Godzilla (Game Boy)

Godzilla
Also known as: Gojira-Kun: Kaijū Daikōshin (JP) Developer: Compile Publishers: Toho (US/JP), Infogrames (EU) Platform: Game Boy Released in JP: December 18, 1990 Released in US: October 1990 Released in EU: 1991 This game has a hidden developer message. This game has unused sounds. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has regional differences.

Godzilla, the puzzle-platformer, and a follow-up to the 1985 Japan-only MSX game. Well, people seemed to like it, so... In this game, Gojira-kun/Godzilla's son Minilla (In the US ver)/girlfriend Bijira (In the JPN ver) is captured by the other Kaiju, and it's up to Gojira/Godzilla to save him/her by travelling through a maze.

Sound Test

During the game, hold A + B + Start and press Select for the Sound Test.

Unused Sound

Sound Code 00 has a short beep effect. Its purpose is unknown.

Developer Messages

At the title screen, choose Continue, then Password 18, then enter one of the below passwords to see the corresponding message (Note: Underscores in the below passwords represent spaces).

Message to Norie

&?K1N/R1_ T/_N/R1=_ (International), YUK1N0R1_ T0_N0R1E_ (Japan)

Programmer's Friends

PR/GR#M=R S_FR1=NDS (International), PR0GRAMER S_FR1ENDS (Japan)

Message to Coats (International versions only)

D#RR=N___ C/#TS____

Message to Testers (Japanese version only)

TEST_____ PLAYERS__

(Source: cah4e3)

Regional Differences

To do: Add the remaining regional differences (gameplay and graphics).

Title Screen

Japan	US/Europe

The Japanese title screen features a very cute and cartoony rendition of the iconic Daikaiju based on the then-ongoing manga series SD Godzilla World: Godzilla-Kun, illustrated by Yukio Sawada, of Super Mario-Kun fame, whereas the US/European version opts for more movie accurate designs. The music used during the title screen in the Japanese version is also used for the monster roll-call exclusively in the US/European version, with the US/European version using an original composition for the title screen itself. However, the original intimidating theme from the US/European version was unused on the Japanese version but can be heard in the Sound Test under Sound Code 01.

Monster Movements

The monsters in the US/European version move exactly as they do in the original MSX Godzilla-kun. The Japanese version, on the other hand, makes some changes to the monsters' behaviors:

• The whole game is faster compared to the US version.
• Baragon sometimes pauses to yawn in place.
• MechaGodzilla now doesn't move unless Godzilla is moving, and he usually prefers to do his own thing as opposed to chasing Godzilla.
• Rodan no longer homes in directly on Godzilla; instead he usually flies above Godzilla waiting to ambush him with a dive attack.
• Hedorah stops moving at random intervals, and when punched he melts into a puddle and cannot damage Godzilla until he's finally dead after five times, as opposed to being knocked back with no visible injuries.
• A powerup that allowed Godzilla to use his Atomic Breath, in the form of the Nuclear Nut, which also played a big part in the SD Godzilla World: Godzilla-Kun manga, being used to give Godzilla strength to overcome enemies, was removed in the US version. Some of the levels in the Japanese version that required to use the Atomic Breath were altered for the US version due to the Nuclear Nut's removal for the US version.

Cutscene Differences

To do: Upload the cutscenes between two versions.

The cutscenes between the Japanese and the American/EU version were different. The Japanese version of the cutscenes features the SD Godzilla World: Godzilla-Kun characters seen in the Japanese boxart which consists of Itajira (a Necromancer), Papara/Pajira (father/sea captain), Kanjira (elderly man and Godzilla’s martial arts instructor), Majira (mother), and finally Yojira (Godzilla’s classmate Hajira’s younger brother). The American version still uses the same picture seen in the monster roll call except for Godzilla, Baragon, and King Ghidorah themselves which uses a unique picture for the cutscene. The text screen in the Japanese version still uses the simple text screen with a dialogue from the aforementioned characters giving Godzilla an advice during the quest whereas the American one has a sprite of a certain monster walking back and forth below the text, and the dialogue in this version ranged from tips to the player to the unique dialogue spoken by one of the three kaijus (Godzilla, Baragon, and King Ghidorah).

The ending in the Japanese version features Gojira-kun's girlfriend Bijira and only shows the word "Congratulation!" on the next screen. The American/EU version features a picture of Minilla (with his name tag stamped in it), Godzilla's son with a unique sprite of him walking like in the monster roll call screen until comes to a complete stop while scrolling the text, "Thank you, Daddy" and then finally shows the "The End" text afterwards.