Majestic Twelve: The Space Invaders Part IV

The fourth entry of one of the most popular shoot 'em up, Space Invaders!

Now featuring animals (such as cows, snails, insects, hermit crabs...).

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Find other stuff (such unused graphics, unused sounds, debug stuff...)

Stage Select#

Japan/Earlier International Sets	Later International Sets

This game features the Taito Code:

• While the game boots up, hold the Service Coin button until the "SERVICE SWITCH ERROR" message pops up on the screen.
• Then, press 1P Start (x3), Service Coin, 1P Start.
• Start a new game and a stage select menu should appear.

Depending on what version the player is playing, the game will ask to select an area or a round.

Version Differences#

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Check the differences between the base revised code sets and the Rev 1 revised code sets.

As of the most recent versions of MAME, there are seven different sets of Majestic Twelve / Super Space Invaders '91 included in the romset.

• majest12j is the Japanese version of the game.
• majest12ub is the earliest US version of the game. It's pretty much identical to the Japanese original, aside from a modified copyright screen and the addition of the FBI's screen.
• ssib is the earliest World version of the game. Aside the copyright screen removal and the altered title screen graphic to reflect the new title, it's pretty much identical to the former releases in terms of gameplay.
• majest12ua is an updated US version of the game. Aside sharing the copyright and FBI screens from majest12ub, the gameplay is drastically changed.
• ssia is an updated World version of the game. Identical to majest12ua, aside for the mentioned copyright screen removal and the altered title screen.
• majest12u is the most recent US version of the game. Despite the Rev 1, indicating bug-fixes, it's identical to majest12ua.
• ssi is the most recent World version of the game. Despite the Rev 1, indicating bug-fixes, it's identical to ssia.

Copyright#

Japan	US

The Japanese and US sets display a standard export copyright notice on boot. The World sets don't have an equivalent notice, and instead go straight to the Taito logo.

FBI Screen#

Additionally, the US sets display the (blatantly obligatory) FBI's "Winners Don't Use Drugs" screen common of the era, after the copyright notice.

Title Screen#

Japan	US	World

The most notable difference in the title screen is the logo change. While the Japanese and US sets reflect (redundantly) that is the fourth entry of the series, the World sets, for some odd reason, use a "'91" suffix despite the game being released one year prior.

Gameplay/Level Sequence#

Similar to the Darius's branching path system, in the Japanese and earlier International sets the player has to choose how to progress in the game, depending on his choices, through a zone selection.

While in the updated US and World sets the player has to play through all the levels in sequential order.

Japanese and Earlier International Sets Exclusives#

Due to the gameplay change, the zone selection and various elements from the earlier sets were cut out in the later ones.

Zone Select 1#

This unsettling theme is used when the player has to choose the first world to start with.

Zone Select 2#

This funkier theme is used when the player has to choose the next worlds.

Alternate Pre-World 1 Cutscene#

The Japanese and earlier International sets have an alternate cutscene that plays if the player chose to start with world 1B. Since the levels of world 1B come after those of world 1A in the later International sets, this cutscene was removed.

Continue#

Japan/World	US

Taito's typical Continue instructions are different:

• The Japanese and World sets simply say to INSERT COIN TO CONTINUE, which is the same instruction used in earlier released Taito games.
• The US sets, on the other hand, use the typical XP ADD 1 COIN TO CONTINUE, XP ADD 1 COIN TO START used in later released Taito games (i.e. Space Invaders '95: The Attack of Lunar Loonies and Darius Gaiden).

Alternative 2P modes#

Through DIP Switches it's possible to change how the 2P mode works:

• Simultaneous: This mode allows two players play the game at the same time. By default, this is the mode selected.
• Alternate, Single: This mode allows two play the game one after the other. This effectively makes the game behave like its predecessors.
  • Alternate, Dual is the same thing, but the second player has its own button scheme, rather than sharing the one of the first player.

There's also a fourth option called Not Allowed that makes the game playable only by a player. Ideal if you are a lone wolf.