Capcom's Dungeons & Dragons Collection Receives First English Translation on Sega Saturn

Capcom's Dungeons & Dragons Collection, an amalgamation of two classic arcade side-scrolling fighters—Tower of Doom (1994) and Shadow Over Mystara (1996)—stands as one of the last major titles released for the Sega Saturn in Japan.

Originally launching exclusively in Japanese in 1999, the collection became a highly sought-after rarity among collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts due to its limited availability and absence of an English-language release.

While both games originally captivated players worldwide via arcades and subsequent re-releases on platforms like Steam, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch eShop, the unique Saturn compilation remained firmly out of reach for Western audiences—until now. As reported by the reputable retro gaming resource Sega Saturn Shiro, a developer known as Lirinica has successfully translated Capcom’s Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom for the Sega Saturn into English for the very first time.

This translation draws from the English script used in the 1994 arcade original, offering players an authentic experience in line with Capcom’s initial release intentions.

Undertaking such a project presented significant technical hurdles; unlike many games that rely on a consolidated font or text file, the Saturn version required Lirinica to insert text into individual files for each screen.

This complexity extended the development process, with work beginning in 2023 and culminating in the comprehensive fan translation now available to the community.

Lirinica stated through community channels that the nature of Capcom's original Japanese build meant individually addressing text placement for each scene and menu, rather than implementing a universal solution.

This meticulous approach ensures that the English version retains high fidelity to the look and feel of the Japanese release while enabling accessibility for English-speaking retro gamers.

The Dungeons & Dragons Collection for Sega Saturn holds a revered status due to Capcom’s ground-breaking arcade adaptations of the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop universe.

Both Tower of Doom and Shadow Over Mystara are recognized for their cooperative gameplay, RPG elements, and authentic D&D flavor, distinguishing them from typical beat-’em-ups of their era.

With this milestone, Western Sega Saturn fans can now experience Tower of Doom in English without resorting to imported scripts or unofficial guides.

As development attention turns toward Shadow Over Mystara—the critically acclaimed, feature-rich sequel—players are hopeful for a similar English language update in the near future, cementing Capcom’s Dungeons & Dragons Collection as a celebrated addition to every Saturn enthusiast's library.

For retro gaming communities, this development signifies both preservation and expanded accessibility for a defining era of arcade and console gaming.

The efforts by Lirinica and collaborators ensure Capcom’s ambitious adaptations continue to be enjoyed by new audiences across the globe.

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