Regional Differences in Pokemon - Generation 3.
36Generation 1 - https://youtu.be/skn9sbdhaCo
Generation 2 - https://youtu.be/HV21NP358cc
In the past I have explored the differences between the Generation 1 and Generation 2 games main series Pokemon games. It's worth looking at them before reading this.
Lets begin with the start of the game, before you even tell the professor what your name is. Lets start with the title screen. In the English release of the game, it simply says 'Press Start' however in the Japanese release it says 'Press Start Button'. Why they removed the word 'button' from the release is unknown and certainly an odd choice. This is also the case with FireRed and Leaf Green
Now lets look at some gameplay changes. The first is a bug with the Acro Bike. In only the Japanese titles, using the Acro Bike and bunny hoping on the spot in some grass will cause the game to freeze. It's unknown why this is only an issue in the Japanese games, or why the number of bunny hopes changes each time. But it does exist. To add to this, if the glitch is done at the top of Mt Pyre, the clouds continue to move but the gameplay is locked.
Lets keep with the Acro Bike and look at another Japan only glitch. If you go to route 118, and hop near the water, and try to surf while in mid air, you can activate the surfing animation while on land. This doesn't let you go or do anything differently, but its fun to see.
Keeping with the Japan only theme, some trainer sprites were changed for the international releases:
Hex Maniacs have pupils added to their eyes. Japan World
The Female Psychics have had their arms stretched out. Japan World
The Male Cool Trainer has had a chnage of hairstyle. Japan World
The Sailor has had his pose changed in the international release as it was the 'Iberian Slap'. Which is a very strange choice as it's equivalent to a middle finger in other countries. Japan World
Now let's change over to the English version of the game. On routes 118, 121, and in the abandoned ship, there are trainers that can walk through walls if they spot the player. This only exists in the English version of the games, but it was fixed for Emerald.
One strange design change was in Victory Road. In the Japanese and English titles, floor B1 has a ledge blocks off access to a ladder. However in the Spanish, German, French, and Italian titles, there is a gap so you can walk around the ledge.
One small detail people wouldn't think about is the VU Meter in the Pokedex. This is used for the Pokemon Cries, it has been changed to match each region.
The final one for Ruby and Sapphire is on a screen most wont have seen is with the Battle-e Cards. Using the e-Reader+ to scan in an e-Card, you get taken to a scan screen. In the Japanese version, the top of this has circuitry. On the English version it says Battle Trainer.
Let's now focus on Fire Red and Leaf Green. In the Japanese version, you can have only 5 characters in your trainer name. This was upped to 7 for the international releases.
In the player's bedroom in the Japanese release the character has a Famicon, but in the international release its a NES.
Also in the house is the TV. In all languages but French, the movie on the TV is Stand By Me if you're a male, and it's The Wizard of Oz if it's a female. However in the French titles, if you're a male it's Taxi, and females are watching The Lord of the Rings.
The Symbols for the Poke Mart and Pokemon Centre is different in different regions. The Mart is called either Shop, or Mart. While the Pokemon Centre is called either P.C or Poke.
On Seven Island, there is a room blocked off by boxes in the international releases. In the Japanese version this room was accessed via a Mystery Gift that wasn't released internationally.
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