Space Invaders: The Original Game (SNES)

Space Invaders are now invading your Super NES!

It's the same as the later released Space Invaders DX, minus the Parody mode. It's also one of the final SNES games released in North America.

Unused Song#

A They come or classic martian-themed song. ROM addresses 00883521 + 80CF0B03 or Game Genie codes 4F67-DF04 4FAD-34A7 will play this song anywhere after the intro. This song is also unused in the Super Game Boy version, released three years earlier.

Version Differences#

Space Invaders: The Original Game released for the Super Famicom on March 25, 1994 in Japan. A port of the original Space Invaders released for the Game Boy on October 24, 1994 in North America and sometime later in Europe. This Game Boy port includes a portion of the previously released Super Famicom game when played on a Super Game Boy. The home console version would eventually release for the SNES in November 1997 in North America and Australia.

This section will be covering all 3 versions. The Japanese Super Famicom release, the North American/European Super Game Boy release, and the North American/Australian SNES release.

Splash Screen#

The North American/Australian SNES version includes a splash screen featuring the Nintendo logo.

Rights Screen#

Super Famicom (JP)	Super Game Boy (USA/EUR)	SNES (USA/AUS)

The Japanese Super Famicom and North American/Australian SNES versions feature the subtitle The Original Game whereas the North American/European Super Game Boy version is changed to The Arcade Game. "Taito Corporation" in the Super Famicom version is changed to "Taito" in the Super Game Boy version and "Taito Corp." in the SNES version. The Super Famicom and Super Game Boy versions feature a 1994 year date but the SNES version also includes a 1978 year for the original arcade game along with a new 1997 year date afterwards. "All Rights Reserved" in the Super Famicom version is changed to "Licensed to Nintendo" in the Super Game Boy and SNES versions.

Title Screen#

Super Famicom (JP)	Super Game Boy (USA/EUR)	SNES (USA/AUS)

The font thickness in the subtitle The Original Game is thinner in the Super Famicom version.

As mentioned previously, the Super Game Boy version is re-titled to Space Invaders: The Arcade Game and lacks the "VS GAME MODE" option in the Super Famicom and SNES versions. Additionally, "ORIGINAL GAME MODE" is renamed to "ARCADE GAME MODE" in the Super Game Boy version.

Options#

Super Famicom (JP)	Super Game Boy (USA/EUR)	SNES (USA/AUS)

The stroke layer in the "OPTIONS" text is black in the Super Game Boy version but is changed to pink in the SNES version. Additionally, the stroke layer for the selectable options is black in the Super Game Boy version but is blue when not selected in the SNES version.

Anti-Piracy#

The game has a rather simple anti-piracy check that is run on bootup by attempting to write two bytes to the SRAM address $700321. If this write is successful, UFOs will be invincible, preventing the player from getting bonus points out of them. The game plays normally otherwise. An original cartridge has no SRAM, so the write will do nothing, but cartridge copiers includes a large amount of SRAM to support a wider variety of games, which trips this anti-piracy check.

Hidden Staff Roll#

Pro Action Replay code 7E011A01 will start the hidden staff roll instead of the demo sequence. ROM text for the staff roll can be found at 0x0C64. If you don't want to use a Pro Action Replay code, then wait for one of the demos to start. Once it's in progress, press Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Down, Up, Up, Down. The credits will be shown instead of returning to the title screen either once you press Start or when the demo finishes.

References#