Romhacking

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

Status: near v1.0 release.

Project Scope (high to low priority; includes heavy game spoilers). Click to reveal.

Replace Sissel's talk sprites with the cat's - without changing Yomiel. Currently implemented in all scenes except for the "rewind time" scene. Full implementation is minimum requirement for v1.0 release.
Replace other UI elements. Elements referring to Sissel, such as the small icon to switch when controlling Missile, should be replaced with icons of a cat. Not a priority for v1.0 release.
Implement a switch to voluntarily toggle "cat vision" on/off. This may improve narrative cohesion in certain scenes. Not a priority for v1.0 release.
Create/insert custom talk sprites for the full range of emotions for the cat. Not a priority for v1.0 release.

Document: Overview of Visual Data in ROM

Document: Directory of Hex Code Master Pointers for Sprites

Document: Instructions to Modify or Replace Animations

Additional documentation coming soon.

Status: in research phase.

Project Scope (high to low priority). Click to reveal.

Separate Costumes and Titles. Enable player to select custom costumes for characters without compromising stat boosts from good titles.
Additional Costume Options. Some models exist in the ROM code but are not playable (e.g. Rutee model, Kratos prototype model). An option for characters other than Colette to have wings in battle may also be considered.
Implement JP-Exclusive Functionality. The "Sound Test" menu and the Rename Gem item have both been partially but not completely removed from the localization game code. Project aims to reinstate both.
Kratos Route Heimdall Scene. Insert a scene the night before the Kratos fight in Heimdall if the player does Kratos's route. Once the code is functional, writing would be outsourced and credited appropriately.
Affection Tracker. Implement a mechanism to easily track the affection of party members.

Documentation coming soon.

Status: in research phase.

Project Scope (high to low priority). Click to reveal.

Understand game code. Make ROM map and/or documentation outlining game contents and how it works.
Learn AI behavior. Once this has been determined, may possibly use it to look at later games in the series (eg. Pokemon Puzzle League) that have added to the AI behavior.
Other items TBD.

Documentation coming soon.

Status: complete.

Project Scope. Click to reveal.

Understand background music audio data. Categorize and document all BGM in TO7BGM.CVM container.
Export and publish unused audio assets.
Export and publish soundfonts used in overworld BGM. Rebuild .PSF2 files and export .sf2 soundfonts from the data.

Document: Comprehensive list of All BGM Data in Tales of the Abyss PS2 ROM.

Exported Files: Unknown and/or unused BGM in Tales of the Abyss PS2 ROM.

Exported Files: SF2 soundfonts reconstructed from PSF2 files in Tales of the Abyss PS2 ROM.

Status: feature-complete demo released, Episode 1 coming 2025.

Game features. Click to reveal.

Music Preview: select tracks of my music for the game.

Steam: Wishlist for full release and/or play the free demo.

Itch.io: Check back for full release and/or play the free demo.

Linktree: all game links available here.