Nintendo's Controversial Famicom Disk System Adventure Time Twist Receives Complete Human-Made English Translation

Translators FCC, Sudgy and Her-Saki release a complete human-made English translation patch for Nintendo's controversial 1991 FDS game Time Twist.

One of Nintendo's most unusual and historically controversial games has become substantially more accessible thanks to a newly released English fan translation. Time Twist: Rekishi no Katasumi de..., originally published for the Famicom Disk System in 1991, has received a complete translation created by FCC, Sudgy and Her-Saki. The project was highlighted on October 28 and is notable for being produced without machine-generated translation. Time Twist was developed through a collaboration between Nintendo and Pax Softnica, with Keiji Terui responsible for writing and directing. Composer Hajime Hirasawa, later associated with Star Fox, contributed the music, while Shigeru Miyamoto reportedly provided occasional creative input. Unlike Nintendo's more familiar family-oriented adventures, Time Twist explores controversial historical subjects. Players follow a boy whose encounter with the devil separates his body and soul, forcing him to travel through different historical periods. The story addresses subjects including religious persecution, slavery, the American Civil War, Nazi Germany and nuclear warfare. Its unusual subject matter contributed to the game's reputation as one of Nintendo's strangest releases. The new translation required considerable technical work because the original software stores dialogue using compressed text and complicated pointer structures. FCC began investigating the game in 2024 but encountered substantial difficulties before eventually completing the project. Earlier translation attempts used scripting techniques or artificial intelligence, while this release relies on manually translated dialogue. Players must provide compatible game images and follow the included instructions to combine the original Famicom Disk System data before applying the patch. The developers report successful testing on original hardware. This is an unofficial preservation project rather than a Nintendo-endorsed rerelease. Its significance extends beyond making another Japanese game understandable. It provides English-speaking players with access to an unusual chapter of Nintendo history that the company has rarely revisited. Mario may be Nintendo's most famous traveller, but Time Twist's protagonist apparently preferred visiting the more uncomfortable corners of world history.