BioMetal

An obscure, if decent little shmup by Athena.

Please elaborate. Having more detail is always a good thing. Specifically: Provide some more information on the 2 Unlimited music tie-in that the international versions received.

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: There are unused enemy graphics. Artist interview in page 187 of book "ゲーム職人 ゲーム文化を支えた37人の証言": "敵キャラの種類に関しては、実はROMに半分眠っているものがあるんです。プログラマーが間にあわなくて（笑）、使ってないんです。" "Half of enemy characters slept in the ROM. Because Programmer couldn't work in time, so It is unused."

TEST MODE#

A debug menu called TEST MODE begins at SNES address $018000. There is no JSL $018000 in the programming to reach it, however. A string of nine EA NOP bytes located at SNES address $008076-00807E possibly contained the original entry point at one time.

Use these game enhancer codes to access it:

44BD-A40D
DDBD-A46D
6DBD-A4AD
DFBD-A7DD

00930922
00930A00
00930B80
00930C01

Activate the codes at bootup, and wait for the intro logos to pass without pressing any buttons.

INPUT#

A simple joypad test. Press X to exit.

COLOR#

Does not function.

CROSS HATCH#

A basic screen test. Press X to exit.

OBJECT#

A graphics viewer. Press A to increase values, and Y to decrease values. Press X to exit.

BACK GROUND#

Does not function.

OPTION#

Turn HIT CHECK off for invincibility. The INFORMATION and TASK BAR options are for a CPU meter and debug display in-game, as seen to the right.

Regional Differences#

To do: More, such as credits changes.

Title Screen#

Japan	US/Europe

Both the logo and title screen were completely overhauled. Athena's logo was also removed in favor of writing their name in the game's regular font. START and OPTION were also moved to the side.

Characters#

Japan	US/Europe

In the Japanese version, the main characters are called David Onizuka and Cynthia Matthews, respectively, and have light skin. For the US and European releases, they were renamed Kid Ray and Anita, cheekily referencing the 2 Unlimited tie-in, as well as having their skin darkened a bit.

Interestingly, the manuals for both the US and European releases still show the characters with the lighter skin.

Music#

To do: Properly organize this and get rid of all the tracks that weren't changed.

In a rather unique move, Activision decided to replace a big portion of the original Japanese soundtrack with licensed arrangements of 2 Unlimited tracks for the US and European releases.