U.N. Squadron (SNES)

U.N. Squadron
Also known as: Area 88 (JP) Developer: Capcom Publisher: Capcom Platform: SNES Released in JP: July 26, 1991 Released in US: September 1991 Released in EU: December 10, 1992 This game has debugging material. This game has regional differences. This game has a prerelease article

U.N. Squadron is a side-scrolling shooter based on the arcade game of the same name. Has nothing to do with the U.N., but plenty to do with squadrons.

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Prerelease Info

Debug Mode

Pro Action Replay (PAR) code 01A2FC01 (JP version: 01A14E01) activates a simple graphics viewer, as well as slow motion, freeze, and soft reset functions.

Soft Reset

Press Start + Select simultaneously to reset the game.

• NOTE: Not available in the Japanese version.

Slow Motion/Freeze

Hold L to slow the game WAY down, or hold R to freeze it entirely.

Test Menu

To enter the test menu, wait until the title screen appears, then hold L and press Start + Select simultaneously to reset the game. Keep holding L until the menu appears. Press Up or Down to move the cursor, and Y to select a set of graphics to view.

• NOTE: If your emulator does not have a true "soft reset" function, it may be difficult to view the menu in the Japanese version, as it depends on the existence of character tiles in VRAM.

While viewing graphics, press Up or Down to scroll around, Left or Right to change the palette, X to flip all tiles vertically, and A to flip all tiles horizontally. Press Y to return to the test menu.

(Source: Rusty)

Unused Text

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Comb through the Japanese release for similar unused text.

Leftover Area 88 Credits

Curiously, at 0x00009CA5 (US) & 0x00009D2B (EU), the entirety of the Japanese staff roll is present in the U.N. Squadron releases completely intact and unused. The credits actually used in these games start at 0x0002F283 (US) & 0x0002F282 (EU).

Unused Shop Dialogue

We have
no stock!

Present at 0x0000713F (US) & 0x000071EC (EU), the start of McCoy's lines. Even if you were to buy everything available, McCoy never says this.

Unused Victory Quote

I'm never coming back here!

Present at 0x000079DE (US) & 0x00007A8B (EU), among the victory quotes. Only the final level lacks a victory screen + quote in the finished game, so this may have been intended for use there.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Regional Differences

Copyright Screens

JP/US	EU
N/A

The JP and US releases use a small "Capcom Presents" graphic that silently fades in and out when the game is powered on, then transitions into the introduction sequence. The EU release opts for displaying "LICENSED BY NINTENDO" immediately upon boot, then fades into the classic Capcom logo shimmer. The intro sequence follows afterward.

Introduction

Area 88 (JP)	Translation	U.N. Squadron (US/EU)
エリア88 ここは地獄の激戦区	Area 88. A fierce, hellish theater.	The fighting in this area is ferocious.
生きて滑走路を踏める運は すべて神まかせ	Whether we'll be lucky enough to touch down on the runway alive is all up to God.	Only fate will determine whether we live or die.
おれたちゃ地獄の悪魔と 手をとった	We've taken the hand of the Devil.	Only a madman would take on this mission... Lucky they found me!

The introduction was genericized in U.N. Squadron to remove religious references, but also inadvertently cutting ties to the source material.

Title Screen

Area 88 (JP)	U.N. Squadron (US)	U.N. Squadron (EU)

The Japanese version of the game takes its name from the Area 88 manga which it's based off of. The US/EU versions changed the title to U.N. Squadron, being consistent with the earlier arcade release. The text was shifted upwards slightly in these releases, and the copyright info was updated appropriately for each region as well.

Pilot Select

Area 88 (JP)	U.N. Squadron (US/EU)

In Area 88, the descriptions for each pilot are listed all at once. Since English doesn't compress so nicely, this was changed in U.N. Squadron to reveal them as you highlight each pilot.

Additional Credit

Area 88 (JP)	U.N. Squadron (US/EU)

In addition to the appropriate title changes, U.N. Squadron credits Scott "MADMAN" Maxwell for ENGLISH STORY in the staff roll.

End Screen

Area 88 (JP)	U.N. Squadron (US)	U.N. Squadron (EU)

Slight changes were made between each release after the first. The US game cleans up the grammar, while the EU version shifts the text upwards slightly and updates the Capcom graphic.

Miscellaneous Text

Area 88 (JP)	U.N. Squadron (US/EU)

Some minor text changes were made for the game's localization. The Yes/No confirm text was touched up in the western releases, and the bonus (or lack thereof) for having no special weapons equipped was changed from "Nothing" to "None".

(Source: Original TCRF research)