Wizardry: Knight of Diamonds (NES)

Wizardry: Knight of Diamonds
Also known as: Wizardry III: Diamond no Kishi (JP), Wizardry: Knight of Diamonds - The Second Scenario Developer: Game Studio Publisher: ASCII Platform: NES Released in JP: September 3, 1990 Released in US: April 1992 This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused text. This game has regional differences. This game has a Data Crystal page

Hidden Credit

The following string is present at 0x849B in the Japanese version and at 0x8458 in the US version and is used as a SRAM signature to test the save memory integrity.

Japan	US
By Kei Cross 06/10/89	By Kei Cross Feb., 8,1991

(Source: CaH4e3)

Unused Text

Several bits of "quest text" go unused. Given what they discuss, at least one looks like a better fit for the third game, Legacy of Llylgamyn. Indeed, very similar text is in the ROM for that game (As well as the Japanese version of this one), beginning at 0x2EC8.

ROM Address	Text
0x344C	"Neither Good nor Evil alone, the balance shall remain. Alone each one shall fail, to triumph, have the twain!"
0x34C5	"Powers there be that the wise may use. Fools who play with these powers shall perish in flame!"
0x3536	"Power springs from both extremes, and from extremes it must be employed!"

(Source: Emptyeye)

Regional Differences

Support for Turbo File Devices

The Japanese version of the game has support for ASCII Turbo File devices, which allows players to save their current game state and return to it later, much like savestates. This feature was removed in the US version, though the references to the TurboFile remain in the ROM.

Text Differences

The Japanese version has an option for English text. If this is selected, you'll see several bits of English text differ between it and the US version.

12 East, 2 North, 1 Down

In the PC version, this is a hint to use MALOR to reach the square with the Knight of Diamonds Armor--the original last two lines are "Lies four steps ahead/but three steps away". The Japanese version just does away with the riddle aspect altogether, while the U.S. version restores it, but switches the number of steps in the last two lines since you no longer need to teleport there:

Japan	US
"Are you ready? The armor you seek, lies over there."	"Are you ready? The armor you seek, to bring to the fray lies three steps ahead but four steps away"

10 East, 4 North, 5 Down

This is where you need to teleport past the square in the NES version, to get to the Knight of Diamonds Gauntlets. Funnily, the Japanese version does a better version of hinting at the solution despite being worse English.

Japan	US
You aren't allowed to step in. May jump!	You aren't allowed to step in. You jump!

1 East, 3 North, 6 Down

Try to get the Staff of Gnilda with a single character who doesn't have the Knight of Diamonds gear equipped and this is the fate that befalls you--it displays this text and then dumps your body back at the castle.

Japan	US
You find the room on fire. An apparition's voice echoes. "What a stupid man ! If you don't hear my order, get away."	You find the room on fire. An apparition's voice echoes. "What a foolish man ! If you don't hear my order, get away."

5 East, 14 North, 6 Down

You can acquire a Staff of Light here in the PC version. But in the NES version...

Japan	US
The most evil voice you've ever heard echos: "Where is the stuff now?"	The most evil voice you've ever heard echoes: "Where is the stuff now?"

13 East, 15 North, 6 Down

This is one of the hints to the final riddle in the PC version. Because the riddle was taken out of the NES version, the room description was also completely changed.

Japan	US
There is a tomb in the ruined room. The tombstone is broken off too badly that you cannot read anything but the epitaph. "WORTHLESS RESTS HEAR"	There is a tomb in the ruined room. The tombstone is broken so badly that you cannot read anything but the epitaph. "WORTHLESS RESTS HERE"

16 East, 13 North, 6 Down

Another PC version riddle hint that got changed. A few squares beyond this is a high-level encounter.

Japan	US
The room is filled with bloody smell. You notice some words on the lower part of the wall. They seemed to be written with blood. "I will leave it to the brave who brought back the stuff."	The room is filled with a foul smell. You notice some words on the lower part of the wall. They seem to be written in a red liquid. "I will leave it to the brave who brought back the stuff."

(Source: Emptyeye, via Hex Editor)