Keith Courage in Alpha Zones

Keith Courage in Alpha Zones
Also known as: Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru (JP) Developer: Advance Communication Publishers: Hudson Soft (JP), NEC (US) Platform: TurboGrafx-16 Released in JP: August 30, 1988 Released in US: 1989 This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences.

Keith Courage in Alpha Zones is a side-scrolling action game originally released in Japan as a tie-in to the anime series Mashin Hero Wataru. Each stage is split into two segments – an initial overworld segment, in which the player controls the titular protagonist as he gathers money to buy items and information; and the underworld segments, in which the protagonist dons his mech suit to do battle in the enemy's territory. It is notable for being the original pack-in game for the TurboGrafx-16 in North America.

The game received mixed, but slightly more negative criticism from video game critics. At least it's better than another title from the same developer...

Debug Menu

Hold Run+Select+I+II, then power on the console. Press Up eight times when the word "Start" appears on the title screen to open the menu, which contains a level select, toggles for health, lives, and money, and a sound test.

Japanese	English
ましん　えいゆうでん　ワタル	Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru
DEBUG MENU	DEBUG MENU
すてーじ NO	Stage No.
しんぼる	Symbol
ばとる	Battle
けん NO	Sword No.
ライフ	Life
ヘン玉	Hendama

Regional Differences

In Japan, the game was released as a license based on the anime Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru (魔神英雄伝ワタル Magical Machine God Hero Wataru). Some of the graphics have been altered, though most of the game remains untouched, besides the obvious translations.

A fun fact is that the ending music is the opening theme from the anime, and it was left in the US version's ending as well.

Ending

...But what does it mean? This game has text or audio that needs to be translated. If you are fluent with this language, please read our translation guidelines and then submit a translation!

Japanese Ending.

 そうかいさん の にじ に ７つの かがやきが
もどりました。 なんという うつくしさ でしょう。
 みなが まちわびていた にじ です。

 どあくだーの あくじに なかされ よるも ねむ
れなかったひとが いました。
 ばぐ という どあくだー と おなじ ぐらい
おそろしい あくま に なやまされ よる も
ねむれなかった ひとたち が いました。
 なにもかも さかさまな せかいに くるしんだ
ひとも いたのです。
 でも もう そんな おもいとも さよならが
できるのです。

そうです！どあくだーは ほろびさったのです。

 ワタル すこし くすぐったい きもちで じぶんを
たたえる ひとびとの こえを きいて いました。
 りゅうじんまる や ひみこ たちとの ぼうけんが、
いつのまにか ワタルを えいゆう と よばれるに
ふさわしい しょうねんに せいちょう させていました。

   だれもが しらぬまに とおって きた みち
         そう・・それが この

    ましん えいゆうでん ワタル

                      の せかい なのです。

North American ending:

 THE VICTORY IS COMPLETE.
KEITH COURAGE HAS BATTLED
AND DEFEATED THE BEASTLY
ALIEN DUDES 'B.A.D'

 FIGHTING THROUGH THE SEVEN
DEADLY ZONES. KEITH HAS RE-
STORED THE PLANET EARTH TO
ITS FORMER PEACE. A PEACE
HIS FATHER KNEW WELL AND
DIED FOR.

 USING THE NOVA SUIT HIS
FATHER CREATED. KEITH
PERSEVERED IN THE FACE OF
ALL OBSTACLES. KEITH HAS
DEDICATED HIS VICTORY TO
HIS FATHER'S MEMORY.

 KEITH COURAGE AND HIS
FRIENDS ARE COMMITTED TO
RESTORING THE EARTH TO ITS
PREVIOUS SPLENDOR.

 FOR NOW THE WORLD IS SAFE.
HOWEVER KEITH IS PREPARED
TO USE THE POWER OF THE
NOVA SUIT TO DEFEND THE
EARTH FROM FUTURE DANGERS.

LOOK FOR THE NEXT KEITH
COURAGE ADVENTURE!

Cast Roll

To do: Translate cast roll names and get screenshots.

The ending in the Japanese version contains a cast list, listing the names of all the friends and enemies in the game. In the North American version, it has different names for the enemies, as well as only listing the main protagonists and the Beastly Alien Dudes'B.A.D'. It then goes to the The End screen. The game stops here until the player either resets or powers off the console.

Japanese	English
‘きゃすと’	'Cast'
いくさべ わたる	Wataru Ikusabe
しのぶべ ひみこ	Himiko Shinobube
つるぎべ しらばく	Shirabaku Tsurugibe
しのぶべ おじじ	Ojiji Shinobube
あやしべ おばば	Obaba Ayashibe
がったいがー	Gattiger
どんごう しょうぐん	Dongou Shougun
せかんどがん	Second Gun
ふらんけーん	Franken
ばろん ざちょう	Baron Zachou
どくたー ちゅう	Doctor Chuu
ばとるごりら いちごう	Battle Gorilla Ver. 1
ばとるごりら にごう	Battle Gorilla Ver. 2
ばとるざこいちごう	Battle Fish Ver. 1
ばとるざこにごう	Battle Fish Ver. 2
ばとるざこさんごう	Battle Fish Ver. 3
ばとるざこよんごう	Battle Fish Ver. 4
ただのざこ	Tada no Zako
ＥＸまん	EX Man
おかお	Okao
‘ゆうじょう しゅつえん’	'Friends Appearance'
まねきねこ	Manekineko
ひょう	Hyou
ましんえいゆうでんワタル ＴＨＥ ＥＮＤ	Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru THE END

Staff Roll

To do: Get screenshots of the staff roll. Also translate staff names, as some of them require proper translation.

After waiting about 10 seconds after the cast roll, the background will change from a bright blue background to a dark blue background, and the text will scroll upward, showing the staff roll. In the North American version, this was also removed.

Japanese	English
ぷろぐらむ ひつじのかわをかぶった ますたーど ちゅどん おかわり ひさつ じごくにん	Program Sheep Skin Mustard Chudon Okawari Deadly Hell Person
ぐらふぃっく はらはら いちごう さらうんど しゅわっち こんじきの おだむし ぴんくの むーみん なないろの やぎさん	Graphic Harahra Ver. 1 Surround Shuwacchi Golden Bug Oda Pink Muumin Seven-Colored Yagisan
さうんど さうんどもにた いちごう さうんどもにた にごう えふぇくたー	Sound Sound Monitor Ver. 1 Sound Monitor Ver. 2 Effector
こうでぃねーた もかぴー しーた ぜろわん	Coordinator Makapy Shiita Zero One
すぺしゃる さんくす てつやの てっちゃん どたんば でっちゃん	Special Thanks Tetsuya no Tecchan Dotanba Decchan

Funnily enough, this was the only game ACC developed for the TurboGrafx-16 to have a staff roll with aliases; all other titles they used their real names, so it was probably a requirement by Hudson Soft.