BioMetal

BioMetal
Developer: Athena Publishers: Athena (JP), Activision (US/EU) Platform: SNES Released in JP: March 19, 1993 Released in US: November 1993 Released in EU: 1993 This game has debugging material. This game has regional differences.

An obscure, if decent little shmup by Athena.

To do: Provide some more information on the 2 Unlimited music tie-in that the international versions received.

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: There are unused enemy graphics. Artist interview in page 187 of book "ゲーム職人 ゲーム文化を支えた37人の証言": "敵キャラの種類に関しては、実はROMに半分眠っているものがあるんです。プログラマーが間にあわなくて（笑）、使ってないんです。" "Half of enemy characters slept in the ROM. Because Programmer couldn't work in time, so It is unused."

TEST MODE

A debug menu called TEST MODE begins at SNES address $018000. There is no JSL $018000 in the programming to reach it, however. A string of nine EA NOP bytes located at SNES address $008076-00807E possibly contained the original entry point at one time.

Use these game enhancer codes to access it:

Game Genie	Pro Action Replay
44BD-A40D DDBD-A46D 6DBD-A4AD DFBD-A7DD	00930922 00930A00 00930B80 00930C01

Activate the codes at bootup, and wait for the intro logos to pass without pressing any buttons.

(Source: JLukas)

INPUT

A simple joypad test. Press X to exit.

COLOR

Does not function.

CROSS HATCH

A basic screen test. Press X to exit.

OBJECT

A graphics viewer. Press A to increase values, and Y to decrease values. Press X to exit.

BACK GROUND

Does not function.

OPTION

Turn HIT CHECK off for invincibility. The INFORMATION and TASK BAR options are for a CPU meter and debug display in-game, as seen to the right.

Regional Differences

Title Screen

Japan	International

Both the logo and title screen was completely overhauled. Athena's logo was also removed in favor of writing their name in the game's regular font.

Music

To do: Properly organize this and get rid of all the tracks that weren't changed.

In a rather unique move, Activision decided to replace a big portion of the original Japanese soundtrack with licensed arrangements of 2 Unlimited tracks.

Japan	International