Mega Man V

Mega Man V
Also known as: Rockman World 5 (JP) Developer: Minakuchi Engineering Publisher: Capcom Platforms: Game Boy, Super Game Boy Released in JP: July 22, 1994 Released in US: September 10, 1994 Released in EU: 1994 This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused music. This game has unused sounds. This game has debugging material. This game has regional differences.

Mega Man V is the last Game Boy Mega Man game, and the only one with Super Game Boy functionality. It's also the only one to feature all new bosses instead of recycled robot masters.

Debug Content

Debug Menu

A debug mode is located in the game, but there is currently no way to access it. However, all of the debug text and formatting is in the ROM. This is a mock-up of what the debug menu looks like.

It's largely the same as the Mega Man IV menu (both games were made by the same team), with some additions. C1-C4 are the crystals in the latter four Robot Masters' stages. CL is the Grab Attack, MH is the Magnet Hand, and PG is the Power Generator.

MSGNO presumably displays cutscene text by ID.

Debug Features

While the debug menu has been disabled, some debug features are still functional.

Infinite Tanks (HERAZ): Set memory address DF07 to 1 (Gameshark code 010107DF).

Invincibility (MUTEKIM): Set memory address DF09 to 1 (Gameshark code 010109DF) to enable partial invincibility. You can still get hit, but you won't lose energy. You can also still die by hitting spikes or falling down pits. Set the address to 2 (Gameshark code 010209DF) to enable total invincibility. You will not be able to get hit, spikes will act like solid blocks, and pits will act like bouncy surfaces.

Miscellaneous Debug Text

The following text seems to be for debugging purposes, but it isn't actually used anywhere. Text starts at 4036A in the ROM.

ALL 0

DMON MINI
DMON MAX
KOUHAN MINI
KOUHAN MAX
EART   MIN
EART   MAX

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Alternate Neptune Stage Palette

Normal Palette (Stage ID #4)	Alternate Palette (Stage ID #11)

Stage ID 11 is a duplicate of Neptune's stage's interior. The only difference is the SGB palette. This alternate palette is used nowhere else in the game.

Presumably you were meant to warp here from the exterior part of Neptune's stage, but the final version has the exterior and interior parts under the same stage ID.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

Unused Music

This game contains a whopping 6 unused tracks! Unlike Mega Man IV, these don't appear to be variants on used tracks. There's also one track that's never heard in its entirety. Game Genie codes ??0-BAB-3B3 + 11D-18E-4C2 will play any song ID at the title screen.

Alternate Fanfare

Another take on the music used after Wily Star explodes. ID 74

Placeholder Fanfare

This track originates from Mega Man IV, where it's used after defeating Wily. It's probably included here as a placeholder for the new fanfare. ID 71

Placeholder Sting

A short dramatic sting, this is another track taken directly from Mega Man IV. ID 5B

Rush Space

This track is used five times in the game (I.E. when Mega Man first goes to space, when he heads for the Wily Star, during the transition between the giant hands and Dr. Wily, during the transition between Dr. Wily and Sunstar, and during Mega Man's escape from the Wily Star), but the last 18 seconds are never heard during normal play, nor does it ever get a chance to loop. ID 63

Unknown Song

A song of unknown purpose placed immediately after the alternate fanfare by ID. ID 75

Unused Stage Track #1

A discarded track for a normal stage. This is sandwiched with the first four Robot Master tracks. Given its placement, and the position of Venus' final track as the last music piece by ID, this might have been the original theme for that stage. ID 5F

Unused Stage Track #2

Another unused track for a normal stage, this one is placed with the last four Robot Master tracks. Given this placement, it's possible this theme was intended for a mini-stage prior to Terra's boss battle, as was the case with Punk and Ballade. In the final game, selecting Terra brings you to a one-screen arena where only the boss music is heard. ID 66

(Source: Bean1227, nensondubois for access method and proper song IDs)

Regional Differences

To do: Add Title Screen differences between regions.

• The leader of the Stardroids is named Earth in Japan and Terra elsewhere. However, his weapon, the Spark Chaser, is labeled EA (instead of TE) on the HUD and the pause menu in all regions.
• Mercury's weapon is known as the Grab Buster internationally, but the Snatch Buster in Japan. It's possible this was done due to "snatch" also being a slang term for the female genitalia, even though there's no absolutely risk of confusing the meaning here (and considering the weapon's function is to steal energy from enemies, the Japanese name is more accurate anyway).
• As per his name change, "Right Labs" was altered to "Light Labs" on the continue screen.
• The final boss's name was changed from Sungod to Sunstar outside Japan, presumably because of Nintendo's policies on religious content at the time.