, you already know the drill. You watch the original series, you survive The End of Evangelion , you process the movies, and then you immediately start looking for more content. That search almost always leads down the rabbit hole of Japanese-exclusive video games. At the top of many fans' wishlists is Evangelion: Jo (ヱヴァンゲリヲン:序), released by Bandai Namco in 2009 for the PlayStation 2 and PSP. Evangelion: Jo Loosely translating to "Evangelion: Introduction," the game is heavily based on the first Rebuild of Evangelion movie ( 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone ). It is a fascinating hybrid of: 3D Mecha Action: Directing Eva Unit-01 in tactical, atmospheric brawls against brutal Angels. Daily Life Simulation: Walking around Tokyo-3, managing Shinji’s stress, and building relationships with characters like Rei and Misato through visual-novel-style dialogue trees. The Language Barrier & The Patch Status 💬 Because the game never received an official Western release, playing it without knowing Japanese is notoriously difficult. While action games are easy to brute-force, the heavy focus on dialogue and stat-building in Evangelion: Jo means you lose out on half the experience. So, is there a completed English patch? The Reality: As of now, there is no fully completed, public English translation patch for the PSP version of Evangelion: Jo The History: Over the years, several fan-translation teams have picked up the project, only to run into the game's notoriously difficult custom archive files (specifically the custom format holding the script) or lose steam due to the massive amount of text. Fragmented files, GitHub repositories, and menu-only partial translations pop up from time to time on forums like and various translation subreddits. What Can You Play Instead? 🎮 If you are itching for an English-patched Evangelion experience on your PSP or emulator, you aren't entirely out of luck! You can check out:
As of April 2026, there is no complete or official English patch for the PSP version of Evangelion: Jo . While the game remains a popular target for fan translation due to its unique blend of action and dialogue-heavy social segments, technical hurdles have historically stalled major projects. Current Translation Status Active Efforts : A recent fan project was reported as "work-in-progress" on the EvaGeeks Forum in April 2025. The developer noted significant obstacles with the game's custom .PKG archive format, which contains critical dialogue and script files. Historical Deadlocks : Previous attempts over the years have largely gone quiet, often due to the complexity of the game's proprietary file structure. Alternative Titles : While Evangelion: Jo lacks a patch, other games in the franchise have successful translations: Girlfriend of Steel 1 & 2 : Fully translated visual novels available on platforms like the Internet Archive . Typing Project E : A complete v2.0 patch was released for the Dreamcast version. Battle Orchestra Portable : A fan patch is currently in progress at Eight's Translation Projects . About Evangelion: Jo (PSP/PS2) Released in 2009, the game covers the events of the first Rebuild of Evangelion film while incorporating elements and characters (like Asuka) from the original series. Gameplay : Players engage in 3D battles against Angels and manage social interactions with other characters to unlock different endings. Accessibility : Without a patch, non-Japanese speakers often use translation tools like the Google Translate Lens mode to navigate menus and dialogue during play. Evangelion Jo QuickBMS Script - EvaGeeks.org Forum
Cracking the Case: The Story of the Evangelion Jo PSP English Patch For fans of the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise, the PlayStation Portable (PSP) era was a golden age of content that, unfortunately, rarely left Japan. Among the most sought-after titles is Evangelion Jo (Evangelion: The Jo), the first entry in the visually stunning Evangelion visual novel trilogy developed by Broccoli. For years, English-speaking fans have relied on text guides and guesswork to play this game. But in recent years, the fan translation community has made significant strides. Here is everything you need to know about the game, the translation scene, and the current state of the English patch. What is Evangelion Jo ? Released in 2007, Evangelion Jo is often described as a "sound novel" or adventure game. Unlike the Super Robot Wars games which focus on tactical combat, or the Girlfriend of Steel games which are side-stories, Jo aims to be the definitive interactive retelling of the original anime series. Key Features:
A Faithful Retelling: The game covers the early arc of the series, spanning from the arrival of the Third Angel (Sachiel) to the dramatic battle against the Sixth Angel (Ramiel) and the arrival of Asuka. 3D Battles: While largely a text-based game, it features fully rendered 3D battle sequences that were quite impressive for the PSP hardware. The "3D Cinematic" System: The game uses a unique engine to position character sprites and camera angles, giving the visual novel feel a cinematic, anime-accurate atmosphere. The Voice Cast: The game features the original Japanese voice cast (from the TV series and Rebuild movies), making it an immersive experience for purists. Evangelion Jo Psp English Patch
Why is a Patch So Important? For a visual novel, text is everything. Evangelion Jo is heavy on dialogue, internal monologues, and menu navigation. Without Japanese literacy, the game is a guessing game of selecting menu options and hoping to trigger the correct cutscene. The complexity of the game’s script made it a daunting task for fan translators. Unlike a standard RPG, the text files were deeply embedded in the game’s archives, requiring specific hacking tools to access and re-insert English text without breaking the code. The "Project: Jo" & The Translation Status For a long time, the English-speaking community sat in limbo. However, in the late 2010s and early 2020s, momentum picked up. The Hero: Oyee Translation The most prominent figure in this scene is a translator/hacker known as Oyee . They took on the monumental task of translating the massive script and hacking the game files. Unlike official localizations, this is a labor of love. The translator has released patches periodically, often fixing bugs and adding more translated content over time. Is it finished? As of the latest updates from the translation community:
Story Text: The main scenario is largely translated, allowing players to experience the narrative from Shinji’s perspective fully. Menus: System menus and battle interfaces have been translated. The Sequel Barrier: It is important to note that Evangelion Jo is only Part 1 of a trilogy ( Jo , Ha , and Q ). While the patch for Jo is playable, the patches for the sequels ( Ha and Q ) have seen slower progress or are in varying stages of beta testing depending on the source.
How to Apply the Patch Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only. Downloading ROMs of games you do not own may violate copyright laws in your region. If you own a legal copy of the game (ISO) and wish to apply the fan translation, the process generally follows these steps: , you already know the drill
Find the Patch: The translation patch is typically hosted on translation aggregate sites (like Romhacking.net) or dedicated Evangelion fan forums. Look for the version by Oyee . Download the Tools: You will usually need a program called XDelta or a specific patching tool provided by the translator. The Process:
Open the patching software. Select the original Japanese ISO of Evangelion Jo . Select the translation patch file (.xdelta or .ppf). Select "Apply" to create a new, patched ISO file.
Play: Transfer the patched ISO to your PSP memory stick or load it onto your PC via a PSP emulator (such as PPSSPP). At the top of many fans' wishlists is
Is it Worth Playing in 2024? Absolutely. While modern fans might be used to the high-definition graphics of the Rebuild movies, Evangelion Jo offers a level of psychological depth that action games cannot replicate. Playing as Shinji Ikari, reading his internal struggles, and making choices that affect his synchronization rates offers a fresh perspective on a story many of us have memorized. Thanks to the hard work of the fan translation community, the "AT Field" of the language barrier has finally been penetrated.
Did you play the patched version? Let us know your thoughts on the translation quality in the comments below!