HyperZone

HyperZone is like an odd combination of Space Harrier and F-Zero.

3D Effect#

Watch on YouTubeOnce the title screen is finished loading (the Start Normal text is displayed), press Select, Select, A, B, Select, Select, X, Y, Select, Select, L, R, Up. This sets $01 in 7E13B5, and turns the title screen red. Gameplay will now be displayed with alternating-frame stereoscopic 3D, where the output flickers between images for the left and right eyes.

During gameplay, pressing Select toggles $04 in 7E13B7. This disables/enables the 3D effect.

It's very likely that HAL intended the game to be used with 3D glasses, a la Rad Racer, but no shutter glasses were ever released for the SNES, so this feature went unused. However, the game does use the I/O pin on both controller ports to signal alternating frames in a way that is compatible with the original Famicom 3D glasses, so it is possible for this effect to work as intended by wiring the appropriate pins from the DB15 connector on the 3D glasses to the appropriate pins (I/O, +5V, and GND) on one of the SNES controller ports.

In addition, a modern 3D display which supports alternating-frame 3D should be capable of displaying the game as was planned back in 1991.

Unused Graphics#

Lolo#

A single sprite of Lolo is present among the ship upgrade graphics.

Halken Logo#

Part of the Halken logo is present among the ending demo graphics. It was used in the opening and ending sequence of the Japanese and European versions, but HAL America replaced it with their own logo for the American version.

The new HAL logo overwrote part of the old Halken one, so only half of it remains in the American ROM.

Bio Plant Background Tiles#

A strange organic mass and a similar-looking tile with a grate covering it. Judging from its name and these tiles, the Bio Plant was probably supposed to have a more "organic" theme, but was changed in favor of the flashing lights.

There is also a darkened-out tile of just the midsection of the bio mass. This probably indicates that it was meant to light up, just like the flashing lights that actually were used for this stage.

Dummied Option Menu#

Hidden in the background tiles for the microchip background seen in the ending sequence are tiles for the Japanese logo and copyright info, as well as what appears to be text for an Option menu that was removed from the game. It is unknown exactly what "SAR" and "ECD" stand for, though it's possible they were "START" (with the "T" being reused from "OPTION") and "ENTER CODE" (also by reusing letters).

Unused Music#

The song that plays during the opening demo that shows the HAL (or Halken) company logo is actually a bit longer than what gets played for the few seconds the logo is displayed. The entire song can be heard in the Sound Test.

Sound Test#

Hold L + R and press Start on the title screen. You can listen to any of the game's 13 songs and 21 sound effects. This sound test is not in the Japanese version.

Area Clear Extra Life#

After defeating a boss, you are given a few seconds before the stage ends. If you use this time to modify your ship's speed, and the value is exactly 333 when the Area Clear message appears, you will get an extra life.

Regional Differences#

Japan	US

The Japanese title screen is more industrial-looking with its logo, and misspells "Laboratory".

In the Japanese version, the Old Capital is Area 1 and the Material Factory is Area 3. This was swapped in the American and European versions. Some of the stage enemies got moved around as a result of this change, but not the bosses.

References#