Final Fantasy VI Advance - SNES Sound Restoration

[Satoshi_Matrix]

It's a few weeks old news now, but a hacker by the name of Bregalad (who did the Final Fantasy V Advance sound restore) has once again corrected the audio errors of the GBA release of Final Fantasy VI. Now, you can play through the GBA game with its enhanced English script and bug corrections while still enjoying all the tracks from the SNES version - in SNES quality.

Even the opera has been wildly upgraded and now uses real singing! The Difference in audio quality is immediately noticeable when the game is patched - it literally doubles the filesize from 8 to 16 MB! All tracks sound better, annoying tinny instruments are gone, and everything you might know about the SNES version's legendary audio is present here. The only downside is that the audio is now mono, but without headphones that's what the GBA would output anyway.

Rest assured that the only thing this hack changes is the audio and it's better for it. There's no bugs at all. I'm at the world of ruin and loving it so far.

If you have a GBA flashcart and have been wanting to replay the excellent GBA release of the timeless classic, there's never been a better time than now. Make sure you patch a the European ROM and not the US one. The European version is identical to the US one, but offers the game to played in five languages instead of just one. Spread the love! One of the GBA's best games just got better.

http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/657/

[Purkeynator]

Very cool, thanks for the info!

[D.D.D.]

The only downside is that the audio is now mono...

Not trying to crap on your parade but, mono? Just seems like wasted effort.

[noiseredux]

wow that's awesome. Wish I had discovered this before you! (for the blog I mean)

[einzelherz]

The only downside is that the audio is now mono...

Not trying to crap on your parade but, mono? Just seems like wasted effort.

I agree. Especially since I'd be playing it on the DS

[noiseredux]

The only downside is that the audio is now mono...

Not trying to crap on your parade but, mono? Just seems like wasted effort.

I agree. Especially since I'd be playing it on the DS

I don't see either of you spending yr time and effort to restore it to stereo.

[Purkeynator]

I am totally stoked for this. I wanted to play through VI again but couldn't decide which version to beat. I have already played through the SNES version countless times and my Playstation version at least once. I wanted to check out the changes and new content in my GBA cart but was totally turned off by the music when I first booted it up a few years back. I doubt I will be able to tell the difference between the mono and stereo on my DS lite. I will probably snag the FFV music restoration patch too...

[Satoshi_Matrix]

I've completely played through Final Fantasy V Advance with the sound restoration and can assure you it's excellent. Final Fantasy VI even more so due to its even better soundtrack.

According to the author's readme, the switch to mono was a nessesary move when he changed the quality of the interments. It still isn't especially noticeable, even when playing on the DS or Gameboy Player, and even in mono both sound restore patches sound MUCH better than the sterio original GBA soundtracks. I highly recommend both patches.

By the way if anyone is interested in what "vocal version" of the opera is used, I forgot to mention it before, but it's the Japanese lyrical version from the PS1 release. I was really hoping it would the amazing English verson, but alas, it's not to be.

[D.D.D.]

I don't see either of you spending yr time and effort to restore it to stereo.

You are 100% right. At this point, I wouldn't even if I could, since there is a 3D remake coming out on the DS, which surely will be in stereo - possibly in surround/headphone mode.
Like I said, I wasn't trying to be a buzz killington but, it seems if one is going to make the effort with such a hack, at least do it right. Because I coulda sworn that the GBA is capable of stereo sound.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

whoa whoa whoa...source on that? Last I head, Square mentioned a 3DS remake as a "possibility", which doesn't really mean anything.