Atomic Robo-Kid (Arcade)

Atomic Robo-Kid
Developer: UPL Publisher: UPL Platform: Arcade (UPL Ninja-Kid II Hardware) Released in JP: December 1988 Released in US: February 1989 Released in EU: March 1989 This game has hidden developer credits. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused music. This game has debugging material.

An albino xenomorph-like robotic elephant-like creature must swim fly in the air and shoot bubbles lasers at his enemies to accomplish...something. Featuring another cameo by Robo-Bub! This time he sells stuff.

Hidden Message

A secret message from the chief programmer, Toshio Arai, can be triggered through the following method:

1. In the game demo, wait until the timer reaches 99 seconds. Press 1P Start.
2. Hold 2P Start and input the following sequence: 1P Shoot, 1P Switch, 1P Shoot, 1P Switch, 1P Shoot, 1P Switch, 1P Shoot, 1P Switch, 1P Shoot
3. Wait until the timer reaches 90 seconds, then hold 2P Start and press 1P Switch one last time.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Debugging Function

Flip Dip Switch 2:8 (Service Mode) and Dip Switch 2:7 (The first "unused" dip switch in MAME's menu). Then, exit the service menu. This acts like the similar debugging function in Mutant Night which disables collision detection with certain objects...but it's pretty much useless here, since it only disables collision with power-ups.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Hidden Credits

There are two extra credit graphics hidden in the object graphics ROM.

The first just gives the game name and the copyright year.

The second is the name of one of the game's artists, Tsutomu Fuzisawa, who has a habit of hiding their name in the graphics of UPL games.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Graphics

An alternate version of the game logo rendered in block letters. This is absolutely not the correct palette, but the correct one hasn't been found yet, if it even exists anymore.

Simple graphics that mark which background graphics ROM is which.

Early	Final

Alternate versions of two of the shop icons. The early Atomic Power Gun uses a different design, while the early 5-Way Beam is a rough outline of the final gun.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Music

ID#	Music	Comments
14		This sounds like a credits track, and that's what it's used for in the PC Engine port, but it's too short for the arcade game's ending.
64		This is either a sound engine test or a work-in-progress track that was never completed.

(Source: Original TCRF research)