Unused shmup data

[esreveR]

I'm probably digging my other topic a grave by doing this, but I was wondering if anyone else gets interested in what doesn't make the final cut into some games. I've found a couple of things myself, and I'll post some of what I've found in my experiences.

1. R-Type would've had five power-ups to choose from. While screwing around with MAME cheat codes so that I could find out what other low-level weapons looked like, I came across the fact that when changing weapon address values, it skipped over two slots. Upon studying this more closely, I found that these slots were simply alternate versions of the blue and yellow weapons, but this is likely because they decided to remove whatever they were intending to put there before the final cut. In R-Type II, they finally appeared as Gray and Green, although later they decided to ditch it in favor of three powerups and three Force types to choose from. Very interesting.
2. Metal Slug X would've contained a Metal Slug 1 remix along with the Metal Slug 2 remix. A friend of mine has a site full of unused Metal Slug stuff, but I can't find it at the moment. The fact that all the original Metal Slug levels are in Metal Slug X is a clear sign that this wasn't to be just an MS2 remix. Although the levels are gutted out, some of the information is still intact, including all the sprite data. Chances are they decided to axe that part and put it somewhere else...like in the GBA, which was apparently canceled too.
3. Metal Slug 5...um...would have been totally different. Two bosses, a stone turtle thing and Sean Connery on a flying pillar, went completely unused, and a shitload of areas also didn't make it in. And there are countless unused sprites lying around in a sprite viewer of all things!
4. In Battle Garegga, the flying 'platforms' would actually have the aircraft take off and attack you themselves. They're much like pushing tiltrotor fighters. Also, a bomber much like an oversized P-38 appears in the sprite viewer, which I don't believe was used either.
5. In Battle Bakraid, the large 3-gun turret on that giant green airship would've just been two more of the small bubble turrets. Apparently Daneb decided they needed some extra firepower against you...
6. Metal Slug Advance would have had something like two extra missions. Again, my friend's site has all the info, but I can't get the URL right now.
7. Shock Troopers: Second Squad is missing two missions. Apparently there would have been two bonus stages as well, though I have no idea how any of that stuff would work. The big buff guy with chaingun tonfas and boomerangs and the ninjas and samurai point to something, though.
8. Dimahoo is actually missing a few things too, although I haven't checked it out thoroughly. From what I do know simply from ripping Cypider's sprites, though, I can tell that a lot of previously-encountered enemies in the level would've been stuck in the thing's webs, and there was some other kind of baby spider that spawned from it (Or perhaps handed it its rocket launchers and stuff).
9. Interestingly, Strikers 1945 II has animations of your bomber support planes being shot out of the sky, which is a change from the in-game animations of just smoking and leaving. Perhaps they didn't want any of your buddies to actually be harmed or something.
10. Fire Barrel seems to reek of unused information, but I can't confirm it. I did notice that the turrets the second part of the final boss had should've been able to turn around, though.

That's all I have found so far, though I'm likely to add more. I haven't checked out the tiles in at least half the games I have.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

That is fascinating info you've dug up, esreveR. It's also interesting to note that some BGM tunes, sound effects and/or voice-overs are present in some famous arcade shmup PCBs aren't used in-game but are there for completeness. Kinda makes you wonder why they weren't used in the first place. Would be interesting to ask the arcade devs why some things were cut out and other things added in at the last minute before making their intial debut at a loke site or a game center for the masses to try out.

As for Metal Slug 5, SNK/Playmore could have crafted a better game but released it as is. Perhaps, it would've turned out better if the unused sprites were put to good use. Oh well. Sometimes, you make decisions that can make or break a game, especially for a sequel worthy of the Metal Slug name. Suppose if Nazca was still around, how would Metal Slug 2 and other sequels have fared out compared to the original MVS release of Metal Slug? Would be safe to assume that they would be over the top in presentation and overall gameplay indeed. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[orange]

all data that has been dumped in relation to ketsui is unused

[Keade]

That cracked me up

This isn't much data, but if I remember well, Twinkle Star Sprites sound banks have sounds for rounds 5 and +, which are never used since by default, a player needs 2 victories to win (that is default. The maximal settingT is 3, and 2players*2rounds+1lastRound=5 rounds max).

[esreveR]

I just remembered, has anyone seen a valkyrie in Dimahoo at some point? I can clearly see the sprite data, but I have absolutely no idea how to make it appear in-game, or if it's simply unused. Also, I noticed an Extend item there too, which is rather strange as well.

[gray117]

Usually happens since cleaning up packs/banks is time consuming and/or the reference system would need re-writing. As long as you're not running out of memory or something the last thing your going to do on crunch is to clean up much; in case something breaks while doing it!

Similarly during crunch you might somehow find some content/ambitions just happen to fall by the wayside...

[esreveR]

I should have realized this earlier, but all the aircraft in Raiden Fighters have sprites of themselves in the distance! Some are used, but most are not.

Also, as shown by the next picture, apparently any given vehicle palette will work for any sort of vehicle sprite, because they all share palette slots with each other:



Lastly, I found the RF2-style duo attack thing in RF Jet...I don't think it's used either.

[Evrain]

In Ketsui Death Label, for the DS, there is a full map of EVAC Industry (and by "full map" I mean the entire stage, from the Cinderella Amber runways to the Evaccaneer chamber up to the skies of the DOOM battle, complete with scrolling inversion) pixel perfect with the original, as well as a few sprite sets, both complete and incomplete, that refer to other enemies aside from the ones already present in Extra mode: my bet is on them trying to work in a faithful porting of the entire stage, failing due to screen size I'd assume.

[esreveR]

In Ketsui Death Label, for the DS, there is a full map of EVAC Industry (and by "full map" I mean the entire stage, from the Cinderella Amber runways to the Evaccaneer chamber up to the skies of the DOOM battle, complete with scrolling inversion) pixel perfect with the original, as well as a few sprite sets, both complete and incomplete, that refer to other enemies aside from the ones already present in Extra mode: my bet is on them trying to work in a faithful porting of the entire stage, failing due to screen size I'd assume.

Ah. A friend of mine tried to tile-rip Bull Frog from that game, but assumed it would be impossible because some of the pods/rotors or whatever are always offscreen and therefore probably not in the data altogether. As it turns out, it is there, but since you never see them he could never get the palette.

He's also found a couple of other unused things, but I haven't talked to him much about it.

Also, I was checking Viper Phase 1's tiles to see if I could rip anything, and the first thing I came across (Besides Judge Spear) was Raiden DX's bullets and items! If that weren't enough as it is, the Raiden Mk-I is present in the tiles, complete with all of its animation (Including projectiles and the thermonuclear bomb)! Amazing.

And then I checked Dragon Blaze out and found that the funny landship/trilobite thing has a third form where the flying form of the trilobite comes out of its body. I have no idea if this is used or not, but I couldn't get it to appear via the Level Select, so...?

[orange]

all data that has been dumped in relation to ketsui is unused

[BIL]

And then I checked Dragon Blaze out and found that the funny landship/trilobite thing has a third form where the flying form of the trilobite comes out of its body. I have no idea if this is used or not, but I couldn't get it to appear via the Level Select, so...?

The flying form appears when the boss is nearing timeout. You'll see the "Danger" countdown begin shortly beforehand.