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Proto:Batman: The Video Game (NES)/Early Prototype

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This is a sub-page of Proto:Batman: The Video Game (NES).

Hiddenpalace.org logo.png  This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

Download.png Download Batman (Early Prototype)
File: Batman (U) (Earlier Proto).nes (256 KB) (info)


First Boss Battle

The boss of stage 1 has twice the health in the prototype (and the final Japanese version).

Final Boss Battle

At this point, Firebug is the final boss, and Batman merely punches the Joker out in a cutscene. Someone evidently thought this was pretty lame, and the final has a proper climactic boss fight with the Joker.

Ending Music

The tracks below are played during the ending scene in the prototype: the first when Batman meets the Joker, the second when the Joker has been punched and everything goes black and white.

Part 1
Part 2

Debugging Features

Both are done on Controller 2, and are also present in the later prototype.

  • Press A to skip to the next stage.
  • Pressing Down will freeze the screen; pressing it again will unfreeze the action. This was likely to allow pictures to be taken easily for magazines.
(Source: Shizz Boss)

1-up

The Joker giveth, The Joker taketh away-eth.

A 1-up is only present in the first area in Level 1. The graphics remain in the final, though.

Pause Screen Differences

Prototype Final
You see, there's "Pause..." ... and then there's "P A U S E!"

Unlike the final, the prototype only shows your remaining lives when you enter a new area or lose a life. Also, the pause screen's font was changed from plain white to yellow with a gradient.

Intro Differences

Graphics

Prototype Final
Finally, some proper comma usage. You have the missing "the" included, so you get full credit.

The final version, unlike the prototype, flickers between a text and background screen creating an interesting transparency effect. In the prototype, the background is positioned higher up to make room for the text. In addition, there is also a fog effect that goes over the moon.

Prototype Final
We need to redraw this and wash out all the colors. That's better.... right?

The Joker's portrait was made smaller, has a different palette, and appears to be a different picture altogether.

Prototype Final
For this one, remove the natural skin tone. That's better.... right?

Vicki's portrait was also made smaller and had a palette change.

Where do I start, the "recalls" business or the "parrents" thing?

This scene is only in the final and introduces the murder of Batman's parents to the story.

Text

Each piece of dialogue was changed so it starts with a unique graphic in orange of what's being described. Some line breaks were changed as well as entire sentences to get rid of awkward wording.

Prototype Final
GOTHAM CITY --- IT'S A DARK,
DESERTED CITY GOVERNED BY
CRIME AND VIOLENCE.
THERE, THE WHOLE TOWN IS NOW
IN PREPARATION FOR THE 200TH
ANNIVERSARY OF GOTHAM CITY
FESTIVAL.
GOTHAM CITY--IT'S A DARK,
DESERTED CITY GOVERNED
BY CRIME AND VIOLENCE. THE WHOLE
TOWN IS NOW IN PREPARATION
FOR THE 200TH
ANNIVERSARY OF
THE GOTHAM CITY FESTIVAL.

The final didn't change anything too major, just some rewording.

Prototype Final
SUDDENLY, JOKER, THE CITY'S
EVIL LEADER, APPEARS BY
SPREADING 'DDID' NERVE GAS
EVERYWHERE AND TRAPS THE
WHOLE GOTHAM CITY INTO A
COMPLETE TERROR AND CHAOS.
JOKER--THE CITY'S EVIL LEADER.
HE HAS SPREAD POISONOUS NERVE
GAS ALL OVER TOWN AND HAS
TERRORIZED THE POPULATION.

The reference of "DDID" gas was removed, and some major Engrish was fixed.

Prototype Final
MEANWHILE, VICKI VALE,
A SHREWD PHOTO JOURNALIST
TRACKING THE GAS BUSINESS
SCANDAL, IS KIDNAPED WITH
KEY INFORMATION IN HER HAND.
VICKI VALE--A SHREWD PHOTO
JOURNALIST TRACKING THE
POISON GAS MYSTERY IS
ENDANGERED MANY TIMES
BUT RESCUED EACH TIME BY A
MYSTERIOUS BLACK FIGURE,WHO,
IN FACT, IS......

The final no longer has Vicki kidnapped, and she no longer has key information. In addition, the final adds text to lead up to the next scene with Batman.

Level 1 Cutscene

At this point, the cutscene is Batman stopping a street thug to learn the whereabouts of Vicki. In the final, this was removed in favor of a short cutscene of Batman in his Batmobile.

Prototype Final
I'm getting Ninja Gaiden vibes from all this slick animation.
Since when did Batman use a spotlight?
Where's Lois Lane- I mean, Vicki Something.She's right where you left her.
You mean, we're not in Gotham City at the present moment?Gotham city? What's that?
That can't be safe!
Nah, I'm sorry; The prototype intro was cooler.
Now, there's no context for why Batman falls into Stage 1! I can't work under these conditions!

Of particular note, the last scene in the prototype, while unfinished, adds context to Batman's introduction into Stage 1-1. While Stage 1-1 begins with Batman's sprite "dropping" into the level in the final, it is without the benefit of the removed "building-leap" sequence.

Level 2 Cutscene

The final version actually retains some of the early cutscenes!

  • Prototype Only

Could everyone please be quiet; Vicki is speaking! So far in the prototype, Batman has only asked questions! If the Batmobile had a horn, what would it sound like?

These are only in the prototype. The third scene with the Batmobile appears to have identical graphics to the one in the final, but has subtle differences.

  • Scene Similarities
Prototype Final
You're making machine gun noises in your head, aren't you? GET OUT OF THE WAY PEDESTRIANS!!
  • Found in Both

"Bad Guy Garage" sounds like a Motortrend show. I hope you have the right address.

These two scenes are the only scenes both versions share.

Level 3 Cutscene

In contrast to the final, which contains only one scene here, the prototype uses four.

Prototype Final
Without the comma, this reads like an instruction.There's a blue Batman...
Jack Nicholson is using the correct "your," in this case.... and a purple Batman!
Not really...

Level 4 Cutscene

Prototype Final
Prepare Sophia the 3rd for another cave intro. The Joker and his art collecting, I swear.

Level 5 Cutscene

Prototype Final
What makes the clouds purple, I wonder.
Batman is deeply concerned about punctuality.
Don't you fight a sun and moon in Kirby's Adventure?

For a complete re-do, this cityscape shot is pretty nice.

Final Boss

The prototype's cutscene is shown when the player enters the boss room. Once the boss is beaten, the ending is shown. Since the Joker was added as a boss in the final, a further cutscene was added after the Level 5 boss.

Prototype Final
Can one be both loquacious and verbose at the same time? Come, let us brawl in the next room, so as not to disturb "Mista J." What kind of insult is that, really?

Endings

Drastic changes were made to the ending, which was completely redone for the final.

Prototype Final
I always imagined a more flamboyant chair.Like you need to contemplate your next move.Answer him, Mr. Man!Batman waits.I bet the Joker startles easily.Batman begins... his punching animation!Phew, saved us a final boss fight.Hey, I used this filter on my cat photos! Finally, a scene that's cooler in the final!Do whatever you want...... The Joker always shows up again.Gotham has many street decorations like these.It's never daytime in Gotham, so cloud watching is a foreign concept.He sleepin'.