Index ⇒ General Topics ⇒ Resident evil 3 / Biohazard 3 decensoring project

[myloch]

I already talked about this with some forumers.
This will be the dedicated thread for all my ramblings

As you may already know, Resident evil 3 passed a weird path of censoring, there are a lot of versions/ports out there, every one with slight differences in censorship. AFAIK today there is only ONE version fully uncensored, and that's the gamecube usa release: the objective of the project is to fully understand how game engine works and what files trigger censorship, and decensor usa/european versions for good!

I got resident evil 3 pc of various regions and I'm trying to locate where censorship lies.

Point 1: You kick the zombie's head.
Point 2: Hunter cutting off zombie's head in the Hospital.
Point 3: Finisher: MA-121 Hunter Beta cutting off Carlos' head.

• PC:
- Japan: Point 1 = uncensored; Point 2 = uncensored; Point 3 = censored
- USA: Point 1 = censored; Point 2 = uncensored; Point 3 = uncensored
- EU: Point 1 = censored; Point 2 = censored; Point 3 = uncensored

Some discoveries:
• 3 files are different between europe and usa release (rofs13.dat/rofs2.dat/rofs4.dat)
• 4 files are different between japanese and usa release (rofs13.dat/rofs2.dat/rofs4.dat/rofs8.dat)
• you cannot use bu00.sav of a specific region on another one unless you hexedit a string in the savegame, game uses regional codes from psx version!
• you cannot use an exe of another region because the game will crash on startup, unless you unpack dat files, edit bio3.ini and rename some specific files
• you cannot simply switch rofs files between regions (the game will crash or it will show bugs)

I guess it won't be easy to remove censorship from the game. A.k.a. pain in the ass.

<update #1>
For simplicity, I'm ignoring european version(s) for now.

I managed to unpack dat files using a specific Re3 modding tool (RE3ROFSBE)

It resulted that crc difference between .dat containers is mostly due to different names for some packed files between regions but the majority of them have same crc (example. Randomfilename01j for japanese becomes Randomfilename01u for usa, but they got same crc).

Very few unique files: some only found in usa release, some only in japanese one. And some files with different crcs.

I tried to get files from japanese, rename files to Usa and overwrite Usa ones, started Usa game with new files and nothing changes in censorship.

Beginning to think solution lies in the executables...

<update #2>
I found what triggers hunter's zombie decapitation scene: it's one/some .rdt file(s) from Rofs13.dat (data_U(J)/RDT/r4xx.rdt).
If you use proper rdt, hunter decapitates zombie no matter what executable you use!

I keep trying to switch files between versions but I found nothing changes player's decapitation or zombie soccer ball head.
Again, it smells of something in the exe.

I think I'm stalled. I'll return on this in the future soon or later.

Different files between usa and jap builds: https://www.4shared.com/archive/CbqeL34 ... oject.html

[hfric]

But then again the gamecube version was a port of PS1 !

[annoyment]

This is gonna be a long one, but I've analyzed all the ROFS archives (EU version used, but most certainly applies to others) and made notes about its contents and their manipulation, thought that might help someone. Due to difficulties posting the entire list in CODE I'm putting a pastebin link here, if it reports a 404 notify me
EDIT: Paste replaced with newer findings (and to the worse unfortunately)...
Windows is shutting down

[RhymeKidder]

RE3 engine is set up that I was able to find head kick much easier than T2T. Exe controls timing of each frame of animation for zombie - I paused each frame until the moment. At exactly 28 frames during kick sequence, shoe connects with head. Exe calls a function to check what animation this is and turns on/off. If censor is on, it keeps zombie in "comatose" state - body stays intact. If censor is off, it treats zombie as "dead" - goodbye head.

EU is semi-patched out. Going to compare with US and JPN to see how they did it first.


edit:
Oh yes. If someone has a Carlos hospital savepoint, that'd help speed things along for that decap check. Had to restart because of save corruption.

[myloch]

I'll share the save tomorrow. I'm not at my house now

[RhymeKidder]

I get how it works now. Exe has an identifier of (j)apan, (u)sa, (e)urope, (g)ermany.

01. Kick head = 'j' only. There appear to be 2 locations for this. And there are 2 more animation slots for 'j' - Carlos??
02. 'g' flag = tons of spots
03. Lots of 'j' spots = difficulty rating (most enemies + 100HP, +10 small ones) + extra 10/5 damage
04. A special spot for 'j' + 'u' only - hospital??
05. Some misc spots that may be for data files
06. Probably 1 for memory card loading - region detection

I think there's juegia - 6+ builds of this game? Don't want to dll proxy right now. So I'm thinking of making a small tool that will patch out all exes together.

[myloch]

I get how it works now. Exe has an identifier of (j)apan, (u)sa, (e)urope, (g)ermany.

01. Kick head = 'j' only. There appear to be 2 locations for this. And there are 2 more animation slots for 'j' - Carlos??
02. 'g' flag = tons of spots
03. Lots of 'j' spots = difficulty rating (most enemies + 100HP, +10 small ones) + extra 10/5 damage
04. A special spot for 'j' + 'u' only - hospital??
05. Some misc spots that may be for data files
06. Probably 1 for memory card loading - region detection

Some considerations:
- Male characters carlos and other mercenaries have knee head crush animation, maybe this?
- German version is really much more censored and different, green blood and so on, not surprised having tons of spots.
So crappy and censored I even never considered the idea of decensoring it.
- memory card region detection makes sense: you need to hexedit save file to adapt it to another region

I think there are various eu versions: uk, sp, fr, it, ge + usa + jap + thai + chinese + god only knows what else!
note: I don't own german,french,spanish versions.

*edit*
here: https://www.sendspace.com/file/tebj35

[RhymeKidder]

Thanks - this will help.

You're right - other 2 J flags are for mercs (head crush)! All head deaths are covered now.

J or U special flag is not triggered yet. Going to look for memory card region also.

Added tool option to use Japan difficulty (easier).

Turning off G flag does not change blood color or other things (tested on E build). Does affect bodies disappearing, head shots and some other deaths. May not be 100% uncensor - that's their job if they want more.

[myloch]

I think there's another exe flag controlling hunter decapitating player. Eu and US versions being already uncensored.

About G flag not changing blood color (some forums say blood in german version being grey), it's probably imho just a different texture file or similar.
As I said, I don't own german game, so I cannot check files

[RhymeKidder]

I think R402 is the hospital censor scene. When I extract all rofs files and load that way, E game crashes when Carlos leaves the Chapel. Using rofs files gets the game going.

Carlos decap should be in exe like you suspect but it's not findable so far.

[myloch]

I think R402 is the hospital censor scene.

You think right. (tested) I wonder if there's a way to patch rofs13.dat file without having to unpack all and edit bio3.ini

[annoyment]

Possible via hex, but only if the censor value is XOR'd (or reverse XOR'd) then parsed, not as is me thinks...

[RhymeKidder]

R402 uncensored run 1 extra command (6 bytes) that sets up init flag. So I'm not sure if it's directly hackable or if I need to expand the rofs file and insert new file that way.


After some obscene amount of incorrect searching, studying and fiddling, found censor spot in Japan for Hunter. It's not a normal switch and has a big "code hole" where it should be. Kinda appears like 1st edition Japan didn't have this "feature" and so it's not in original code - US coders added it in and EU (Eidos) ported as-is?? PSN Bio3 has both hospital + hunter censored.

Looks like simple memory patch will work, despite not inserting rest of "missing" code. This requires injecting small bits of code into exe, requiring finding room and make it compatible with other Japan-based exes (relocatable addresses).

Muisa that was really hard thing to find. Does not make sense to me why it works but whatever.

Have to patch out memory card region check too.

But! Decensor luck is holding at 2/2. Decade's long enough. Eugh.

[RhymeKidder]

uncensor tool:
https://www.4sh=ared.com/archive/5XA6hVSvce/re3un.html
LegendsWorld


Removes exe censorship - german, zombie head deaths, hospital death. Removes memcard region checking. Optional Japan difficulty mode.
00. Backup game exes
01. Run tool in exe directory
02. Select option
03. Play

This does not uncensor hospital cutscene (R402.RDT) - EU Eidos version. You will need to get a rofs extractor and replace it with a US/JP file.


tool src:
http://s000.tin=yupload.com/index.php?f ... 7393644473
LegendsWorld

[myloch]

I'll look for a way to patch rofs file, maybe delta patch or something like that.

I've found some interesting infos here, I wonder if bio3 rofs work the same way.