Landstalker

Landstalker
Also known as: Landstalker: Koutei no Zaihou (JP) Developer: Climax Entertainment Publishers: Sega (JP/US/EU), Samsung (KR), Tec Toy (BR) Platform: Genesis Released in JP: October 30, 1992 Released in US: October 29, 1993 Released in EU: October 1993 Released in KR: 1993 Released in BR: 1993 This game has unused graphics. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden sound test. This game has regional differences.

Landstalker was Sega's answer to Zelda... and a really good one, at that!

Unused Graphics

A wolf mage-like enemy.

A harpy-like enemy.

Unused palette-swap for the Reaper enemy.

Unused palette-swap for the Worm enemy.

Unused palette swap for male NPC.

Unused palette swap for boulder object.

Unused platform objects.

(Source: ryuya5)

(Source: lordmir)

Debug Mode

Debug Menu

A debug menu can be accessed by using patch code 000210:0000 or Game Genie code AABA:AAAT.

To activate the debug menu, stand in front of a sign or NPC and press A or C on Controller 1 while pressing Down on Controller 2. Pressing Left or Right will cycle through the different options which include map, flag, sound, and music menus. The map menu allows you to warp to a selected area and the flag menu allows you to set how far you are currently in the game (within the range 1-31, 1 being "Massan" and 31 being "Cave at the top"). The sound and music menus work like a normal sound test.

Other debug mode features can be activated using Controller 2:

• Press Start to warp to the next room (can be buggy and doesn't always warp you to a place in the room).
• Press A to save current progress (works outside churches, and even remembers your coordinates in the room).
• Press B to pause the game.
• Press and hold C to double both your running speed and jump height.
• Press Up to gain 9 of every item in the game. Be warned, however - this also gives you placeholder versions of the items and books seen in shops and churches. Once you have them, you won't be able to buy items or make use of a church's services!

Error Handler

There is an error handler for undefined messages in the game.

Additionally, there is a beep code when certain error criteria are met (e.g., too many sprites on-screen at one time). The debug mode has to be activated in order to hear the error codes. The beep codes play certain sound effects repeatedly between 8-16 times, and the error can be identified by the sound effect played.

Easter Egg

Before entering the Chicken Race room, hold A + C + Start on Controller 2. This will change the four chickens into enemy sprites.

Build Dates

Located after the ROM header at 0x202 appears to be a build date and time for when each version was compiled.

Japan	US (Beta)	US
92/09/18 14:30	93/02/24 11:55	93/07/13 20:03
UK	France	Germany
93/07/15 18:08	93/11/05 13:22	93/11/05 13:58

Regional Differences

Region Lockout

The US and European versions have region lockout but the Japanese version does not, most likely because the Japanese version was released in 1992 and region lockout on Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games started in 1993.

Graphics

Several adult-themed items were significantly altered outside Japan.

Japan	US/Europe

The Bunnygirl named "Bunny-chan" became the Oracle Stone.

Japan	US/Europe

The Erotic Book became the Spellbook.

Japan	US/Europe

The Bunnygirl Costume became the Shortcake.

Japan	US/Europe

The G-String was changed to the Pawn Ticket.

Ending

To do: Upload a video showing the two endings.

In the beta version, Nigel does not get King Nole's treasure and Friday cheers him up with a dance. In the retail versions, Nigel obtains King Nole's treasure and Friday confesses her love for him.

Removed Bath Scene

This scene was made inaccessible in the US and European versions by adding a maid blocking the entrance to Kayla's room. The scene itself, however, remains in the game and was even fully translated!

(Source: ryuya5)