Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 English Fan Patch Now Available: A Milestone for PS2 Localization Fans

The cult-favorite PlayStation 2 title, Boku no Natsuyasumi 2, has finally become accessible to a wider audience with the highly anticipated release of its English fan patch.

Developed by Millenium Kitchen and originally launched in Japan in 2002, Boku no Natsuyasumi 2—known to English fans as "My Summer Vacation 2"—has built decades of international interest due to its evocative storytelling and nostalgic gameplay.

However, official English-language releases for the series have been elusive, prompting dedicated fans and translation teams to bring this beloved title to the global gaming community.

Hilltop Works, the well-regarded hacker and translator, announced the completion and release of the English fan patch for Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 after nearly a year of intensive work.

According to Hilltop Works, the project was led by a diverse team: Hilltop (localization lead, hacking, programming), Cargodin (localization assistance), OldGameBox (graphic and video editing), blamerobots (graphic editing), with additional audio transcription by SnowyAria, and thorough playtesting by Oculin and gwendolyn.

The patch is now available for download via Hilltop's Patreon page and is compatible with both PlayStation 2 hardware and popular PS2 emulators.

Users are, however, advised of potential compatibility issues with early-model modded PlayStation 3 consoles. To celebrate this significant release, Hilltop Works published an official trailer on YouTube, showcasing snippets of the English translation and highlighting the team's impressive work in adapting both the visual and narrative elements of the game.

The trailer has already generated excitement among fans eager to experience Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 with full English localization. The Boku no Natsuyasumi series, first launched in 2000 on the PlayStation, is renowned for its slice-of-life gameplay set against the rural backdrop of 1970s Japan.

Players guide a young boy on his summer holiday, exploring nature, catching bugs, and interacting with local villagers, capturing the nostalgia of a Japanese countryside summer.

Despite the franchise's popularity in Japan and the existence of four mainline games, none have received an official North American or European release.

Western fans have only experienced similar themes through spin-offs like "Attack of the Friday Monsters" and "Shin-Chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation." This lack of localization has spurred passionate fan-driven efforts to translate the games for English-speaking audiences. Expressing his enthusiasm for the project, Hilltop Works stated on Patreon that working on Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 has been both an honor and a technical challenge, noting the charm and emotional depth of the franchise.

“A great deal of work has gone into making this game accessible,” Hilltop wrote, emphasizing the team's commitment to quality and authenticity in the translation process.

The success of this fan translation project reflects a determined grassroots movement within the gaming community to preserve and share Japanese game history.

The initiative follows in the footsteps of other ongoing efforts, such as the English translation of the PSP remake of the original Boku no Natsuyasumi, as announced by superfan @obskyr in 2021.

For PS2 enthusiasts, localization advocates, and fans of Japanese video game culture, Hilltop Works’ release marks a significant achievement.

The Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 English patch is now available for download, and further updates on related projects can be followed via Hilltop’s Twitter, Patreon, and Ko-Fi pages.

PlayStation Milestone PS2 PlayStation 2 English Hilltop Works Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 Millenium Kitchen Patreon YouTube Attack of the Friday Monsters Shin-Chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation @obskyr PSP Ko-Fi Twitter