ROM Hack [WIP] Shin Megami Tensei: Deep Strange Journey De-Moéfication Mod

[AlternativeZero]

v0.01 proof of concept released.

Atlus's remake of Shin Megami Tensei Strange Journey was a divisive one with the bulk of it's complaints about the replacement of Kaneko's original design with those made by Atlus Design Team™ which unfortunately had mixed results.

All of the new character portraits are sadly less detailed and more simplified compared to the original with the female characters looking moé which doesn't fit the serious theme of the game.

This mod aims to edit the current portraits to make them better resemble the redrawn but still Kaneko resembling characters.

Now why make the mod now instead of waiting for the English version to be released? That's because this mod isn't hard to make thanks to Kuriimu and would be a nice gift for dedicated fans so they don't need to wait several weeks to play it since the assets would be ready to be ported day one.

Spoiler: Screenshots

Working in-game through Luma


Deep vs Edited comparison

How to Patch:

Spoiler: Instructions

Method 1 - Luma CFW

• Enable luma game patching (Hold SELECT when booting up your 3DS and enable it if it wasn't already)
  
• Download the patch here
• Copy the "luma" folder to the root of your SD card, merge the contents
  
• Play DSJ as normal (It's in Japanese so good luck)

Method 2 - Pre-Patched CIA

• Use Asia81's 3DS hacking tool to extract cia
  
• Download the patch here
• Merge patch's romfs folder with the cia extracted romfs
• Repack cia with Asia81's 3DS hacking tool
  
• Install and play as normal (It's in Japanese so good luck)

Release Notes:

Spoiler: Notes

v0.01
Proof of concept with base portrait edited.

Currently looking for assistance for image editing.

 

[Subtle Demise]

But there are no differences in those images?

 

[AlternativeZero]

But there are no differences in those images?

There is, it's quite subtle.

If someone can assist then it would be possible to redraw some features such as eyes and lips but right now this is the result of my limitations.

 

[Orugamaster]

I agree i don't see any difference-

 

[WiiUBricker]

The differences are in their eyes.

 

[AlternativeZero]

I've been frustrated with the result so I want to know which looks better to everyone instead of thinking it over all on my own, so here is 2 edited versions A and B. Both have only had the eye edited with other things such as lips not added yet, please tell me which you think looks better and why, it would help speed up the process.

This will hopefully be done soon.

 

[Viorlu]

Still don’t see a differents

 

[AlternativeZero]

Still don’t see a differents

I really don't know what to say.

The eyes are edited with the indented goal of it being a subtle change not a drastic noticeable one.

 

[Arikaido]

Are you making alterations to the 3DS models or are you porting the DS models? Idek if that's possible, but I figured I'd ask.

Also, I see the difference. Just so you know someone out there does.

 

[sarkwalvein]

I've been frustrated with the result so I want to know which looks better to everyone instead of thinking it over all on my own, so here is 2 edited versions A and B. Both have only had the eye edited with other things such as lips not added yet, please tell me which you think looks better and why, it would help speed up the process.

View attachment 107080

This will hopefully be done soon.

Check your own post, you have pasted the same picture twice with "Version A", and "Version B" sticked above them.
Regarding the OP, where different pictures are actually posted, I must ask...
Which version is A, and which version is B?
I guess Version B is the one always to the right, if so, I prefer version B.
The eyes look somewhat smaller/more closed, looking a little less like a puppy.
Also the color of the lipstick color looks more mature.
I think it goes in a better direction, but it still needs a lot of work.
Good luck with this effort.

 

[AlternativeZero]

Are you making alterations to the 3DS models or are you porting the DS models? Idek if that's possible, but I figured I'd ask.

Also, I see the difference. Just so you know someone out there does.

Unfortunately the original DS game didn't have character portraits for the NPCs, it was a new addition in DSJ.

Unless an actual artist can give some assistance, I'm going to be editing the 3DS portraits.

Check your own post, you have pasted the same picture twice with "Version A", and "Version B" sticked above them.
Regarding the OP, where different pictures are actually posted, I must ask...
Which version is A, and which version is B?
I guess Version B is the one always to the right, if so, I prefer version B.
The eyes look somewhat smaller/more closed, looking a little less like a puppy.
Also the color of the lipstick color looks more mature.
I think it goes in a better direction, but it still needs a lot of work.
Good luck with this effort.

Regarding my recent post then no, A and B are different. I had it opened in Photoshop and while I personally know the difference I want to see which one clicks with others to simplify the editing process so I don't have to make 2 or 3 sets each time, again I said to look at the eyes.

As for the OP, those are old edits.
They will be updated soon with some newer ones with more characters as well.

I'm hoping an artist can provide some assistance since while I'm decent at these small edits, I'm horrendous when it comes to pixel and low res art.

 

[sarkwalvein]

Regarding my recent post then no, A and B are different. I had it opened in Photoshop and while I personally know the difference I want to see which one clicks with others to simplify the editing process so I don't have to make 2 or 3 sets each time, again I said to look at the eyes.

Oh, then unfortunately I have no big preference for either of those. Both seem too much like puppy eyes to me, different puppies perhaps but quite moe still. That said perhaps smaller irises like in Version A are little less moe, but not much of a difference.

 

[AlternativeZero]

Oh, then unfortunately I have no big preference for either of those. Both seem too much like puppy eyes to me, different puppies perhaps but quite moe still. That said perhaps smaller irises like in Version A are little less moe, but not much of a difference.

I tried redrawing it but the result was about the same, there isn't much you can do with this design outside of starting again from scratch and unless I look at commissioning someone to do it which is quite costly this is the best it can be.

I'm open to suggestions on what I could change as long as they are reasonably minor, again I'm not great with low res images, it's hard to work with.

 

[Deleted User]

is there a difference in the ds and 3ds versions or is it just a remaster?

 

[sarkwalvein]

I tried redrawing it but the result was about the same, there isn't much you can do with this design outside of starting again from scratch and unless I look at commissioning someone to do it which is quite costly this is the best it can be.

I'm open to suggestions on what I could change as long as they are reasonably minor, again I'm not great with low res images, it's hard to work with.

I would say try to make the eyes smaller (more closed/almond shaped), try to modify the the faces to make them a little thinner, less round-shaped, and with some stronger features, e.g. chin, whatever. Also try to modify some colors a little to make them more contrasting, I think the strong red in the lips from the OP, as well as darker lines around the eyes work good.
That said, I have no idea about art.

 

[AlternativeZero]

is there a difference in the ds and 3ds versions or is it just a remaster?

There is 3 additional endings in DSJ and a new optional dungeon with more demons, otherwise it's the same as the DS version.

I would say try to make the eyes smaller (more closed/almond shaped), try to modify the the faces to make them a little thinner, less round-shaped, and with some stronger features, e.g. chin, whatever. Also try to modify some colors a little to make them more contrasting, I think the strong red in the lips from the OP, as well as darker lines around the eyes work good.
That said, I have no idea about art.

These sound great if I had someone help redraw them....

Sorry but this game is quite niche so it's doubtful that anyone is wiling to help out with it, I asked around before making the thread and most were happy with the idea but no one with the necessary skills volunteered to help out.

 

[Viorlu]

I really don't know what to say.

The eyes are edited with the indented goal of it being a subtle change not a drastic noticeable one.

Hmm, need to recheck it on my laptop, on phone you almost cannot see the difference

 

[dimmidice]

I've been going back and forth between A and B and i just cannot see any difference at all. In fact i had to overlay them in photoshop and play with the opacity before i could even see what changed. It's just the eye color being like 4 pixels bigger. Sorry but that seems like an extreme case of nitpicking.

Here's a gif of it if anyone's curious. https://i.imgur.com/dc6rWWs.gif

 

[AlternativeZero]

I've been going back and forth between A and B and i just cannot see any difference at all. In fact i had to overlay them in photoshop and play with the opacity before i could even see what changed. It's just the eye color being like 4 pixels bigger. Sorry but that seems like an extreme case of nitpicking.

Here's a gif of it if anyone's curious.

If you compare it to the original then it does look quite different, I want to know which looks more aesthetically pleasing since redrawing all of them is impossible without paying and the price for that isn't ideal.

 

[dimmidice]

If you compare it to the original then it does look quite different, I want to know which looks more aesthetically pleasing since redrawing all of them is impossible without paying and the price for that isn't ideal.

So both A and B are edited? Could we have a pic of the original art then? Cause that's kind of an important thing to compare against.