to hide the bottom of the area model which reveals itself when Tomba leaps down in the Japanese game. This also stands for the room containing the Evil Pig door.
Japan
International
The Japanese version of the purified Mansion is bare. VERY bare.
Japan
International
The Mermaid has a couple of sprites that were modified beyond shading. The first involves shortening her arm.
Japan
International
The second sprite modifies her speech animation so that she smiles when talking.
Japan
International
Lava Caves
The sound effects on the Fire Caves' restoration cutscene are a little different.
The gold coin next to the ladder is placed in the ground in the Japanese version. This was fixed in other releases.
There's a small graphical glitch at the top of that ladder where the background doesn't fully extend. This was also fixed in the international releases.
After defeating the Pink Evil Pig, Tomba arrives back at the beginning of the Lava caves in the Japanese version, but on the same platform in the international release.
Two of the sprites for the Flying Koma Pigs have been changed.
Japan
International
Masakari Jungle
Torches are different.
Japan
International
In the Japanese version, the tribe member near the banana platform disappears once you've reached the top of the platform. International versions made sure to keep him in. He'll reappear and disappear randomly.
The platform near the entrance to The Y-Crossing has no top in the Japanese game.
Japan
International
After defeating the Orange Evil Pig, you're thrown back to the very beginning of the Masakari Jungle in the Japanese version, whereas you're placed just below (on the platform as shown above) in the international releases.
When Tomba gets the bomb, he falls in the Japanese release, but remains on the tree in international releases.
The stream flowing upwards at the very back has no animation in the Japanese game.
A waterfall sound effect was added to the international games, replacing the gentle splash sounds.
Some of the background trees are more 'hairy' in the international versions, to give them a more realistic appearance.
When purified, the international versions added a few more flowers.
Japan
International
The Y-Crossing
A background was added to the international versions.
Japan
International
The feet of the citizens are placed too low in the Japanese game. This was fixed in later editions.
Japan
International
Lumberjack Factory
The guy who gives Tomba the Monster Hunt event has a few touch ups in his sprite. He also moves in the localized versions, whereas for some reason only his first sprite shows in the Japanese game.
Japan
International
Both of the characters here remain idle when being spoken to, even though they have sprites for speaking. This was fixed in the international version.
The worker's coat was fixed up in the localizations.
Japan
International
Iron Castle
In the Tower, Tomba walks in automatically in the Japanese version. For some reason, in the international versions, he stops and allows the player to move left and right (without moving anywhere).
The coin is placed a little further down in the Japanese game.
Japan
International
When Tomba hears the bomb in the international release, he uses his shocked motion and re-enters. In the Japanese version, he nonchalantly continues to leave the entire area as the bomb detonates. He then appears back outside and the player has to go back into the area, instead of the event auto-completing after.
There's no cutscene to show Tomba putting the machinery on. He doesn't even do anything. It's just. Already on when Tomba enters.
The two enginemen have a fair amount of touch ups. Shine was added to their uniforms and, most importantly, they were given a mouth in more of their sprites, all in the localized editions.
Japan
International
Trick Village
A load of shrubbery was added to the international version, making it look much less bare.
Japan
International
The 10,000 Year Old Man's crystal ball was recolored entirely. One frame of his staff was also partially redrawn.
Japan
International
There's more fish in the localized releases.
The 10th Math Bead and a treasure chest were moved around.
Japan
International
Underground
Tomba still lacks an idle sprite.
There are strange tree stumps present in the floor of the Japanese game. They have all been removed in the localized editions.
Japan
International
A glitch was fixed in later releases. Tomba can walk over the Blue Fortune Teller.
Japan
International
For whatever reason, the stray leaves were altered.
Japan
International
There's no dividing wall at the top, and Tomba just stops suddenly in the Japanese version. International releases fixed this, so players could see what was blocking them.
Japan
International
Million Year Old Man
One of the staff sprites for the Million Year Old man were changed. Interestingly, the change makes it stand out more, because none of the other sprites match it.
Japan
International
The Strange Small Room
After capturing the 7 Evil Pigs, the door opens with a swirl of stars, but only in the international release.
