E.V.O.: Search for Eden

E.V.O. is basically 46 Okunen Monogatari - The Shinkaron for the PC-98 reimagined as a side-scrolling action RPG. You start as a fish and evolve all the way up to a human by spending experience (EVO) points to upgrade your body.

Debug Mode#

Use Game Genie code 1261-64A7 or Pro Action Replay code 008E6B6D to enable debug mode. During gameplay, Controller 2 allows the following:

• Select: Add 1000 EVO points.
• Start: Freeze enemy behavior.
• L: Infinite health (counter will reach 0, but no game over).
• R: Instantly advance to the next chapter.
• B: Evolve into a bird.

Debug Flags and Unknown Addresses#

Shortly after bootup, the programming at SNES address $008184-008195 initializes a set of six memory addresses to the value $00.

7E0758#

Unused. No programming reads this address.

7E0759#

Unused. No programming reads this address.

7E075A#

Set this memory address to a non-zero value to enable what appears to be a debug map viewer type mode.

7E075B#

This holds the debug flag to freeze enemy behavior described in the previous section above.

7E075C#

A debug flag to skip areas on the overworld map when set to a non-zero value. Use Pro Action Replay code 7E075C01 or 01912080, or Game Genie code 6DB4-0DD0.

7E075D#

Holds the infinite health debug flag described in the previous section above.

Sound Test#

Located after the title screen, but the only way to access it is through game enhancer codes: at the title screen, enable Game Genie codes 14A4-6578 A3A4-6558 or Pro Action Replay codes 1ECE2C62 1ECE2DCE.

To correctly switch between songs, use Stop Music, change the Music Code, then use Data Transfer and finally Music Start.

Don't use Command Init. or select a Music Code index higher than 28, as the game will crash.

Unused Music#

There are two songs and four jingles that can be heard via the above sound test, but do not appear anywhere in the game.

Music Code: $01
The music from the prologue of 46 Okunen Monogatari ~The Shinka Ron~, the PC-98 JRPG E.V.O. is based on.

Music Code: $0E
The ending music known as "To a New Evolution" from 46 Okunen Monogatari. Oddly enough, this track appears on the Symphonic Synth Suite album that coincided with the game's release.

Music Code: $1A
This could have been intended as an alternate "Evolution" fanfare.

Music Code: $1B
No clue where this jingle could have been used. It most resembles "Whispers from Above", the short jingle that plays when you overhear "mysterious voices".

Music Code: $1D
This doesn't sound like anything else in the game, although it actually brings to mind an RPG "Inn" jingle. Unlikely to have been used for such a purpose, however.

Music Code: $22
Possibly intended as an item jingle, although there are no items to collect in this game.

Unused Programming Leftovers#

On the overworld map, the programming at SNES address $009949 checks if L is pressed on Controller 2. If so, it loads value $01. At one time, this was followed by a STA $075C operation to enable the debug feature to skip areas, but it was removed for the final build.

On the title screen, the programming at SNES address $1ECDDF checks if Select is pressed on Controller 1. However, it doesn't do anything further with it. This is located pretty close to the sound test entry point, and was probably the method used to access it.

SRAM String#

The string FURUTA (for programmer Tetsuya Furuta) is written to save files and evolution records. When loading a save file, or using Review of Evolution, the game looks for the string to determine if data exists in that slot.

Regional Differences#

Title Screen#

Japan	US

Different title graphic, font and copyright text.

Evolution Menu#

Japan	US

Several of the options were rearranged in the North American version due to space issues. The Japanese menu layout reads, from left to right, top to bottom: jaws, horn(s), back of the head, neck, body, hands and feet, dorsal fin, tail.

Mammal Intro#

Japan	US

The Triconodon's label was removed and replaced with a small rock in the North American version.

Domain of Brosasaurus#

Japan	US

A bunch of crap was removed from the American version...literally. These steaming piles were taken out of the Chapter 3 area Domain of Brosasaurus. The actual graphics weren't deleted; the area data was just changed to not include them.