Hocus Pocus

This page details one or more prototype versions of Hocus Pocus.

General#

• The prototype includes a README.TXT file indicating its build date (1/15/94) and instructing beta testers on what they should be looking for.
• Lava tiles immediately kill the player, which makes sense considering the item is named "Kill" in the code. In the final, it simply gives you a shorter mercy invincibility time than other hazards.
• Hocus' sprite has him wearing Mario-like clothing rather than a wizard robe:

Proto	Final

• The status bar was redrawn in a stone style in the final:

Proto	Final

• The level number on the status bar does not flash if all the treasures have been collected.
• The pause menu says "Trapped! - restart level" instead of the final's "Abandon level & restart".
• Hazards do more damage and potions heal more than in the final.
• Scrolling the screen with the Up and Down keys has not been implemented yet.
• At the end of each level, the number of seconds for "Time to Beat" will always be equivalent to the level number, making it impossible to achieve the bonus.
• The sound effects for several things including collecting items, getting injured, and firing lightning bolts are different.
• The music track "Squeal" for Time Tripping: Levels 5 and 6 sounds a lot different.
• Hocus' beloved princess is named Angela instead of Popopa.

Main Menu#

Proto	Final

• Several items have been re-ordered, and the items were separated into four groups in the final.
• "Begin a new voyage!" was changed to the less enthusiastic "Begin a new game" in the final.
• The "Legends and hints!" option simply fades the menu out and back in, as none of the story has been completed yet.
• The "Demonstration!" option was removed in the final.
• The instruction on the bottom uses "RETURN" in the prototype and "ENTER" in the final.

Level Editor#

The prototype includes a level editor, but the method for accessing it has been removed. It can still be accessed with the help of the MS-DOS Debug utility, though it is of very limited functionality.

Level Differences#

Level 1#

Proto
Final

• The message informing you that you must collect Magic Crystals to complete the level has not been implemented yet.
• The first line of Terexin's first message is different:

So... another Princess Rescuer.
You'll never make it through
these castle walls alive! Bahaha!

So... another brave apprentice!
You'll never make it through
these castle walls alive! Bahaha!

• The lightning bolt (which increases your rate of fire) is a goblet in the prototype, and the level has a different background for the indoor parts which matches the unused graphics in the final:

Proto	Final

Level 2#

Proto
Final

Level 3#

Proto
Final

Level 4#

Proto
Final

Level 5#

Proto
Final

Level 6#

Proto
Final

Level 7#

Proto
Final

Level 8#

Proto
Final

Level 9#

Proto
Final