Jajamaru Ninpou Chou

This page details one or more prototype versions of Jajamaru Ninpou Chou.

This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

Taro's Quest was a planned localization of Jajamaru Ninpou Chou for the US market, scheduled to be released by Jaleco in mid-1990.

A build was released by Lost Levels on December 31, 2004. Notably, the third chapter is absent.

Title Screen#

Japan	US Proto

Aside from the logo change and the background becoming black, the selection text border and Jaleco logo were removed and a Nintendo of America credit was added.

Further, the title screen was made more animated: while Jajamaru Ninpou Chou has it appear in full almost instantly, Taro's Quest reveals the outline of the logo first before a flash, then the logo gets its color, the copyright and selection text appears, and the title theme plays (a delay not present in Jajamaru Ninpou Chou).

Start Menus#

In Jajamaru Ninpou Chou, you can select your message speed and which chapter to start on. Taro's Quest doesn't have either of these options, and takes you directly to the first bit of dialogue when you choose Start.

Saving#

Jajamaru Ninpou Chou uses a password system for saving your progress, with passwords being received from shamans in towns. Taro's Quest uses battery back-up instead, with shamans recording your progress to their scroll, which you can instantly resume by pressing CONTINUE on the title screen.

Status Screen#

To do: Sakura/Hanna's Status Screen

Japan	US Proto

Jajamaru/Taro's portrait, while sporting the same attire and pose, had an artstyle change. The portrait border is also slightly different.

Map Graphics#

To do: Compare other locations of interest.

Overworld

Japan	US Proto

Shinobi Village

Japan	US Proto

The map tiles are generally more detailed in Taro's Quest, and the color palette is brighter overall.

Enemy Sprites#

To do: There's way more.

Slime

Japan	US Proto

Attack Dog

Japan	US Proto

Floating Devil

Japan	US Proto

Wind Elemental

Japan	US Proto

The original enemy sprites notably have oval shadows which are absent from the sprites in Taro's Quest.

Music#

To do: Actually rip the music (preferably all of it) and not record it from gameplay. The NSF for Jajamaru Ninpou Chou is also ripped incorrectly, making this difficult.

The music was redone to be less jolly and more calm and/or mysterious-sounding, similar to the music heard in Jajamaru Gekimaden. The title theme is also now just a short jingle.

Sound Effects#

A footstep sound has been added when entering/exiting areas.

Misc.#

• The text appears in full near-instantly as opposed to being typewritten, which is likely why message speed selecting was removed.
• Jajamaru/Taro doesn't automatically walk to the Shinobi Village at the start of the game in Taro's Quest.