Recursive Import: Difference between revisions

Note that this is different from more standard imports in that it's the selling of an alternate-region version of a product that originated in the country of question. Also, selling a faithfully adapted alternate-language version does not really count -- although a Macekre-ified version might. This trope applies best when the product is radically changed and yet the source material is obviously traceable.

 

 

See also [[Recursive Adaptation]] and [[Remade for the Export]].

* ''Doki Doki Panic'' was revamped into ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'' for the USA audience -- then released in Japan as ''Super Mario USA''. The [[Video Game Remake|remake]] of the Japanese ''SMB2'' (essentially a [[Mission Pack Sequel]]) that was part of ''Super Mario All-Stars'' was eventually released in America as ''[[Super Mario Bros the Lost Levels|Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]'', though the original 8-bit version was eventually released on the Wii's Virtual Console outside of Japan (although the Virtual Console release is also referred to as ''The Lost Levels'' in the Wii's menus, the game itself was unchanged, so it still says ''[[Super Mario Bros. 2]]'').

** A more subtle ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' example came much later during ''[[Super Mario 64]]'''s localization, when Nintendo of America decided to add lots of new voice clips - for instance, Princess Peach reading her letter at the beginning of the game - and make other minor changes. When Japan got a re-release of ''Super Mario 64'' supporting the Rumble Pak, the American tweaks were finally carried over.

** Though EBA's improvements were carried over into Osu's sequel, and are unlockable in it.

* ''Life Force'', the American version of the ''[[Gradius]]'' spinoff ''Salamander'', changed the plot of the game by setting it inside a giant space creature that has been infected by a killer virus. Aside for a couple of background changes, the American ''Life Force'' was otherwise identical to ''Salamander'' (and the NES version of ''Life Force'' had only very subtle differences from the Famicom version of ''Salamander''). However, an [[Updated Rerelease]] of ''Salamander'' was released to Japanese arcades under the ''Life Force'' title, actually changing the graphics to give the stages and enemies an organic look, as well as changing the power-up system to the one used in the ''Gradius'' series. ''Salamander'' and this version of ''Life Force'' have turned up together on [[Compilation Rerelease|Compilation Rereleases]].

* The obscure [[Konami]] arcade game ''Mikie, High School Graffiti'' is actually the international version of ''Shin-nyuu Shain Tooru-kun'' ("Tooru the Freshman Employee"). Both, the ''Mikie'' and ''Tooru-kun'' versions, were released in Japan.

* The Taito NES game ''Power Blade'' is a heavily Americanized revamp of ''Power Blazer'', which was originally a rather blatant ''[[Mega Man (video game)|Mega Man]]'' ripoff. Apparently ''Power Blade'' proved to be a bit more successful than ''Power Blazer'', causing ''Power Blade 2'' to be released in Japan as ''Captain Saver''.

** On the other hand, in the Japanese version of ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater]]: Subsistence'', all of the extra content from the European version is included, but the voice acting is still in Japanese.

* In Japan, the ''[[Street Fighter Alpha]]'' series is known as ''[[Market-Based Title|Street Fighter Zero]]''. When Capcom released the second installment in America, naturally titled ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'', it added [[Super-Powered Evil Side|Evil Ryu]] to the character roster, as well as bonus versions of Zangief and Dhalsim based on their ''[[Street Fighter II|Champion Edition]]'' selves. Capcom then re-released the game to Japanese arcades under the title of ''Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha'', which featured all three extra characters from the American version (giving Evil Ryu his own ending), along with added ''Champion Edition'' versions of Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Sagat and M. Bison. This version was then ported to home consoles as ''Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold'', where Cammy was added to the roster.

* A truly bizarre example is the [[Takarazuka]] musical based on the ''Gyakuten Saiban'' series. Despite the musical being a case of [[No Export for You]] the musical used the names from the American version, ''[[Ace Attorney]]'', possibly to avoid Japanese copyright issues.

* ''[[Fist of the North Star]]: [[Dynasty Warriors|Ken's Rage]]'', the English version of ''Hokuto Musou'', was released in Japan as ''Hokuto Musou International''.