Phantom Fighter

To do: Document all the regional differences. Probably needs a sub-page.

A fighting game, and a pretty good one at that, if you can get past the mostly sepia tone graphics.

Developer Message#

Present at 0x3BCC0 in the US version is this message.

================
ファントムファイ
ターをお買い上げ
頂きましてありが
とうございます。
ところで、このメ
ッセージを見つけ
たキミはエライ！
ついでに次のプロ
グラムは何をする
ためのものか考え
て、もしわかれば
マリオネットまで
連絡して下さい。
================
Entry:lda #0    
      sta Ans+0 
      sta Ans+1 
Loop: clc       
      lda Sorc+0
      sbc Ans+0 
      sta Sorc+0
      lda Sorc+1
      sbc Ans+1 
      sta Sorc+1
      bcc Exit  
      inc Ans+0 
      inc Ans+0 
      bne Loop  
      inc Ans+1 
      bne Loop  
Exit: lsr Ans+1 
      ror Ans+0 
      rts       
Sorc: ds  2     
Ans:  ds  2     
----
ヒント：Sorcに入
力された数値を計
算して Ansに返す
手続き。　　　　
================
㈱マリオネット　
　東京都江戸川区
　南小岩 6-28-13
 TEL.03(650)7441
 FAX.03(650)7443
================

================
Thank you so much
for purchasing
Phantom Fighter.
By the way, if you
have discovered 
this message, 
you're outstanding!
Also, if you think 
you know what the 
next program is, 
please go ahead and 
contact Marionette.
================
Entry:lda #0    
      sta Ans+0 
      sta Ans+1 
Loop: clc       
      lda Sorc+0
      sbc Ans+0 
      sta Sorc+0
      lda Sorc+1
      sbc Ans+1 
      sta Sorc+1
      bcc Exit  
      inc Ans+0 
      inc Ans+0 
      bne Loop  
      inc Ans+1 
      bne Loop  
Exit: lsr Ans+1 
      ror Ans+0 
      rts       
Sorc: ds  2     
Ans:  ds  2     
----
Hint： This routine calculates
the number entered in Sorc 
and returns it into Ans.　　
================
Marionette (Corp.)
Edogawa-ku, Tokyo
Minami-Koiwa 6-28-13
 TEL.03(650)7441
 FAX.03(650)7443
================

The assembly code in the message is a loop which approximates the square root of the 16-bit value "Sorc" and stores the result in "Ans".

Regional Differences#

The Japanese version of the game is based on the movie Mr. Vampire, however its story is mostly its own and not the movie's. The US version didn't make too many changes to the story, graphics or game structure.

Title Screen#

Japan	US

Password Screen#

The password menu in the Japanese version has a full set of Hiragana characters. In the US version, the amount of characters were halved and are composed of symbols, numbers, and consonants.

Special Passwords#

The Japanese version has three special passwords. Whether there's a US equivalent to these passwords is unknown.

Debug Password

Enter "どうしの　こころど　うしのこ　ころへ" to become invincible. You'll also have all items and don't need to collect the Orbs to fight the bosses.

Play with Conshi

Enter "あちちち ちちちち ちちちち ちちち" to start with Conshi as a permanent and invincible playable character. Normally the character is only playable by collecting an item and leaves your party if he falls in battle.

No Assistant

Enter "あたたた たたたた たたたた たたた" to start without your assistant sidekick.

Ending#

Kenshi#

In the Japanese version, Kenchi's ending conversation is much longer.

The master's long battle was over. The evil spirits vanished and peaceful nights returned again to the people. 
Seeing the lights come on in the village little by little, the master talked to his disciple. 

"It feels to me as if the battles we have had up to now were illusions from long ago. According to the legend, our ancestors long ago rode on clouds and controlled dragons. It seems that I still need more training to become like them. So I'm thinking of going on a training journey again." 

"Master! Please take me with you!" 

"No. We never know when the evil spirits will rise again. Next time, it's you who should protect people." 

"B-but..." 

"You can do it. I think you had a lot of experience on this journey. All you have to do is work hard every day. I won't say goodbye. I'm looking forward to seeing you again when you became a great master."

"Ma-Master!"

And then, Master departed alone for the land beyond, where the dust was flying.

Kenchi’s long fight is now over. Evil has disappeared and peaceful nights have been returned to the people. 

And Kenchi left, by himself, for a far away land with sand storms raging.

Conshi#

In the Japanese version, you can finish the game with Conshi if you use the password mentioned above and you'll get a different ending epilogue too. In the US version it's impossible to finish the game with Conshi because he can't pick up the orbs needed to open the boss' room. However, his ending was translated and can be found in plain text inside the ROM. Unfortunately, it's just a truncated version of the regular ending epilogue.

Thanks to Conshi’s great work, evil was destroyed and peace has come to the people. 
The master and his student completely lost their respect and they went away somewhere else.

Conshi’s long fight is now over. Evil has disappeared and peaceful nights have been returned to the people.

Graphics#

The image displayed during the ending is different between regions. In the Japanese version it's an image of Conshi, and in the US version it shows the main character Kenchi.

Japan	US

Staff Roll#

• A second programmer, Takayuki Onodera appears in the Japanese version's staff roll. And the Programming Assistant credit was removed from the US version.
• Two of the four Production Assistants are different between the two versions. Aisa Kato and Masayuki Hirashima in the Japanese version are now replaced with Junko Hori and Mariko Sakurai in the US version. Also, Taka Iwamoto's name was swapped from the third Production Assistant credit to the second.
• Three FCI staff members were added to the US version.
• Company logos are present in the Japanese version. In the US version, they are replaced with plain text.
• The US version adds a copyright screen for the game.
• The Japanese version has a copyright from 1985-1987 for Paragon Films Ltd., while the US version has a 1989 copyright for Pony Canyon, spelled as one word.
• The Japanese version ends with a copyright year for 1988 with the Pony Canyon logo, while the US version just shows the FCI logo. Also, the "Eye" graphic for the logo in the Japanese version is bigger than the US version.
• The ending theme is different between both versions, but has the same end part.

Miscellaneous#

• In the Japanese version, there's a name entry screen before you begin the game. If you don't enter a name, the main character's default name will be "Doushi", which means "Taoist expert/master/priest". In the US version, there is no name entry screen and the character's name is Kenchi by default.
• In the Japanese version, the message speed menu defaults to "fast", whereas in the US version it defaults to "normal". Additionally, in the US version you can press Select while playing to change the message speed at any time. This can't be done in the Japanese version.