Extermination (Arcade)

Extermination
Developer: Taito Publishers: Taito (INT), World Games (US), Romstar (US alt) Platform: Arcade (Taito The NewZealand Story hardware) Released in JP: April 1987[1] Released in US: March 1988[2] This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused items. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden level select. This game has revisional differences.

In Extermination, it is the year 2026, and humankind is in danger of being destroyed by mutants. The solution: Shoot them mutants and rescue the two captive women.

Kumagaya Easter Eggs

Taito Kumagaya Laboratory developed this game; the proof of this is in a hidden company logo. To see it, follow these steps:

• Insert a coin into Coin Slot B. The coinage setting doesn't matter for this step.
• Start a new game.
• Get a game over and then hold 1P Right until the title screen comes up. The image should appear in the center of the screen for a few seconds.

Holding 2P Right instead will trigger a picture of Dami-chan from Ben Bero Beh in a pool hall. He's hustlin'.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Stage Select

Put this code in extrmatn.xml cheat file (or the cheat file of any derived set) and set Dip Switch B-3 (the third "Unused" dip switch in MAME) to enable a round select feature:

  <cheat desc="Round Select">
    <script state="off">
      <action>maincpu.mb@0A9F=0x00</action>
    </script>
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.mb@0A9F=0x97</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Once both the cheat and the dip switch are set, the Coin A and Coin B coinage settings will also change the starting round:

Coin A	Coin B	Round
1 / 1 Credit	2 / 3 Credit	Round 2
2 / 1 Credit	2 / 1 Credit	Round 3
1 / 1 Credit	2 / 1 Credit	Round 4
2 / 1 Credit	1 / 2 Credit	Round 5
1 / 1 Credit	1 / 2 Credit	Round 6
2 / 1 Credit	1 / 1 Credit	Round 7
1 / 1 Credit	1 / 1 Credit	Round 8

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Shelter Items

Put this code in the extrmatn.xml cheat file to replace the first item in each shelter with an unused item:

  <cheat desc="Change Shelter Item">
    <parameter>
      <item value="0x08">Fire Up</item>
      <item value="0x0A">Formation</item>
      <item value="0x0E">Lightning</item>
    </parameter>
    <script state="run">
      <action>maincpu.pb@EB6F=param</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

Fire Up: If the player's weapon level is 3 or lower, this increases their weapon level by 4. "F" is used by the Formation item in the final game.

Formation: Functionally identical to the Formation item that drops from enemies. The only difference is the sprite, which is labelled "Fo" instead of "F".

Lightning: The ultimate power-up that combines the effects of six other items:

• Formation: Enables a powerful attack if two players stand side-by-side.
• Left Blaster: Give the player a second blaster on their left side.
• Life: Restores 3000 life energy.
• Option: Gives the player two options, up to a maximum of four.
• Speed: Sets the player's speed to 28, equivalent to 7 Speed upgrades. Works even if the player has more than 28 speed.
• Weapon: Maxes out the player's weapon level.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Graphics

Sprites of the two women at the end of Round 8 that would have been used somewhere in the game's ending sequence. The two player characters are separate sprites that would only appear if they survived to the end. There are no tilemaps for any of these unsettling sprites in the game ROMs.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Copyright Strings

Put this code in extrmatn.xml to change the copyright string to one of two unused strings:

  <cheat desc="Set Copyright String">
    <parameter>
      <item value="0x04">Taito America Corp.</item>
      <item value="0x0C">Licensed to -------</item>
    </parameter>
    <script state="run">
      <action>sub.mb@01E0=param|(sub.mb@01E0 BAND ~0C)</action>
    </script>
    <script state="off">
      <action>sub.mb@01E0=08|(sub.mb@01E0 BAND ~0C)</action>
    </script>
  </cheat>

USA	Licensee
© 1987 TAITO AMERICA CORP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED	© 1987 TAITO CORP. JAPAN LICENSED TO

Taito didn't publish the game in the USA, leaving the first string unused. The second string was specifically designed for licensees but isn't used by either US publisher: Romstar expanded the USA copyright string, while World Games erased the USA copyright info in favor of their own text.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Hidden Text

The following text is in the sub CPU at 0x01FF:

TEST MODE KEY WORD AT KUMAGAYA

This isn't referenced anywhere in the game code, but it was probably used while the game was still being tested. Plump Pop has the same message.

Version Differences

To do: Document Japanese version.

World Games	Romstar

The World Games set removes the Taito logo on the title screen, while the Romstar release keeps it. All sets keep the Taito logo in the credits.

(Source: Original TCRF research)