Rocket Knight Adventures

This page details pre-release information and/or media for Rocket Knight Adventures.

Early Development#

Original Concept Designs of Sparkster#

Artwork exists from early on during the development of Rocket Knight Adventures depicting two concept designs of Sparkster, the main character. Originally going under the name Blaster, his first design looked much more serious and intimidating than the more traditionally cute opossum that stars in the final game. The second design for Blaster is much closer to Sparkster's final design, but curiously enough, he appears to be launching mini-missiles from his jet pack, something that isn't possible in the completed product.

Blaster, the original Sparkster during the development of the Rocket Knight series. Source: Mean Machines Sega (UK) August 1994 #22, Page 26	A second concept artwork of Blaster. Source: Mean Machines Sega (UK) August 1994 #22, Page 26

Interestingly, in both designs, Blaster appears to be wearing one jet pack (a la The Rocketeer) which has holes at each side for launching mini-missiles. As mentioned earlier, the missile-launching feature was scrapped; the reason for this remains unknown, but it's possible that the devs simply didn't know how to implement it alongside the charging and flight mechanics.

An early design of Sparkster from 1992 also appears in a screenshot in the March 1993 issue of Beep! MegaDrive, possibly either a mockup or from an early version of the game.

Magazine Screenshots#

Electronic Gaming Monthly #047 June 1993#

Shows a different background and color palette for the first section of stage 3.

Mean Machines Sega May 1993#

Shows an early version of the Stage 1 Boss.

Mean Machines Sega July 1993#

Early Trailer#

Watch on YouTube

To do: Compare the early sprites seen in the trailer with the sprites used in the final version.

A pre-release trailer shown to the side features early versions of several graphics that were changed or refined in the final game.

• The trailer features 2 pieces of music, one being an early theme for Stage 3. Strangely, the other theme is "Fight Bravely" from Sunset Riders, another Konami game.
• The Rest (Lives) counter shows up to 3 digits. In the final, only 2 are shown.
• Some of Sparkster's animations are different compared to the final. His irises are much bigger than the final version, his standing and jumping animations are completely different (The latter appears to be based on Arthur's jump sprites from Ghosts 'n Goblins), and his walking animation has less energy compared to the final game. The bigger irises would be leftover in some of the final sprites, and Axel Gear would use a similar jump animation.
• The sprites for the Devontidos soldiers are much different than the final: they use different shading and much different appearances.
• In the first boss area, the door that Sparkster enters from is visible in the background. In the final game, it is removed and replaced with a decoration.
• The Caterpillar boss does not begin in the trailer, likely since the boss hasn't been programmed in the game yet.
• The fire section in Stage 1-3 uses the 2 visual wave distortions separately. In the final game, both of the distortions happen at once.
• The item that gives Sparkster flight power in Stage 1-2 is placed beneath the island in the trailer. In the final, it is placed on top. As well as that, the item uses the Apple sprite instead of its own.
• Sparkster and other sprites are not obscured by the HUD in the trailer.
• In the Waterfall section of the Stage 1 miniboss, the water uses an orange color, it was likely a landslide as opposed to water at this time. In the final, it is blue.
• The trailer showcases the Stage 1 miniboss taking place on the grass instead of a bridge.