BioMetal

BioMetal
Developer: Athena Publishers: Athena (JP), Activision (US/EU) Platform: SNES Released in JP: March 19, 1993 Released in US: November 1993 Released in EU: 1993 This game has debugging material. This game has regional differences.

An obscure, if decent little shmup by Athena Co.

To do: Provide some more information on the 2 Unlimited music tie-in that the international versions received.

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: There are unused enemy graphics. Artist interview in page 187 of book "ゲーム職人 ゲーム文化を支えた37人の証言": "敵キャラの種類に関しては、実はROMに半分眠っているものがあるんです。プログラマーが間にあわなくて（笑）、使ってないんです。" "Half of enemy characters slept in the ROM. Because Programmer couldn't work in time, so It is unused."

TEST MODE

A debug menu called TEST MODE begins at SNES address $018000. There is no JSL $018000 in the programming to reach it, however. A string of nine EA NOP bytes located at SNES address $008076-00807E possibly contained the original entry point at one time.

Use these game enhancer codes to access it:

Game Genie	Pro Action Replay
44BD-A40D DDBD-A46D 6DBD-A4AD DFBD-A7DD	00930922 00930A00 00930B80 00930C01

Activate the codes at bootup, and wait for the intro logos to pass without pressing any buttons.

(Source: JLukas)

INPUT

A simple joypad test. Press X to exit.

COLOR

Does not function.

CROSS HATCH

A basic screen test. Press X to exit.

OBJECT

A graphics viewer. Press A to increase values, and Y to decrease values. Press X to exit.

BACK GROUND

Does not function.

OPTION

Turn HIT CHECK off for invincibility. The INFORMATION and TASK BAR options are for a CPU meter and debug display in-game, as seen to the right.

Regional Differences

Title Screen

Japan	International

Music

Japan	International