From the makers of Death Jr., Monster Lab is another ghoulish title in which Frankensteinian monsters are stitched together and taken out into the world to wreak havoc on the enemy's crazed abominations, Pokémon-style.
Like Death Jr.: Root of Evil, Monster Labs English language text is stored in/text/str_en.txt', though it lacks the index file of the former, which gave each string a name. Unused strings conveniently announce themselves as DELETED; this and all control codes are preserved below.
This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Can any of these debug features be enabled in the final game?
A reasonably broad collection of debug strings are peppered all throughout the strings file.
Line 912
Line 1102
Line 1118
Line 1353
DEBUG TEXT: Empty
DEBUG TEXT: Changeable Text
DEBUG TEXT: Generic Number
DEBUG TEXT: Animation Test
Line 1355
Lines 1418-1419
Line 1442
Lines 1449-1452
DEBUG TEXT: Combat Arenas
DEBUG TEXT: DEBUG TEXT
DEBUG TEXT: Start DEBUG TEXT Game
The final game allows players to face off against friends' monsters online, but earlier in development it also would have allowed them to exchange body parts. Dialogue concerning trades also remains in the game.
Lines 4153-4158
Data for Monster Lab is already in Wii Remote memory. Is it OK to overwrite it?
Data for <Game Title> is already in the Wii Remote memory. Overwrite data?
Data for a game other than Monster Lab is currently in Wii Remote memory. Is it OK to overwrite it?
Data for a game other than Monster Lab is currently in Wii Remote memory. Is it OK to overwrite it?
Data for another game is currently in Wii Remote memory. Is it OK to overwrite it?
Data for another game is currently in Wii Remote memory. Is it OK to overwrite it?
There's no way (or any particular reason) to use the Wii Remote's internal memory. Presumably it would have allowed players to bring their monsters to friends' houses, but the game lacks any form of local multiplayer with which to take advantage of this feature.
DELETED STRING: This part takes some damage on a successful hit.
DELETED STRING: Decreases the chances of a successful hit.
DELETED STRING: An action selected with this part may fail.
DELETED STRING: Charges the enemy's torso on a successful hit.
DELETED STRING: Reduces the damage taken to part.
DELETED STRING: Decreases the enemy attack damage.
DELETED STRING: Drains enemy energy and charge the torso.
DELETED STRING: Stuns the target parts.
DELETED STRING: Poisons the targeted parts.
DELETED STRING: Added damage to parts of the same science
DELETED STRING: Decreases the enemy's energy capacity.
DELETED STRING: Drains energy from the enemy.
DELETED STRING: Heals a small portion of damage delivered.
DELETED STRING: Damage increased on attacks to the same part.
Beginning at line 798 is the list of part attributes and their descriptions. Among the used attributes are a variety marked as deleted.
Beginning at line 3657 are the names and descriptions of all quests, which includes a variety of dropped ones.
~DELETED STRING: The Haunted House
~DELETED STRING: The Alien and the Swampoliath
~DELETED STRING: The Crypt Keeper
~DELETED STRING: The Junkolean
~DELETED STRING: The Dark Forest Boss
~DELETED STRING: The Four Experimental Monsters of the Ghastocalypse
~DELETED STRING: The Mayor has called on you to take on the creepy Haunted House that has come alive and is causing havoc in the village.
~DELETED STRING: The Alien needs one more piece for his transmitter - help him find and recover it!
~DELETED STRING: Description of Boss Quest 3
~DELETED STRING: Description of Boss Quest 4
~DELETED STRING: Description of Boss Quest 5
~DELETED STRING: Description of Boss Quest 6
~DELETED STRING: Defeat the Haunted House
~DELETED STRING: Description of Graveyard Quest 5
~DELETED STRING: Description of Graveyard Quest 6
~DELETED STRING: Description of Graveyard Quest 7
~DELETED STRING: Description of Graveyard Quest 8
~DELETED STRING: Description of Graveyard Quest 9
~DELETED STRING: Description of Swamp Quest 5
~DELETED STRING: Description of Village Quest 3
~DELETED STRING: Description of Village Quest 5
~DELETED STRING: Journal Entry for The Haunted House
~DELETED STRING: Journal Entry for The Alien and the Swampoliath
~DELETED STRING: Journal Entry for The Crypt Keeper
~DELETED STRING: Journal Entry for The Junkolean
~DELETED STRING: Journal Entry for The Dark Forest Boss
~DELETED STRING: Journal Entry for The Four Experimental Monsters of the Ghastocalypse
A fairly substantial amount of unused dialogue remains; some is simply earlier wording or alternate scenes, while others were cut entirely.
Lines 4-13
DELETED STRING: ~The Mad Science Alliance wants you!$newlineJoin now!
DELETED STRING: ~Perform crazy experiments to bring monsters to life!
DELETED STRING: ~Battle rival monsters as you explore the perilous lands of the Uncanny Valley.
DELETED STRING: ~Discover secret parts to make the ultimate monster.
DELETED STRING: ~Join Today!$newlineJoin the Mad Science Alliance!
DELETED STRING: ~The Mad Science Alliance does not assume any liability. We recommend you do not stare at monster. Do not look away from monster. Do not open monster. Monster may spontaneously combust without notice. Product may produce numbness, fidgeting, hysteria, fatigue, puffy-eyes or other random symptoms. Batteries to safely operate this game are not available. Can and will contain traces of nut, milk, fish and by-products. Purchase not recommended without life insurance.
DELETED STRING: ~Oh!$newlineThere you are!
DELETED STRING: ~Do you always take this long to respond to invitations?$newlineWhat are you? Royalty?
DELETED STRING: ~Well?$newlineAre you joining our Mad Science Alliance as an apprentice or not?
DELETED STRING: ~There's much work to do and very little time...
Some of this dialogue was repurposed for the intro FMV, where it is spoken rather than displayed textually. The intro fades out early on in the disclaimer: nothing from "Do not open monster" onward is heard. There is some partially obscured text which contains snippets of the disclaimer as well as text which isn't part of the deleted version.
Line 753
DELETED STRING: To select a part, point the Wii$nonbreakingspaceRemote at your monster and Press the A$nonbreakingspaceButton. Now, try selecting a part.
The final game uses the Nunchuk's analog stick to select parts instead.
Lines 2942-2943
DELETED STRING: Come on, I'll show you how to make a mechanical part that will flatten your opponents!
DELETED STRING: Interesting items you've brought back. Your creativity reminds me of me!
Context makes it apparent that these lines were intended for Professor Fuseless.
Line 2951
DELETED STRING: I am Professor Fuseless.
The used version of this line is nearby: "Thanks! Your help was most appreciated! I am Professor Fuseless."
Line 2958
DELETED STRING: You must use a key ingredient and a secondary ingredient.
Line 3348
DELETED STRING: Here is the ancient translation key to the glyphs: SDFJWOHGSDKEIDKS.
Line 3539
DELETED STRING: Ahhh, there you are! I'm sure you've heard of my genius, but if not, I am Professor Fuseless.
These lines seem to suggest an alternate version of the first meeting with Fuseless.
Line 3547
DELETED STRING: Eh, the Troublescope?! Let's go to the Command Room to take a look...
Lines 3559-3567
DELETED STRING: Ok, let's run you through it. Four types of parts make up a monster:
DELETED STRING: The Torso. This is the engine of your monster!
DELETED STRING:If it stops working, your monster stops working, so keep it in tip top shape.
DELETED STRING:Legs. Without legs your monster won't explore, run from danger or kick anything!
DELETED STRING:Make sure your legs are sturdy!
DELETED STRING:Arms. As you can tell, I'm a big believer in arms!
DELETED STRING:They can be used to attack, move obstacles and make shadow puppets!
DELETED STRING:Heads. Not as essential as you may think, but they can perform some useful attacks.
DELETED STRING:Remember, building monsters is the ultimate expression of our skills as mad scientists!
Line 3570
DELETED STRING:Yes, I.G.O.R., or the Inventory and General Operational Resonator. Impressive.
It's not otherwise explained what I.G.O.R. (essentially, the menu system) stands for.
Lines 3583-3586
DELETED STRING: Yes, there are other Mad Scientists all over the world!
DELETED STRING: With the Link you can trade parts, or challenge their creations to combat with your own!
DELETED STRING: You can use the link to challenge their creations to combat with your own!
DELETED STRING: You can use the link to trade parts with them!
This dialogue refers to trading parts with other players, a feature that was removed (see Removed Features).
Line 3588
DELETED STRING: Just remember some regions won't be open to you until you're a more capable Mad Scientist.
Lines 3599-3600
DELETED STRING: We shall mark it with this badge. You shall receive one when you accomplish specific goals!
DELETED STRING: Keep it up! The next monster isn't one of mine, so I can't help you!
Lines 3604-3608
DELETED STRING: More good work, Apprentice! Another goal reached, and now your rank has increased!
DELETED STRING: The higher ranks you get, the stronger the parts you can create... and with more madness!
DELETED STRING: Enjoy a stroll in Cobbleshire, then meet me in the Command Room when you return!
DELETED STRING: You are full of surprises, Apprentice! I see you have located some valuable parts!
DELETED STRING: Bring them back to the Castle... we can use them!
Lines 3618-3619
DELETED STRING: Bad monsters are shown in red on the Troublescope.
DELETED STRING: Say it with me: Red Bad! Also, you can see the difficulty of each enemy.
The Wii version was developed concurrently with PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS games, and retains several strings from those version which make reference to "touching" objects, memory cards, etc.
Line 1438
Do you want to use DS$nonbreakingspaceWireless$nonbreakingspaceCommunications?
Line 1830
Press SELECT to view your I.G.O.R.
Lines 4149-4152
The Memory Card in Slot A is damaged and cannot be used.
The Memory Card in Slot A is damaged and cannot be used.
The Memory Card in Slot B is damaged and cannot be used.
The Memory Card in Slot B is damaged and cannot be used.
Lines 4191-4194
No Memory Card found in Slot A.
No Memory Card found in Slot A.
No Memory Card found in Slot B.
No Memory Card found in Slot B.
~DELETED STRING: Weld the Arm Together
~DELETED STRING: Go Upstairs to the Lightning Tower
~DELETED STRING: Attach an arm to the Monster
~DELETED STRING: Create Mechanical Legs
~DELETED STRING: Show Fuseless Your Findings
Lines 3731-3732
Line 3735
~DELETED STRING: Create a Mechanical Dynamo for the Torso
~DELETED STRING: Bring a Monster to life!
~DELETED STRING: Recycle the Useless Alien Part in the Lightning Tower
Line 3740
Lines 3773-3776
~DELETED STRING: Create Biological Arms.
~DELETED STRING: Investigate The Neverglades
~DELETED STRING: Save the Alien from the Monsters
~DELETED STRING: Find and recruit Dr. Von Sonderbar
~DELETED STRING: Deliver Note to Fuseless
Line 3787
Line 3789
~DELETED STRING: Find the Feeb
~DELETED STRING: Find the Third Piece
Line 3798
Line 3888
~DELETED STRING: Smash Pumpkins
~DELETED STRING: Find Se?or De La Sombra in Tombstone Rise
The 'ñ' character is used elsewhere without issue, as in the used line "Find Señor De La Sombra" nearby.
